"To get the full impact of all the elements, within and without, one has to be alone."
_____ Neil M. Gunn, The Atom of Delight
The physical impact of the elements upon our earliest ancestors must have been considerable. It motivated them to build shelters in which to hide from the weather; it caused them to construct clothing that would protect them from extremes of heat or cold. Human beings have gradually adapted to their climate and habitat in distinctive ways, until only the adventurous still the challenge of the elements regularly. These days, most people are accustomed to living predominantly indoors rather than outdoors, seldom exposing themselves to the elements long enough to be affected by them.
Yet there is a more subtle way in which the elements affect us, a way that passes beyond their physical impact: the way in which the elements play upon our emotional response and spiritual understanding. If we listen to the subtle messages of the elements, we can become aware of how they illuminate bridges between our conscious and unconscious awareness of what moves our inmost heart.
To be alone in nature is not to be lonely. The companionship of the elements surrounds us on every side, enveloping us in a living web of vitality and movement. Within that mantle, we are enabled to find our own place, uninfluenced by the demands and bustle of everyday life. We are able to hear the wisdom that wells up from our unique perspective - wisdom that the elements alone can amplify loud enough for us to hear and understand.
"Allow yourself to experience the elements of wind, rain, or sun, earth, and sea or sky at first hand on a solitary walk today."
[From: The Celtic Spirit Caitlin Matthews]
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