Human Spirit is an extension of Mother Nature, just as Mother Nature is an extension of Human Spirit. One mirrors the other, reflecting it in different forms. Nature reminds us of the beauty within. The Human Spirit is intended to translate Nature’s ex- pressions and intentions into song, story, photography, poetry, or a lesson learned. When the two coexist in harmony, there is no greater expression of love, freedom, beauty, power, grace, bliss, and brilliance. Only Nature and the Human Spirit in healthy balance can truly express limitless being. Both embody higher consciousness. Both are creators. Nature and the Human Spirit are constantly evolving, expanding, and intensifying in purpose. But when the two are separated or in opposition, all living things suffer physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This is when we exchange creation for destruction.

Human Spirit is our link to all living things, our cosmic connec- tion to the rest of the universe. It is a doorway to who we really are or at least who we are intended to be. As we step across that thresh- old, we are slowly stepping into the magic that is ourselves. The further inside we venture, the more we discover about where we’ve gone, who we’ve been, who we are supposed to be, and what we are intended to do. We also see the significance of lessons already learned and the remaining lessons we are meant to learn. To never walk through that door is to ignore the greatest gift of existence. To disregard Nature is to sever every last thread connecting us to the universe’s cosmic web.

The above piece is a excerpt from Eric Herm’s upcoming book Surviving Ourselves.