Drawing for Deepening Connection to (our) Nature
Nature Journaling for Observation, Presence, Wonder & Remembering
Observation is one of the most powerful ways to get to know (our) nature. But, in our fast-paced and hyper-stimulated world, the task of observing nature can feel daunting: “You want me to just sit there and watch??” Many of us feel anxious or distracted with such little stimulation. With that in mind, nature journaling is a method of deepening presence, observation, and memory of nature. It helps us to stay in engaged and curious in the process of observation. Then, it helps us to remember our experiences so much that it deepens our connection to nature over time. This is highly beneficial for our well-being as:
the more we observe → the more we understand
the more we understand → the more we can participate
the more we participate → the more connected we feel
the more connected we feel → the more purpose we feel
the more purpose we feel → the more meaning we have
the more meaning → the more resilience, love, joy, and peace
John Muir Laws is a world-renowned leader of nature journaling who’s taught me most of what I know. So, rather than summarize his work, just check him out! He offers many helpful resources for nature journaling at all levels. Here’s some of the most helpful online resources that he offers:
→ Three Prompts for Deeper Nature Observation (text) (video)
He also offers a weekly Nature Journaling Workshop on Zoom (donation based) Maybe I’ll see you there!
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