Teachings From the Scorpion

Connect with nature, restore yours. What we learn from nature, gives us insight to our selves. When we feel a connection with something, we begin to appreciate its value and its right to share our world, and we wish to protect its future as our own.

The scorpion is often misunderstood and feared. But once we learn to appreciate its value and its rightful place in our world, we feel connected and can learn much about ourselves. Like the scorpion, you are key to your environment. Everyone and everything you share your “habitat” with will have an impact on you. These daily interactions shape your inner nature—the core from which you pull from each time you take action in your life. Who or what are you allowing into your environment and how are they shaping or influencing you?

TEACHINGS FROM THE SCORPION…

1. Scorpions rely first on their strength for nourishment, not their venom.

Respond with your inner strength for facing challenges, do not sting with your words.

2. Throughout human history scorpions have had their share of both negative and positive “press.”

Consider this when dealing with an undesirable situation. Become aware of all perspectives—don’t let your history keep you from finding a reasonable explanation and outcome that can benefit the entire situation.

3. Scorpions molt throughout their lives as they grow. Newly molted scorpions must keep stretching while the new exoskeleton hardens to ensure that it can move when the hardening is complete.

Shed old skins as you grow, create opportunities for transformation,and stretch your boundaries! Allow yourself room to grow as you fulfill your calling.

4. Burrows are a very important aspect of the ecology of desert scorpions, offering shelter and protection while molting and from predators.

How often do you allow yourself time for a little “burrowing?” What can you do to ensure those quality, restorative moments vital for maintainining your energy and focus?

5. Scorpions tend to change their habits rather than their form in order to adapt to a new habitat.

This is a great reminder to stay flexible while pursuing your goals, rarely do things go as planned. Adapt and be ready to navigate new territory!


Excerpt from: “Teachings From the Scorpion” M. Hedgecock, 2009
Scorpion photo: M. Hedgecock

Get Grounded...

You may already know that many standing meditations and relaxation techniques encourage the process of standing with bare feet on the ground, establishing an energy flow by rooting yourself to the earth through your toes, pads, your instep, and your heels. This is a wonderful way to ground yourself, however, I’m also encouraging you to slip off your sandals, or your shoes and socks, and take a walk on the beach. Or, feel the spongy, dewy coolness of a morning lawn, or the sand slipping between your toes in your child’s sand box! How about squishing around in some natural clay or mud at your favorite hiking hide-out or earth spa. Feel free to get your hands into the mix too.

Touch is often one of the quickest ways to feel grounded, whether you are seeking support, or a place to find rest. Grounding yourself with earthy components in the literal sense is a fun way to engage your senses and release your inhibitions beyond the norm of your daily habits. When you’re grounded, your core finds its center and balance. You find reprieve from the negative chatter so easy to get caught up in, and the answers you seek begin to flow.

So...however you do it, connect yourself to the earth in some manner--make physical contact with a natural, earthy textures and fragrances by walking or standing(barefoot ideal!), sitting, and/or laying down. Then simply close your eyes and let mother earth hold you…

Worldwide Day of Play: Sept. 26, 2009

"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." ~Rachel Carson

Why not let your inner child come out and nature play? Take your child(ren) outside, or to a nature-themed event and explore with them, lose yourself in their wonder, let them be the "leaders," your personal nature guide! Where will they take you? What will they choose to point out to you?

* * *

Right on, Nickelodeon! Nickelodeon celebrating upcoming Worldwide Day of Play (Sept. 26, 2009) by turning off all programming and going dark for 3 hrs to get kids outside! Wow, that's a tremendous show of support for the value of outdoor play! Kudos to Nick-execs for going for it :) YAY! www.nick.com (a mid-morning or mid-afternoon time slot would really prove their intentions!)

9 Articles and Resources on the Benefits of Nature

The benefits of nature are easy to appreciate once you step into an environment that draws you. For many of us, this is instinctual as we seek to "escape" to the ocean or beach, or to a mountain hide-away. You might desire to get back to nature in the most basic, test-your-limits kind of way with a little backcountry camping or backpacking. Or you might just need to take in the peaceful surroundings of an inspiring natural landscape outside your vacation cottage while you sit in a cozy nook and read a good book! I feel the most relaxing and creative boost when I'm by the water, particularly vast expanses like the ocean.

Check out any of the articles below about the benefits of nature on your mind, body, and spirit. Share your own experiences of ways nature affects you.

The Cognitive Benefits of Nature: The Frontal Cortex
http://shar.es/FhjS
AUDIO The Takeaway: The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature (Walking makes you smart)
http://shar.es/FhK9
The Benefits of Nature and Camping
http://shar.es/FhdE
Nature: Science Shows It’s Good for the Mind as Well as the Body (AARP Bulletin Today)
http://shar.es/Fh8W
Restorative Benefits of Nature…Gardening to Achieve Better Health http://www.rgardening.com/pdf/HealthBenefit.pdf
The Benefits of Nature and Outdoors
http://shar.es/D01A
The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting With Nature
http://dericbownds.net/uploaded_images/Berman_cog.pdf (Research/Report)

These two articles emphasize the benefits of nature for our children:
A Walk in the Park Can Improve Reading Comprehension
http://shar.es/rp5x
The Many Benefits Of Walking In Mother Nature
http://shar.es/Fh9hm

We would love to hear you own experiences of how nature restores you!

Daily Rhythms: How These Cycles May Affect Our Goals

In the study of wildlife ecology, living at night can be seen as a form of “niche differentiation.” This is where a species' niche is divided into specific time periods (daily or seasonal) that best contribute to its survival in response to surrounding resources, competitors, or threats. Temporal niches take advantage of an animal’s enhanced senses (sight, hearing, smell) that dictates activity to ensure their survival.

Humans are not exempt from this concept. During a typical 24-hour cycle, does the time of day have any affect on how we utilize our resources, or respond to the demands that threaten our time and energy? My husband is most alert in the very early morning, a time when he is primed for reading and meditation. I am most alert, and get my most creative boost very late at night. We both are least energetic during late afternoon. Examine your daily rhythms. When do you feel most creative? When do you have the most energy? Where in the daily cycle do you feel you are winding down? What part of the day do you feel the least productive?

It is good to be aware of how we coexist within our daily environment, and note what times we function best to maximize our resources for completing projects. It could also help family dynamics or our relationships at work (group populations!), by learning to build a balanced coexistence; recognizing where our needs fit individual niches, yet complement the overall potential of the group.

Once we acknowledge segments of our time where we feel most energetic—or our mind is primed for growth, productivity, or creativity for example—we can better manage our time and help avoid self-sabotage of our goals.

Critter Café

For a great family project, why not create a backyard habitat you can be proud of while protecting native wildlife from habitat fragmentation/loss? Invite some of those native species that need your help with a creature feast! By planting plants that provide cover for smaller species, as well as food and nesting sites or nesting material for birds and drinkable water for other animals, you can set the scene for watchable wildlife and encourage natural predator/prey cycles--where both sides can benefit.

Here in the desert, native landscaping helps maintain precious water reserves. Native birds, reptiles, and small mammals also help to keep unwanted pests and other vectors out of your yard by preying on them. Birds, and especially bats, will consume thousands of unwanted insects. Even a roadrunner will pluck a juicy black widow from her web for a snack. If you live in an area that sees snakes regularly, welcome the sight of a kingsnake or roadrunner as they will prey on rattlesnakes as well as rodents.

Please note:
Provide food for native species responsibly. Offer their natural diet and other needs through your landscaping. Please do not feed roadrunners cat food, or other meats regularly eaten by humans, it is very harmful to their young. Leaving human or domestic animal food out will only attract those pests you do not want around your home! Besides, if you fill the bellies of these well-meaning natives, they won’t have room to feast on the natural pests you’d rather not have around!

Keep us posted on your experiences--we'd love to hear :)

Adventure & Bonding With Your Toddler!

Nature activities for you and your tiny explorer. Bring your family together, foster growth and curiosity in your child, and feel the benefits and peaceful pace of the natural world. Try some of the following activities we’ve compiled from our favorites! All can be done with ages 18 months and up. All you need is a little sense of pint-sized adventure :)

Bug Eyes: Get on your bellies and study the terrain from a bug’s eye view! Pick one small area of the yard to explore with a hand lens. Look for bugs under rocks and watch them with a hand lens.

Rocky Puppy: Rock collecting starts early with curious minds. Begin with just collecting in your yard. Move on to arranging rocks by size or color; stack them, make patterns, lines—or better yet, just let your little rock hound arrange those new finds as he pleases. Just remind him that rocks do not like to fly.

Story Time al Fresco: There’s nothing like a simple change of scenery to excite the senses. Try story time under the stars for a new twist on old favorites! You could even follow up with sleeping outdoors!
From T. Albrecht, SRSJMNM

“Pooh Sticks:” An old favorite, inspired of course by Winnie the Pooh. Gather sticks and drop them in a stream, watch them float away! Even better if you can do it from a small bridge, watching for them to emerge on the other side! My 3-year old son would do this for hours if we let him.

Species Safari: Create your own tiny explorer field guide (keep it simple!) or use ours. Take your child on a walk around the neighborhood or a nearby nature area and mark off each critter she can find!

Teddy Bear Tracking: Draw or print out a set of 12 paw prints (~3”- 4”); cut out and hang at child level, around your yard or campsite for your toddler to “track” to a teddy bear you’ve place sitting in a low tree, sturdy bush or other semi-hidden spot for him to find. Delightful fun!

The Secret Garden: Choose a part of your yard, under a special bush, at the base of a favorite tree, even a large planter where your toddler can create their own unique garden to plant collected rocks, sticks, plastic dinosaurs…anything she wishes that makes it uniquely hers!

Nature Bracelet: Wrap a piece of masking tape to your child’s wrist, sticky side up. As you explore, help him attach colorful leaves, flowers, and other interesting discoveries to his bracelet. When done, use scissors to snip off the nature bracelet. Display on a bulletin board, shelf, or wall.
From fun.familyeducation.com

Follow the Leader: Start out as the leader and buzz a flower, hop around a tree, step over a rock, flap over to the hose, etc. Then switch to let your little one lead!

Backyard Harvest: If you have any trees with edible fruit, let your little one help you harvest your fresh crop, then share the organic snack! Create a bouquet of garden flowers with your toddler for tonight’s center piece (just make sure to watch for poisonous plants or defenses like thorns, spines or burrs).
From family.go.com

Moon Face: Take your child on a moonlight walk in your backyard during the full moon.

Treasure Bucket: Perfect for toddlers who like to collect things…and dump them out only to refill it again! Use a small toy bucket or container they can manage. Collect leaves, rocks, small trash flown in after a windy day, or specially hidden toys!

If collecting natural items from your yard, it’s a good opportunity to teach the non-removal of things from protected areas. Have them dump their bucket outside, leaving their natural items where “they live.” If picking up trash, have them wear gloves, make sure what they’re picking up is “safe” and have them empty their buckets in the trash can to teach good environmental habits.

Activities from Caliso Learning’s Yards of Fun compilation booklet.