Partnering with Nature in Support of its Wisdom and Intelligence

As we work to become better partners with the natural world and its intelligence, seemingly contradictory feelings and emotions may arise—sometimes simultaneously—including grief, awe, resentment, gratitude, deep respect, and anxiety. Many of you reading this may have experienced a deep appreciation for the support your daily mindfulness practice can offer during such times, allowing you to more deeply understand, navigate, and constructively channel these emotions.

For some, it may also be supportive on this journey to be in community with like-minded individuals, working together to influence policies, community practices, or even broader planetary health initiatives. Others may choose to plant trees, compost, drive less, participate in community gardens, help clean up neighborhood soil and erosion, eat locally sourced, and/or plant-based foods.

There is no single way to partner with and support the wisdom and intelligence of the natural world. What matters is that we remember, as best we can, to more intentionally bring our human intelligence, care, and understanding of life’s rich interdependencies to the choices we make each day.