Witnessing Nature through Meditation

Bringing our spiritual practices into our mundane lives can often be a stumbling block for many people, and as such, it is easy to keep the two separate and often distant from each other where we end up almost living two separate lives - one focused on our daily existence where we deal with work, family, study, socialising with friends etc; and the other containing our spiritual persuasions and pursuits which is often the first to be compromised when we attempt to meet all the demands of modern day life.  Yet, bringing the spiritual into the mundane can be a lot easier than what may first be realised. 

The following article by Madisyn Taylor of Daily Om, talks about just that - bringing the spiritual practice of meditation and the sanctity that nature offers us inside.  And while Madisyn focuses on utilising this practice during the colder winter months, it can also be utilised during the intense heat of the Australian summers.

 

 

Witnessing Nature through Meditation - Bird Meditation

by Madisyn Taylor

 

When it becomes too cold to be outside with nature,

bring her inside through your meditation.

 

When the weather gets colder it can be more difficult to get in touch with the marvel of nature as it exists around us. Finding innovative ways to really connect with nature brings us closer to the wonders that envelop our lives. One way to do this is to perform a meditation with our feathered friends, the bird kingdom.

 

Just by taking a few moments each day to watch the bird activity that goes on in our backyards through our windows can bring a sense of calm and well-being to our lives.  Watching and being with the birds that we share our garden space with us allows us to experience greater feelings of relaxation and gratitude for the diversity that is always present around us. Simply watching, without judgment or expectations, heightens our awareness of the beauty of nature. If you watch the birds for a long enough period of time you will begin to feel a great sense of deep joy within you knowing we are all truly divine.  Doing this with our family members will in turn introduce a meditative practice that can easily be shared and appreciated by all, as well as create deeper bonds with each other through the joy of experiencing the healing power of nature.

 

Looking through our windows and placing a feeder and bird bath in our gardens to attract the birds is a way to call forth beauty into our lives.  As we consciously connect with our outer world — even when the weather inhibits us from physically being in it — we see that the splendour we view outside of our windows is simply a reflection of what lies within us.

 

 

[From my kitchen window I have a wonderful view of a bird bath which often provides great entertainment watching the different species of birdlife utilise this garden feature, especially during the hotter weather.]