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Domestic and pets have enhanced our health for thousands of years. Association with them
have been shown to contribute to reducing blood pressure and dealing with stress (Maller et al., 2002 ).
Companion animals are now an important part of enhancing recovery after surgery. Studies by Anderson and his associates
. (Anderson et al., 1992 ) show that pet owners had significantly lower blood pressure,
cholesterol and triglyceride levels than non-owners. We have a strong desire to engage with animals, as evidenced by the fact
that more people visited zoos and aquariums in the USA and Canada than attended sporting events in the early 1990s (Wilson,
1993 ). Research show that many individuals practice feeding wildlife, e.g. birds, because
they derive personal satisfaction and harmony from such interaction (Howard and Jones, 2000 ). Being surrounded by trees, grass, water and blue sky, takes us away from a hectic pace, and reunites
us with our true connection to the universe. Spending quiete time in a place that allows us to relax and
heal , we will be filled with the creative abundance that comes from connecting to the truest and deepest part of our
essence.Gardens are beautiful, restful, engrossing, flourishing. In cultivating the garden as a friend and partner,
we also begin to cultivate a deep soulful connection. Soul. In many cities community
gardens exist. Lewis (Lewis, 1996 ) and Furnass (Furnass, 1996 ) provide evidence to suggest that gardening reduces stress,
encourages nurturing characteristics, builds social networks and enhances social capital. Even indoor plants have a positive
effect. They have been shown to improve office air quality, increase productivity and facilitate relationships between workers
(Randall et al., 1992 ; Larsen et al., 1998 ). Nurturing the earth, eating our home-grown
produce, weeding out garden beds and things we no longer need in our lives, the garden is indeed a place to grow.Spending
time in nature is the utmost therapeutic way to rejurvenate mind, body and spirit. The more we aquint ourselves
with nature , the more aligned our spirit will be with our true self. Yea, I am one with all
I see, With wind and wave, with pine and palm;
Their very elements in me Are fused to make me what I am.
Through
me their common life-stream flows, And when I yield this human breath,
In leaf and blossom, bud and rose, Live on I
will…. There is no Death. -Robert Service Studies shows that viewing natural scenes has a
positive health impact.Studies show that hospital patients who viewed natural scenes, e.g. trees and animals from their
wards, recovered faster, spent less time in hospital, required fewer painkillers and had fewer post-operative complications
than those patients whose ward views consisted of other buildings and which were devoid of any appearance of plants and animals(Ulrich,
1984 ),. In prison, having a cell window with views of plants and animals,
e.g. birds, lowered the number of sick calls of prisoners (Moore, 1981 ). Other studies have shown that office
workers experienced lower job stress, higher job satisfaction, and fewer illnesses if they had views of nature than if they
did not (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989 ; Lewis, 1996 ; Leather et al., 1998 ).
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| The Earth Has A soul |
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| Reconnecting with nature |
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| Awake in the wild |
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Sometimes our healing is not what we anticipate. We need to be more open to the gifts
and opportunities which life is always ready to bestow on us. It may be that a physical problem resolves, but it may also
stay awhile to teach us some lessons in life. Sometimes a health challenge is a doorway to a much deeper
level of healing, a cry from deep within our soul for attention to some part of us that has been unloved and feels separated
from the Whole. According to Mary Maddux, “Regardless of whether our focus in healing is on the physical, mental, emotional
or spiritual level, all levels are invariably touched by the process, and none can be separated out from the rest.Read it
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Placing trees next to freeways and roads, and having roads pass through and by green areas, reduces
driver stress as measured by blood pressure, heart rate and sympathetic nervous system changes (Parsons et al., 1998 ). In
addition to physical health improvements, there is considerable evidence to suggest that psychological health is enhanced
when a person views flora and fauna. Rohde and Kendle (Rohde and Kendle, 1994 ) conducted
a comprehensive literature review into psychological reactions to nature. There are many ways to re-connect with nature
The include -hiking in the woods, walking in a park, working in the yard, being near a creek or waterfall. Asour
feet touch the ground, imagine Mother Earth's energy coming up through our feet, traveling to every cell and tissue
in our physical body and spirit. With each inhale and exhale, become more aware of the universal energy, and the
special ways in which this energy impacts your senses, inspires and heals us.
References
Kaplan, R. and Kaplan, S. (1989) The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge.
Leather, P., Pyrgas, M., Beale, D. and Lawrence, C. (1998) Windows in the workplace. Environment
and Behaviour, 30, 739–763.
Parsons, R., Tassinary, L. G., Ulrich, R. S., Hebl, M. R. and Grossman-Alexander,
M. (1998) The view from the road: implications for stress recovery and immunisation. Journal of Environmental Psychology,
18, 113–140.[CrossRef]
Furnass, B. (1996) Introduction. In Furnass, B., Whyte, J., Harris, J. and Baker, A. (eds)
Survival, Health and Wellbeing into the Twenty First Century—Proceedings of a Conference Held at The Australian National
University, November 30—December 1, 1995. Nature and Society Forum, Canberra, pp. 5–6.
Maller, C., Townsend,
M., Brown, P. and St. Leger, L. (2002) Healthy Parks, Healthy People: The Health Benefits of Contact with Nature in a Park
Context. Deakin University, Melbourne.
Anderson, W. P., Reid, C. M. and Jennings, G. L. (1992) Pet ownership and risk
factors for cardiovascular disease. The Medical Journal of Australia, 157, 298–301.[Web of Science][Medline]
Burns, G. W. (1998) Nature-Guided Therapy—Brief Integrative Strategies for Health and Well-Being. Brunner/ Mazel,
Philadelphia.
Kirsti A. Dyer .Nature Awareness as a Therapeutic Modality: The Healing Qualitiesof Nature. Source :http://www.journeyofhearts.org/healing/nature.html.
Retrived 8/11/2009
Rohde, C. L. E. and Kendle, A. D. (1994) Report to English Nature—Human Well-being, Natural
Landscapes and Wildlife in Urban Areas. A Review. University of Reading, Department of Horticulture and Landscape and the
Research Institute for the Care of the Elderly, Bath.
Ulrich, R. S. (1984) View through a window may influence recovery
from surgery. Science, 224, 420–421.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
Lewis, C. A. (1996) Green Nature/Human Nature: The
Meaning of Plants in our Lives. University of Illinois Press, Chicago.
Martin, P. (1996) New perspectives of self, nature
and others. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, 1, 3–9.
Herzog, T. R., Black, A. M., Fountaine, K. A. and
Knotts, D. J. (1997) Reflection and attentional recovery as distinctive benefits of restorative environments. Journal of Environmental
Psychology, 17, 165–170.
Wilson, E. O. (2001) The ecological footprint. Vital Speeches, 67, 274–281.
Howard, P. and Jones, D. N. (2000) For the Love of Fur and Feathers: Wildlife Feeding in Urban Settings in South-East Queensland:
Preliminary Findings. Griffith University, Nathan, pp. 1–8.
Moore, E. O. (1981) A prison environment’s effect
on health care service demands. Journal of Environmental Systems, 11, 17–34. Randall, K., Shoemaker, C. A., Relf,
D. and Geller, E. S. (1992) Effects of plantscapes in an office environment on worker satisfaction. In Relf, D. (ed.) Role
of Horticulture in Human Well-being and Social Development. A National Symposium. Timber Press, Arlington, Virginia.
| | The Search for the Sacred in the Concrete Jungle
Article and Photographs by Kipling Z. |
The field of eco-psychology contends that humans have a profound need for regular
contact with the natural environment for continued wellbeing. Indeed, it is believed that this need might even be as important
as the need to form close personal relationships (Kellert & Wilson, 1993). People living and working in an urban setting
are becoming increasingly cut off from the natural environment, and this is seen as a contributing factor to rising levels
of stress and general dissatisfaction within modern society (Shepard, 1995). The restorative power of even brief encounters
with nature is well documented (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989), but there are a number of factors that make these sorts of encounters
difficult in an inner city setting.
Looking back recently on the 6 years I spent living and working in various
concrete jungles around the world, I became aware that during this time I had experienced minimal contact with nature.
Holidays and weekends were never spent camping or seeking out natural surroundings, and rarely did I even eat lunch in a park.
Perhaps I was limited by valid constraints, or was I just blindly following the corporate norms that avoided the natural world
as a matter of course? Hindsight would suggest the latter is true, and while I feel I have now freed myself from this "cycle
of unconscious nature avoidance", I am convinced that many people who exist within the corporate world are still trapped
in this unfortunate cycle.
The aim of this project is to understand the challenges people working in the inner
city face in maintaining a connection with nature, and the extent to which they are able to recognise, and benefit from, the
potential restorative powers of this nature experience.
Sources of Nature Connection
The notion of a nature connection experience probably conjures up images of spending days on end hiking through
forests or paddling down mountain streams. While many other forms of nature experience exist, many believe this deep form
is essential to overall wellbeing. Some people living and working in the city do manage to engage in this type of experience,
however many do not. Reasons for this vary. Some might claim not to have time (despite taking long holidays at tourist resorts),
while others might prefer touring foreign counties to sample the culture. Many might claim that they simply prefer the creature
comforts, while there are those who find it difficult to synchronise schedules with others seeking a similar experience. Whatever
the reason given, it seems that many living in cities these days have simply fallen out of the habit of spending
long periods of time in nature.
Weekends, on the other hand, seem to provide people with a chance to spend at least
a few hours in nature on a more regular basis. Some are happy to spend a few hours driving to escape the city and find a more
natural setting, where they can take day walks, go climbing, mountain biking or horse riding. Others prefer to visit the coast,
where they can walk, swim, surf, sail or just soak up the sun. Winter months also offer a range of alpine activities.
During the week, or for those unable to leave the city on weekends (possibly due to time or financial constraints), there
are still some inner city or suburban options. Parks and reserves provide a natural (albeit often man-made) setting where
people can walk, jog, cycle, ‘rollerblade’ or simply relax. For most people living in the inner city, this is
their most common nature experience. For many, it is their only regular nature experience. For these reasons, inner city parks
were chosen as the main setting for the research.
Lunch in the Park
Virtually everybody interviewed
claimed to feel calming effects while spending time in the park. Other words used included tranquil, serene, peaceful, and
haven – all this despite the fact that traffic and other city noises were clearly audible from virtually all places
respondents were located, often on the periphery. It seems people were able to block these distractions out, most likely helped
by the fact that most people faced the centre of the park, and away from the street (see Figure 2). For some, this sense of
calm enabled them to relax or unwind – sometimes making it "hard to go back to work". Others saw the experience
as more rejuvenating or re-energising, something that "re-charged their batteries" for the rest of the
day.
Some insight could also be gained simply by observing behaviour in and around the parks. They were virtually
empty at midday, but started to fill soon after, and were busiest around 1pm – the middle of most city workers’
lunch breaks. While many people simply sat to eat their lunch – both alone and in groups – there were other activities
such as backyard cricket and Hackey Sack. There were joggers and power walkers, but there were also two other distinct groups
of walkers – those who, while in running shoes, saw it as merely a mild form of exercise, and those who simply strolled
along at a leisurely pace enjoying the surroundings. After about 1.30 things got quiet again, as people returned to their
offices, but some people stayed longer – obviously not constrained by the usual office timetable. These people, who
were typically dressed much more casually than the office workers, also looked to be getting more out of their visit than
their hurried counterparts. They generally appeared more relaxed, and often lay on the grass outstretched, even sleeping in
a few cases – something the city workers were less inclined to do in their expensive corporate wardrobes.
On
days when the weather was less favourable, there were distinctly fewer people in the parks. People did not tend to sit on
the grass, instead preferring to sit on benches, paths, steps, or other man-made surfaces. Joggers and power walkers were
still evident, but the more leisurely walkers were less common. In general, peoples’ visits appeared shorter than on
sunny days.
Importance Placed on Nature Connection
While most people claimed they tried to visit
the park daily, their ability to articulate the importance of these visits varied. Some felt they needed to spend time in
the park to enable them to "face the rest of the day", while others attached little significance to the setting.
On the surface, this later group might appear to be simply creatures of habit. However, the fact that they continue to return
to the park might point to a deep sub-conscious desire to connect with nature.
While some specifically
identified nature as the important factor, others said they simply enjoyed being outdoors – claiming to be equally happy
both in the park, and sitting on a bench in a paved, and essentially nature-free, space. While it is possible that these people
are truly able to experience the same state of well-being in both settings , it is also possible that they have simply failed
to fully recognise or appreciate the restorative effects of nature. Indeed, this sub-conscious denial of the importance of
nature resonates with many of the attitudes and beliefs that have, throughout history, enabled mankind to destroy nature.
Interestingly, those who had grown up in a rural setting were most aware of the importance of regular contact with
nature, and the restorative effects this contact can provide. Some also spoke of the connection with their childhood that
nature provided. Country people were also most aware of the challenges associated with maintaining contact with nature in
an urban setting. Some even expressed concerns over the extent to which they felt city people were "cut off
from nature".
For a number of people, their visits to the park carried a social significance. The park often
represented a convenient place for friends working in different offices to come together and socialise. For some, there was
also the sense that they preferred the park when it was reasonably busy (a few candidly admitted to enjoying watching members
of the opposite sex). If it was too busy they found it less peaceful and relaxing, but settings like the one shown in Figure
3 gave many a sense of isolation, and even raised issues of security for some.
Nature as a Religion?
Few people attached any spiritual or sacred significance to their
visits to the park. Some recognised, when prompted, that park visits shared some similarities with visits to church –
both provided time for reflection, were calming, and gave a sense of peace. A few noted that both provided a connection with
their childhood. Another observation was that there was a fundamental link between nature and God, the creator. For some this
gave nature a sense of the divine, although untouched wilderness was seen as more divine than man-made parks, which were merely
"inspired by the divine".
The main differences that were identified between park visits (or
nature experience in general) and church reflected the formal nature of organised religion. Most saw church as a time for
prayer, where thoughts were focussed on specific issues. For some, the fact that you were "not worshipping anything"
in nature gave nature experience less credence. A few people, on the other hand, thought that time spent in church in
between services more closely resembled time spent in nature. Since the demands placed on them during a formal
service did not exist, they felt more able to simply "chill out" as they can in nature. Some valued the fact that
while spending time in nature they did not have to worry about "getting preached to" or "being roped into anything"
– a concern they sometimes felt while in mainstream churches.
Glimpses of Nature
While it is generally agreed that it is important to have at least
some longer-term or deeper nature experiences, the beneficial effects of even small glimpses of nature should
not be overlooked (Gallagher, 1993). Trees on city footpaths, flowers on nature strips, and even weeds in the cracks are all
reminders of the natural world. They enable us to maintain a connection with nature in even the most urban of settings. While
it is believed that people benefit from these glimpses of nature even if oblivious to their existence, it would seem reasonable
to suggest that the full benefits can only be felt through conscious experience (sight, sound, touch or smell). Once
people become aware of the importance (and existence) of these glimpses of nature, they often find they are more able to pay
attention to them and experience their benefits.
Another interesting source of nature connection is the view.
Views have always been highly coveted, and this is reflected in the prices of properties with views. While views of harbours,
oceans, mountains, or other natural settings are often preferred, even views of city skylines are highly sought after. Views
give the observer a perspective they cannot normally experience at ground level – particularly in the city. While the
observer is not immersed in the scene (in fact distance, and the glass itself, cuts them off from it), they are able to experience
a sense of the whole which can be quite uplifting. Interestingly, top executives have always been rewarded with the
best views. While views have been shown to have some healing powers (Ulrich, 1984), the elusive corner office is
not an adequate defense against corporate burnout – perhaps a reminder that glimpses of nature alone are not enough.
Many people living and working in the inner city find it difficult to connect with nature on a regular basis.
When the sources of these difficulties are explored further, it is clear that limiting factors are both real and imagined.
Imagined limiting factors generally reflect the low priority placed on nature experience, largely because its importance
is not widely recognised. In many cases, real limiting factors are non-trivial – however there are a range
of alternatives to traditional nature experience (such as glimpses of nature and nature substitutes) which
still offer beneficial effects. Indeed, many daily activities offer potentially restorative effects, but these effects are
reduced if people are not consciously aware of the experience, and the extent to which it can be beneficial. Re-mystifying
the everyday should enable people to experience the sacred in the concrete jungle.
References
Baker, B. (2002) ‘Happy by Nature’, The Washington Post,
June 4, p HE01
Gallagher, W. (1993) The Power of Place, Poseidon Press, New York.
Kaplan, S.
and Kaplan, R. (1989) The Experience of Nature: A Psychological
Perspective. Cambridge
University Press, New York.
Kellert, S. and Wilson, E. O. (1993) The Biophilla Hypothesis. Island Press,
Washington DC.
Mehrabian, A. (1976) Public Spaces and Private Places, Basic Books, New York.
Shepard, P. (1995) ‘Nature and Madness’ in Roszak, T, Gomes, M & Kanner, AD (eds) Ecopsychology.
Sierra Club, San Francisco.
Ulrich, R. S. (1984) ‘View Through a Window May Influence Recovery From
Surgery.’
Science, v224, p420.
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