Cohen, M.J. (2007). Reconnecting With Nature. Lakeville, Minnesota: Ecopress
Millions of years ago, mankind’s consciousness was pre-verbal and his survival was dependent on an ability to connect to nature and an internal landscape that Cohen postulates was comprised of 52 senses and feelings. Over time, modern man’s brain evolved and formed the neo cortex, comprising of just 13% of our total brain matter, generating language and reason. This small part of the brain dominates our remaining 87% of consciousness and creates a language-based discourse that threatens to disconnect us from our natural instincts and has reduced us to just 5 of our 52 senses.
Cohen suggests our industrial world does not educate us to respect nature and we have become habitually conscious of the world through sight, language and reason, to the detriment of our other senses. We have become addicted to ‘nature replacements’ (Pg. 42) and have lost the ability to listen to ourselves. This is evidenced by an increasing rate of homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, violence and warfare across the globe.
If we can trust our ‘old brain’ and reconnect to nature, we can bring it and the neo cortex into alignment. Creating a balance between these opposing cognitive and feeling parts of the brain offers hope for a more authentic connection to self and others.
Modern society has imposed its story onto nature and a narrative that is often not an accurate representation of what nature offers. ‘At risk’ youth offenders, who have participated in Cohen’s outdoor programs, appear to have a lower re-offence rate compared to other non-outdoor programs. The nature reconnect program emphasizes the importance of asking our natural environment for permission to engage with it and gaining awareness and appreciation for what it offers us in return. It would seem a connection to nature reduces depression, increases self-worth and facilitates the senses to become grounded in trust, love, resilience and respect.
Nomadic people regard nature and spirit as the same and survive off the land because it is their ‘source’ rather than a ‘resource’ (Pg. 118).
In conclusion, Cohen suggests nature has an intelligence and wisdom that modern society has sadly parted ways with.