What is Nature-Based Spirituality?

The phrase “nature-based spirituality” tends to have one of two replies. A nod of understanding or a raised eyebrow accompanied with slightly pulling one’s head back as if retreating with uncertainty. No matter which camp you fall into, I’m glad you’re here. This means you are curious enough to know a little bit more about the term.

Nature-based spirituality is not any one religion. It is a way of observing one’s spirituality. Nature-based spirituality is for all traditions (think Protestant, Catholic, Chabad, Buddhist, etc.) and is when you practice your personal spiritual path, unique to you and you alone, in a manner which reflects the nature of existence.

This means that while having a group, building or physical location for the purpose of gathering with others whose paths are similar is nice and serves a psychological purpose, that purpose is psychological and not a tenant of the spiritual practice. Humans do have a need for community and that is valid. But rather than the spiritual practice revolving around human interaction, which is viewed as a separation from nature, the spiritual practice revolves around human interaction with nature.

Respecting the life of all things including the life forms often deemed as “lower life forms” in western culture. An example would be respecting the life of an ant as a worthy peer within existence. This does not mean living with pests that may be harmful to one’s wellbeing, such as a mouse infestation, and not taking protective measures.

Nature-based spirituality recognizes that the psychological need for a pastor, priest, preacher, rabbi, imam etc. is not needed naturally. They are great tools of education which should be appreciated as such, but there is no connection link between human and existence because humans are existence. We are already fully connected and integrated into that spiritual existence.

That existence may be a line of ancestors, a god or creator, nature itself.

What is not required is man-made practice, though those practices can be useful tools. Nature-based spirituality, within any tradition, acknowledges that these various tools of spirituality, for example a sermon on a given day of the week, are useful for some populations of humanity but also acknowledges that they are not needed in order to live a spiritually good, fulfilling life.

Picking up trash is a form of worship.

Conserving water is a form of worship.

Advocating for human and animal rights is a form of worship.

Reducing food waste is a form of worship.

And many more things.

Nature-based spirituality does require regularly connecting to creation within creation. This means being in nature within your environment. This will vary drastically depending on one’s living situation. For one individual this may mean reading a book under a tree in an urban environment. For another individual this may mean a rustic camping experience. There is no one way to connect with creation. Connecting with creation in a way which respects creation within your faith path IS nature-based spirituality.