AWARENESS
Our connection to nature, it seems to me, begins with heightened awareness. In traditional mythology, the butterfly has always symbolized such awareness. Click here for a brief historical background on the various meanings that have been associated with butterflies in different cultures over the years.

RESPECT
Heightened awareness inevitably leads to respect for nature. In fact, respect for nature, and our role in preserving and nurturing nature, are not possible without such awareness. The oak has always been a symbol of respect. It commands respect because of its ancient lineage, its strength and its rugged beauty. Read more about the oak in ancient mythology in cultures the world over.

HARMONY
Awareness and respect lead to harmony. When all the elements of a garden work together, we are rejuvenated, finding calm in our immediate surroundings. The fish has many meanings in ancient mythology and religion, nearly all of them reflecting a larger sense of harmony that emanates from the natural world. A sample of this mythology can be read here.

FUNCTION
Awareness, respect and harmony come together most powerfully when our surroundings function well to reinforce them. When everything in our garden functions together naturally, our peace of mind is reinforced. Nature is filled with many awe-inspiring examples of function, none more than the praying mantis, an amazing creature that can eat more than its own weight in harmful insects in a single day. The mantis also has a rich history in ancient mythology that can be examined here.