On my daily walks through Central Park, on the way to my office, I spend a good bit of that time communing with nature along the way.  For example, there is a tree I’ve written about before – a small maple tree on the edge of the Great Lawn, with its companion right across the walk from it.  A couple of years ago, this maple tree became ill and I was concerned that it was dying.  When I wrote about it last, it was to say that the tree has bounced back and is healing more each year.  We’ve reached the time of the year when branches begin to show little buds of green and I noticed that green buds are appearing even higher up in the tree this Spring than last.  What a delight that was for me to see!

I also feel into the earth when I walk among the trees on the way to my office.  There are a couple of dirt paths and I always take them so I can feel the earth under my feet – not a usual experience in the midst of NYC and one that I find makes my body very happy.  I notice rocks along the way, as well as the birds, squirrels and, yes, rats that I encounter as I cross the park.  Each has its place in the vibrant energy that is Central Park and each contributes to the gift that all of us who live here receive from this beautiful place.

For this week’s experiment, I invite you to pay even more attention than you may usually do to the natural world around you.  Take time to notice individual trees, plants and bushes and to play with what you experience if you say “hello” to them as you encounter them, as if there were an intelligence – a kind of consciousness – there.  Notice the animals, insects, birds and other life forms you discover throughout the course of a day, and notice what you experience if you were to say “hello” to them to along the way, as well.

Each of us has our own sensibility in terms of how we experience other life forms, and it’s worth noticing how you feel about acknowledging that each has its rightful place in the larger scheme of things.  I’ve written before about the seemingly-lowly nematode – the small organism that lives within the roots of trees.  For me, a very important discovery was to learn about how we wouldn’t survive without these nematodes, even though we never see them and they are small enough to be nearly invisible.

As you engage this week’s experiment, notice if your quality of life is enhanced by taking the time to acknowledge the life and consciousness all around you in nature.  And, if you feel moved to do so, play with what you experience if you add in an active expression of gratitude.  One good thing about the fact that so many of us are on portable electronic devices these days is that you can speak out loud and people don’t tend to pay any particular attention to one-way conversations.  So, you might want to have a conversation with a tree or plant, or a bird, perhaps, as you go through your day.  I talk to my plants at the office and at home all the time – for me they are living beings with an awareness of being appreciated.  Notice how it is for you to interact with the natural world in an even more directly engaged way.

As with all the experiments, please remember that there’s no right answer, in terms of how to do this one, or in what you will take away from it.  It’s just one more invitation to move even more consciously through your daily life.  And, please remember, also, to bring along curiosity as your constant companion.  It can make the journey so much more interesting and relaxed!