#Seed005: Nature's Masters & Custodians

Five practical ways to deepen our connection to nature

May 26, 2023

“Man therefore occupies a particular position in this world. He is at the axis and centre of the cosmic milieu at once the master and custodian of nature. By being taught the names of all things he gains domination over them, but he is given this power only because he is the vicegerent (khalifah) of God on earth and the instrument of His Will. Man is given the right to dominate over nature only by virtue of his theomorphic make-up, not as a rebel against heaven.” - Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Man and Nature: The Spiritual Crisis in Modern Man

Throughout history, we have always pondered our place in nature. We know that left to ourselves, the forest can be a very uncomfortable place. From mosquitos and bears to rain and cold, without heat, dryness, and shelter, wild places are quite intolerable. But in the confines of our homes, in towns and cities, a deeper part within us yearns for the great outdoors. We feel a sense of shame when we don’t go outside. So what is it, are we part of nature or seperate?

We occupy a particular position in this world. As a hunter, I quickly learned how we are masters of nature. Walking through a forest and seeking prey is evidence of this primordial mastery. But mastery without virtue is tyranny. And thus, our moral compass calls us to be custodians. How can we hunt if our prey has gone extinct? The same goes for farming and gardening, as custodians, we are called to care for the earth while we reap her fruits. But that care can easily be corrupted.

In this publication, I want to share with you ways to cultivate a deeper connection to nature. In the opening quote, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, refers to our theomorphic make-up, which makes us at once part of nature, by virtue of being her custodian, and beyond nature but virtue of being her master. Nasr is referring to the idea of the special innate quality of the human being to know and live according to the Divine Names and Qualities. Our survival in this world depends on tapping into that theomorphic make-up.

Get into the habit of walking

The famed naturalist and writer Henry David Thoreau spoke of the genius for sauntering. In his essay titled Walking published in The Atlantic in June 1862, Thoreau wrote,

“sauntering, which word is beautifully derived ‘from idle people who roved about the country, in the Middle Ages, and asked charity, under pretense of going a la Sainte Terre’, to the Holy Land, till the children exclaimed, ‘There goes a Sainte-Terrer,’ a Saunterer, a Holy-Lander. They who never go to the Holy Land in their walks, as they pretend, are indeed mere idlers and vagabonds; but they who do go there are saunterers in the good sense, such as I mean. […] For every walk is a sort of crusade.”

Whenever someone asks me how they should start connecting with nature, I answer: walking. I’m not going to talk about the many health benefits of walking, but rather how the art of walking cultivates a gradeur in the human spirit, unadulterated by motorized commotion and super-speed. Walking, or sauntering, is about seeking something greater than a mere destination. Going to the Holy Land isn’t about a vacation, but rather about finding God. By cultivating a habit of walking, time slows down and you begin to perceive the small, the slow, and the subtle. Motorized vehicles, including cars, buses, and bikes, usually are destination-focused. While the pilgrim, the Saunterer, finds a balance between the journey and the arrival.

Take some time walking. Walk with you friends, your family, and your children. Traditionally, scholastic philsophers were known as the peripatetics, that is those who walk up and down. Walking stimulates the mind, the soul, and the body. By becoming aware of our surroundings, of our home, and of our land, we cultivate that deeper part within us that calls us to Nature.

Track an animal

“The first track is the end of a string. At the far end, a being is moving; a mystery, dropping a hint about itself every so many feet, telling you more about itself until you can almost see it, even before you come to it. The mystery reveals itself slowly, track by track, giving its genealogy early to coax you in. Further on, it will tell you the intimate details of its life and work, until you know the maker of the track like a lifelong friend.” - Tom Brown Jr., The Tracker

One of the benefits of walking is that you can observe small and subtle things around you. A great way to deepen your connection to nature is to learn to track an animal. Wild life is all around us, in cities, towns, forests and plains. Unfortunately, we’ve lost our sense of feeling the presence of other creatures. The best place to start is to pick an animal that you know is present in your surrounding. I recommend staying away from predators! Say a snowshoe hare, a grouse, or a deer. Once you’ve made your decision, start reading about it and ask yourselves these questions:

Where does it live?
What does it eat?
What sound does it make?
Where does it hide?

Once you’ve noted these answers, start hiking. Look for clues. You’ll notice that you start developing a love for the landscape, a love for wild life and a desire to participate in nature. In the forest, you’ll notice highways and roads used by all sorts of animals. These are called “game trails.” Just like us, animals use roads and paths all around the forest. Next time you are on a hike, look for those. You’ll notice that branches are broken and natural paths are formed. The best way to find them is to actually go into brush, walk through and you’ll find yourself instinctively following the paths of least resistance. You’ll notice that you are on one of their roads.

Grow something from seed to fruit

I don’t believe in the green thumb. Or rather, I believe we all have green thumb potential. As humans, we are designed to be custodians. Just like we can care for children, families, neighbours, and communities, we can care for seeds, plants, flowers, and trees. Planting a seed, seeing it sprout, and caring for that life is a profound experience that connects us to our Divine nature.

Start small. Go purchase a pack of heirloom tomatoes. Take some soil, and plant 10 seeds in 10 small pots. If it’s warm and not freezing at night, put the pots outside in the sun and check on it every day. Water to keep the soil moist, and watch the seeds sprout. After 2-3 weeks, take your seedlings and transplant to a slightly larger pot. And watch it grow. Start off just to experience what it’s like to watch a seed transform into a fruit. You can do this and it doesn’t take a green thumb.

Observe celestial patterns

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Why shouldst thou, but for some felonious end,
In thy dark lantern thus close up the stars,
That nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps
With everlasting oil, to give due light
To the misled and lonely traveller?

- Milton, The Lady lost in the Wood

Perhaps our greatest disconnect from nature is that we no longer gaze at the night’s sky. Light polution has taken away that awe that we once collectively experienced. We’ve closed up the stars. The grandeur of celestial bodies at once give us a sense of wonder and reverence. There is a sense of terror knowing that we are so insignificant in the face of the cosmos. Yet we also find great comfort in the celestial patterns. The moon waxes and wanes. The sun rises and sets. The planets follow the course of ecliptic. The Ancients saw these patterns as the proof of the heavenly order. Something primordial within us resonates with that order.

That’s why we need to take time to gaze at the sky. It is humbling. It is awe-inspiring. If you want to connect with nature, start observing the firmament of the heavens. Recognize the phases of the moon. Familiarize youself with the planets. Seek out the easier constellations: the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, and Orion. The point isn’t just to be able to name them, but to observe what is going on up there. Turn off the dark lanterns and let the night sky illuminate itself. Our ancestors knew the sky. Perhaps that is why they seldom knew despair.

Give thanks

All of the above activities can be summed up in giving thanks. Practicing gratitude always deepens our connection to nature and ultimately to God. The Prophet Muhammad, may God nourish his soul and our connection to him, said:

“Whoever is not thankful for the little things will not be thankful for great things. Whoever does not thank people has not thanked God Almighty.”

Thanksgiving is about recognizing the little things and their impact in our lives. From being thankful for the bees and butterflies that pollinate, giving us fruit, honey, and wildflowers to the sheep and fowl that are sacrificed (from the Latin sacre + facere, to make sacred) for our nourishment. Gratitude helps us become aware of our surroundings. As we appreciate the little things, our hearts are open to receive the great things such as love, grace, beauty, and truth. Deepening our connection to nature is a spiritual exercise. It opens our awareness to the greatness within us and the greatness of God.

Drawing Inspiration

Every week, I share books, podcasts, films, and other resources that will support your journey as a community facilitator and builder.

Books

In light of this post, I am looking forward to picking up The Tracker: The True Story of Tom Brown Jr. I have read some of Tom Brown Jr.’s work on tracking and survival and have been thoroughly impressed. He gives practical insights and tools to experience the great outdoors, while embedding the awareness of the Creator throughout his work. The Tracker is Tom Brown’s memoir where the recounts his own journey including his apprenticeship with an Apache elder. To learn more about Tom Brown Jr.’s work, check out his Tracker School.