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Sharing Nature with Children, Volume 1
Section Eight: Adventures
Silent Sharing Walk

Of all the activities in this book, the Silent Sharing Walk is potentially the most powerful. Walk in silence, abandoning words and the trappings of civilization — shoes, for example, and synthetic clothing that makes such un-nature-like noises. The silence and harmony of this activity, especially at dawn or dusk, create an awareness that we are sharing in the world with all living things.

Animals can sense the state of mind of a group of humans; they won’t run away if they feel a peaceful, harmonious intent. (Deer seem especially sensitive in this way.) Often I’ve noticed, on these walks, how animals will move away from us without the frantic fear so common at the approach of human beings; instead, they retreat a few steps at a time, stopping to look over their shoulders and satisfy their curiosity. It’s wonderful to sense our kinship with the animals; we enter their world as co-members, rather than as outsiders, and nature accepts us as parts of itself.

Because the walk requires sensitivity and subtle appreciation, I offer it only to children who I feel will be receptive and able to enter into the spirit of silent sharing.

In a high forest in Southern California, twelve boys and I prepared for a Silent Sharing Walk by remaining alone and apart for a half-hour, in total silence. We then walked slowly down an old road that was overgrown and shaded by trees, toward an overlook where we would see the great Mojave Desert, stretching out and away, far below. Birds and insects sang a chorus, and the air seemed electrified by our silence. A boy would spot something and tap the shoulders of his companions, pointing to whatever had caught his attention. The boys’ eyes testified to feelings of calmness and joy.

We saw a doe moving slowly toward us, intent on browsing in the roadside brush. When we were just 30 feet away, she gracefully raised her head and looked us over quietly. Her eyes were so innocent and trusting that they melted our hearts; rarely had we been accepted so unquestioningly into nature as now, by this gentle representative. There was an indescribable feeling about the moment — like coming home after a long exile.

Ten minutes later we came upon three coyotes trotting alongside the road. Like puppies, they would run a few feet closer, then stop to howl and tilt their heads from side to side as they watched us, curious about the silent strangers.

We arrived at the ledge overlooking the desert and stayed there for an hour, still in silence, letting ourselves be absorbed into the darkening high-desert world.

When a person becomes harmoniously attuned with the world, his feelings of harmony with other people are intensified, too. Through watching nature in silence, we discover within ourselves feelings of relatedness with whatever we see — plants, animals, stones, earth and sky. The American Indians knew that, in silence, we can feel that all things are expressions of a single Life, and that we humans, too, are children of that Life.

“As above, so below. As within, so without.” As we get closer to nature, we find that the subject of our study is not actually nature at all, but life, and the nature of our own selves.

Unendingly magnificent is nature; yet we view only one of Her billions of planets. Her splendor is spread across endless space and manifested on countless worlds; but, for us, Her most wondrous gift remains Her willingness to teach us about ourselves. And when we learn to see and understand ourselves and the world around us, we humans become the pinnacle of nature’s accomplishments; for through man, nature is able to view and appreciate itself in the fullest, most vividly aware way of all.
HOW TO ORDER:
All Sharing Nature Products are now available through secure online ordering.
Or call toll free to order through Inner Path at 866-665-7765

In the United Kingdom you can order our books from Deep Books, ltd.
Contact: David Birkett, david@deep-books.co.uk

Joseph Cornell's books are currently available in the following foreign languages: Chinese, Danish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Slovene, Spanish, and Thai.

Excerpts from Sharing Nature with Children

Preface

How to be an Effective Nature Guide

Section One: Close-up with Nature- Meet a Tree

Section Six: Spotting and Attracting Animals- Bird Calling

Section Eight: Adventures- Silent Sharing Walk

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Sharing Nature Foundation
14618 Tyler Foote Rd.
Nevada City, CA 95959
530-478-7650
e-mail: info@sharingnature.com

			Home Flow Learning ™ Nature Activities Programs Calendar of Events Sharing Nature Worldwide Country Coordinators Joseph Cornell Books and Resources Connections and More Information
	Sharing Nature with Children, Volume 1 Section Eight: Adventures Silent Sharing Walk

	Of all the activities in this book, the Silent Sharing Walk is potentially the most powerful. Walk in silence, abandoning words and the trappings of civilization — shoes, for example, and synthetic clothing that makes such un-nature-like noises. The silence and harmony of this activity, especially at dawn or dusk, create an awareness that we are sharing in the world with all living things. Animals can sense the state of mind of a group of humans; they won’t run away if they feel a peaceful, harmonious intent. (Deer seem especially sensitive in this way.) Often I’ve noticed, on these walks, how animals will move away from us without the frantic fear so common at the approach of human beings; instead, they retreat a few steps at a time, stopping to look over their shoulders and satisfy their curiosity. It’s wonderful to sense our kinship with the animals; we enter their world as co-members, rather than as outsiders, and nature accepts us as parts of itself. Because the walk requires sensitivity and subtle appreciation, I offer it only to children who I feel will be receptive and able to enter into the spirit of silent sharing. In a high forest in Southern California, twelve boys and I prepared for a Silent Sharing Walk by remaining alone and apart for a half-hour, in total silence. We then walked slowly down an old road that was overgrown and shaded by trees, toward an overlook where we would see the great Mojave Desert, stretching out and away, far below. Birds and insects sang a chorus, and the air seemed electrified by our silence. A boy would spot something and tap the shoulders of his companions, pointing to whatever had caught his attention. The boys’ eyes testified to feelings of calmness and joy. We saw a doe moving slowly toward us, intent on browsing in the roadside brush. When we were just 30 feet away, she gracefully raised her head and looked us over quietly. Her eyes were so innocent and trusting that they melted our hearts; rarely had we been accepted so unquestioningly into nature as now, by this gentle representative. There was an indescribable feeling about the moment — like coming home after a long exile. Ten minutes later we came upon three coyotes trotting alongside the road. Like puppies, they would run a few feet closer, then stop to howl and tilt their heads from side to side as they watched us, curious about the silent strangers. We arrived at the ledge overlooking the desert and stayed there for an hour, still in silence, letting ourselves be absorbed into the darkening high-desert world. When a person becomes harmoniously attuned with the world, his feelings of harmony with other people are intensified, too. Through watching nature in silence, we discover within ourselves feelings of relatedness with whatever we see — plants, animals, stones, earth and sky. The American Indians knew that, in silence, we can feel that all things are expressions of a single Life, and that we humans, too, are children of that Life. “As above, so below. As within, so without.” As we get closer to nature, we find that the subject of our study is not actually nature at all, but life, and the nature of our own selves. Unendingly magnificent is nature; yet we view only one of Her billions of planets. Her splendor is spread across endless space and manifested on countless worlds; but, for us, Her most wondrous gift remains Her willingness to teach us about ourselves. And when we learn to see and understand ourselves and the world around us, we humans become the pinnacle of nature’s accomplishments; for through man, nature is able to view and appreciate itself in the fullest, most vividly aware way of all. HOW TO ORDER: All Sharing Nature Products are now available through secure online ordering. Or call toll free to order through Inner Path at 866-665-7765 In the United Kingdom you can order our books from Deep Books, ltd. Contact: David Birkett, david@deep-books.co.uk Joseph Cornell's books are currently available in the following foreign languages: Chinese, Danish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Slovene, Spanish, and Thai.

	Excerpts from Sharing Nature with Children Preface How to be an Effective Nature Guide Section One: Close-up with Nature- Meet a Tree Section Six: Spotting and Attracting Animals- Bird Calling Section Eight: Adventures- Silent Sharing Walk

	\| Flow Learning™ \| Nature Activities \| Programs \| Calendar of Events \| \| Sharing Nature Worldwide \| Country Coordinators \| Joseph Cornell \| \| Books and Resources \| Connections and More Information \| Mailing List Sharing Nature Foundation 14618 Tyler Foote Rd. Nevada City, CA 95959 530-478-7650 e-mail: info@sharingnature.com