by Sophie Playle

Created on: May 07, 2009

Eureka! - the famous word exclaimed by famous Greek scholar Archimedes as he stepped into the bath and worked out the theory of water displacement to work out volume. Ouch! - the possible word exclaimed by scientist Isaac Newton as the realisation of the force gravity landed on his head in the form of an apple. Nature has been providing us with revelations since the dawn of time.

Nature has it all worked out. Everything in nature works down to every last detail, and fits together in such complex and harmonious systems, that it is hard NOT to be inspired by it. Whether you believe this is due to millennia of evolution, or because of the teleological affect of God, nature is truly awe-inspiring.

Many scientific theories have been put forward because of the revelations nature provides the human mind. Many mathematicians are inspired by the intricate way nature works in exact numbers, or integral systems of correlation - the exact shape of a spiralled shell, or the way a tree branches, can be mathematically worked out using the 'fibonacci number'. The most common kind of revelation made through nature, though, is the spiritual revelation.

In modern society, it is so easy to lose contact with the natural world. When you then immerse yourself in nature again, finding moments of solitude, beauty and reflection, you may find yourself reflecting much more internally. The stillness of a woodland, or the soothing hypnotic rhythm of the sea's waves provides a perfect mind state for subconscious meditation. The natural world provides a perfect setting to rest our minds, and a relaxed mind is able to think more clearly.

How many times have you told someone, or heard someone say, 'I'm going for a walk - I need to clear my head'? Even the act of stepping outside a building helps you connect with nature. Even if you are in the middle of a city, you may still have trees around you, flowers perhaps. And as long as you are outside, you have the sky - the sky is a universal source of beauty and constant connection to the natural world.

Animals are also part of the natural world, and they too can provide us with revelations. The simple act of observing behaviour can sometimes prompt us into recognising the instinctual answer to a problem that we knew all along. They can inspire us with their gentle ways, or they can remind us of the kind of beast we do not want to be.

Whether the natural world inspires scientific or mathematic revelation through observation, or on a more day-to-day basis we are relaxed and spiritually inspired by the nature around us, the natural world is the perfect setting to experience revelations of all sorts. Clear your mind and seek revelation by stepping out of the complications of life for a while, and immersing yourself in nature.

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