Natural Landscapes Resonate with Our Inner Sense of Harmony
By John Winternitz
Imagine you've gone on a long hike. After miles of trekking, you come to a clearing in the woods where the view opens up to a spectacular display of a landscape untouched by humans. There are no signs of civilization; the area is completely unbridled. What sensations would you experience in your body? How would your mind and spirit feel? Have you ever had an experience like this?
For me, such experiences bring a mixture of immense relief, wonder, awe, and deep appreciation for the beauty and harmony of the natural world. The intensity of these feelings can be profound. Extended camping trips, for example, are often tiring yet highly rewarding. Living in nature without modern comforts requires effort, but the rewards are immense.
In a pristine landscape, many things are happening simultaneously: flowers blooming, spring water bubbling, breezes blowing, deer grazing, mountain lions hunting, trees falling and being decomposed by fungi, old trees standing tall, and new plants sprouting. Whether it’s a clear and sunny day or clouds gathering overhead, life and decay coexist within this landscape. When left to its natural ways, the environment tends toward a greater harmony that feels majestic on a vast scale.
Our bodies, minds, and spirits reflect our environments, our connection to them, and how we interact with them. These gorgeous landscapes are the environments from which we humans emerged; they are our inheritance.
Cityscapes Reflect Both Positive and Negative Elements of Harmony and Disharmony
Sometimes, venturing into a city can evoke similar feelings of awe and inspiration. The brilliance of the human spirit is evident in the beauty and culture we create. Cities showcase many beautiful aspects of culture, but they also highlight negative issues. The balance between privilege and oppression becomes starkly apparent, and consumer culture often stands in direct opposition to the natural harmony of nature.
Cities tend to exhibit disharmony in how we treat each other and our immediate environment. The term "concrete jungle" metaphorically describes how we suppress nature by covering everything with cement to keep out the wildness of plants and animals, representing our unconscious mind.
The way we treat our environments is reflected in how we relate to our bodies and minds. Conversely, how we treat our bodies and minds is reflected in how we treat our environments. Concrete symbolizes how we suppress our unconsciousness and certain emotions and experiences.
At Juniper Tree Acupuncture, we believe in the importance of reconnecting with natural landscapes to restore balance and harmony in our lives. Embracing the beauty and majesty of nature can lead to profound healing and a deeper sense of well-being.
