Muir’s empathy for all life began with identifying with the mind of the creatures whose intentions and moods he came to know. “We worked with [oxen], sympathized with them in their rest and toil and play, and thus learned to know them far better than we should had we been only trained scientific naturalists. We … Read more
Three quotations from John Muir illustrate advanced perception. After listening to it in all kinds of winds, night and day, season after season, I think I could approximate to my position on the mountain by this pine music alone. If you would catch the tone of separate needles, climb a tree in breezy weather. … Read more
Singing in the rain When beauty touches us, it awakens our aesthetic response, ranging from contentment and satisfaction to delight, rejoicing, and awe: these modes of experience register our recognition of universal beauty. The most common positive emotions are joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, pride (paired with humility), amusement, inspiration, awe, and love.[1] As long … Read more
Walking in beauty heightens the resonance between beauty in our surroundings and beauty in ourselves; and this resonance enhances vitality. Vitality is associated with energy, enthusiasm, zest, and vigor. As psychologists describe it, vitality involves the entire personality, embracing several kinds of value: biological, psychological, social, philosophical, and spiritual. Vitality expresses physical health … Read more
Rising to a full appreciation of the beauties of nature, we engage ourselves on all levels. We could systematically describe these levels, beginning with perception, moving through the intellectual discovery of harmony, and culminating with the spiritual realization of divine beauty. But full experience does not usually come at the conclusion of a systematic process. … Read more
A Navajo prayer introduces the concept of walking in beauty. With beauty before me, I walk With beauty behind me, I walk With beauty above me, I walk With beauty below me, I walk From the east beauty has been restored From the south beauty has been restored From the west beauty has … Read more
Congratulations! You have done the heavy intellectual lifting and are ready for Part II: Walking in beauty. We begin with living amid the beauties of nature. During the month of August this blog will present a series that guides you into a better appreciation through posts on the following topics. The psychology of vitality. Barbara … Read more