Using the mirror of nature to get a deeper understanding, insights about a question the participant would like to explore.
Benefits
Spending a certain amount of time alone outside in nature with a question or an intention, slowing down and paying attention to the reflections that emerge from nature during this contemplative journey offers the possibility of accessing one’s own wisdom, insights and answers. Sharing the story with a community and having it reflected back by others can offer more perspectives on the experience, strengthening trust and the sense of belonging to the community. It also evokes the feeling of being connected to nature.
Example
The participants sat down in a circle and each of them shared stories related to the topic they wanted to explore, ending the sharing with a clear question or intention to go out with. Then one by one they left, stepping through a symbolic threshold they built or found to mark the start of the journey. They were asked to rely more on their body and senses in choosing what to do or where to go, to hold an awareness of the things that happened during the walk and to let the question itself go. They were invited to leave all distractions behind and not to interact with each other. They returned after an hour through the same threshold, sat down in the circle again and shared what happened to them one by one. Each of them had seven minutes, which also included mirroring; reflections by the facilitators or the whole group if they wanted.
Variations
Reduced
The threshold walk can happen without the circle of sharing before participants go out, as long as they have some time to tune in to their intentions or question and have clear guidelines on what to do. Bringing back and sharing the stories is important though.
Mirroring/reflections are extra, to be seen and heard (to share the stories) may be enough depending on the circumstances, aims and experience of the leaders of the group. The sharings after the walk can also happen in pairs.
Extended
To inspire the capture of metaphors during the walk, a short exercise in pairs can be offered beforehand. The pair walks together outside, one looking for things that capture his/her attention. Once the person finds something the other asks, “What can you see?” Once the question is answered the next question to ask is, “What does it mean to you?” Continue with exploring further, and with the questions for a certain amount of time then change roles.
Online
The sharings before and after the walk can be done online. Make sure to have clear agreements on how to hand over the talking peace or show the intention to speak.
Possible traps
It is important that mirroring or reflections don’t contain judgements, advice or explanations, and that they simply offer back from the content of what has been shared. It is advisable to only offer mirroring with at least some experience in it. The support is in letting the participants discover their answers, find their insights from their own wisdom, as simply sharing the story can be just as valuable as with the reflection.
As within so without.
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.