[Eko]

Reflecting on my experience on guiding someone who has never done the wander before for the assignment in the previous module, I conceive the following plan for a 6 months work.

We will meet fortnightly. The 1st meeting of the month will be to discuss & support the client to formulate a clear intention wander, including what makes it important for the client to process the topic at that point in time and the specific places the client would like to explore for the wander.

The 2nd meeting of the month will consist of a complete ceremony series, wherein the beginning part will be 5 minutes sensory awareness meditation to help the client quieten the mind and start building connection with nature. The middle part will be approximately 30 minutes wander, wherein I will let the client lead the wander & I will be creating & maintaining the container for the client’s process through deep listening. The end part will be discussion about the client’s thoughts on whatever that he/she thinks is significant from what he/she notices during the wander and what he/she thinks it is telling him/her. Deep listening will also be employed here, so that I can reflect the client’s thoughts and ask questions that can help the client to go deeper into awareness.

The pattern will continue for 6 months. However, we will use the last session to review our journey together and think about what the client can do to continue the growth journey that he/she has embarked on. We will review the 1st intention that the client has for the work, where the client think he/she is in terms of that intention, and what has emerged during the 6 months process. Afterwards we will discuss what the client wants to do when the engagement is done to ensure his/her continued growth, as well as identify the supports that he/she needs for that purpose, as well as the available resources that have the potential to provide such support.

[Eko]

My client’s goal was to get more clarity how to move forward in a certification program. She has been working on it for a few years on & off. She felt that she has invested quite a lot in her certification journey, but on the other hand, she also felt that she was not making much progress. When I guided her through her wander, I have done it quite a number of times. However, for my client, it was her first experience of doing such wander & she approached it with curiosity.

Prior to the wander, we has one session to get clear on her goal for the wander & I also explained what will each of us would be doing when we do the 30 minutes wander. On the agreed schedule, we met & I guided her to first did some sensory awareness meditation for about 5 minutes. It helped her to quieten her mind & connect more with nature. When we started to wander she walked quite briskly. I asked her whether she would like to walk with a slower pace so that she could notice her surrounding more closely & reflect more on what she noticed. She agreed to it, and started walking more slowly. Along the wander she shared what comes to her mind as noticed different things, & I mainly responded by reflecting back her message to her.

After the wander, we sat down to discuss the experience. I asked her what are her thoughts regarding the things that she noticed & shared during the wander. The highlight for her was that during the early part of the wander she thought of going to a gazebo near our starting point, but we ended up not going there at all because she felt attracted to pass by a group of boys who were playing ball at another area. But she felt that she enjoyed the overall journey, because it gave her the opportunity to explore areas that she never known before. She felt that it reflected her certification journey, and she felt that the journey has taught her that it is the new knowledge that is important for her, and she felt the freedom to not make herself meet the expectation of others who said that she was wasting her resources if she did not complete her certification.

I am truly amazed & humbled hearing her sharing her thoughts, because I am fully aware that I did very little during our wander. I just tried to create & maintain a container for her to connect with nature, and both she and nature worked it out themselves. I am eager to go deeper into this

[Eko]

I finally started to wander around 3 days ago. Honestly, it is something that I hardly ever do, because I was born & grew up in a dense city area. Hence, my parents hardly allow me to wander around. I have been living in the suburb, since I got married 17 years ago. The environment of our residential cluster where I am currently residing, is actually quite inviting to wander around. However, my childhood habit stuck with me, until 3 days ago I decided that I will not postpone doing the wander anymore.

Initially my 1st wandering experience in my residential neighborhood was not really comfortable, as I was breaking out of my old pattern. However, to my delight, it turned into an enjoyable experience not long after I started. I have always enjoyed observing the physical environment, that’s why I took architecture in my university years. However, I usually observe the physical environment when I am on holiday away from my home or observing while inside a vehicle while on my way. Not long after I started my 1st wander, I observed the back part of my house from a distance. I noticed things that I was not aware before about my house, like the cracks on the walls, the plant that have overgrown its place, etc. I felt like I was getting to know my house all over again & it warmed my heart.

Then I moved on to just stroll around my residential cluster, just following my feet. I noticed many interesting things within my neighborhood. I noticed the small birds gathers on the grass, as well on the trees, I noticed a certain house has an altar on its 2nd floor terrace, I noticed a couple of very nice stretch of green areas that I was not aware that they exist prior to this, and many more small wonderful things. It suddenly dawned on me that by doing this “aimless” wandering activity, I was actually expanding & enriching meaningful knowledge & understanding. I have been too goal oriented in my approach to life, both in personal life as well as professional life. I suddenly realized that if I create more free, unstructured space in my time schedule, my life & personal growth would be so much more meaningful.

[Eko]

One peculiar thing happened yesterday. I was listening to a talk a few days ago about releasing things that we have outgrown, so that we can create space for our upcoming intention, as well as the work & relationships it required. Yesterday I was at my usual sit spot at my back terrace doing the 7 breath meditation & somehow the things that I noticed seemed to convey that very idea. The slim tree at my backyard waved around because of the gentle wind, communicating ease of movement due to lightness in weight. Another tree has a few brown leaves which will soon fall away, but at the same time has some flower buds that will soon bloom, showing me cycles that happen naturally. The synchronicities really stood out & I felt awed.

Reading Daniel’s post convince me even more that nature does communicate with me. In order for me to be aware of this communication I need to make time to quieten my mind, as well as pay attention & be willing to receive any message that nature wants to convey.

[Eko]

What did I notice?
I practice objective awareness at a sit spot at my terrace at the back my home. It is something new for me & I enjoy being able to notice & get to know my home environment more. I notice that there are at least 3 different types of birds frequenting our house, because their chirping sound is different (previously I never notice this difference). I also notice the different sound of the rain as it meets with pebbles, leaves, and soil. I can sense the temperature difference, as well as sense the wind direction, with my skin. I’m beginning to notice plant’s smell (somehow my smelling ability is not as good as the other sensory abilities). I enjoy the practice, as it often results in a sense of inner calmness & peaceful detachment. However, there were days when I was not able to notice objectively because my mind was busy thinking about things that I need to do.

What does that show me?
It shows me that indeed, it takes practice to be able to come into that space of objective awareness. It shows me that there are actually many interesting things in my surrounding environment, whose existence I was not aware of previously. because I was too busy pursuing other things.

What does that teach me?
It teaches me that enjoyment is actually at my fingertip. It makes me think about what it is that I am actually pursuing. I come to the conclusion that I want to enjoy life. I set the intention to create for myself a different work strategy that will enable me to do less & enjoy more.

[Eko]

Hi everyone,
Thank you for all of your sharings. They are very enriching. I currently view myself as someone who is very deprived in terms of nature connection. I was born & grew up in a city area with almost no city park or gardens. However, thankfully this pandemic has led me to a context wherein I am in touch with nature issues, and led me to this course. I must say this course has changed the way I view nature & the way I interact with nature.

What is nature connection?
Prior to the course, I define nature very narrowly, i.e. as anything that is related to other species than human. Hence, at that time, nature connection would mean engaging with other species. However, at this point in time, I view nature connection as having meaningful experiences with nature by means of developing sensory awareness of my surroundings. I have yet to experience the fuller benefit from this connection, but I know that I am moving towards a deeper connection with nature.

Why is it important to you?
Being a personal growth junkie, one of the things that led me to this course is that I want to expand my sensory capacity to the extent that I can perceive what is happening in my surrounding in a more comprehensive manner. However, now I also want to embrace the fuller benefit from connecting with nature, i.e. the sense of wholeness and connectedness, as well as getting in touch with parts of myself which I may not be aware of their existence at the moment.

What are the real challenge that you face in maintaining your connection?
Busy schedule. Developing the required sensory awareness which enables one to connect deeply with nature requires exploration & practice, which of course, translate to time. I am aware that I need to make time for it, otherwise it will not happen. I know I am not there yet, but I also know that I am moving towards it, as I have officially let go of certain works that has become just routine & lost their meaning, so that I can incorporate more time for myself to develop nature connection.
Modern life distractions. Lacking the exposure to nature for the most part of my life, honestly at the moment spending time in nature is not what I automatically have in mind as a way of relaxing or getting energized. But I know this phenomenon is related to habit, & changing habit requires persistence.

[Eko]

Hi everyone,

My name is Ellen Patricia & one of my services is coaching. I am looking for ways to incorporate nature into the practice & found this course online. Looking forward to meeting you all.