APNC Spring/Summer 2019 Lesson 2:2

[jacklyn.couturier]

The more we are digging deeper into nature and practicing different techniques like the 7 stairs, I am worried that I am going to forget something. Is there a script for the 7 stairs? I really want to use that and practice that on myself over and over before practicing it on anyone. Daniel thank you for clarifying that question for me via email.
I loved the part when you stated “once you get up, trust yourself” and just wander.
I personally argued with in myself, when I did a retreat and my coach sent us out, I didn’t know which way to go.
To my fellow classmates, how are you practicing and remembering this stuff? Any ideas would help.
Thank you

[David Fontaine]

Hi Jacklyn! I often would go back to the call recording to listen to the 7 stairs exercise as it helps me to focus better when I’m being walked through it versus trying to remember it and prompt myself through it. I’ve been doing this one since the course I took over the winter and over time this and the other exercises will stick with you as you do them repetitively. It becomes second nature over time. But until then, I suggest going back to the recordings and notes often as they are great resources for staying focused and it takes away the worry that you’re forgetting anything. I also built a daily routine which includes the exercises I find most beneficial. I like to do mine in the morning and that starts with getting out in my sit spot, doing surrender breaths, using 360 vision and hearing. I take that into full sensory awareness and then I do the 7 stairs. I’m starting to add wanders to my routine, not daily but a few times a week. The great part about this is there is no wrong way to practice. It can be catered to what works best for you. And the more you can engage in it the better.

[jacklyn.couturier]

David thank you so much for your insight. This helps a lot.

[Kimberly Beck]

Wander: July 10, 2019 5:05pm; Blue, still sky, 75 degrees, Lookout Mountain, Golden. Out the front door and headed east toward the douglas fir forest. I paused for a minute about 20 feet shy of the entrance, just noticing the exquisite beauty at this place and time. Wrens, a robin, and juncos surrounded the entrance and I was drawn to interact with the robin. The robin had initially raised from ground level to a low branch as I approached, then after a minute he lowered back down to the ground, scavenging again. I felt called to follow and each of my gentle steps pushed him to hop a foot ahead. He remained on the ground and we maintained a zone between us of about 15 feet. We took a walk, aware of one another, not bothered by each other, and remained at respectful distance. He turned south and slowly hopped up the hill through the forest floor covered in harebells, arnica, Oregon grape, firs, grasses, and penstemons. I followed him, slowly and respectfully for about 20 minutes, with curiosity and joy.
Then suddenly something inside said ‘take your shoes off now and walk back down’. I bid farewell to Robin, took my shoes off and let my tender feet walk down the hill – feeling each needle, cone, plant and elk poop underfoot. While I typically enjoy going barefoot on dirt, sand and grass, I do not walk barefoot in a pine and fir forest. My senses sharply turned from vision to skin, and my awareness contracted from broad circles surrounding me to just underfoot (and immediately ahead). As I fox-walked my way down, sounds such as ‘ouch’ and ‘oooo!’ fell out of my mouth. From a slightly deeper place within I heard ‘you need to toughen up a bit, girl’. This resonated with me. On many levels. I vowed to begin walking barefoot in the forest at least 3 times a week – and would like to use this time to literally build some more strength in my feet and on my skin, and to reflect metaphorically on where and how I need to ‘toughen up’.
Nature participated in this whole process through the weather, the birds, the trees and plants, the relational awareness between myself and the robin, my senses, the shifts in my senses, and through the internal voice I followed. I temporarily felt a part of that environment instead of a visitor – which is the truth of the matter anyway.
I work with clients outdoors and have done wanderings in a few forms though I don’t work with this practice enough with clients or myself. It builds my (and their) listening skills, internally and externally, which then naturally shifts my vibe/presence. In a time when the default is to seek answers outside of ourselves and to place responsibility for our lives on external systems and organizations, this simple practice is an opening to begin following our own answers.

[David Fontaine]

Beautifully expressed, Kimberly! I’ve had some incredible encounters with robins in the past several weeks that have really opened my eyes to some deep insights. They’re one of the greatest teachers, I’ve found. It helps that they’re more tolerant of our close physical presence as well, as long as we’re displaying awareness and respect for them. I’ve come to be a believer in the idea that what needs to cross our path and be seen by us always will. It’s a matter of whether we’re seeing it as a lesson or just something cool that happened. In some respects I believe that our answers do come from experiences outside of ourselves but it depends on how we process those experiences and it relies on us having the awareness to ask ourselves “what is this showing me?” to make those external experiences valuable to us internally.

[Kimberly Beck]

Thanks, David. Just saw this. I really enjoyed reading about your experience with the fledgling. I actually thought of you as I followed the robin in this wander. I so love them and count on them daily to share about the environment. They never fail. Have a great evening!

[Tracey]

Kimberly said…”I temporarily felt a part of that environment instead of a visitor – which is the truth of the matter anyway.” I LOVE THIS!

[David Fontaine]

I want to circle back to the wander we did on the last call in and share what has come up for me since that time. If you recall, I had found a feather on the return walk to come back to join the call. With only a few minutes left to ponder why that came into my path and what it might have to show me, I was left stumped. Following Michael’s suggestion that I keep working with that feather (which was confirmed to be an owl feather) over the next several days to uncover its importance, I took it to my sit spot, took it down the 7 stairs with me and was still coming up with blanks. It wasn’t until a few days ago, I journeyed back in my mind to that day and looked at events and observations I’d had around that time, even a couple days prior to this feather find. I had shared an experience on the forum that I had had with a fledgling robin throughout the course of an entire day. After that day I no longer saw that robin and, over the next couple of days, my mind tried to conjure up scenarios that could explain its absence from my yard. All of those were explanations trying to paint a picture of it being alive and well in some other back yard. I remember on the day of the last call, and even during the call I was still thinking about this. I remember saying to myself “you’ll never know the real answer to this. This will be one of those things you just don’t get closure on”. And now it seems that I was probably wrong about those statements. I think the real answer was shown to me and that answer was that an owl had got to my robin. I had gone on that wonder with no true intention or question, but the question of the status of the robin was certainly an underlying question that nature kindly answered for me.

In my wander since then, I went out with a specific question and that was “how do I find deeper focus?” I wandered around my yard which is just an incredible place to practice! I was eventually led to my hammock where I partook in a short lay in it while swinging back and forth, taking in my surroundings. All the while repeating my question. Then Michael’s voice rang in my head saying “if you’ve been practicing the 7 Stairs exercise for a while now, try it with your eyes open and while you’re moving around”. So I did just that. I went through the whole exercise fully alert. I was blown away that I was actually able to do this effectively since I sometimes struggle to keep focused on it, even when I’m seated with my eyes closed. I think the lesson for me here was that while repetition is key for building focus fitness, so is changing up the way you practice. I immediately likened this to running. I can run the same trail day after day and my body will eventually get used to that one trail. It will become incredibly easy for me, almost like my body is on auto-pilot. Then I go run a different one and I struggle to run the same distance and difficulty. The same applies to my mind where it will kind of shortcut things its starting to do well and, before I know it, I’m inadvertently cutting out important pieces and doing things in auto-pilot. Nature participated in this wander (like it always does) by washing the mind clear and letting the important things rise to the surface. I had forgotten Michael’s suggestion and just like that, it came to me.

This insight has opened my mind more to practicing in all different scenarios and mixing things up a bit to stay “in shape”. Today I did my sit spot routine while a tree crew was chain sawing tree limbs and chipping them up in a loud chipper. Normally I would have required my sit spot session to be quiet and just the right moment.

[Tracey]

Thank you David for your share about the wander. What I took from your writings is that you were trusting what was being given. Beautiful.

[ezavaglia808]

Wandering is quickly becoming one of my favorite things to do especially when feeling stuck. Moving provides me with the sensation that I am working through things. Wandering creates space for me to just be and receive.
I have had the sensation of feeling stuck while designing my website. Wandering has offered me words of wisdom and great insight on what to include and what to discard.
I look forward to my daily sit spot visits and now I am feeling empowered as well to simply head out on a wander when I need to. I notice my body feels lighter when I head out too. It’s so cool to see how a simple act of heading out without an agenda feels so freeing! I even suggested to my client that she go wander as she is working through some challenges currently.

I have also tried practicing the seven steps and that one is much more challenging. As some of my classmates have mentioned as well, there is a distinct difference in being led through an experience versus leading yourself through one. I find when I try to lead myself through it I stay too much in my head which takes me away from being present in the experience. I am hopeful that as I continue to practice this I might become more familiar with the nature scene that I have created for this exercise that I will not have to focus on leading myself through it. I am hoping it will become like wandering as I traverse the imaginary landscape of the seven steps.

[Tracey]

I like how you said that the wander provides you with space. It really does feel freeing. I like the words you chose. Insightful students you have!

[Tracey]

While this is basically a copy of my reflection page, I am attempting to get caught up.
The most important pieces of this for me is the wander, the pull, clarification of the seven breaths (and that it is essential to stay grounded and centered in the now so not to get pulled into emotions…keep it simple), the seven steps just as valid to me as taking a walk into nature…able to use while unable to move or get out.
Reminder of “The Pull” is helpful to understand that something is guiding me. Trusting that pull is essential to discovery of my answers or the direction that is important to me. It IS my inner compass. It is within and without. And while it may not make sense entirely or immediately, something will come. Trust and Patience is an important piece of allowing nature to guide and direct me to source.
Identifying and Clarifying the 7 breaths was helpful. Identifying my actual physical feeling and sensations helped to bring self into the NOW!
The Seven Steps was an incredibly spiritual experience for me. While I felt a bit reluctant going in, it was deeply soothing and fulfilling. I can see how this practice can be almost as fulfilling as actually being in nature. Thank you Michael for your guidance and insight.

[Tracey]

Reflect on your wander. How did Nature participate? And, what thoughts are there for you in regards to application to your life and career?
Second entry: My question was about leaving my current place of practice?
During my wander, It was hot/humid/uncomfortable. The water drew my attention, but was unable to pursue it’s relief. I was pulled in the direction of some flowers…which I promptly ignored…thought it should feel deeper or more profound somehow. So I wandered down the street and while the dog started to bark, I felt the sense to broaden my own baseline and drop my eyes…the dog stopped barking. At this point, I felt the pull to turn around. The flowers drew my attention again. As I walked toward the them and sniffed them, I was sensing the baseline, as I lifted my head, I noticed some movement. I turned to look and noticed a small gecko on a tree. The only way I could have spotted this was thru the use of wide angle vision.
Finding a spot to sit and reflect on the meaning of these experiences, I found the gecko was the most impactful. The message, loud and clear; Wait, Relax, Soak up the Sun! No movement. Integrating the experiences into my life. My psyche.

[s.mirandola]

In the last two months a wonderful thing is happening to me while wandering in Nature: I often find a feather on my path as I walk. The first time this happened to me, I was walking in a wood: I was trying to figure out, with intention, if I had to stay or leave my previous job. I found so many symbols in response to my question, but what was definitive in taking a decision was… a feather that appeared to me as I walked. The feather was also one among three symbols I had to choose for my coaching brand … and that was for me the sign that I had to choose “the feather” as my brand logo. After that experience and choice, I gave up with my ex-job and I started to step into my new life wishing to take off my coaching activity. Incredibly, I have found several other feathers during my strolls and I have wondered what they are telling me. The last time was few days ago, while on holidays, walking in a Cedars Natural Reserve in Lebanon. As I was wandering trying to stay tuned to the environment baseline, I happened to glance on the ground spotting a beautiful hawk feather. Two days after it happened exactly the same along another trail in a Cedars forest. I asked myself “What are these feathers telling me?” “Why are they appearing to me?” I think the answer is that I should trust on myself and keep going on the path of my “new life” as it is the right one. After all, the feather is the logo of my Brand and surely all the feathers that I am finding on my pathway are an answer of the Nature to my tough choice.

[rhonda]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences live and in these reflections. While I haven’t been able to make the last few live session, I feel like I know you from your sharing so much of yourselves!

Wanders are also powerful for me and at this point, my whole body become more alive and excited as I begin my wanders. I definitely feel the “pull” in certain directions and walk mindfully towards places I’m feeling moved to explore. I definitely believe Nature participates, whether it be the rabbits, snakes, birds and lizards I have encountered, the breezes that cool my skin and remind me to be present and grounded, or the flowers and trees that engage me on the journey.

One area that I’m still struggling is finding meaning in what I’m encountering. I’m doing my best to release the attachment to the outcome, and continue to allow meaning to unfold as I’m ready to receive the guidance. That is not discouraging me from the practice as I do feel delighted to be more engaged with my environment and believe the practices are impacting how I show up in the world.