Can we apply the Native American sense of the importance of Nature to make our lives more whole and meaningful?
The importance of the land / nature within the Native American spirituality cannot be underestimated in order to grasp the true meaning of their connection and the impact it leaves on the individual. I believe that an understanding and greater appreciation for our surrounding environment can truly enrich our lives and provide a deeper meaning only found through custodianship of the land. Through allowing ourselves to appreciate and deepen our connection to even the most simple of scenery (e.g. backyard, flower bed etc) we are able to reach a heightened sense of unity within our own selves as well as with the surrounding landscape. The impact of this deepened connection to the land is epitomised by the nature of the Native American people. Through their mutual relationship with the land, Native Americans have reached unity within themselves and the greater world around them as they are able to form strong bonds with their environment. These bonds aid in enriching their lives as they take from the land, however, they do not scar it or destroy it. The care that is shown by the Native Americans highlights the notion that we have the ability to enrich and provide further meaning to our own daily lives by simply appreciating nature as well as developing a steward-like relationship with it.
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