I regularly ask myself why I write and publish my thoughts through this blog? I like to share and as you will see if you review my past posts I almost always pose a question. It’s about sparking interest and promoting you to ask yourself questions. It is not about me.

I have started this way as I intend to write about something that I saw in a newspaper article recently on Body Dysmorphic Disorder, BDD, that filled me with sadness.

BDD,https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/29/why-would-you-find-me-attractive-the-body-disorder-that-needs-more-attention

This article discusses the increasingly common negative feelings about one’s body. Predominantly a female response to how they look and how they sometimes feel unlovable. You might think it presumptuous of me as a man to comment on this and whilst I in some ways agree with you, much of my life has been spent in female company. I had three sisters, four daughter and for 27 years taught yoga to predominantly women’s classes. So I feel that I do have a little insight and ability to empathise .

We live in a society that is increasingly disconnected from nature and this is where I believe many of our difficulties arise, on how we see ourselves. We are led to believe that we should look a certain way and possess certain things. We are constantly told that we will be happier, healthier better looking if we own this or that, or follow this regime.

We are constantly looking for happiness outside of ourselves.

I have found that over the last few years since I started to work at “Meeting nature on nature’s terms” that my own position with regard to how I feel about myself has changed significantly.

Looking at these pictures its not difficult to see the beauty of the natural world, its all around us, from the tiniest fungi to the shooting stars and yet we find it so hard to see that beauty in ourselves.

When we look at ourselves naked in a mirror what is our reaction? Yet we are an intricate part of nature. That wonderful matrix.

There is an old oak tree not far from where I live that is broken and gnarled and yet it continues to live, put out leaves and even acorns this year. Looking at this wonderful survivor I do not believe there is anything ugly in nature just variety and difference, its our value judgments that cause so many problems and difficulties and this applies particularly to ourselves.

So what do you see? Something twisted and scarred that could be simply discarded or something that illustrates the beauty of life showing the trials and struggles that it has dealt with and should be honoured . A thing of beauty?

I often refer in this blog that it’s quite usual for me to wander naked on the land where I live as I find that it is easier for me to connect with the wildness in myself when I am without clothes. As you read this there are photos of me “Naked in nature”. These were taken, as you can see at various times through the year. What are your first thoughts when you see my naked image? Does your mind move into the critical mode? Do you start to compare and contrast? Are you affronted, embarrassed? Or do you see just another part of the natural world whose form records the stresses and strains and the passing of years the same as the trees and the land in which these pictures were taken. Because in truth this is what is depicted in these images.

Can you see the beauty in the wildness of nature in all its forms because that is what we all are, part of this fantastic environment. When you stand naked in front of the mirror try to set aside the critical thoughts. What you are looking at is nature pure and simple and nature is diverse and wonderful.

So whilst I don’t expect you to suddenly throw off your clothes and rush out into the wilds the literal truth is that you are an embodiment of nature, when you look at the world around you and see the beauty that is there, acknowledge that, that same beauty is in you.

Blessed be……/|\