From the Practice
The heart can be easily moved in many ways, to love spontaneously the majesty of an old-growth redwood, to feel compassion for the tenderness of a desert tortoise hiding in its shell, to experience radiant joy watching starlings murmurate in the sky.
… the flight of a butterfly, the tenacity of a dung beetle walking on the ground, the scent of jasmine wafting through the air, or the rich cinnamon scent of a ponderosa bark. Take any and all of these experiences in fully, and notice any quality of love that is evoked, any facet of care, of appreciation, affection.
As you stand by an old tree, you may wish it to be well nourished. Seeing a young animal in the forest, you may wish it to be safe, free from harm. Listening to the sounds of the ocean, you may wish for it to be protected.
The transcript of this practice can be found here: Mark Coleman – Loving the Earth
This is a meditation featured in Mark Coleman’s new book, A Field Guide to Nature Meditation: 52 Mindfulness Practices for Joy, Wisdom and Wonder.
