There is a postulate at the heart of the Heartwood Path that is so powerful it enables participants to, at once, become happier and to add beauty and sustainability to the natural environment. Serving as our foundation of reasoning, discussion, and belief, this primary postulate is stated as follows:
“The greatest trustable truths of one’s life arise during one’s sensing of the Now in nature.”
This revered statement guided us as we chose each of the topics and activities in this series of courses. It also was a determining factor for how we created its main methodology, which you will be doing by the end of the first learning station.
As you will learn, your sensing of the Now is trustable because, coming from your own experience, it gives you undeniably accurate information. Doing this sensing in nature allows you to tap into an incredible source of intelligence.
Without producing any pollution, being mindful of the Now in nature reduces stress, anxiety, and disorders. It produces deep joy. It supports sustainability. It creates a reverence for life. And it binds all things together into balanced, peaceful, and trustworthy relationships.
Without a purposeful program that encourages regular moments of awareness of the present moment in nature, one is prone to looking for unhealthy replacements. One becomes prone to all sorts of heinous substitutions, including substance abuse, excessive consumption, and other defilements that damage yourself, other people, and the planet. Our propensity to replace frequent moments in the peace of natural areas with indoor distractions and stories that are detached from the wisdom of nature collectively causes what Dr. Michael Cohen calls “Earth Misery.” This malady is marked by remarkably consistent and corresponding increases in mental illness, obesity, resource deficits, pollution, stress, species extinction, and more (2018).
Given its demonstrable ability to reduce Earth Misery, keep the primary postulate of this series of courses in mind as you move to your first taste of the Heartwood Path. Do so, just for the fun of it. Do so, just for your own happiness. Or do so, just for the good of the environment.