As Above, So Below

Henry David Thoreau wrote, “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” This is similar to the ages old adage, “As above, so below” or “As within, so without.” All of these catchy phrases are telling us the same thing in different ways; we can connect to something higher through the earth. Spending uninterrupted time in nature and cherishing its properties is a way of connecting to something higher and more powerful than yourself. This can be an important and even crucial part of any recovery program. When we’ve come to the end of our ropes and our free will is continually getting us into existential, mental, spiritual, and physical trouble, it’s time to surrender to something more powerful than we are. Luckily, there are myriad things in the natural world that hold more power, awe, and sublimeness than we mere humans. Thoreau recognized this in the natural world and he is not alone in believing that the Earth herself holds the spiritual essence of the cosmos, heavens, or whatever word you’d like to insert here.

The question remains: how can we bring this naturally-rooted spirituality into the flow of everyday life? Choose something specific in nature, such as a rock, tree, piece of ground, or mountain. Take time to close your eyes and think about its origins and the ancient beginnings of this object. Think about the thousands of years of growth, evolution, rock formation, and weather that has gone into the formation of this natural phenomenon. You will need to use your imagination. Connect to the deep history of nature and you will find yourself connecting to something more powerful, vast, mysterious, and spiritual than you could have imagined.

RedCliff Ascent is a therapeutic wilderness program, nestled between two mountain ranges in the high desert of Enterprise, UT. We focus on adolescents ages 13-17 who are struggling with various challenges from anxiety and depression, to school abandonment and the need to reconnect with their family. With over 25 years of experience, RedCliff uses a relational model and narrative therapy to drive an outcome and an evidence-based approach. RedCliff Recovery offers an experience like no other through a proven, 12-step, adventure-based wilderness program. For more information, call us today: 801-921-8488.