“Deep inside, we still have a longing to be reconnected with the nature that shaped our imagination, our language, our song and dance, our sense of the divine.” — Janine M. Benyus
In my new book, E-Cubed, there’s an experiment I call “Nature vs. News.” The idea is that the natural world has important messages to share.
So needless to say, I’m getting lots of “messages” about this very topic.
Spirit, Southwest Airline’s inflight magazine, just ran a story about Scott Harrison, a woodcarver in Nederland, Colorado who built a Carousel of Happiness.
But he wasn’t always so happy.
After a tour in Vietnam ended abruptly after seven months (his knee was shredded by a grenade), he was airlifted out of the battlefield and returned to an America that as he says, “wouldn’t look a soldier in the eye.”
To cope, he drank, took drugs and “isolated.” After getting a degree at the University of Texas, he migrated to San Jose, California where he worked in a boatyard, eventually building himself a 32-foot schooner.
In his continuing effort to avoid human contact, he sailed alone, deep into the Pacific. He was out of his mind, sobbing with grief and remorse, hoping for a big storm to capsize his boat and put him out of his misery.
Instead, on the 8th day at sea, a 30-foot whale surfaced beside his boat and swam beside him for three or four hours.
For reasons he can’t explain, he says, “It made me feel loved in a way I’d never been loved before.”
In fact, as the whale looked him in the eye, he got the message loud and clear: “You belong among the living.”
He sailed back to California and has never been the same.
The second story comes from Larry Dossey’s new book, One Mind. Evidently on April 14, 1865, the night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in the Ford Theater, his dog, Jib, was back at the White House where the president’s aides couldn’t figure out why the normally calm and quiet pooch was running in frenzy. No matter what they tried, they couldn’t calm him. He ran in circles until finally he collapsed on a rug near the President’s desk. Somehow, Jib knew his master was in trouble long before the aides finally got wind that their boss had been shot.
So, as I suggest in the book, it might be time to spend more time listening to nature’s Divine Buzz than to the messages on those four-inch screens.
Pam Grout is the author of 17 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality and the soon-to-be-released sequel, E-Cubed, 9 More Experiments that Prove Mirth, Magic and Merriment is your Full-time Gig.
25 Responses
I totally agree! 2 years ago on June 13th I knew I had to go and see my Dad, even though it was my son’s birthday, so I travelled down to Essex from Yorkshire. My dad died 2 days later and I was with him, for which I will be eternally grateful. On the day he died, later on, there was a huge flock of swallows flying about. My dad loved swallows, always waited for their arrival and would phone me when he saw the first one of Summer! I know it was a message to say he was ok.
Love this story!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
I have another (albeit less dramatic) story for you: Just a few short hours ago I was sitting in my SUV in a parking lot catching up on some emails when I stopped and looked around at the trees swaying in the breeze. Now, keep in mind that these are just a bunch of normal trees, but for some reason this morning I was struck at how beautiful these ordinary trees really are, and I thought about what a blessing we’ve all been given to have this beauty to gaze upon for our enjoyment. I thought to myself, “This is God’s artwork”. And now, lo and behold, I get an email from you with almost that exact subject line!
Thank you, Pam, for sharing these wonderful stories with us!
You’re very welcome. It is my pleasure!!!
Thank you Pam.
Thank you, Pam, for sharing sweet stories. They are touching and promped me to get on with my day and be aware of the presence that is always within me. We can get wrapped up in this world of striving, and forget that we don’t have to strive at all. Just be, and do your thing, and all will be well, because the very nature of ourselves and of the Universe, is Well-Being. So, lighten up! Lean back and rest in it as you go about your day! I am so impressed with your writing and I enjoy your insights that bring truths to light. Thank you again! jenny
Thank you, Jenny! These kind comments keep me going. And truth be told, I write them as much for me as for anyone else!!!
Pam, I have been seeing more yellow Monarch butterflies these past few months than I have ever seen in my life. Besides seeing yellow cars and thinking of you, every time I see one of these beautiful, amazing insects I think of you and the divine spiritual side of nature that is always connected to us. Thank you for helping me remember there is always beauty, we just have to look.
That’s so sweet, Katherine. I love that you think of me when you see butterflies. I was running along this path by the river the other day and there must have been 300 butterflies lining the path. It was magical.
Thank you Pam! I love your work, and this post really rings with me. I find a session in my gardens or a walk in the woods is all I need to set my world in balance:) Being close to nature brings an awareness of the connective energy of all living things, and is the inspiration of my artwork. http://torietiffanyart.com/home.html
I’m the same way. Whenever I’m off, I head to my yard and pick weeds. It’s one of the most therapeutic things I ever do. Mother Nature’s Divine buzz is always there. We just aren’t listening half the time.
Pam, already ordered your new book from Amazon. Can’t wait for its release date in Sept,😎 Maureen Heffernan
Sent from my iPad
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Thanks, Maureen. I’m excited, too.
I agree lve a straw bale annexe to my home solar panels rain water harvest ..log burner .walk everywhere that way you never miss the birdsong and beauty of nature. My children have never been to school in a car ..They have reaped many benefits.
Your kids are lucky!!! My daughter once said she hoped to never own a car, but now that she’s 20, she may be changing her tune. And I love straw bale houses. Your home sounds amazing!!!
Pam thank you for that story, and letting it be known to all. I am fairly new here and to the LOA, been studying the ACIM on and off
for ..well since 91.
Maybe you could tell me about this divine buzz…..I have a high pitched sound that I can hear most of the time…..it’s not bothersome however it is different because I never experienced it before…..maybe you could take time…or anyone for that matter what it might be?
Thank you
Walt
Hmm. Not sure about the high-pitched sound. What I call the Divine Buzz is this feeling of energy, of joy, of being in the now. It’s rather hard to put into words and probably can’t be defined. Once we define something, we put it a box. I prefer mystery and fluidity myself.
Hi Pam
Enjoyed your visit to the conference Spirit Awakenings in Atlanta GA. Great blog on Divine Nature♡
Thank you so much!! Glad you liked the Awakened Spirit Expo. I thought Michael and Sherry did a fabulous job!!!
Reblogged this on Natures Healing and commented:
Do you listen to nature?
Enjoy this blog on how nature knows more than we understand, unless we’re prepared to listen.
Have fun listening with an open mind & heart
Yes! I decided yesterday to offer my postcards from the wild as an actual postcard series, and this was one of the reasons for it. Often, when I ask for signs from the FP, they come in the form of animal sightings. The other day it was a lone tulip, then a tiny yellow bird, then a beaver. I was delighted.
Ah, what a magical way to listen to the FP–signposts from our animal brethren. Love this!!!
Thanks for sharing. I’d add, not just listening to “nature” but to the still small voice within, no matter where we’re sitting.
Right on, sister!!!
Nature is the art of God.”—Sir Thomas Browne, Thanks for the share and great words from him, Awesome article to follow
Cheers 🙂 tilecleaningalpharetta.com