I feel resonance when I am outdoors. The earth grounds me and the sun draws me upward. I resound when attuned to something bigger and deeper than myself.
Resonance has been on my mind lately. Scientifically, resonance occurs when something vibrates more strongly because it is driven at a frequency that matches its own natural frequency. Every object has a frequency at which it naturally oscillates. For example, when a musician plays a note, the body of the instrument vibrates and amplifies the tone.
I vibrate with nature. Beyond being scientific, it is a sense of alignment and deep connection with the natural world. It expresses an emotional and spiritual state where I feel attuned with the environment around me.
Being in nature provides an antidote to the chaos that confuses me in this world. Etty Hillesan’s statement resonates with me as she notes, “Despite everything, life is full of beauty and meaning.” When I return from an outdoor Experience, I feel grounded and ready to face the contradictions that dominate my life.
I go to nature to clarify and organize my thoughts. Ideas come to me in my head, and the resonance drops my thoughts from my head to my heart. Although my writing over the years has been mostly in my head, I seek opportunities to express myself from my heart.
I resonate with various aspects of nature. For example, being near an alpine lake can give me a sense of calmness. Reaching a high elevation gives me a feeling of expansion and freedom even as I recognize that I am but a small piece of a huge world. I love seeing wildlife when I am out in nature. I feel a special bond with pikas going about their business of gathering hay for the long winter ahead. I take comfort in seeing a cow elk nuzzling her calf.
I have come to feel a special resonance with the full moon rising. The anticipation of the coming moonlight and the confidence that a moon will rise in all its brilliance, whether cloud obscure it or not, creates a sense of harmony between my inner emotions and the natural world.
Nature is my companion that brings me peace and insight. It reverberates with my heart and soul.