Introduction

TheNaturalSystemsThinking
Process
Apowerful,naturereconnectingtoolhelpsus
recycleandrestoretohealthcontaminants
inourpsychethatdeteriorate ourreasoning,
relationshipsandeconomics.
Apioneerinnatureconnectededucationand
psychology, Dr. Michael J. Cohen, Ed.D., feels the
continuing degradation of people and the planet has
desensitizedhim.Hesaysthattoday,whenheseesand
hearsaboutthecontinuingcrisesafflictingpeopleand
otherlifeonEarth,henolongercringes. Hesenses
that his heart and mind have resigned themselves to
knowingthathecantdoanymoreaboutourtroubles
thanwhathehasbeendoingforthepastdecades.He
usually sends a supportive letter to people and
environmentsintroublealongwithhiswebsiteaddress
and then protectively, sadly, tries to shrug off his
ineffectivenessinbeingoffurtherassistance.
WewhohavebecomeexpertinDr.Cohens
work have helped write this book because, from
experience,weknowitiscrucialthatwhatheoffersis
not ignored. It issummed up inhisdescription ofa
coursehefacilitates:Individuallyorasacommunity,
may I help you learn to use and teach an easily
accessible,natureconnecting,tool,apracticallearning
processthatenablesustoreverseoursoaringdisorders,
stressandbudgets?Whynotbenefitfrom bringinga
powerful, unique, natural systems science into your
program orlife?Itspsychologyandenergyimprove
your ability to restore healthy personal, social and
environmentalrelationships.
Cohens message is evidently unbelievable.
To our collective loss, most people dont respond.
Sometimes they ask him, instead, for a financial
contribution.
Our purpose in publishing The Web of Life
Imperative is to teach interested individuals some
excitingthingsaboutthenatureofourselvesthatmost
ofushavebeentaughttoforget.Thisbookhelpsyou
dealwithindustrialsocietysecretlyurgingustoignore
ourinherentNaturalSystemsThinkingProcess(NSTP)
thatthesepagesawakeninus.NSTPisasimportantas

food.Whenwementallydigestit,ithelpsuslearnhow
to reinstate a vital, suppressed energy back into our
thinking and relationships. It feeds us with a potent
intelligence that empowers us to authoritatively
implement the integrity of our inborn, deeper hopes
andideals.
Mostpeoplerecognizethatifwearetolivein
peacewithourselves,eachother,andtheenvironment,
ashaveothercultures,itisimperativethatweidentify
anduseaprocessthatenablesourwayofthinkingto
accomplishthiscrucialtask. Ourgreatthinkershave
provided us with thousands of profound ideas about
whatiswrongandwhatshouldbedone. Whatthey
have not provided, however, is a readily available
processeach ofuscanusetoimplement thebest of
theseideas.Thisbookteachesyouthatprocess.
NSTP results from an accidental scientific
discoverythatDr.Cohenmadein1953whilevisitinga
wildparkareanearColumbiaUniversityinNewYork
City where he was a graduate student in Natural
Science and Counseling. He observed in a group of
studentsandfacultysomethingthathehadalwaysfelt
inhimself.When visitinganattractivenatural areaa
personexperiencesstressreductionalongwithgreater
wellness.MentoredbyDr.PaulF.Brandwein,andDr.
Willard Jacobson, his observation moved him to
investigatewhatcausedthisbeneficialphenomenonto
occur in natural areas. For years he concentrated on
discoveringhowthephenomenonmightbeintensified
andmadeeasilyaccessibleasauseableprocess.His
purpose wastorelieve thehumanandenvironmental
suffering caused by us subduing our inherent,
intelligent, natural ability to build supportive life
relationships,asdoestherestofnature.
From living and learning in natural areas
almostexclusivelyforthepastfourdecades,Cohenhas
increasinglyrecognizedthatbecausepeoplearepartof
nature,ourextremelynatureseparatedlivesstressand
contaminate our thinking, health and spirit. This
reduces our natural intelligence causing us to suffer
even greater personal, wellness and environmental
problems.Hehasidentifiedthisdisorderasadistinct,
destructivesyndrome.Hehas,inaddition,developeda
preventative antidote, a Natural Systems Thinking
Process that helps us reverse the Syndrome. NSTP
consistsofscientificallydeveloped,natureconnecting,
sensory educational activities, readings and courses
that empower people to thoughtfully transform the
Syndrome into more constructive and responsible
relationships with themselves, others and the
environment.Thismakesperfectsenseandistherefore
welcomedbymostpeopleintellectually.Whatisoften

PsychologicalElementsofGlobalCitizenshipPart11

unbelievable,however,ishowandwhyNSTPworks.
Thatimpedestrustingitorgivingcredibilitytoitsuse
and effectiveness even though its results speak for
themselves
NSTP works because it enables people to
create moments in natural areas that let nature itself
teachthemwhattheyneedtoknowinordertorestore
thewisdom andbenefitsoftheirnatural intelligence.
Inbrief,NSTPhelpsusreasonablyandsafelyinterlace
ourstressedorinjurednaturalsensesandsensibilities
withtherecyclingenergiesinherentinnaturalsystems.
Becausewearepartofnature,itempowersustomore
intensely let nature's restorative powers purify the
contaminationofournaturalintelligencethatiscaused
byourextremeseparationfromnatureanditshealing,
recycling powers. What results is an increase in our
resiliencytotheSyndromeandinthelastingabilityof
our thinking to utilize natures balanced ways of
knowingandrelating.Thisrestorationrejuvenatesusto
buildmoreresponsiblerelationshipsateverylevel.It
alsoincreasesthevalueofnaturalsystemswithinand
aroundussowefurtherrespectandprotectthem.
TounderstandhowandwhythisNSTPbookwill
workforyouasithasforsomanyothers,youmust
consider the following key intelligence test question,
one that ordinarily might help assess a persons
mathematical aptitude on an advanced placement
application:

Ifyoucountadog'stailasoneofitslegs,how
manylegsdoesadoghave?"
"Five,"ofcourse,isthecorrectanswer,theone
that advances you. Intelligent people say "five"
because it is valid in mathematical systems and
contemporarythinkingandistherefore,justlyrewarded
by them. However, our natural sense of reason only
recognizesfiveascorrectuntilweadditionallyvalidate
whatweknowfromour,orotherpeople's,contactwith
areal,normaldog.Then,manymoreofourmultitude
of natural senses and sensibilities come into play:
sensesofsight,touch,motion,color,texture,language,
sound, smell, consciousness, community, trust,
contrast, and love. They each provide further
informationandhelpoursenseofreasonmakemore
senseandamoreinformeddecision.Theyenableour
mentalitytoregisterthatatailisdifferentthanaleg,
thatadoghasfourlegs,notfive,nomatterwhatmight
becorrectinmathematicallogic.
It is a grave mistake for anyone not to take
seriously the difference between 4leg and 5leg
thinking.Youwilldiscoverinthisbookthattheschism
Part12PsychologicalElementsofGlobalCitizenship

between these two different ways of perceiving,,

knowingandbeingisamagnificentpsychologicaland
physiological phenomenon with deep roots into the
heart of Earth and our psyche. Each is a different
processthantheother;onebringssensoryexperiences
into consciousness, the other produces awareness
through abstract labels and stories. That schism
generates the destructive side effects ofour artificial
world that we build along with our mentalitys
desensitized separation from the balanced perfection
producedbyEarthsnaturalsystemswithinandaround
us. The 4leg vs 5leg discord creates an entrenched
conflictbetweenhowwethinkandhownatureworks.
It is a, if not the, point source of the cruel stress,
conflict and contamination our society produces in
peopleandplaces.
Itisimportanttorecognizeisthatbyfinancially
orsociallyrewardingusforgettinggoodgradesor
formakingthegradebyusingnatureisolated5leg
thinking, our socialization habitually conditions,
programsoraddictsusto5legthinking.Inaddition,5
legthinkingoftendemeans4legreasoningaschildish,
unscientific, or environmental. The result is that we
become psychologically dependent on 5leg knowing
andrelating.Forexample:
"Aristotlethoughttherewereeightlegsona
flyandwroteitdown.Forcenturiesscholars
were content to quote his authority.
Apparently, not one of them was curious
enough to impale a fly and count its six
legs."
StuartChase
NSTP enables us to reverse this destructive
schism because it helps us gather information from
both 4leg and 5leg sources and thereby enjoy
wholenessthrough9legthinking.ThesecretofNSTP
is that by carefully following its instructions it
empowers us to enlist Natures help and pleasantly
overcome our bonded conditioning to5legthinking.
Intime,thisbecomesawayofthinkingasordinaryand
helpfulasbrushingyourteethtosustainyourhealth.
DisconnectionFrom4legKnowledge
Most scientists and many untrained people
recognizethatjustasourarm"loves"tobeattachedto
ourbody,allpeoplearebiologically,psychologically
andspirituallypartof,andtherebylovinglyattached
toNature.Weholdincommonanimperativesurvival
attraction to nature's resources found within each
otherandallofnature,aninbornaffinitytosunshine,
food, water, soil, air and healthy, supportive

community. This is substantiated by reports from

peoplewithneardeathexperienceswhosaythegreat
beyondpowerfullybeckonedthem.Ourgreaterroris
to ignore that we live extremely naturedisconnected
lives.Toourloss,onaverage,wespendover95%of
ourtimeindoors.Thisseverelydetachesusfromand
desensitizesustoNature.Inaddition,over99.99%of
ourthinkingis5legged;itconsistsofstoriesthatare
separatedfromandoutoftunewithnature.Thus,we
normally learn to know nature from 5leg,
disconnected,"asif,"orobjectiveobservationsabout
it, rather than from authentic, thoughtful, multiple
sense,4legcontactwithnaturalsystems.Welearnto
substituteconjectureforempiricalevidencebutitmore
oftenproducesargumentsthansatisfaction.
Ournatureestranged,5legintelligencecallsthe
extremedismembermentofourpsychefromitswomb
in Nature "normal," "progress," and "excellence in
education" rather than also acknowledge it as "a
desensitizing, intellectual, emotional and spiritual
amputation." Our society not only psychologically
suffersfrom thisseverance, but alsofrom ourdenial
that to escape or tranquilize the pain it causes, we
knowingly enter unreasonable relationships that
trespassorinvade natural systemswithinandaround
us. We thereby produce many of our unsolvable
problems.Conversely, students wholearntouseand
teach NSTP own a tool that helps them more
effectively participate in resolving our greatest
challengesthrough9legreasoningandrelationships.
Observationsfromreconnecting
Forthepast42yearsDr.Cohenandhisstudents
havelived,taughtandresearchedinnaturalareas,often
sleepingandcampingoutdoorsyearround.Fromthis
4legcontactwithnature,unlikethenorm,hedidnot
learn to know nature as something fearful to be
conquered in the name of civilization, safety and
economic growth. Instead, as he learned to treat
Nature's attractive peace with respect. he enjoyed
Natureasapowerfulfriend,teacherandguideasdo
the members of the 4leg plant, animal and mineral
kingdoms. This admiration or reverence helps his
students and him increase their sensitivity,
thoughtfulness and intelligence regarding our
relationships with natural systems within and around
us.ThroughNSTP,naturalsystemsinyourlocalewill
helpyouenjoythesamebenefitsforyourself.
Significantly, the major problems our society
faces seldom exist in intact natural systems or
genuinelynatureconnectedpeople.Asatwigisbent,
sogrowsthetree.Contemporarypeopleseldomgrow

in nature connected 9leg ways because our Nature

disconnected society rewards our 5leg thinking and
relatingforexploitinganddemeaningnatureand4leg
experiences. Thispracticeanditsdetrimentaleffects
havebecomeourhabitanddestiny. Ithasledtothe
demise of the natural people and natural areas that
thrivedherebeforeourculturearrived.
Cohensfortyyearsinnaturalsystemsshow,and
research agrees, that we inherit and contain not just
fivesenses,asAristotleoriginallysaid,butatleast53
inbornnatural senses.Cohenidentifiedthem in1990
and in his book Reconnecting With Nature. Each of
thesesensesisanaturallove,anattractiveconnection
with natural systems through which we can relate
sensiblytotheenvironmentandeachother.Doingso
helpsourthinkingandrelationshipsmakemoresense.
Since 1952 Dr. Cohen has researched, applied,
and taught people how to incorporate parts of the
NaturalSystemsThinkingProcessintotheirpersonal
and professional lives. NSTP enables people to
rejuvenate their 53 natural senses and restore these
sensesintheirmentalityandinteractions.
NSTP is presently part of several accredited,
Universitytrainingcoursesanddegreeprograms.Ithas
been reviewed and published in professional science
andtechnology,psychologyandeducationjournals.It
isalsoavailabletoanybodythroughbooks,workshops
and theinternet.Cohenhaswrittenfourother books
that explore various aspects of it. In this book, we
updatewhatyouneedtoknowinordertouseandteach
itonanelementarylevel.
NSTP helps us reattach our dismembered 4leg
psychetoitsoriginsinNatureinexactlythesameway
that a surgeon reattaches a dismembered arm to a
person'sbody.Thesurgeonbringsthearm andbody
together. This allows natures attraction energies to
biologicallyhealtheseparationasonlytheycan.
ThehistoryofNSTP.
In1959,Dr.Cohenfoundedacampandschool
program based on reconnecting with nature. The
National Audubon Society and many others called it
themostrevolutionaryschoolinAmerica.Theysaidit
wasonthesideoftheangels.Participantstraveledand
thrivedbycampingoutin83differentnaturalhabitats
throughout the seasons. They learned tothoughtfully
andfeelinglyliveouttheircommitmenttohaveopen,
honestrelationshipswiththenaturalenvironment,each
other and with indigenous people(s), researchers,
ecologists, the Amish, organic farmers,
anthropologists, folk musicians, naturalists, shamans,
administrators,historiansandmanyothersclosetothe

PsychologicalElementsofGlobalCitizenshipPart13

land.Theexperiencedeeplyreconnectedtheir53sense
inner nature to its origins and self in the whole of
nature.
As a result of the participants' romance with
educating themselves this way, in the school
community:
Chemical dependencies, including alcohol and
tobacco, disappeared, as did destructive social
relationships.
Personalityandeatingdisorderssubsided
Violence,crimeandprejudicewereunknownin
thegroup.
Academics improved because they were
applicable,handsonandfun.
Loneliness, hostility and depression subsided.
Group interactions allowed for stress release and
management;eachdaywasfulfillingandrelatively
peaceful.
Somestudentsusingmeditationfoundtheyno
longerneededtouseit.Theylearnedhowtosustain
a natureconnected community that more
effectivelyhelpedthemincreasetheirresiliencyto
stressanddisease.
Participants knew each other better than they
knewtheirfamiliesorbestfriends.
Participants felt safe. They risked expressing
andactingfromtheirdeeperthoughtsandfeelings.
A profound sense of social and environmental
responsibilityguidedtheirdecisions.
Whenvacationperiodsarrived,neitherstaffnor
studentwantedtogohome.Eachpersonenjoyably
workedtobuildthissupportive,balancedlivingand
learningutopia.Theywerehome.
Students sought and entered right livelihood
professions.
All this occurred simply because every
community member made sense of their lives by
sustaining supportive, multiple sensory relationships
that helped them restore contact with the attractive
voiceofthenaturalworldwithinandaroundthem.
The9legsecrettoeachparticipant'ssuccesswas
tolearnhowtothoughtfullylearnthrough4legnatural
sensationsandfeelingsthatarosefromtheirnewlyre
grownsensoryrootsinecosystemswithinandaround
them. These sensations acted as Natures guiding
voice.Thevalueandrewardsofdoingthisfreedthe
participants'53sensesfromtheirbondstoquestionable
5legstories.Itrebondedthemtotheir4legsenseof
reason in congress with 52 other rejuvenated natural
senses while these senses were connected to their
originsinnature.Thisresultedinconsensusbased9
leg thinking, literacy and relating that included
Part14PsychologicalElementsofGlobalCitizenship

informationfrom,andtherecyclingpowersof,natural
systems.Tomany5legthinkers,thissoundscrazy,but
year after year the beneficial results speak for
themselves.
From 30 years of travel and study in over 260
national parks, forests and subcultures, Cohen
developed a repeatable learning process and
psychology that anyone can use at home, work or
schooltoday.Itunleashesoursuppressed4legability
togrowandsurviveresponsiblywithnaturalsystems
in ourselves, others and the environment. By
documenting that it worked and could be taught, he
earned his doctoral degree and the school became a
nationally recognized graduate and undergraduate
degreeprogram.
From 198592, Cohen translated his nature
connected psychologyprogram intoNSTP forpublic
use, backyard or backcountry, via the internet or in
conjunction with local community members in real
time. Through NSTP activities, people thoughtfully
recover their natural senses and integrity by sharing
their attractionsto5legreadings and sensory, 4leg,
nature reconnections at home, work or school. An
exampleofNSTPinactionisreportedbyastudentat
theendofthisintroductorymaterial.
Any sane person understands full well that we
cantresolveourunsolvableproblemsusingthesame
naturedisconnected5legthinkingthatproducesthem.
ThecriticalcontributionofNSTPisthatitempowers
individualstocreatemomentsthatletEarthteachinits
sensoryvoice.Ithelpsusresponsiblyunify5legand
4leg thinking. This 9leg unification is a natural,
super intelligent way of knowing and relating, a
critical,presentlymissingessenceofsustainableliving
andpeace,personally,locallyandglobally.
NOTE: We have published the essence of this
IntroductionsdescriptionofNSTPand9legthinking
as a single page located in Appendix F. With
permission,itmaybecopiedandusedfromthatpage
asanintroductiontomethodsandmaterialsyoumay
wanttodistributeinsharingorteachingNSTP.

Identifying fourleg experiences and

theirvalue
IfyouhaveeverhadagoodexperienceinNature,
you know far more about the Natural Systems
ThinkingProcess(NSTP)thanyoumightcaretoadmit
toournatureconqueringsociety.Weidentifysome4
leg experiences, below because our 5leg thinking is
usuallyconditionedtooverlooktheirvalue:
TWOTHINGSTOTHINKABOUT
Canyouaffordtoignoretheseseldomrecognizedbut
welldocumentedphenomena?
Personal or professional relationships that are
genuinely connected with Nature are more
enjoyable, successful and responsible than those
isolatedfromNature.
Natureisolated people suffer from excessive
stress,conflictanddestructivenessthatcontactwith
nature ordinarily helps us recycle back into
peacefulandresponsiblybalancedrelationships.
Your experiences in nature can help you validate,
explain and benefit from these two phenomena. Too
often we take natures messages and benefits for
granted.Forexample:
Haveyouever:
wantedtogotoanaturaloutdoorareaforyour
vacation?
hadagoodexperienceinnaturethatmadeyou
feelhappiertobealive?
longedforalivelihoodthatfurthercontributed
topersonalandglobalbalanceratherthanexploited
Earthandpeople?
noticedthatdisorderstendtosubsideandstress
fadeinNature?
lovedapet,plantorplacethatmadelifemore
worthwhile?
Haveyouever:
treasured a rock, or totem that helped you
throughtroubledtimes?
feltgreaterloveforapersonorpeoplewhilein
anaturalarea?Noticedthatitiseasiertobuildand
sustainrelationshipsthere?
felt,attimes,asdrawntoMotherEarthasyou
wouldacaringhumanparentthatyouloved?
noticed that in nature you can think more
clearly?
Haveyouever:

had strong sensations about connections

betweenyourselfandnatureorearththatyouknow
arerealbutyoucan'teasilyexplain?
felt angry or sad about how we injure or
destroy the natural environment and/or its people
anddiversity?
noticedthatcounseling,educationandhealing
aremoreeffectivewhentheyincludequalitytime
innaturalareas?
discovered new phenomena or senses that
connectyouwithlifethatareoftenabsentinindoor
environments?
Haveyouever:
readthescientific studiesthat document how
reconnecting our thinking and feeling to our
psychological andbiological originsinnature has
beneficial learning, healing, and environmental
effects?(AppendixD)
Theexperience(s)withnaturedescribedabove,or
othersyoumayhavehad,demonstratethatnaturehas
its own 4leg healing energies and perfection that
attractivelyregisterinusbecausewearepartofnature.
You did not need special training or books to enjoy
theseexperiences.
Ongoing research (Appendix D) shows that
neither nature nor people(s) whose thinking is
consciously connected to it, produce the destructive
stress, violence and corruption too often found in
contemporary society. People in contact with nature
recover faster from illness. It also shows that our
addictive5legthinkinghasbeentrainedtodownplay
the value of our natural system experiences. It often
callsthemescapesorrecreationinsteadofrecreation.
The Natural Systems Thinking Process in this
bookempowersyouwithateachabletoolthatsafely
increases,strengthensandimprovestheseexperiences
andtheirbenefits.Itworkswellbecauseexperienceis
thebestteacher.
Although we may give Nature lip service, we
routinely relate to it as our slave or prisoner. We
normally manage, exploit or kill Nature for a profit
evenwhileknowingthatwearepartofitanditisour
lifesupportsystem.Weseldomrecognizethataspart
ofNature, we share itsnatural systems. We learn to
take far too lightly that what we do to nature we
thereforealsodotoourselves.
Our cultural prejudice against Nature often
preventsusfromvalidatingandcelebratingourNature
connected experiences. We fail torecognize them as
"in tune" moments, moments when Nature fully

PsychologicalElementsofGlobalCitizenshipPart15

touches itself inus,becomeswhole,and beneficially

registersandpurifiesitswholenessinourawareness.
Too often, we learn to overlook how nature
connected moments make sense, feel attractive and
have healing qualities. We seldom acknowledge that
because the rewards from these moments are more
sensible and powerful than the rewards from our
destructive, irrational, psychological additions, the
energiesinthesemomentscanhelpustorecycleand
transformourdestructiveattachmentsintoconstructive
relationships.
Ifyoucouldbottletheeffectsofgoodmomentsin
natureyoucouldselltheproductforafortune.NSTP
helps you recognize this 5leg bottling idea as
foolishnessforwithrespecttonature,nobodyhasyet
tofindasubstitute forthereal thinganditseonsof
experience.Tobottleitwouldbetodisconnectitfrom
the integrity of its wholeness and lose what you
thought you were bottling. Thats what many pills,
mediaandtechnologiesaredoingnow.Thatispartof
ourproblem,notitssolution.
PeoplewholearnandpracticetheNSTPscience
of reconnecting our thinking with nature improve
personal,professionalandenvironmentalwellnessand
receive many other benefits, too. We invite you to
engageinthisprocessthroughthisbookandthecourse
it contains including the activities. The best way to
learnitisdothebookonlinewithus,incommunity.
Enjoy the many new opportunities that present
themselves as you do the activities. Recognize that
your socialized tendency is to 5leg know and
understandNSTPandresistdoingtheactivities.That
will get you an A for a course that you actually
flunk.
OneimportantthingtonoteaboutNSTPisthatit
workswellbecauseitisacompleteprocess.Ifyour5
legthinkingtellsyoutoignoreorshortcutengagingin
partoftheprocessbecauseyoualreadyknowit,your
5leg thinking is probably misleading you. For
example,youmayknowhowtodriveacar,butifyou
dontgetinthecaranddriveittowhereyouwantto
go,youwontgetthereinthatautomobile.
Although this book teaches you NSTP, part of
NSTPistosharewithanotherpersonwhathappened
whenyouconnected withnature through anactivity.
You then learn from that person what they liked or
foundworthwhileinwhatyoushared.Viceversa,that
person sharing with you their results from doing the
activity, and your response to them, is equally
important. This sharing part of NSTP provides even
greater benefits and learning ifyou are sharing with
morethatoneperson,andthesepeoplearediverse,and
Part16PsychologicalElementsofGlobalCitizenship

in addition, if one of these people has had some

experiencewithNSTP.Whendonecorrectlyitenables
usto9legconnectwithnaturalsystemsineachother,
eventhoughwevenevermet.Welearntoknow,trust
andloveeachotherthroughthenaturalattractionsthat
areus,eachotherandnature.
Thereadershouldbeawarethatsharingviaemail
ortelephonehasproveneffectiveandthatthroughour
web site at www.ecopsych.com arrangements can be
made to engage in the sharing experience by email.
SharingisbuiltintotheonlineOrientationCoursethat
this book conveys as well as all our other online
courses. Online, it customizes NSTP to address and
reconnectthereaderspersonaldisconnections.
In the essay that follows a Doctoral graduate
student, Sarah Edwards, who learned this books
chapters in an online Orientation Course, describes
NSTPfromherinitial,experienceswithit. Whatshe
describes isnormal for acourse that has been given
over125timessinceitsinceptionin1996. Whatshe
describes has never been a secret for most course
interactions,byconsent,havebeenfreelyquotedand
availableforpubliceducationthroughourwebsiteand
publications. What issecret, however, isthehidden
skeletoninoursocietyandmind.Thatmentalghostis
ourunspokenfearofandbigotryagainstnature,even
todayafterwehaveallbuttamednature. Theghost
stops people from using NSTP as asturdy ladder to
climb out ofthepersonal and environmental ruts we
are in. This makes Hitler pale in comparison with
respecttoitsdisastrouseffectsuponalloflifeonEarth.
Cohensaysninelegthinkingtellshimthattheghost
stopsusfrombenefitingfromNSTPbecausetheghost
is4legnaturewithinusanditisfrightenedandfurious
aboutour5legthinkingpainfullyputtingitinamental
jailforcrimesitnevercommitted.

TheNaturalSystemsThinkingProcess:
MotherNaturesPathtoReliefandRelease
MyadventureswiththeProjectNatureConnect
onlineOrientationCourse.
bySarahEdwards
October,2002

Intheearly90s,thefieldofecopsychology
rolledontothemapwithalarmsblazing.Aflurryof
booksbyexpertsfrommanyfieldsfromJungian
analystslikeMarionWoodman,toculturalhistorian
ThomasBerry,socialhistorianTheodoreRoszakand
socialbiologistE.O.Wilsonproclaimedavital
relationshipbetweenNatureandourphysical,social
andpsychologywellbeing.But,theexpertsdespaired,
wevebecomesodisconnectedfromthislinkthatboth
weandtheenvironmentaresufferingweintermsof
proliferatingstressrelateddisorders;theenvironment
intermsofseveredegradationoftheecosystem.
Sincethattime,despitesuchprotestations,our
disconnectionfromnaturehasonlygrownmore
profound.Weworkina"cubicleculture"tethered24/7
electronicallybyemailandcellphonestoourpersonal
andcareerdemands.Asaculture,wesufferfrommore
lifestylerelatedstressdisordersandmanmade
environmentalproblemsthaneverbefore.
Tocope,wepopPaxil,ProzacorExcedrinPM.
Americansspend1.8.billiondollarsayearonPaxil
aloneandantidepressantsareonlyslightlybelow
bloodpressuredrugsasthemostcommonlyused
medication.
Mostpeopleeither:
1)Remainunawarethattheirchronicfatigue,dis
stress,deterioratingornonexistentrelationshipsand
lossofcommunityarerelatedtoadisconnectionfrom
Natureandtheirowninnatebiologicalwisdomor
2)Areunabletodoanythingtochangethepace,
limitationsandpressuresoftheirlivestofindless
demandingandmoreharmoniouswaystolive.
RecentlybookslikeAwakeningtoNature:
RenewingYourLifebyConnectingwithNatureby
CharlesCookhavearrivedinbookstores.Thesebooks
suggestthattakingNaturebreaksandbringingplants
intoourcubiclescanhelprelieveourfrazzlednerves.
Unfortunately,whilesuchsuggestionsmayprovide
temporaryrelieffromastressfulday,theyarepurely
palliative,castingwithNaturecastintheroleofa
warmbaththatwillmakeourhasslesmoretolerable.
Weseemhelplesstochangeourfundamentally
frazzledlifestyle.Orthatshowitseemedtomebefore
enrollinginoneofDr.MichaelCohensonline
courses,theNaturalSystemsThinkingProcess.Overa
seriesofninelessons,IlearnedthatNaturecanbefar
morethanarespitefromourwayoflife.Itcanbecome
ourguidetoapermanentcure.
Ibegantheonlinenineweekcoursewithasmall
groupoftotalstrangersfromacrossthenationand
beyond.Overourweekstogether,weparticipatedina
seriesofNatureActivitiespioneeredoverthelastfifty

yearsbyDr.Cohen.,aleadingauthorityinapplied
ecopsychologyandauthorofthebookReconnecting
withNature,andlearnedthat:
1.Natureknowshowtooperatefreeofthe
disorderswesufferfrom
2.AspartofNature,wetoohavethiscapability
3.Wecandothisbylearningtouseourinnate
abilitiestothinkandoperateasnaturedoesfrom
naturalattractionsthatlinkustoallotheraspectsof
life.
4.Inthisway,naturecanbecomeourteacher,
showingusinnonverbalbutirrefutabletermshowto
livejoyful,fulfillinglivesmomentbymoment.
Atthebeginningofthecourse,someofus
urbanitesquestionedwhetherwewouldbeabletofind
placestodoNatureActivitiesButwelearned
otherwise.ItspossibletodoNatureActivitieswhether
oneliveinaManhattanhighrise,suburbancondoor
mountainchalet.Oneparticipantinourgroup,for
example,livesinaninnercityrentalinamajor
metropolitanareaintheSoutheast.Shewrote,"Iam
havingtroublefindingmanynicenaturalplacestogo
to.Ihavenoforestsorwindsweptbeachesorwhatever
nearme."
Uponcloserinvestigationhowever,shenoticed
therewasanalmondtreeandseveralcitrustreesinher
overgrownbackyard.Agrapevinegrewrampantalong
thefenceandbeneathitanancientvegetablegarden
createdbyaprevioustenant.Orangeflowerspokedout
abovethebladesandclumpsofgrass.Beforelongshe
alsofoundherselfexploringthedogparkwhereshe
walkedherdoganddiscoveredalovelystandof
salmonpinkeucalyptustreesshednevernoticed
before,aswellasanearbygolfcourse."Thiswasall
sofaroutsideofwhatIdbeenthinkingofasnature
thatIdfailedtoseewhatwasrightinfrontofmy
nose,"sheexplained.
So,onceortwiceeachweek,wesharedour
experiencesinNaturewithoneanotherandestablished
abondnoneofuswouldhavethoughtpossibleamong
totalstrangerswhostillhavenevermetfacetoface.
Duringthecourse,wewereallconfrontedwithoneor
moretravailsoflife:thelossofajob,momentsofself
doubt,overwhelmingtimepressures,thedeathofloved
ones,andcareercrises.Butwithinashortperiodof
time,wediscoveredhowourgrowingconnectionwith
naturecouldeaseusthroughunavoidabletraumasand
helpusavoidothersalltogether.
Onebusycareermother,forexample,cameinto
thecoursefeelingstressedandpressedfortime."Ihave
beenjugglingtimeeversincemykidswereborn,"she
explained.Shedevenputofftakingthecoursebecause

PsychologicalElementsofGlobalCitizenshipPart17

sheworriedhowshecouldaddonemorethingtoher
day.Butoncebothherchildrenwerebothinschool,
sheseizedtheopportunity,
"Somuchofmydailyinteractionsarearound
takingcareofothers,"shewrotelater,"especiallytheir
pain.Orasaparentdealingwithmundanetasksor
havingtobeadisciplinarian.Itshardtostayintouch
withplayandhumor."
Butthisbegantochangemidwaythroughthe
CourseduringaNatureActivityshedidwhilevisiting
afriendwhoownsseveralacresofwoodedproperty.
Thereshewalkedtositbyasmallpondandwas
especiallyattractedtothewind,watchingitdance
acrosstheshimmeringwater.Itwas"playful,joyful,"
shewroteandsuddenlyshewantedtomakesomething
beautiful.Arrangingabrokenpieceofbirchtreelimb,
somebarkwithlittlelichens,afewacornsanda
pinecone,shecreatedathankyougiftonarockbeside
thepondforherhostess.
"Theimportantmessageformefromthis
experience,"shewrote,"ishowmuchIneedtorevive
theplayful,joyful,creativepartsofmyself."Since
then,shesbegunmakingdifferentchoicesabouthow
toprioritizehertimeandwheretoputherenergy.In
doingthissomethingsmayfallbythewaysideat
times,shefinds.Thehouseisn'talwaysasorderlyas
shedlike.Theirmealsaremorebasic.Hergardengets
neglectedattimesandthecheckbookisn'tbalanced
everymonth.Butshesays,"Iamstartingtofeelbetter.
Ihavealotmoreenergy.Immoreinterestedinmy
workandIhaveadeeperconnectionwithmyhusband
andkids."
Anotherparticipantwasabletoputtheshockof
anunexpectedjoblossinperspective.Theexperience
hadlefthimextremelydrainedofenergybutwhile
doingaNatureActivityinanearbypark,he
experiencedboththephysicalandthementalhealing
effectofnature.Ashedrewnearastrandofshade
trees,"Itquiteliterallyremindedmeofbeingheldin
mymothersarmsasaveryyoungchild,"hewrote."It
wasasiftheareawassayingtome;cometome,letme
holdyousothatyoucanrest."
Helaydownandfellasleepunderthosetrees.
Whenheawokehe"sensedhoweachthingaroundme
wasconnectedtotheothersforitssurvival.Wereall
partofNature,relyingononeanother.IknewIwould
beOKeventhoughmyjobhadended.Changeis
constantandImnotgoingthroughitalone.The
NaturalworldhasbeensurvivingmuchlongerthanI
have,sowhynotlearnfromit?"
Anotherparticipantsufferedthedeathofadear
friend,andhercat.Ontopofthatshewasaccostedon
Part18PsychologicalElementsofGlobalCitizenship

thestreet.Shewrote"Ihavehadaweekwheremyself
esteemhitalowandIwasfalteringaboutthereason
forbeingintheworld,thegriefandlosshad
overwhelmedmeandIwasatmymostvulnerable."
But,shefound,theNatureConnectingActivity
thatweek"gavemeasenseofselfloveandpridein
myabilitytodefendmyself.(It)waslikehavinga
friend,averydearfriend,hugmewarmlytaking
awayalotofsadnessandpainandshock
reminded(ing)metotrustmyselfandtokeeptaking
risksinlife,nomatterhowharditcangetbecauseI
havethestrengthandcouragetomakeitthrough."
Whileeachweeksactivitieshadspecifichealing
effectsonourlives,thecumulativeeffectwaseven
morefarreaching.Someofusbegantoreevaluateour
careers,wherewelived,ourrelationshipswithour
lovedones,etc.Oneparticipantdecidedtomoveto
anotherpartofthestatewhereshelived,concluding"I
havedecidedtomoveinterstatetoanareathatis
morealignedwithmyvaluesandneeds.Ihavea
feelingIamnotinahealthyplace.SoIwillbe
preparingtomoveoverthenextfewweeks."She
movedbeforethecoursewascompleted.
Anotherparticipantexplained,"Thiscourse
helpedmegrowemotionallyoverthepastcoupleof
months.IgainedgreatjoyfromtheexperiencesthatI
havehadandsharedwithmywife.Iamlesswanting
andquitehappymostofthetime.Ihaveafeelingof
calmnesswhichifitleavesInowknowhowtoregain
efficientlyandeffectivelythroughsimplereconnection
activities.Itgivesmehopeforthefuture."
ThislastcommentsumsupwhatIfoundtobe
mostimportantthingformebothpersonallyand
professionally.Onadailybasiswetendtogetbogged
downinmyriadsofworries,concerns,fears,habits,
andissuesthatareunappealing,unpleasantandeven
painfultous.Nonethelessweclingtothesestresses,
unabletoescapethem.Inpsychotherapyandother
healingprograms,weassume,ashelpingprofessionals
thatwemusthelppeopleunderstandandfigureout
theseproblems,neverconsideringthatwebyfollowing
ourinnatenaturalattractions,asnaturedoes,wecan
makedifferentchoicessowewonthavethesestresses
inourlives.
Sincecompletingthecourse,I'vefacedseveral
upsettingeventsinmylife,butIfindImhandling
themquitedifferentlynow.KnowinghowgoodIcan
feelwhenconnectedtonatureandknowingthatIhave
thechoicetofeelthatwayatanytime,I'mnolonger
willingtogivethatfeelingup,evenforfrighteningor
unpleasantevents.Ivelearnedthatatanymomentwe
cansay"No,that'snotwhatIwant,"andbygoing

outsideorotherwiseconnectingwithNature,once
againwehaveachoicenomatter,howdifficultthe
situation,tomoveresponsiblytowardwhatattractsus
inthemoment,trustingourselvestochoosewiselyboth
formyself,theothersinourliveslife,ourcommunity
andthenaturalworldaroundus.
TheNaturalSystemsThinkingProcessisa
remarkablepersonalandprofessionaltoolthatcanbe
usedtohealusofavastvarietyoflifestyledistresses
andtheresultingdepression,anxiety,andaddictions
thatplagueus,andintheprocessteachustorespect
andvalue,andtherebypreserve,thelifegivingnatural
environmentaroundus.

References
Berry, Thomas (1988) The Dream of Earth. San
Francisco:SierraClubBooks.
Cohen, Michael (1997) Reconnecting with Nature.
Corvallis,Oregon:EcoPress.
Cook,Charles(2002)AwakeningtoNature,Renewing
Your Life by Connecting with Nature. New
York:ContemporaryBooks.
Roszak, Theodore, ed. (1995) Ecopsychology:
Restoring the Earth, Healing the Mind. San
Francisco:SierraClubBooks.
Wilson,E.O.(1984.).Biophilia:TheHumanBondwith
Other Species, Cambridge, MA: Harvard
UniversityPress.
Woodman, Marion "Abandoned Souls, Abandoned
Planets."Ryley,Nancy(1998) TheForsaken
Garden: Four Conversations on the Deep
Meaning ofEnvironmental Illness. Wheaton,
IL:QuestBooks

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