Are You a Mountain or the Sea? by Bronwyn Bowery-Ireland

Submitted by bron.bi on Thu, 07/15/2010 - 08:30

It’s the middle of winter and I am in Australia. I have been staying here for four weeks living amongst the Australian bush. Every morning kangaroos appear outside my bedroom window feasting on the grassy field. Today a Kookaburra ate out of my hand and then suddenly its friend arrived and joined in the sampling of small delicacies. A kookaburra is a large bird that is part of the kingfisher family. It has a beautiful voice that sounds like a jolly person laughing. As I head out on an early morning walk, I often hear a Kookaburra laughing at me. It feels as though the bird cannot believe I have left the comfort of my warm bed to walk in the morning frost, cold and crisp.

I feel that this part of my country is a part of me. I love the smell of the earth, the blue haze on the landscape made by the gum trees and the high sky full of stars at night. Although I love to live in other parts of the world or to travel to other destinations, this landscape calls me back regularly to once again connect deep within me. I remember a colleague of mine once saying that there is a saying in China, that people either relate to the mountains or to the sea. If you identify more with the mountains then you value humility. If you identify with the ocean then you value knowledge. Over the years I have come to love both the mountains and the ocean but I know in my heart that the mountains in this part of Australia draw me to them.

I sometimes think about how in our work we might never talk about our connection to our environment, the importance of the land or the ocean to ourselves. When we carry out assessments to learn about ourselves they are usually behaviour based and we don’t explore our relationship with the land. I wonder how many people in their coaching talk about their relationship with the land and if they are living in a way that connects them to the land? I wonder if companies talk in their strategic planning about their company’s relationship to the land, the people and the overall strategy.

Perhaps for some it is not important and maybe what I believe is just what feels right for me. Maybe my awareness of my landscape is more about me than it is about exploring all people’s connection to the land. I know the indigenous people of Australia maintain their culture through stories of how they are connected to this country. I also know that coaching is about listening to a story or telling a story and learning more about a person. I wonder if stories of people’s connection to the land come up in coaching.

So here is my question, is this fascination about my connection to the land, about me, or is it something you are also talking about in your coaching or with your coach? What role does your landscape play in your life? Are you a mountain or the sea?

Comments

Thanks for the beautiful and insightful article!

Wed, 07/28/2010 - 13:59

Dear Bron, Many thanks for the vivid picture of the morning in down under and the insightful thoughts. I've always love the sea despite the fact that I do not swim and is in fact afraid of water (of being drowned). It's a family story - one month before I was dued to be bornt, an elder in the family dreamt that another elder who has passed away carried my body saying that I am gone because I was drowned. Ever since, I have been banned to go near water and I never had a chance to learn swimming. Yet, I just love the sea! It is calming to listen to the waves and feel the breeze on the face. All the sensation feels like the sea is talking and sharing the best part of what it can offer. The mountain on the other hand is always there giving, nurturing and providing livelihood for all who are dependent on it. Majestic and quietly confident. Respectful and humble as many would trek all around it for work and for leisure. The mountain and the sea makes a good partner and we have them to thank for giving us all the treasures they offer! I can always see the goodness in everything and reasons for giving thanks to people, nature and the universe. Life is meant to be celebrated! Be well and happy! May peace prevail. Warmest Regards, Lynda Bor Shanghai

I am a Sea

Fri, 07/16/2010 - 23:52

Bron, thank you for your interesting and thought provoking comments.  Currently I am not talking about the land in coaching conversations but feel it may be an important topic to add.  I am sure my coach will have some great thoughts on the subject.  While I love looking at and enjoying the majesty of the mountains, I must confess I am a sea.  The ocean seems to speak to me and when I am sitting on the shore watching the waves come and go it fells peaceful yet powerful at the same time and is a very spiritual place for me.  Currently I live a good distance from the Alantic but am surrounded by many beautiful lakes and rivers, some how it's just not the same.  It's time to go stand on the shore, breath  deep and feel the connection.  Thanks again for reminding me of what's important.

Bron, this is Bill Burleigh

Sat, 07/17/2010 - 00:08

Bron, this is Bill Burleigh and the "I am a Sea" comment is mine.  I wanted to introduce myself and say how much I enjoyed your thoughts.  

connecting to the land

Thu, 07/15/2010 - 22:13

Thank you for this wonderful and thought-provoking post, Bron.  It really strikes home for me because the land and the natural surroundings are very important to me for both my work and for my personal well-being.  I find that I must have time both in the mountains and by the sea.  And also in the open space prairies.  Furthermore, different mountains and ranges have different energies.  For example, there are times when I need the deep embrace of the Appalachians in the eastern US, and other times when I need the stark, rocky mountains of the west.  I was just teaching in Scotland and reveled in the many gifts in the diversity of natural settings in that small country.  From the lush glens and valleys to the pastoral meadows to the craggy mountains and landscape of Skye and the Cairngorn Mountains, it all spoke to me and to my energy system in such a healing and powerful way.  

The more we are in touch with nature and what it calls forth in us, the more we are in touch with the oneness of all of creation.  Whether you come to that oneness from a spiritual perspective or a quantum perspective, the more you are in touch with nature, the more you recognize how everything is connected to everything else, and how anything that happens anywhere has some impact on everything everywhere.  

Thank you for highlighting the importance of our connection to all in this post!

Alan Seale, www.transformationalpresence.org  

Mountain or the sea

Thu, 07/15/2010 - 16:23

Hello Brownyn, very insightful and I loved this for its food for thought:  my first instincts as currently a Teacher/Coach in class, is the sea, for knowledge through sharing, caring and guiding others, (knowledge moves like the sea = is changing/growing as our needs are, creates experience, is powerful and contains many precious resources that keep the world ticking).  I'm more at peace by the sea, and I'm going to think about your passage some more.  For I also see my role as an act of humanity, in that caring enough about others creates that balance and synergy, and its amazing what that creates in a classroom (the other day = an exchange of pure friendship and love between too very different cultures unfolded during our first class together 2nd session - and in the first session I could sense the tension of the whole class with this one different culture).  That old saying I live by that "people dont care how much you know until they know you care", and was in the paper here in Australia today from the sad passing of the extremely humane spirit Ken Talbot, from a humble "Minor" to a "Mining Magnate" (who died along with I think 6 others in the plane crash in the Congo recently).  Very humbling. 

Brownyn: Did you see online today the google search page on Australia yahoo today?  Boy are you in tune! Awesome...I think they are operating from this philosphy you've shared!  (Just wondering where you are in Australia?  I'm actually here now too and would like to reconnect with yourself and I.C.A. 

In answering your question, then I would say I'm operating in both more these days as I too grow and transform.

Deniese Moore

Hi Deniese,

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 17:46

Thanks for your response, Deniese. It's interesting how you've been reading about similar themes around you. You wrote in your post that you are in Australia now. I'm wondering: what is your sense of the land and your connection to it? Where were you from before? Thanks again. All the best, Bron