This is a great practice for being present in nature. Some people struggle to find the tool that keeps our mind in the ‘now’ when physically in the natural world. It is all too easy to let your mind slip into ‘thought’ mode- a continually active phase that needs enforced rest.
There are many practices to help still the mind, but I find this one comes easily and really encourages your presence in the surrounding time and space.
The Extraordinarily Ordinary: Choose something in the natural world that you wouldn’t normally give focus to. Something that would usually be classed as ‘boring’ or ‘mundane’. I won’t list many examples or it will lead your mind too much, but the subject of my focus yesterday was a falling leaf. Nothing radical about it. Very common. Very ordinary.
However, in the actuality of noticing it- to see that it is occurring in that exact moment, in that exact time and space, to bear witness to it, turns it into something extraordinary.
That leaf fell in a very specific style. It was a unique colour that it only could have been in that moment. It got caught for a second on a particular branch. It came to a stop on a distinct patch of mossy earth, laid over other leaves that were like it in many ways, yet not the same at all. That leaf falling while I watched was extraordinary in every way.
See the pattern that your moment creates. Notice the details, the minutia. What was present in that time and space before your ordinary moment, and how has that small, natural occurrence changed everything and nothing about that time and space? That event, even if no movement was observed, still only occurred singularly for that moment. That moment you happened to be in. Take that in. Realise your place and it’s place together. Keep watching. Keep noticing. If you stay with that moment, you are in the now and your mind can still. Extraordinary.
You can practice this exercise wherever you are- you only need to look out of a window to be able to witness. Obviously, it is helpful to have a complete natural surround, but this is not always possible.
I would recommend practicing for at least 20 minutes at a time. More is good, less is ok. If you only have 5 minutes, it will still work. You can choose multiple ordinary occurrences over the time-space you have. It is more than just quiet observing. Really feel the connection you have with that moment of ‘ordinary’ nature doing its thing. Give it a go.
The only real rule is don’t actively participate. Not for this exercise. Witness and notice and focus on that ordinary moment/ subject. Do not interact. That changes everything, including the functioning of the mind.
It might take some practice, but this exercise for me, draws huge emotions and seeds some of the most profound insights and feelings. What is great is that these notions and awarenesses are not a conscious thought in the moment, but they arise from within by being present in nature and allow for development afterwards.
I would love for this to be something everyone can experience. It is free and it is easy. If you have practiced this exercise, please feel free to share your moment in the comments below.