nature
/ˈneɪtʃə/
The phenomena of the physical world collectively; esp. plants, animals, and other features and products of the earth itself, as opposed to humans or human creations (Oxford English Dictionary)
Nature is all the animals, plants, and other things in the world that are not made by people, and all the events and processes that are not caused by people. (Collins Dictionary)
There are a growing number of grassroots campaigns (#WeAreNature) trying to change English-language dictionary definitions of the word ‘nature’ to include humans and reclaim our place in nature, as nature.
Somewhere along the way, our language became noun heavy, the language of separation, reducing living systems into isolated parts that can be categorised, measured and identified. Language complicated by diversity and strengthened by uniformity. Yet nature is the language of verbs, everything existing in relationship and understood because of relationship. I am because you are. Everything shifts, unfolds, becomes and then those cycles reverse.
In believing we need to escape to sacredness to find peace, we neglect the everyday experiences of life. But the truth is every atom, every second, every place, every being, every cup of tea is sacred, because everything ‘becomes' through the same source.
Most of the healing practices available to us have their roots in ancient ways that our ancestors used to STAY well and closer to the more truly human experience.
Re-sacredising ourselves once more feels imperative. Through simple daily practices we can begin to re-wild and hone our modern bodies and minds to be able to have a more truly human experience, through good food, through natural movement, through the medicine of being in nature, of being nature. All the while also shifting our mindset to a lighter view, where everything can be experienced as sacred rather than objects and commodities.
It is an urgent calling. This process is our homecoming and is one that shows up more in its absence. As our mental health suffers and our nervous systems remain constantly out of kilter, we are becoming more and more fearful, stressed and isolated. We must give ourselves the space to listen.
I guess I see the therapeutic benefits of these pure whole-leaf Chinese teas as an invitation. An invitation to remember something beautiful and pure. By engaging with the simplest thing, a cup of tea, and re-sacredising your experience of choosing it, brewing it and drinking it, you are also re-sacredising your experience of yourself as you let it settle within you. For this is the source from which everything becomes.
I had the honour of running a Breathe and Brew experience with the writer’s group I belong to. Some of the writers have kindly given permission for me to share what they journalled. Thank you Melanie for your beautiful piece, I hope you all enjoy it as much as we did.
Homage to TEA
The finest of threads, subtle vapours arise
Delicate fragrance flowing to my senses
Over the silk roads you have travelled to me
Over the centuries you have not grown weary to seek me out
The threads of myself have been knotted and tangled, pulled apart and broken
I allow those multitudes of threads that have designed me to come, restore, reconnect, leave and weave me into whom I really am and was always meant to be
With gratitude I rest in your arms
I can now exhale
Thank you
Have a wonderful August and we look forward to speaking to you again in September.
Anne and Ric x