Ironically I associate lockdown with being outdoors in nature. This is because when everything is closed and there is nowhere else to go I go for walks in my local parks. This is what kept me sane during the first lockdown. This is what I did over Xmas and this is what I am doing to get through this next period of restricted living. But this is no hardship. Being amongst nature is both calming and invigorating. I find as soon as I step through the park gates and am surrounded by trees rather than buildings I feel instantly more relaxed. I brief a sigh of relief as I leave tense city streets behind and enter the soothing world of nature.
We have to remind ourselves that even during this ongoing and overwhelming experience of global seizure and disruption, the world of man is only one aspect of living and if we are able to just turn away from it and gaze instead upon the natural world that we are a part of, yet disconnected from, we can find not only solace and contentment, but guidance and purpose.
To be able to endure the harsher conditions of winter, trees suck the lifeblood out of their leaves, sacrificing them so that they can live through it. We must also get through this season by withdrawing ourselves and reducing our existence. Like the trees we must do whatever is necessary in order to survive.
We are so disconnected from nature that we talk about it as if we are not a part of it. As if it is something separate. The same way that people talk about traffic, as if does not include them, even when they are in it. And that, in part, is why we are in the state we are in.
We must reintegrate with the natural network that we have removed ourselves from so that we can restore our wellbeing. If that sounds like old hippy shit to you, leave your phone at home and go for a walk amongst the trees and tell me that you do not feel better after you return.
As winter fell this year and the trees shed their leaves I have been truly in awe at their skeleton structures, as if I am seeing them for the first time. This is either because I have been observing them more frequently throughout the year and so their transformation is more apparent…or it’s possibly the magic mushroom chocolates which might have contributed to this heightened awareness – it’s just so difficult to tell ;)
Whatever it is I feel more connected to nature so now when I look at the ‘design’ of all the branches on all the trees I see that they are identical to the ‘design’ of our lungs (see above) because that is exactly what they are. They are our external lungs. And we need them to breathe just like we do our internal lungs. To destroy them, as is happening all over the world at the most relentless rate, is the most masochistic act of all time. It is pure self-sabotage. Surely we want to survive? And when it really comes down to it, that is all that nature demands of us and ironically we need to protect it in order for that to happen..
Hope everyone is doing ok. I woulda normally wished you a happy new year but I was late starting this year (trying to get my head in gear) and it also just doesn’t seem that appropriate righta bout now. So instead I will just say please look after yourself and each other and let’s get through this…