by John King, reposted from his Blog Muddy Feet: Meeting Nature on Nature’s Terms
You might find this a surprising heading for a blog about Druidry and the natural world but in fact Falling in Love, is what so often happens. Some of you may have seen the article in The Guardian on the 3rd April 2023 entitled A New Start After 60, which featured what happened to me after a rather bitter divorce and how I found my way into the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids. Yes, I fell in love with a druid.
How does this relate to my life now and this blog?
I’ve written before about moving into this house and immediately starting to bathe in the river that forms the eastern boundary. I was prepared to make my self vulnerable to the cold and at times turbulant waters on a daily basis.
In the process I found that my relationship with the water deepened. Over a period it became apparent to me that if I wanted a similar relationship with the land through which the river flows then I would have to open myself to it in the way that I had to the water. This is where the concept of Meeting Nature on Nature’s Terms came from.
What I found was that my relationship with the land and the water actually became what my wife refers to as a love affair. I dont think this is unusual because as druids one of the commonalities is that we all love the land and nature. We also see our selves as part of nature, but the the question arises.
How can we love nature, be part of nature and not love ourself?
I would suggest that it is a difficult question for many to answer.
When I consider that question for myself I can say that in the process of falling in love with the land I have fallen in love with myself. I’ve found myself much more accepting of who I am, an old man of 73 far beyond the first flush of youth who is prepared to expose his thoughts in an attempt to let the acceptance of myself and my authenticity shine through.
In the meantime I continue with my intimate engagement with all that the natural world offers and continue to merge into the land. Many blessings.