Kinship of Nature

 Kinship of Nature

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."

     ___ William Shakespeare, "As You Like It"

  As we walk through the countryside at this time of year, it is easy to feel our symbiotic connection with nature. The rich profusion of colors and the abundant seeding and fruiting of the land in preparation for autumn all beckon us into a wider family circle.  We return home after such a walk, perhaps to the city, brimming with a sense of belonging, but this feeling fades sooner or later as we are immersed once more in the daily running of our lives.

  We place reminders of nature's beauty about our home. Driven by recognition that our kinship with nature is slipping, we surround ourselves with 'natural' or 'organic' things. While such things may remind us of our wider relationship, they do not truly connect us, since kinship must pass beyond strictly visual reminders if it is to be authenic.

  It is in the touch of nature that connection is most strongly made, for it is at the most physical levels that recognition of kinship is triggered. We engage with our kindred when we are in physica contact: whether we tend our garden, groom our dog, or receive the kiss of rain upon our skin. These moments of precious contact are opportunities for loving thankfulness, in recognition of the fact that we are wholly akin to a great family. When we live our lives open to such moments, we enter a wider embrace that includes us all.

"What relationships do you have with your natural kin, apart from other human beings? What trees, animals, rocks, and places call out to you as kindred? Become more aware of these precious kindred and the way in which you yourself are included in the relationship."

[From: "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews]

Some Suggested Activities for the Autumn Months in Caitlin Matthews' "Celtic Devotional" are:

• Harvest fruit and vegetable and prepare the garden for winter.
• Walk and meditate outdoors for at least fifteen minutes daily '
• Identify plants and trees by their Autumn color and find out about their habitats and qualities.
• As you travel through the country of Autumn, relate your spiritual journey to the gifts available at this time.