By Megan-Mack DeRaspe

Guest Columnist

I have been thinking a lot about the concept of “separation” these past few years. Recently moving back to my home state and settling into this new, yet stunningly familiar life, I can’t help but feel the pull of those who used to surround me. Being in nature has given me immense healing and joy throughout my years, and for this fact alone, it is my sanctuary, vocation and office of choice. 

When in the presence of the natural elements, this concept of separation seems to dissipate. Through my studies in Eco-psychology, I learned a scientific term, “holon.” Holon, coined by author and scientist Koestler, is a Greek word that means something is simultaneously a whole and a part. In essence, everything around us, and in us, is independent and dependent on everything else. We are essentially walking on the earth as perfect whole individuals, yet it is clear, especially through this challenging year, that we are also a part of larger “wholes”; such as our families, work spaces and communities. Who would we be without these connections? Being is Nature is such a brilliant outlet (or inlet) to feeling and finding connections. From the smallest flora or fauna to the endless expanse of the sky, if you take a moment to notice, you can see how each aspect is standing alone yet has complete interplay with the totality of it all. 

I am a Forest Therapy Guide with the Association for Nature and Forest Therapy. I have the pleasure of taking people into nature and guiding them to take notice of what is around them. For two hours, participants explore their senses while enjoying all that nature has to provide. Witnessing how Forest Therapy participants find pleasure and appreciation in nature, from the wind on their faces, to the melodic sound of a babbling brook, or even connecting to visceral memories of watching leaves fall with their grandparents, it’s such an honor to experience the connection of humans enjoying and appreciating nature. Research shows that being in nature improves aspects of our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. This means that not only do we feel better after spending time in nature, but our ability to process negative stimuli — internally and externally — is greatly enhanced. 

This year seems to have been wrought with separation. In many cases, we have been separated from our loved ones, places of work, activities we have come to love and enjoy, and an election year that has depicted a historical divide in opinions. I have spent over 20 years educating and guiding in the outdoors. I have watched generations of diverse people find their connection, and re-connection to the natural world. What division is apparent at the beginning of a trip ceases to exist at the end of the trip. It is my belief that if we all had opportunities to gather in natural spaces, we could not only find better connections to ourselves, but a deeper connection to each other as well. We are all of this world, drink of its waters, tend to its land, breathe its air, and feed from its creations. We are HOLON. We are individuals who must continue to find our wholeness as we play our part in the larger whole all around us. Maybe if we all took the time to step outside and observe the layers of connection, we would be reminded of our intricate role in things. My dearest hope is that we could all live in the rapture of nature and tend to our own gardens as we feed others in our community.

Megan-Mack DeRaspe is co-director of Nurture Through Nature. She has an MS in Environmental Science and Outdoor Leadership, is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide and Maine Guide. You can follow her @holon.healing on IG or book a session through holonhealingME@gmail, ntnretreats.com or 274-4445.