Have you heard the buzz around Robin Easton’s amazing book, Naked in Eden? It’s for good reason this book has made an impact. Robin’s search for truth and ecological reality is wrapped in a beautifully written, incredibly engaging, almost movie-like story brimming with revelations. Her desire for truth leads her to live in the Australian rainforest for over a year, where she discovers from nature the ability to live consciously, to become a full woman, and to uncover her biological role in nature. Robin weaves together many lessons into one profound and epic story, which can enlighten your entire being after the first reading.
I’d like to share with you the lessons I’ve learned from reading her story, and how they apply to my own life. Please feel free to add your own life lessons, especially if you have also read this mind-blowing book.
I’m also sharing the love by giving away a free copy of Naked in Eden!
To enter, please leave a comment below sharing something you love about nature and why you love it – whether that’s flowers, your pet, or the sun setting behind a shimmering lake.
LOVE
Robin discovers self-love, how to maintain that self-love within a romantic relationship, and how to extend that love to all beings. She says, all life exudes love. She describes the tension and upsets of adventuring through the forest on her own, initially disappointed that her husband Ian stayed by the camp to read books and hang out with a forest elder. Would she have to face the ferocious unknown of the forest on her own? Did she have such strength without Ian, the one she depended on just to enter the forest?
I have felt this same fear. Will pursuing my own dreams leave my boyfriend behind? After reading Robin’s story, I have less fear of this happening. I see it now as a normal part of my growth into adulthood. I know because Robin has accomplished it, that I can have my own identity and a strong sense of self within a loving, romantic relationship. Hooray!
DEATH
Initially, Robin hates death. Why does a cute and beautiful bandicoot have to die an unwarranted death? Eventually, she comes to see that without death, there can be no life. All life is a transfer of energy. Life itself cannot continue to flourish without this transfer of energy. Everything we need to live comes from dying plants and animals.
My new view of death is now much more compassionate: Death is a part of life, and so it is a normal everyday experience.
UNITY
Since all life exudes love, Robin discovers she is yet another force of love in the forest’s web of unity. Wanting to believe in unity, Robin constantly questions the purpose of deadly animals such as poisonous snakes and human-eating crocodiles. She eventually realizes that humankind’s hateful resentment towards deadly creatures is caused by a fear of death. It is because we misunderstand and fear death that we fear these creatures. And yet, we humans are one of the deadliest creatures to exist on this planet. We have wiped out so many more species than any snakes or crocodiles have.
Unity is about unconditional love for all living things. It is about loving life through the pain of death. Life is that greater thing which connects us all to each other and to the planet, and beyond. We are living matter, organized against the chaos that surrounds us. We have DNA like bacteria do, and each of our cells divides like a bacteria does. Whenever any living thing eats, some other living thing must die. That’s the rule of life. And so we are all connected by this cyclical fate.
This isn’t a view that one easily adopts. It can take you on a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations. Remember to keep in mind that these emotions and thoughts don’t define you, and you will move through them to calmer pastures. They are a temporary reaction to an incredible revelation. Though there’s a lot of emotional work to deal with, I believe it’s important to see our connection to the world we live in. We yearn for connection always. It might be hard to face the truth, but it’s even harder to run away from it, pretending it doesn’t exist.
AWARENESS + CONSCIOUS LIVING
Initially, Robin is resentful of the fact she must constantly be aware of herself and surroundings. She must check every surface she chooses to sit, her hair and skin for ticks, and she must always step lightly and tap the ground to scare away snakes. All of these simple actions were exhausting. Later she observes the lives of surrounding animals, and comes to see how they too must live in absolute awareness of potential food as well as predators, in the name of survival. So, too, should humans live with high consciousness and awareness of their place in the world. In the name of survival.
This resonated with me very deeply. Since my foray into sustainable living, I have felt resentful that I needed to be so aware of all the little things I wanted to change. Why does sustainability need to be so exhausting? Every aspect of my life, every habit that I’ve formed so far, needs to change. In the future, will everyone truly need to bring their own reusable bags and tupperware, drive less and bike or walk more, and engage in political life? Put it this way: Will we survive as a species if we continue to live the way we consumers of convenience do? The answer is a resounding NO.
Robin has taught me the simple fact that all living beings in nature must live wide awake in order to survive. We cannot escape the fate of all living things. So I feel more accepting of constant awareness, ready to surrender and live accordingly. This isn’t exactly easy to do in real life, but at least my perspective can be wholesome and nurturing, rather than confused and destructive.
FEAR
Robin learns that fear comes from a place of not understanding. Her resentment of constant awareness came from not understanding the nature of survival. She learned how to deal properly with snakes, most of which are not poisonous, and became their friends. Throughout the book, Robin constantly challenges herself to embark on dangerous adventures in order to move past her fears. The more she does this, the weaker her fears become.
Though I have yet to fully understand Robin’s experience with fear, I have a greater appreciation for where it comes from and how to deal with it.
INTERCONNECTEDNESS + ECOLOGY
Immersing herself in love and unity with the forest, she witnesses the intimate interconnectedness of all things. Bugs are food for birds, rodents, and other small animals. Plants feed bugs and other animals. The sun feeds plants, and larger animals eat smaller ones. Death is a fertilizer for life. The forest floor is full of dead leaves, plants, and dead animals. And it will then become the most fertile soil for the most beautiful trees. We humans are only one animal out of many. Our role is to respect this ancient cycle of life by playing our part in its dance.
For me this means I try to let go of modern cultural beliefs, and simply focus on how to live sustainably, wide awake, with love and respect to the creative forces of life all around me. There is no room for materialism or cynicism here. There is no need for it. The only things I need to be a satisfied human being are love and consciousness.
Like the many other readers this book has touched, I saw myself in Robin, transformed alongside her journey, and closed my book a more awake and empowered being.
If you think this sounds like a book you’d like to read, be sure to check out these other great reviews of Naked in Eden:
- Experiencing Life Fully: Experiencing Naked in Eden
- Positive Provocations: A Timeless Interview with Robin Easton
- Evolving Beings: Book Review: Naked in Eden
Giveaway
Want your own copy of Naked in Eden? To be considered for a copy, please leave a comment below sharing something you love about nature and why you love it – whether that’s flowers, your pet, or the sun setting behind a shimmering lake.
I’ll pick a reader at random, using random.org in the following method:
If a total of 5 people leave a comment, I will enter the first names of these 5 people into the List Randomizer, which lists these people in random order and assigns each of them an integer number. Next, I will use the Random Integer Generator to choose one winning number, which will determine the winner.
If you are chosen, you have a choice of New, Used, or Kindle Edition. For the New and Kindle versions, I will buy from Amazon.com. If you choose Used, I will buy the book on Abebooks.com and ship it directly to you.
Contest Closes Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Discussion
Want to Discuss Naked in Eden? Let me know if you do and I’ll form a discussion group!
Naked in Eden sounds like an amazing book!
One of my favourite things about nature is the smell after a shower of summer rain. It freshens the countryside, refreshes the air and seems to evoke new beginnings.
(If I win I’d like a used version please.)
Dear Teresa, I too LOVE the smell of air after rain. Of course living in the rainforest I experienced that almost every single day. The smell rich with life and vitality. I now live in the Southwest, USA, and we rarely have rain. However, every time we do I walk either in the rain or after the rain, just because the air is redolent with the scent of the earth. Thank you for commenting here. Robin
Yes, it really is fantastic! I love the smell of a fresh rain too, it smells incredibly refreshing.
I love nature because of it’s healing properties. The more natural something is the better for you as opposed to manmade food. We try to make things better but we end up taking away the healing therapeutic outdoor music from nature with tv and other gadgets to where we end up living in a fog say. I’m still learning and would love to read this book.
Dear Heather, I too love the astounding healing properties of nature. I tell in my book how nature not changed my whole life, but it healed me. I was very ill when I went into the rainforest. I think to not live in relationship with nature creates its own illness and disorders. We, along with everything else, ARE nature. To live without nature is like living with air, water, or food. We are inseparable. Thank you so much for stopping in.
I actually grew up with Robin in a small town in Maine. In this environment there was not a whole lot for a kid to do unless you had your license and were allowed to drive the family car an hour to the biggest city. Thus, there wasn’t a whole lot to do! I grew up hiking in the hills and white mountains, canoeing the back waters of the towns lake, searching for Lady Slippers and Mayflowers in the spring and snowshoeing and skiing in the winter. This planet is made from stardust, and we all are basically of the same chemistry. We are all made of stardust …. and we are all drawn to the burst of spring flowers, craning our necks to see the Milky Way and stepping outside to breathe in the sun and air of our world. What do I love about nature? I AM nature … what’s not to love? (I would be happy with an excellant condition used book)
Wonderful! You see we are all made of the same stuff.
Dearest Mary, What a JOY to see you here. Reading your comment was like reading about my own life. Oh, my dear friend, you words and insights are pure poetry and just warm my heart, and fill me with love for you. You are as beautiful as the earth you love so deeply love. And yes, you ARE nature. Thank you, Mary. Always, Robin.
LOVE Naked in Eden!
LOVE Robin!
LOVE nature! Man! Wouldn’t know where to start! Just back from trip to Yosemite–and Ojai, CA. Nature–life–consciousness–just …continues on. It’s alive-ness! From rushing torrents of water, to dripping in caves, to the invisible sources of water- that continue to exist-in desert climates. Nature expands, makes Way, is always present. Moss seems to pulse, vines flow, weeds gush, gigantic trees squeeze their roots from between the cracks in huge boulders to yawn out over sheer cliffs in this display of defiant magnificence. It’s a neverending story…… without a word that best says it.
But read the book….because Robin’s experience, while unique in itself, is our experience. What we all crave. What we already know: connection to All. Or–just our All-ness. Great review !
Dear Steve, I am SO touched to see you here and to feel your vibrant beautiful soul jump off the page and into my heart. You are so like nature Itself, full on vibrancy, wide open heart, madly in love with life and all the wonder around you, passionate, and earthy. What you shared here is superb. This line just took my breath away:
“Moss seems to pulse, vines flow, weeds gush, gigantic trees squeeze their roots from between the cracks in huge boulders to yawn out over sheer cliffs in this display of defiant magnificence.”
That last part, “in a display of defiant magnificence.” just brought tears to my eyes because I as read the whole line I was back in the rainforest. It really is true, Nature stops at nothing. It defies all odds. In nature all things are possible. ALL things. Your beautiful words here made me think of this bits from my book:
“My soul grew like the rainforest, a wild teeming menagerie that thrust forward without a backward glance, without explanation.”
“Curved buttressed roots twisted and folded, elegant as ribbon candy. High above my head, huge arms reached out to touch each other . . . trees holding hands. Everything dripped, moist and ripe. Vibrant green spread everywhere in wild profusion. Life competed unabashedly for every scrap of light. The rainforest knows no shame. ”
Thank you my dear friend. Always, Robin
Steve, that sounds really awesome! Yosemite is so beautiful – one of my favorite places to visit! Having read Robin’s book I’ve discovered I can commune with the trees, vines, and hedges that surround me. They are all so lush and vibrant, like you described. You’re so right – we all crave connection to All. Thanks, Steve!
Poetry in motion. Lovely Steve!
I have recently read Robin’s book – simply excellence personified. I too could feel myself alongside Robin – her narrative is superb. Nature to me, is where we can connect/reconnect with our true existence. One is fortunate who can walk out of the modern world and into a still, natural setting. To be still, to be aware, to just “be” in wild places is to feel whole.
Dear Ricky, Wow!! What a lovely comment, and what a treat to see you here. I love this line: “Nature to me, is where we can connect/reconnect with our true existence.” That has been SO true for me. It was (and still is) in nature that I experience my true existence. I experience my place in the world, along with the rest of life….whether that be tree, rock, water, air, bird, fish or grass. I KNOW, without doubt, who and what I am.
Also LOVED this line: “To be still, to be aware, to just “be” in wild places is to feel whole.” Ohhhh, that is sooo lovely, like John Muir. Pure poetry. I reeeeeally get what you are saying here, and I know it as truth. Bless you my friend. And thank you SO much. Robin
Hi Ricky, I really like your description of her book as “simply excellence personified” – I think that says it all. I would love to experience what you described – to simply “be” and feel whole. Thank you for your comment!
This book sounds wonderful. I love nature because it is a constant reminder that everything is interconnected. The unconditional love from my sweet dog is a reminder that love is all you need. If only we all had the opportunity to live in the Australian rain forest for over a year!
Dear Lori, bless you for stopping and leaving a comment. I agree; I think we NEED to feel our interconnectedness because when we DO feel it we are able to live with less fear, more respect, and more nurturing. We KNOW where to turn so that we can plug into our “source”. We feel safe, loved, and part of something larger than our human community and often egocentric-based lives.
You are wise in mentioning “the unconditional love”. Nature IS unconditional love. She does not judge or shame us. She merely IS. And is that “IS” we can experience great peace. We are able to begin to let down, feel that we and ALL is well. We are able to remember who we are and what is really important. We are in turn able to more gently love ourselves.
Thank you dear Lori for stopping in and sharing. Robin
It’s an amazing book, and I would love to do the same! I feel too attached to my modern world though, and wouldn’t survive long in the rainforest.
Lynn,
This is such a beautiful review! I love how you shared each way that this book touched you. I agree that this is a magical book, that not only draws us into the life of Robin, but draws us into ourselves and helps us to really reflect on all that we are.
Nature has become such a strong influence in my life. I am most at ease when out in nature, and I prefer to spend as much time out with my beautiful mother nature as much as possible! The simplicity of “being” in nature is what touches me the most deeply. There is so much we can learn from the rhythms and lessons that she holds. Lessons that we seem to have abandoned as a society.
Thank you for this beautiful review!
Dearest Stacey, It is JOY to see you here!! Ahh, yes, dear friend, you know well the benefits of being with nature. You thrive on ALL of it. You breathe nature in until you become it. Like me, I think you could not live without it. Actually, I think that is true for all of us…we cannot live without it. (That’s rather obvious…in terms of our survival. LOL!) Maybe I should say that I don’t think any of us are fully healthy if we don’t have at least SOME connection with nature, even if it is houseplants, a small garden, a single flower. Something goes out of us, something is lost when we so not feel, touch, smell, see, hear nature. Even if we don’t live in the wilds of the jungle as I did or hike 1000s of miles in nature as you have done, we STILL need to touch nature, or our Greater Self.
I am touched by your kind words, feel so grateful. I also love how you said: “I am most at ease when out in nature…” I so relate to this. “Ease” is the right word because when I am in nature all tension or die-ease simply melts away. I know you understand this so well. Thank you my dear friend. Always, Robin
Thanks, Stacey! You’re so right – “There is so much we can learn from the rhythms and lessons that she holds.” I’m so glad you are learning lessons from nature. Thank you for your wonderful comment.
Dear Lynn, I cannot possibly tell you how moved and inspired I am by this post. The depth of your insights is just incredible. YOU are incredible. I feel so honored. Very excited and uplifted by your ability to “see” and remain open. Just beautiful.
Reading this really helped me to experience myself in new ways. I’ve been through so much in my life that I often don’t see myself anymore, too busy living in the moment. LOL!
I simply live like the rainforest, full-on, without a backward glance. So to see myself through your beautiful and wise eyes left me delightfully breathless. You really saw me. And your honesty here is so beautifully endearing, a great strength in you.
I LOVED this entire post. Next time I work on my website, I am going to put a link to this post. Your depth of insight is remarkable. I really LOVE the section: “AWARENESS + CONSCIOUS LIVING” You summed that up better than I EVER could. LOL!!
Whoa!!
I love this line: “Robin has taught me the simple fact that all living beings in nature must live wide awake in order to survive. We cannot escape the fate of all living things.” No, we cannot escape the fate of all living things. And there are many levels to this awareness. One being that no matter WHERE we live, rainforest or city, we ALL (humans) now have to live with awareness if we want to survive. I believe Earth will go on whether we do or not. Life on earth may not look the same, but to her Life is Life, and all life valuable. But if humans want to survive we are all being called to not only see our own value, but more importantly the value in all live around us. We are being called to return to a state of heightened awareness. We can no longer afford emotional lassitude in relation to our “source” or our environment. You are very right, in that this “being awake” or living in awareness can initially seem inconvenient or not easy. However, the more we awaken the more alive we feel. As Lori mentioned: we thrive on feeling interconnected.
Dearest Lynn, I cannot thank you enough for the magnificent beauty, wisdom, and depth you have expressed here. Your site itself made me gasp. I am so proud of all you do to create awareness. You are truly a remarkable soul. And you ARE changing the world. You have quite an astounding path that you are walking. Much gratitude, respect, and love to you. Robin
Thanks so much, Robin! I’ve learned so much from your book, it’s really incredible. I had no idea what I was in for! I think that point is really important, “the more we awaken the more alive we feel” and can guide us to more earth-friendly living. I’m so happy to hear that my post helped you see yourself better too. I hope I didn’t reveal too many secrets of the book! I just thought they were really important lessons that everyone should hear about.
Thanks so much for your incredible support – you’ve been a real inspiration, truly a genuine person I’m honored to know and befriend.
Dear Lynn, So very touched by your reply here. Never worry about reveling to much. It was PREFECT. Amazing!! It truly was a remarkable experience seeing myself and nature through your eyes. I am still reeling from it. This is a post I will reread. At times I felt you saw me better than I see myself.
I am deeply grateful for the experience you gave me by sharing your insights. It is very empowering for me. I am grateful to know there are kindred souls like your in the world, we see and are making a difference.
I posted this on facebook and people are loving it. Bless you and hugging you. Robin
I love nature. Growing up in NH and Maine, nature provided me with my foundational identity and spiritual well being. As a young photographer, I felt delighted when friends who purchased my work reported that it often supplemented their spiritual practise. I never had expressed my connection with earth and spirituality to them.
Many years later I met Robin and loved the stories that she shared. Now so many people can learn from her intensely magical experiences.
Dearest Mary!!! What a surprise to see you here!! All the years I’ve known you and I did not know that you also once lived in Maine. Wow, our paths converged here in NM. How amazing is life?!! Very! And you dear soul are equally as amazing and have always been so generously supportive of me, in so many ways. More importantly, always so kind, gentle, and wise.
Your photos definitely reflect your passionate love of nature, and life itself. Although we are no longer in Maine we both adore our southwest beauty. But then I think we would love nature no matter where we are.
Thank you so much for popping in. And you know, you are right, my time in the rainforest was…and remains….intensely magical. It became who I am. Much love to you, Mary. Robin
Mary, thanks for sharing your story. I would love to see some of your pictures! They must be fantastic. Robin’s experiences are truly magical – I think few people have experienced the same thing. It’s wonderful to connect over her book!
This is one of my favorite books too! You are right, Lynn > it is brimming with deep and profound life lessons. I love the way you extracted the essential lessons of this book on unity, love, death, interconnectedness, and others, and share the highlights with us here. This is a mind and life changing book plus a terrific adventure.
Oh, my dear Sandra, it does my heart good to see you. It always does me good. I always feel that I have been hugged when I run into you anywhere. I am moved by your kind words here. I have respected you from day one, your depth of insight, as well as the all encompassing compassion, which always leave me changed and feeling who I really am. You just have that effect on people.
I too LOVED the way Lynn distilled core lessons from my experiences, and then went on to talk about her own feelings, insights and awakening. She truly did a MAGNIFICENT job. There is some “living” or alive about this post, and I think it is because she was willing to honestly share her own core essence. While reading this post I was so moved “seeing” her.
Thank you dear Sandra for sharing here and for your deeply loving heart. So much love, Robin.
Robin – thanks for your comment, I am truly honored. Yes, Sandra definitely has that magical effect on people!
Thanks, Sandra! I’m glad you found it easy to understand the lessons. This book is truly life changing! Robin is so right – you must have this effect on people: “I have respected you from day one, your depth of insight, as well as the all encompassing compassion, which always leave me changed and feeling who I really am.” I feel this way when interacting with you too! It is really cool.
I love all of nature, but what brings me the most joy on a daily basis is my garden — specifically, the plants which I planted and nourished, and which now nourish me and the wildlife of this suburban neighborhood.
25 years ago, I planted two avocado pits in the ground, never realizing that they would grow into gigantic trees that shade me in the summer and bring forth hundreds of fruits in the fall. Not only do they feed me, but they’re also sustenance for opossums — and yes, I’m OK with sharing. Also, for the past two years, a hummingbird has built her nest in the farthest branches of that tree, right across from my bedroom window.
The second plant (this is like choosing a favorite child — I have to mention both!) is the giant prickly pear cactus 15-20′ high in my front yard. I planted one pad 20 years ago — again, never realizing how it would grow. Cacti are children of the desert; despite almost no water and seemingly no care, they adapt and thrive.
For years, I didn’t realize this was a food plant — with its hard exterior, stickers and thorns — until I spoke to people whose roots were in this geographical climate. In the summer, it yield hundreds of sweet coral-colored prickly pear fruits — yes, you have to peel the stickers off LOL! All year round, it has edible pads (the newer growth) that are a nutritious green vegetable.
I call this my cactus (and avocado) sanctuary. These plants have returned my love, and sustained me and the wildlife in my suburban yard. They yield poems as well as fruit, and stories of the land before paths were hidden by concrete.
Yay, I love gardens! I’m just a newbie, but I can already see all the wonderful things to love about a garden. They are incredibly healing and nurturing places. I would love to plant avocados too. I’ve heard about edible cacti – I hope yours are tasty. Thanks so much for sharing your story, Meredith!
Dear Meredith, what a lovely story. I just so relate to what you wrote here. You excitement about your little garden jumped off the page. I also know THAT feeling.
Isn’t it incredible when we plant something, and then unexpectedly it turns into magic, more than we ever imagined. I also love how the avocados connected you to so many other facets of life. Just in planting them you created an ecosystem of sorts.
I am curious what part of the country (world) you live in that you can grow both avocados and prickly pears. I am in New Mexico and LOVE the prickley pears and have eaten their fruit. I burned the spines off, and it worked. However, it did leave a “roasted” taste, only slightly. And the “pads” you can get in the stores down here. As I was eating an avocado for lunch today I was wondering it if it might grow down here, as long as I watered it. But then, maybe our winters would be too cold, although they are not really cold, they do go below freezing at night.
I so LOVE that you have found a most glorious way to connect with nature in an urban setting. I too now live in an urban setting, although not a big city at all, and although I am on the edge of it, it still is an urban area. My garden is one of the ways that I connect to nature all summer (along with hiking, etc.) Two summers ago when I was writing my book and getting ready to publish it I thought I wouldn’t have time to garden. It was the first time in YEARS that I did not have one and I could NOT believe how MUCH I missed it.
I recently wrote an article about it, and while writing it I realized even MORE how much I needed that garden. I have one this summer!!
You can read the story here.
http://www.gardengossipmagazine.com/PeaceInTheGarden.html
Thank you SO much for stopping in Meredith. You made my evening very soothing. Especially since I just came in from working in my garden.
I’d love a copy!! I love nature and the stillness of it. The sound of silence. Or the bird chirps, crickets, frogs, creek, ambiance of nature. I love feeling present and it’s very sacred to me.
Dear Janet, I too love the silence and peace of nature. Sometimes we forget what real silence feels like. Then when we hear it, it almost can make our ears hurt; the silence can be so profound. Likewise, I love the natural “music” of nature. It has an unparalleled soothing effect on me. Thank you for stopping in and sharing here. Robin
The silence is incredibly peace-inducing. It helps bring me back to center. Thanks for sharing your view!
I’m not even sure what nature really means anymore. I used to think it was something external to myself, but I’ve been reading up on mitochondria lately and am no longer sure I can see humans as meaningfully separate. I have a long running fascination with plants — both the ones that heal and the ones that kill us, so I don’t consider nature either inherently benevolent or malevolent, or cohesive in intent. I think I’m slowly arriving at the conclusion that nature is nothing more or less than a vast and changing web of interconnections, many of which humans can’t see or predict. And my sense of wonder at the vast complexity of it all and how I fit into it might just be my favorite thing.
Me too! I love wondering about my role in the “vast and changing web of interconnections”. There was a theory on how multi-cellular life evolved, which told that a mitochondria originated from bacteria, one of which was engulfed by a larger cell. So all cells have features of bacteria. I think about how all living things have DNA, some type of food to eat, waste to secrete, and a means to reproduce. We learn about this definition of life in biology, and I see it through the lens of interconnectedness now. Thanks for sharing your view!
Dear Jennifer, Something you touched on is something I learned in the rainforest, and still experience, which is that there is no separation. I am as much nature as anything else in existence. I am currently working on a documentary that touches on some of the things you mentioned, in a very general way.
For me, nature is not something separate from me. It is within me, through me, of me, extending all around and beyond me. I experience it as an energetic “fabric”, which is expressing itself in infinite ways, over and over again. I experienced it as intelligent, curious, experimental, explorative, and forever evolving.
I love what you said about plants because I learned that potentially deadly (to humans) plants and animals were not something “bad”. For me, there is no good or bad, or right or wrong in nature. Nature just is. Although I must say that I felt intense love and peace in the “existence” or fabric that just is. I also felt completely humbled.
I also experienced much companionship, friendship, and curiosity from other species, and I never fed them or ever touched them. Yet, I still formed unforgettable bonds with them.
I too feel the great web of interconnections. I experience it as one living organism, not separate parts as we are so often taught to believe. I find separation to be an illusion. In my film, I refer to it as “separation thinking”.
Because we can never actually be separate from Nature. Not only are we Nature, but we cannot exist independent of the rest.
Thank you for your fascinating and intriguing comment. I really enjoyed reading your thoughts and insights. Robin
PS: We often don’t think of rocks as living, but they have very much expressed themselves through many “life forms” in the bones, blood and tissues of all life. Calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, etc. Have they created us so as to take form? So many ways to view it all, and so much mystery, all of which I love.
Even though I missed the contest I wanted to share one of my favorite things about nature, which is when the sun is shining and it’s raining at the same time. Seeing that makes my heart sing and I can barely keep my feet grounded for the joy and aliveness I feel in those moments.
Hi Spyros,
Actually the contest is still open. That was a typo on my part, sorry about that! So I will include you in the drawing. It’s an interesting and rare occurrence that the sun shines and rains at the same time. It’s like a contradiction that makes rainbows!
Dear Spyros, I LOVE that you mentioned sun and rain at the same time. When I lived in the subtropical rainforest of Australia, which I write about in my second book, I saw a lot of rain-sun storms, more than anywhere I’ve lived. It would just be torrential rain pouring down and the sun would be out. I would say, “It’s raisun out.” I loved to be in them. There were a few times that a rainbow would appear right in front of me, and I could walk right through it and see the colors on my skin. It was truly truly magical. I felt I had entered some other mythical world. The thing is, THIS planet IS mythical. If we had never seen anything like it, we would think we had entered heaven. Ah yes, heaven on Earth.
Thank you so much for stopping by and entering to win. I loved what you shared. And I am so glad that Lynn made a typo and you still get to enter!! Robin
Sounds like a fascinating book. If I win, I would like a used copy, please.
I had a beautiful magnolia tree in my tiny yard. It grew so large it poked into my back porch and sitting there was almost like being in a tree house. I called it my blessing tree and would pray, meditate, read, peel potatoes, or do anything I could to enjoy the miracle and beauty of that tree.
I have just discovered your lovely site and I will return. Thank you!
That sounds beautiful! I think you would really love this book, I hope you win! Thank you for your wonderful comment.
Dear Porchsitter, This sounds just MAGICAL!! I loved reading it. You’ve described it so beautifully, I could feel what is like for you to sit there. Soooooothing, healing, peaceful.
Do you know, I have ALWAYS loved tree houses, ever since I was a little girl. It is my dream to one day live in one, or at the very least have a small one that I could retreat to for writing, meditation, contemplation, and just “being” with the tree. There really is nothing quite like it.
So glad you have this special place . It’s things like this that feed our souls. Bless you for stopping in and taking the time to share. Robin
I love being in the middle of a natural/wild setting and all the sights, sounds, and smells of it. I love getting away from the sights and sounds of civilization.
Dear Erin, I REALLY here you!! I am the same way. It is why we desperately need wild places. Even all we do is walk to the edge of them and smell the living Earth, listen to the silence, and take in all the green. These things soothe us and help us remember who we are. We once again feel connected to something larger.
Thank you for stopping in Erin!
I love it too, it’s incredibly peaceful and calming. It helps me feel grounded and connected.
Since I’m coming off a reread of Walden, this book seems just what the doctor ordered!
Of nature?
The timing is perfect, the sun sits just so- it is nearly dusk. If I sit quietly enough, for long enough; the birds, the bunnies and the groundhogs venture from their hidden homes along the preserve that buffers my yard. They creep closer with caution, and I start a gentle strum on my guitar. The birds pick up their melodies and the ground dwellers absently much the grass and I raise my voice. A little louder each time until I can hammer on and wail without breaking nature’s formation. For that moment we are one, the grass and the trees, the bunnies and birds, the groundhogs and ants and the music and me.
Then a screech breaks the symphony, a blur of legs and feet and laughter. Nature scatters, looking on now from the safety of their homes, as my kids swing and sing on a carpet of green. A new symphony begins.
Petunia, what a beautiful story! You are so lucky to have wildlife to hang with. I would love to have my home near a preserve. Thank you for sharing your story!
What a wonderful, personal review, Lynn. It’s been my pleasure getting to know Robin a bit through our correspondence, but moreso by reading Naked in Eden. A great read for anyone looking to open their soul to the many lessons and inspirations Nature holds for us.
Thanks, Jeffrey! Yes, Naked in Eden is a fantastic read! It was a life-changing book for me. Thanks for sharing your story.
Sounds like a fantastic book. I love going on hikes and exploring nature. Waterfalls are one of my favourites. So many amazing experiences I’ve had on my hikes
That sounds really great. I also love hiking and exploring. The landscape is always changing, never the same when I return. Waterfalls are really beautiful and captivating. Thanks for sharing your story!
I love the amazingly blue skies of Northern New Mexico at 7000 ft+ and the rainbows there that go straight up and down, not the usual curved form. so gorgeous they bring tears to my eyes.
That sounds beautiful and so rewarding at that height. Thank you for sharing!
I think I love nature’s intricacy most. From majestic oak trees to microscopic algae and bacteria nature is both intricate and symmetrical. Nothing calms me more than the greens of ferns and mosses and I could spend hours watching tiny insects exploring in the miniature jungles below our feet. Nature is what calms me and helps me realize my place in the scheme of things.
Thanks Lynn for your wonderful review of Robin’s book and for the give away.