Creative Nature: Imaginature
In this article, Dharma Teacher Orlaith O’Sullivan invites us into a playful and contemplative practice that blends imagination with presence and care for our world.
Lynk
In this article, Dharma Teacher Orlaith O’Sullivan invites us into a playful and contemplative practice that blends imagination with presence and care for our world. Journey into the heart of nature, become part of it, and discover what it has to share with us.
Imagine Nature is a Game
This practice is called Imaginature—a blending of imagination and nature. It’s a mindful game that invites us to explore any part of the natural world we feel drawn to, and to imaginatively become that element of nature. By doing so, we may begin to see the world through its eyes, feel its rhythms, and listen deeply to what it might want to share.
To begin, find a comfortable position—sitting or lying down. Gently allow your imagination to lift off… soaring into the sky, flying over the land and sea, until you find a place in nature that calls to you. Maybe you’ll become a whale or a dolphin. Perhaps you’ll be the ocean itself. You might be a mountain, an eagle, a tree, or even an entire forest. You could become a wolf, a flamingo, a giraffe, a fox, or something else entirely.
Let your imagination guide you. There is no wrong choice. Allow yourself to land fully in this part of nature. Feel what it’s like to be it. Stay with it through the rhythm of a day—from the rising of the sun and the stirrings of morning, to the quiet fall of night. What do you notice? What sounds do you hear? What colors surround you? Who or what do you encounter? How does the world feel from this place?
Three Questions to Ask Nature
Once you’ve settled into this experience, you can gently ask this part of nature three questions:
What is your favorite time of day or night?
Is there anything you worry about?
(Perhaps there’s nothing—but if there is, see what arises.)
Do you have a message for me to bring back to the humans?
(This is your chance to listen deeply. As a human, you can carry and share this message with others.)
When you’ve received your message—if one comes—offer your thanks to this part of nature. Then gently let your imagination return to your body, whooshing back through the sky, all the way home. Let it settle in you, all the way down to your wiggly toes.
You might like to give your toes a little wiggle to arrive fully back.
Sharing Together
If you have a chance to practice in a group, you might now take turns to share:
What part of nature you became
Your favorite time of day or night
If there was anything you worried about
And whether you received a message to share with the humans
By listening to each other, we begin to understand nature more deeply—and care for it more skillfully.
Children’s Gallery
During one of these Imaginature sessions in a school, children created artwork to express the parts of nature they became and the messages they received.
Here is a small selection of their beautiful insights:
A Closing Invitation
What part of nature did you become? What message came through?
Feel free to share in the comments below.
