Children are fascinated by nature, they’re drawn to it. Why? Because that is where we come from, that is who we are – and parents can learn from that! Too often we feel disconnected with nature – we’re plugged into our computers and voice mail systems, and may not get to see the sunshine for days at a time! Enough of that… there are lots of ways that kids and parents can be true to our own nature, and appreciate the beauty of nature all around us.

We all share this planet, and we are all connected. It is wonderful to teach kids to appreciate nature, and to appreciate each other.

Many children’s stories feature animals in the lead roles. When you read to your child, this is a good time to talk about how important animals are to us, and how intelligent animals are because they are true to their own nature. Pose questions like: How do they know how to do the things they do? The same way that we know to be kind and loving, and help other people, it’s our nature.

In the story of Ferdinand the Bull, by Munro Leaf, Ferdinand loved to sit quietly and smell the flowers. He was not “bullied” into fighting like the other bulls, he was just himself, he was true to his nature.

If you have pets, you can look at their behavior as an example. Cats live in the present moment. They’re not fretting about the past or worrying about the future. That’s a good lesson that they can teach us!

Activities:
Gardening, of course. Telescopes to look at the stars. Recycling. Trips to farms, ranches, forests, the beach. Visiting or volunteering at an animal shelter. Take a cue from what interests your child and head in that direction: whales, monkeys, exotic flowers, pine trees, insects, planets, wolves, whatever it happens to be… “nature” covers a lot of territory!

At the Santa Barbara zoo, there is a program called “Foster Feeders” where you can “adopt” an animal for the price of food for one year. I adopted two fruit bats for my sons one year, they named them (Donatello and Raphael after
the Ninja Turtles, you can tell we’ve had them a long time now!), and we go and visit them on weekends. They have learned a lot about bats and their contribution to nature, and have been able to pass this knowledge on to their
classmates!

Some teachers have pooled class money and adopted animals as a class project. The larger the animal, the more it costs generally, depending on what they eat. Lions cost more than elephants! The class studies the animal, and the teacher works the lessons in to other subjects, art, geography, science, etc. It’s all connected!

Just as we have relationships with other people, we also have a relationship with our environment. We are all connected to each other and to the universe at the same time. Our environments are an extension of ourselves, and we feel better and function more efficiently when we are in harmony with our environment. When your house is in order, the “outer” part of yourself, then you can focus your attention to your inner world. The spiritual journey really is an exploration of both the inner and the outer.

Ayurveda comes from the Vedic texts of India. In this same philosophy, there is a “science of architecture” known as vastu. The word vastu means “a dwelling or site.” Vastu is a blend of science and spirituality that gives us guidelines for enhancing our environments so we can create a space where we can live and work happily and productively. When we are happy with where we spend our time, our relationships with the people we spend our time with will be better, too!

Vastu has actually been around a lot longer than feng shui, and is believed to be the inspiration for it.

Both Ayurveda and vastu are based on the idea that the five elements (air, space, fire, water, and earth) are within us and all around us. In Vedic symbolism, the square represents the cosmos; it is the perfect form.

Nature
To be more in tune with nature and its intelligence, bring nature indoors wherever possible. Besides plants and trees, items that are made naturally are also recommended. For example, clay pots, cotton rugs, woven baskets, shells, and fresh flowers all help to remind us of our connection with nature. Desktop fountains help to bring in the element of water. Scented candles bring in the element of fire. Open some windows in the morning to let in fresh air.

Quiet Space
It’s always nice to have an area set aside in your home for quiet and meditation. In India, these are called “Puja” rooms, or prayer rooms. This is a place where you can just relax and find inner peace. Additionally, within each room of your home, it is good to have a small area set aside to remind you of your connection with the Divine. This can be a shelf filled with figurines or spiritual sayings, an altar, or a special painting. Use whatever it is that is meaningful for you.

Clutter
Clutter in your environment creates clutter in your mind. You can’t think as clearly or function as efficiently as you could in an orderly environment. Vastu recommends that clutter be kept to a minimum. Closet doors and bathroom doors should remain closed at all times. Keep drawers and cupboards closed as well to avoid a feeling of clutter. Keep hallways clear so you can move about freely.

Books
Books represent knowledge and are a wonderful addition to the home. Keep books neatly arranged, and honor their presence. When books are accessible and easy to find, they are more likely to be read.

Family
Photographs of family help to personalize your space. Displaying pictures that remind you of loved ones and happy memories will bring good energy to a room. Artwork that your children make for you is also good to have around.

Products
Rather than using chemicals, which contain toxins or unpleasant odors, vastu recommends that we use natural products to clean our environments and our bodies. Clothing made of natural fabrics is better for our skin than synthetic blends. Wonderful organic products for the bathroom, such as lotions, scrubs, and oils, are now readily available

Aromatherapy, balancing fragrances:
Vata

• vanilla
• orange
• lavender
• pine

Pitta

• rose
• jasmine
• sandalwood
• peppermint

Kapha

• cinnamon
• basil
• eucalyptus
• musk

Outdoors
Create a space where you can sit outdoors and enjoy nature. Get a comfortable chair where you can relax in the evening air after a long day at work. Hang a bird feeder outside your kitchen window. Plant flowers that attract butterflies and other wildlife. Start an herb garden that you can use when cooking. Put a pool, pond, or fountain in the northeast corner of your yard so you can reap the benefits of the element of water.
Above all, make your home comfortable. Fill it with things that you love and that are meaningful to you. This is a place where you should want to be, a place that reflects who you are.

When merging two households, think “her space,” “his space,” and “our space.”

Start with “Our Space.” This means the kitchen, living/family room, laundry room and storage areas. In this space you don’t want to duplicate anything, so first take inventory of what you have. Give away or sell any duplicate items like bread machines or blenders. Register for any items that you both want but neither of you have. If you have two sets of casual dinnerware, and would love a more formal set for entertaining, give away one of the casual sets and register for the good china.

In the bedroom: Who sleep on which side of the bed? Who wants to be closer to the bathroom? Who wants to have the phone on his/her side? Do you really need two alarm clocks? Maybe register for one really nice one with a CD player in it that you both can use. Less clutter is good feng shui! The upper right hand corner is the relationship corner. Make sure this is kept orderly, and enhance chi with plants and crystals to strengthen the relationship.

In the living/family area – decide on which major pieces you want to keep, and build your decorating scheme around those. Wood pieces last longer and can be refinished. Upholstered pieces, if quality, can be recovered – but generally it is less expensive to just replace them once the fabric fades or gets worn out. When deciding what to keep and what to dispense with, keep pets in mind. Will Smoky’s black cat hair make that modern white couch look dinghy? Make sure that there is some continuity to the overall design. Fraternity beer steins looks out of place next to English tea pots. Whatever doesn’t work in “our space” can find a home in “his space” or “her space.” (Usually it’s “his space!”)

Laundry room: Think FUNCTION. You’ll want hanging space and storage space – keep cleaning supplies behind closed doors. Whose iron is in better shape? Could you use a steamer iron? Keep the most energy efficient washer and dryer, sell or donate the others.

Storage: Less is more! Get rid of everything you can. Remember that you will accumulate things over the years, this is only the beginning! How do you divide up the closet space? Invest in closet organizers and make use of every square inch! Store off-season clothes in another closet, or get a wardrobe storage unit for the garage.

“His space” and “Her space”: Do one or both of you work at home? How much room do you need for computers, files, office equipment? You may want to register for something you both need but don’t have, like a fax machine, or a laser printer that you can network with your computers. Do one or both of you work out at home? Where will the equipment go? Who will use what? Maybe you want to register for some light-weights, or a pilates reformer! Do you each have a bathroom or can you divvy up the one that you have? Are their two sinks and adequate storage for his shaving stuff, her make-up? How about registering for a two-person shower head, or a jet machine to turn your bathtub into a jacuzzi spa!