BY Paul Vick

The Fulcrum, Issue 67 January 2016

From the source, rivers dance and the tides of the oceans caress the earth.
Earth nurtures and encourages things to grow and creates a sense of belonging.
Sky gives space for everything to move and be together.
The ancients understood this and lived in harmony within the Great Mother.

Nature is a Living Presence.
It lives within the body of the earth, sea and sky, and it lives within us.
Nature reveals a language of Being that is always evolving, bringing change and transformation.

We all have the ability to experience and sense Nature’s Presence but may not have fully cultivated this awareness.
Some have, and wonder why others have not.
To reveal this Natural Being within ourselves, we need to find ways to experience, sense and feel it.

If Nature’s essence lies within us, can we more consciously embody it?
Would our ‘inner nature’ enliven and nurture all that we come into relationship with?
Could we for example bring ‘Nature’s Gift’ into the healing space of therapeutic relationship?

Rhythms of Presence
Nature and the Tide

It would appear that Change and Transformation are not only the language of Nature, but also at the heart of craniosacral practice.

Is there a relationship between the Tide and Nature? William Garner Sutherland and Andrew  Taylor Still often referenced Nature and Spirit when talking about the Tide, and I have always  wondered if there is something our mentors were telling us that is missed in our understanding of the work.

In craniosacral session-work, we are essentially being touched by the Tide. The Tide comes  to us. If ‘Nature’s Presence’ lives within us, is it also possible to receive and experience the  embodiment of Nature within our clients, within ourselves?

If we can become more attuned to Nature’s Presence, perhaps it can also awaken us to new  experiences in our healing work. Is Nature able to capture our attention in obvious and subtle ways, just as the Tide does?

Let’s wander in the wonder of Nature awhile…

When we look at waterfalls, mountain ranges or perhaps the rolling dunes of the desert – what do we feel? For many, the beauty of nature can inspire a sense of awe, and this can  release inner stress and be a resource. A still lake may make you feel peaceful. A bubbling  brook may release those troubling thoughts as the water flows by. A mountain can give an enduring sense of stability and depth.

It is interesting to contemplate that how we feel can be altered through experiences of Nature, and how that can change us in some way. It also shows that there are many different qualities of presence within Nature.

It is something that can happen automatically when we are in Nature, because there is a stronger and more direct sense of connection. But can we take that awareness with us into the streets and urban landscapes? If we accept that Nature’s home is really within us, the  question is not, “does it exist or is it possible?” but how to reveal and embody it. We are  Nature’s gift and this can be seen as a great resource.

Many craniosacral therapists are aware that the process of ‘resourcing’ for themselves or by  their clients is a valuable skill. By bringing our awareness to something that evokes positive sensations in the body, we can be more present and more connected to our vitality. If we can  sustain and allow those sensations to expand and fill the whole body, we may experience a  greater sense of well-being. This process of ‘resourcing’ can in turn also help us to be more resonant with Nature.

The Essential Goodness in all Beings

As we build our relationship to Nature, it will grow within us. Everything lives in the space of our heart. When we walk in Nature, we also walk in the inner landscape of our heart. When this is done as an act of friendship, we are holding the beauty of the world in our heart.

Paul Vick died in January 2025. Artist and founder of Resonance Trainings, he had an innate curiosity for the natural world.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the CSTA.