Does anybody else experience spiritual joy from the natural world/life?

[NMMNG]

I don't mean Pantheism. I don't experience "God" in nature or living beings. I simply experience a spiritual joy I never received from my religious pursuits (I'm a former Christian).


Things from which I get this feeling:



Playing with animals or watching animals at play. These can be pets or wild animals of nearly any sort.

Watching infants and very young children playing and discovering new things.

The beauty of nature--sunrises/sunsets, lightning, rainbows, the pounding of the surf, the red-rock desert, etc. Also walking on the beach, hiking in the woods or climbing/hiking in the desert.

[leftyladyfrommo]

1. I certainly experience a huge amount of pain when I

see what we are doing to our environment. That has kind of overridden the joy I used to fee..

[NMMNG]

3. I do as well

I despise the way the rain-forests are being burned and ravaged for profit. Soil is being depleted due to poor farming techniques, once again for profit. Entire forests of old-growth trees are cut down to make toilet paper and paper towels that could just as easily be made with recycled papers. Beautiful woods are clear-cut to make way for yet another cookie-cutter condo project. Water is being tainted with chemicals from the runoff of myriad factories. Our beaches and the sides of our roadways are littered with junk people carelessly toss aside.

It's truly sad, and I can't help but wonder if humans will learn the error of their ways before it's too late.

[insane_cratic_gal]

2. Your not alone

I've often felt that way. I really didn't understand how it occurs or way, but a bought of tremendous happiness for no apparent reason would come over me If I simply sat and listened to the natural world around me.

After exploring my faith, I found some interesting tidbits in Buddhism (which I am currently exploring)about being not in the future or past but awakened, that is being aware of the present. It's like a feeling of being whole, part of everything.

I still will go outside and sit with coffee in hand to just listen to the birds chatter during their morning business, it gives me a sense of calm, peace and joy.

[NMMNG]

4. I adore the sound of birds twittering and singing

I often hear them in the wee hours of the morning when I'm doing my rounds at my weekday job. They sing and call to one another as they anticipate the coming sunrise.

As morning breaks the birds, rabbits and squirrels use the backyard at my weekend job as a breakfast buffet. When I have a chance I enjoy watching out the window as they scamper about the yard picking up what tidbits they can. If I remember to take my camera to work I can take some pictures to share.

[NMMNG]

5. The animals that bring me the most joy

They aren't mine but I love them as if they were:



This is Cooper, a Silver Persian. He loves to be petted, particularly when he's eating. He meows intensely when he wants attention and sometimes even when he's getting it. He's incredibly lovable and pretty active even though he's an old cat. He especially likes catnip mice and, for some reason, sniffing the vent when the A/C is blowing.





This is Lovey the Cockatiel. He has whistling "conversations" with people, and he likes to sing and dance on his perch. His dancing has been dubbed "the typewriter dance" because he goes back and forth from one end to the other like an old-fashion typewriter carriage. Lovey enjoys getting out of his cage and flying around the house, and will perch on his owner's shoulder and pick at her hair or jewelry.

[Pharaoh]

6. You bet buffy

The world of nature is our natural place, these concrete polluted jungles devoid of all wildlife and natural ecosystems are stifling to the human spirit. As far as the degradation we are causing to our planet, I'm afraid it may be too late lest we come upon a miracle real soon. Human greed and egos are killing our beautiful planet.

[NMMNG]

7. I've never lived in a city and don't know that I could

All the noise, chaos and lack of nature would probably drive me crazy. I like the fact that I am within minutes of a pleasant walking area with trees and grass, and only a couple of hours from the ocean. No matter where I am--home or at work--I can look out the window and see wildlife. I wouldn't want to give that up.

[Pharaoh]

8. me too

I live 20 miles west of Madison in a village of 700, half the town is a state park, very spiritual place. Unfortunately I need the city for income right now.

[greyl]

9. Well sure.

There's no age that's readily apparent from unfettered nature. It's as ancient and time-tested as it gets. Looking at the stars above can place issues below into more tolerable perspective.
When I lived in Baltimore City, friends in my apartment became local constellations. (and I couldn't wait to move to the shore to get away from all the sirens ;))

"Yesterday I tried to write a novel but I didn't know where to begin so I laid down in the grass trying to feel the world turn." - PRN.

[NMMNG]

10. I can imagine you wanted to get away from the sirens in Baltimore

There have to be plenty of them with the sky high murder rate (second highest in the nation in 2003). It's a scary area to live in, for sure. I'm about 30 minutes from the city and that's as close as I want to get. I've never been a city person anyway.

I'm planning on squeezing in a beach vacation somewhere in September. It will be a welcome break from the 7-day a week grind. There's nothing more wonderful than falling asleep to the sounds of the pounding surf, then waking up to the sounds of the surf and the gulls. Dolphins swim in schools near the shore in the early hours of the morning and now that I have a digicam I can get pics for my memories.



Here's one of the rabbits that dines in the "backyard buffet" at my weekend job. It's a tad blurry but I feared if I got closer it might scare him away.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. We have bunnies just like that all over the place in KC

and squirrels.

We seem to be getting more and more bunnies - we have had such warm winters.

[NMMNG]

12. A few years ago

we were at a different house. My coworker was mowing the lawn and I was in the house. Suddenly I heard the mower shut off and she was yelling for me. I ran out thinking she'd injured herself but that was not the case. She was pointing to the area where there was an old tree stump. Wriggling out of a hole near the stump were three tiny infant rabbits, so young that their eyes weren't even opened yet. Apparently they'd been disturbed by the sound/vibrations of the mower and had surfaced as a result. I just stood there in awe and watched them for several minutes before returning to the house. I wish I'd had my digicam then--it would have been wonderful to get pictures of them. They were likely offspring of the rabbits who could often be seen running around under the shed.

Life is so precious.

[leftyladyfrommo]

13. I read the most intersting thing about rabbits -

The little ones are in the den and the mother rabbit only shows up rarely. And then she kind of squirts the milk into them - the milk is under pressure so it just squirts in really fast - and then she leaves again. It is to protect the babies from being discovered by predators. It is too dangerous for them for the mother rabbit to be there.

[NMMNG]

14. Interesting

I was wondering why the mother rabbit had the babies so far from where she usually hid out (the shed and the tree stump were a good 10-12 feet apart from each other). That would be a good way of keeping predators off the trail of the babies. Thanks for sharing! :-)

[sam sarrha]

15. i have synesthesia.. mentally i perceive all things visually, but the

visual and auditory images insight a physical/emotional response, i have tears a lot.. not crying, but sort of a response to my heart chakra opening up.. i have out of the body experiences, i fell into alcoholism trying to control the intense sensations.. i have been sober about 7 years now at 57.. i meditate and have acquired a grateful state to the sensations.. i say thank you when it surges.. sort of like saying thinking when being distracted in meditation..

i learned Tonglen from Pema Chodren, i share my bliss with all the others who have it not.. i wish all the thirsty to have water every time i pour water, or experience bliss/happiness/fulfillment and wish relief for all who suffer when i suffer.. to be free of desire when i desire. or i get lost in the intense distractions.. i have a form of autism.

i do mantras a lot,

after about 3 years of meditation and Buddhist teaching from a Tibetan Lama, i realized Buddhism was a lot like A.A. ..except for people addicted to conventional thought.

i live in North Carolina now and the beauty is ecstatic.. it is like a drug..

thanks for the invitation to share

[NMMNG]

18. Hi sam sarrha

I've worked with and studied writings by/about people who have autism. I've heard about the experience of seeing/thinking in pictures. I've wondered how different that would be considering the average person tends to think primarily in words.

Many people who have autism have alterations in their sensory input. They may be hyper-sensitive to one or more forms of input or be hypo-sensitive to one or more forms of input (and some people may experience both). Some people may by hyper-sensitive to only certain levels of a particular input, such as high pitched tones or light touch as opposed to firm touch. Having their personal environment to their liking is of great importance also as something as subtle as seeing a chair out of place can cause great distress, even fear. The fear has been likened to the fear one might feel going down a dark alley alone at night.


Alcohol and other forms of "self-medication" may be used to dull hyper-sensitivity to sensory input. People with mental illnesses sometimes resort to such measures to escape their inner turmoil. It's good you've found other means to cope with the difficulties you face.


I study Buddhism off and on and it does have some compelling ideas. I understand why the Buddhists I see tend to be quite serene.


Thank you for sharing. :hi:




Edited to add word.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. I love experiencing that sense of oneness with the world around me

It comes easily when I focus on the natural elements of my environment. Even in the city there are trees, plants, clouds, birds and squirrels to help me feel a part of it all.

[u4ic]

17. That's exactly what I feel

a oneness with nature, with the world...being a part of it, not feeling separate.

[NMMNG]

19. Same here

I tend to feel more "alive" when I'm outdoors interacting with animals and nature.

[Barking Spider]

20. Didn't Aldous Huxley say...

"My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing."

I couldn't agree more.

[NMMNG]

21. Welcome to DU!

And yes, who needs a fancy building when one has the beauty of nature to walk through?

[LWolf]

22. Yes.

I feel joy. I also feel, first, a release of tension. I feel myself breathing, I feel the tension flowing out of my body, and I feel myself filling with space and silence. Not total silence, just the absense of chaotic human energy/chatter. The release of tension and the extra "space" helps me to find/reconnect with my joy.

[NMMNG]

24. I understand that "absence of chaotic human energy/chatter"

I don't deal well with high levels of human noise, demands and chaos in my environment (one of the reasons I like working graveyard shift). Animals and nature are a sheer joy because they are so often devoid of those qualities.

[Jamastiene]

23. Absolutely.

I get the most joy from spending quality time with my cats. I probably spend more quality time with my cats than some parents do with their children, lol.

Town Creek Indian Mound has always been a special place, almost sacred in a non theist way, to me.

[NMMNG]

25. Animals are wonderful

They can become very much like a family member if you let them. I live vicariously through my friend's pets since I don't have any of my own.

There aren't any special areas where I live, but then I don't get out much either. Maybe if I get more free time I can explore more.

[intheflow]

26. It's about the only place I get spiritual inspiration.

I get inspired looking at the stars and picturing this planet floating in the arm of a spiral galaxy. I get inspired looking at spider webs. I've had several transcendent experiences involving nature, but no transcendent experiences outside of nature. Owls have called to me. Tree roots and water have reminded me of my place in nature. I view these transcendent experiences as both God/dess speaking to me, and also as a natural being reconnecting with nature (not Dei-centric, but science-based; what I usually refer to as the Great Mystery).

Do you know these Mary Oliver poems? They get to the heart of how I relate to nature and spirituality.

The Summer Day
Wild Geese

[NMMNG]

27. The poems are beautiful!

I'd never heard of Mary Oliver before but I've bookmarked the site now. I found "The Summer Day" especially insightful. Thanks for bringing them to my attention! :hi:

[Jamastiene]

28. I do.

There is such breathtaking beauty in nature and animals. I love it.

[supernova]

29. Of course I do

and I'll add the experience of the arts to that too.

Although, I think what I experience is more pantheism and panentheism, that God is everywhere and present in all things.

[Lucinda]

30. Joy AND physical renewal

The best thing in the world for me when I feel physically drained is to go to a place here in the national park where three branches of the river fork. Its amazing. :)

[Ilsa]

31. Oh yes. There are plenty of days when I wish summer was cool

enough here in south texas so we could live outside. Without the mosquitos, of course. And I've become afraid of them, with West Nile virus, etc on the run across the country.

[raccoon]

32. Oh, yes, I had a moment of that kind of joy yesterday.

I started a thread on it.

I wonder if it helps if we LOOK for those moments. You had the list of things that bring you joy. Maybe I should start my own list. A lot of them would be the same as yours, relating to nature.

[New Earth]

33. outside, at night, with stars all over the sky

my favorite scene, other than the ocean/beach at night...

[shrike]

34. I'm Catholic, and I'd have to say yes

I attend mass and do find it a spiritual experience, but there is something special about the outdoors.

Even while working in my garden I feel a connectedness to all things. When I was in the Pacific Northwest I had the sense of being in a very spiritual place, probably because the forests were so teeming with life.

There have been times when I've beheld a natural wonder and felt the urge to bow.