Feeling Connected to Nature: How Awe and Transcendence May Ease Grief

Tuesday, December, 24, 2024

Grieving the loss of a loved one is one of life’s most profound challenges, often leaving us grappling with complex emotions that can threaten our mental well-being.

However, recent research suggests that connecting with nature and experiencing the emotion of awe can play a transformative role in mitigating the mental health impacts of complicated grief.

This insight connects deeply with notions of transcendence—a sense of being part of something larger than oneself—and aligns with the reflections of Christian mystics who saw nature as a pathway to divine communion.

A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health delves into these connections, showing how nature’s ability to inspire awe may offer a lifeline for those navigating the labyrinth of loss.

Understanding Complicated Grief

Complicated grief is a prolonged, intense form of mourning that significantly disrupts daily life.

Unlike typical grief, which gradually diminishes, complicated grief lingers, often manifesting as persistent yearning, disbelief, or emotional numbness. Folks may feel trapped in their sorrow, unable to accept the loss or reengage with life.

This condition can exacerbate physical symptoms, social isolation, depression, and anxiety, placing many of us at risk of long-term mental health struggles.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed 2.6 million lives worldwide in its first two years, created a fertile ground for complicated grief. In the United States alone, each COVID-related death left an average of nine bereaved individuals.

While many experienced normal bereavement, others found themselves ensnared by complicated grief, with its profound mental health toll.

Nature, Awe, and Mental Health: Key Findings from the Study

Researchers Madison Schony and Dominik Mischkowski explored the link between grief and mental health, focusing on how a sense of connection to nature might influence this relationship.

Their study included 153 participants who had lost close loved ones to COVID-19 between 2021 and 2022. Participants completed assessments measuring grief, anxiety, depression, and connectedness to nature. The researchers also evaluated participants’ residential “greenness” using satellite imagery.

The results revealed that folks experiencing higher levels of complicated grief reported more severe symptoms of depression and anxiety.

However, those with a strong sense of connection to nature—not merely time spent outdoors—showed a remarkable resilience.

For these folks, the severity of grief did not correlate as strongly with depression or anxiety.

In essence, the feeling of being intertwined with the natural world appeared to shield them from some of grief’s harshest psychological effects.

This protective factor may stem from the emotion of awe.

Awe, often evoked by vast and beautiful natural landscapes, elicits a sense of wonder and smallness that shifts focus away from the self.

By doing so, it fosters a sense of transcendence, helping us to see our grief within the broader context of life’s continuity. The study’s authors concluded that connectedness with nature replenishes a sense of belonging and meaning, potentially offering solace to those who have lost someone significant.

Awe and Transcendence: Nature as a Gateway to Healing

The emotion of awe has long been regarded as a transformative experience.

Psychologists describe awe as a “self-transcendent” emotion—one that diminishes self-focus and enhances feelings of connection to others and the world.

This emotional shift can be particularly beneficial for those in the throes of grief, as it opens the door to healing through a broader, more interconnected perspective.

Christian mystics like St. Francis of Assisi and Hildegard of Bingen often spoke of nature’s ability to inspire awe and draw humans closer to God.

St. Francis, known for his profound love of creation, viewed the natural world as a divine reflection that could comfort and uplift the soul.

Hildegard described nature as a vessel of God’s love, capable of revealing spiritual truths and fostering inner peace. Their writings resonate with the study’s findings, suggesting that awe-inspiring experiences in nature may provide not only emotional but also spiritual solace.

Practical Implications for Mental Health

The study highlights the therapeutic potential of fostering a connection to nature for those coping with grief. Here are some practical ways to integrate awe and transcendence into the grieving process:

• Seek Awe-Inspiring Experiences: Visiting natural settings like forests, mountains, or oceans can evoke feelings of wonder and connection.

• Practice Mindful Observation: Spending quiet moments observing the intricate details of nature—the rustling of leaves, the flow of a stream—can ground individuals in the present and foster peace.

• Engage in Nature-Based Rituals: Planting a tree in memory of a loved one or walking in nature as a meditative practice can create meaningful connections.

• Embrace Spiritual Reflections: Reading works by mystics or engaging in spiritual practices that incorporate nature can deepen the sense of transcendence and meaning.

Limitations and Future Directions

While the findings offer valuable insights, the study’s scope is limited by its small sample size and unique historical context.

Further research is needed to explore how these dynamics play out across diverse populations and settings. In other words, your mileage may vary.

Nonetheless, the connection between nature, awe, and grief provides a compelling avenue for developing holistic approaches to mental health care.

In a world increasingly dominated by screens and urbanization, this study serves as a reminder of the healing power of nature.

Awe—whether experienced through towering trees, vast oceans, or the infinite night sky—can help transcend the pain of grief, offering solace and a sense of connection to something greater.

As the mystics taught, nature is not only a refuge but also a profound teacher, guiding us toward healing and renewal.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.

REFERENCES:

Schony, M., & Mischkowski, D. (2023). Feeling Connected to Nature Attenuates the Association between Complicated Grief and Mental Health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 1234-1256. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/ijerph20231234