In the field of ecopsychology, we recognize that human well-being is deeply rooted in our connection with the natural world. It’s an evolutionary relationship grounded in noticing innate "Natural Attractions." This concept, championed by Dr. Michael Cohen of Project Nature Connect, allerts us to our intrinsic draw to the rhythms, energies, and systems of our Earth and beyond—it is a pull as fundamental to us as gravity.
Natural Attractions
A Natural Attraction is the concept that nature reaches out to us continually, offering not only sustenance but also guidance, healing, wise counsel and connection. In ecopsychology, we believe that this attraction isn’t just a product of external landscapes but is also an innate feature of our being. Our bodies and minds have evolved with nature, and, as a result, we possess an intuitive capacity to perceive and respond to its subtle signals.
A Natural Attraction feels like a pull toward something in the natural world that resonates with us on a fundamental level. The reawakening of our senses connects us to something beyond ourselves, inviting us to slow down and simply be. It might arise as a peaceful feeling in a forest, the sound of a bird, awe and wonder, the rhythmic comfort of ocean waves, or a spark of curiosity or joy when noticing the details of a flower or feeling the warmth of sunlight on a Winters day. At its core, Natural Attraction feels like a reawakening of our senses and an affirmation of belonging—a sense that, in that present moment, we are exactly where we’re meant to be.
For some of us, this 'call' manifests as a sense of longing, a persistent desire to reconnect with the natural world. We can re-learn to 'listen' more deeply to the call, the Natural Attraction that is drawing us toward beauty, wisdom, greater harmony and balance. It is a reminder of our place within a larger ecological web. It’s an invitation to deepen our awareness and rekindle deeper bonds with our Earth.
How the Call of Nature Speaks to Us
From an ecopsychological perspective, the call of nature doesn’t always come as a clear message; it’s often felt as subtle prompts. It often emerges when we slow down enough to sense the life around us. For example, when we take a mindful walk in nature, our attraction to the sounds, textures, and colors there can ground us in the present moment. Our minds naturally shift into a state of curiosity and wonder, and, in that space, we feel nature’s connections that can be portals, allowing elements of nature to communicate messages or guidance. Imagine a Natural Atraction as a sensory ancient relationship that’s still alive and waiting to be rekindled.
Rediscovering Belonging Through Natural Attraction
In our current modern society, many of us experience a sense of isolation or fragmentation. Yet ecopsychology teaches that these feelings often stem from the disconnection we experience with the natural world. Nature, with its intricate web of relationships and interdependence, is a mirror of what we deeply need: connection, belonging, and purpose.
When we listen to the call of nature and follow the Natural Attraction, we remember that we, too, are a part of that web. This sense of belonging is healing. It provides a counterbalance to the feelings of alienation we often experience in a fast-paced, industrialised world. It opens a pathway to ecospirituality, where our relationship with nature becomes reciprocal, grounded in respect, care, and reverence for all living things.
The Call of Nature as a Path Back to Ourselves
In responding to the call of nature, we’re answering a call to reclaim our wholeness. Nature, through our Natural Attraction, offers us a mirror into our inner landscape, teaching us resilience, adaptability, and the beauty of coexistence. Through applied ecopsychology practices, we come to see that our connection with the natural world is more than just beneficial; it’s essential. It heals the fragmentation within us, and it reminds us of our responsibility to nurture and protect this planet we call home and all beings.
By responding to our Natural Attractions, we cultivate an awareness that is both ancient and immediate. We become attuned to nature’s cycles, which in turn nurtures an ecospiritual perspective—an understanding that we’re part of something larger than ourselves, a living system that thrives on connection and reciprocity.
Cultivating a Response to Nature’s Call: Practicing Natural Attraction
Answering nature’s call is a practice, one that we can cultivate through mindful engagement with the natural world. Project Nature Connect encourages "natural attraction" exercises—simple, sensory-based activities designed to help us reconnect. This might involve noticing the texture of tree bark, feeling the coolness of river water, or observing the behavior of birds. These practices may seem simple, but they’re powerful reminders of our capacity for interconnectedness, helping us reclaim our innate empathy for life around us, and guiding us to protect and care for what we value and love.
Exploring Natural Attractions with Greensong
In a society that often feels rushed and fragmented, reconnecting with nature is a nourishing grounding practice. It reminds us of our origins, our interdependence, and the peace that can be found when we slow down to listen to the world around us. A variety of ways to connect more deeply with Nature are offered with Greensong's Nature Mindfulness and Nature-Guided Walks.. When we engage in nature-based practices, we find ourselves opening to the subtle ways nature communicates—through our intuition, our senses, and the feelings that arise when we experience the natural world’s beauty. It’s an invitation to go beyond basic observation, to form a deeper bond based on respect, curiosity, and love.
You are invited to experience this everyday magic—the richness, wisdom, and love that nature continuously gifts us. It is a journey of connection, of finding belonging within ourselves, within our relationships, and within our beautiful, Earth that sustains us all. Nature is calling you home, urging you to recognize the webstrings, the threads that bind us all together.
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