“Life is growing and aging and dying.” – Mark Coleman

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EPISODE SUMMARY:

 

When was the last time you stopped to smell the roses? Aside from smelling nice, taking time to regularly slow down and notice the natural world around you could change your life…

 

Today we talk with Mark Coleman, a meditation teacher and founder of Awake in the Wild - an organization dedicated to sharing the transformative power of meditation in nature.

 

His new book, “A Field Guide to Nature Meditation” provides a step-by-step framework for developing a nature meditation practice over the course of a year. Mark is a devoted student of Buddhist and mindfulness teachings and combines that background with his love of nature and the magic it possesses to help people create a truly transformational practice.

 

Listen in to learn more about connecting with Mother Earth and how being in relationship with her can help you find peace, become comfortable with death, and heal.

Topics We Discuss:

 

• [4:23] Nature calls us into presence and observation more easily than meditating in a dark room. Immersing our 5 senses in nature seems counterintuitive, but slowing down into joy, presence, and ease is the crux of mindfulness.

 

• [8:07] Build yourself up to stay outside longer, especially when it’s cold. The sensory experience of nature is pleasurable for us and pleasure brings us into the present. Admiring the beauty of simplicities like the sunset creates a sense of unity among people.

 

• [13:39] How Mark helps people connect. He calls on people to fully arrive with their minds wherever they physically are. Movement or “meandering” and just having people get lost in the landscape they’re at. There are a myriad of different ways to connect with and deepen your sensitivity to nature

 

• [19:09] Nature is healing in its own right, but just bringing yourself into the present moment brings so much healing and change. Letting our problems and stressors fade to the background of our mind for even brief periods of time induces physiological changes.

 

• [22:23] Nature not only exemplifies but is the cycles of life and death. It helps to normalize death. Reconnecting with nature reminds us that dying is part of the natural order, and that often death helps to feed new life.

 

• [31:10] The more time we spend in nature, the more we appreciate it and want to protect it. When we have a relationship with the earth, we recognize how harming the planet harms ourselves. Opening our hearts to caring more about the planet also means we have to grieve what’s been done.

 

• [38:28] Finding the balance between preservation and industrialization. Mark believes we have to focus on the good things millions of people are doing all over the world to help the environment. Take action if you are feeling anxious or hopeless and get involved with others to make a difference, even in a small way.

 

• [44:59] Meditating on nature without being outdoors. Mark teaches a “window meditation” in his book to help you connect to the natural world even if you’re in an office on a high rise.

 

• [49:41] The audio version of Mark’s book contains guided meditations for you to follow along with. Go to a park, out in your garden, or out on a hike and listen in.

FOLLOW MARK COLEMAN:

Learn more about Mark and his courses and listen to his free meditations at his website.

Learn about the retreats and training he offers at this website.

 

Connect with him on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

 

Mark’s book, “A Field Guide to Nature Meditation” is available on Amazon. (affiliate)

 

Life, Death and the Space Between is brought to you by:

Dr. Amy Robbins | Host, Executive Producer

PJ Duke | Executive Producer

Andrej | Podcastize | Audio & Video Editing

Mara Stallins | Outreach & Social Media Strategy

Claire | Claireperk.com | Podcast Cover Design

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