It is early September 2024. My windows are open, and the symphony of the woods is lilting through the screen. The crickets provide an anchoring hum, birdsong provides a melody, and the gentle, rhythmic movement of the leaves adds percussion to this morning’s serenade. The early sun is resting on the trees, coaxing the woods awake. The deep feeling that all is right with the world is palpable here in the refuge that is Prairiewoods.
The truth is that the presidential elections are days away, wars are raging, and people right here in Hiawatha, Iowa, are facing food insecurity. Simply put, division is rampant.
At its roots, Prairiewoods works to educate, inspire and embody ecological spirituality. Nurturing a sense of oneness is a key underpinning of ecological spirituality. For some of you, this concept resonates deeply in your bone marrow. You have a core understanding that we are spiritual beings connected to the Source of all Being, one another and Earth. You have lived experience that has demonstrated that we are one with a Higher Power and the creation by which we are surrounded. For others, this statement may feel foreign as you observe conflict on the world stage or experience discord with others or within.
For years, while I marveled at the beauty of Earth and knew of God’s deep love for and presence within me, I didn’t give the concept of oneness much thought. I was busy being busy. I put on my high heels and pencil skirt and went to work in a hospital. The idea of being intrinsically connected to others, God or nature was not part of my daily awareness. As I reflect, I try not to think about everything I missed in my first 50 years!
Oneness is alive and well within me now and in the global world. At Prairiewoods, this awareness fuels our mission to support and cultivate holistic wellbeing for all.
In his book Ecological Spirituality, Diarmuid O’Murchu writes, “Oneness with God is not a thread between God and us but more like an inclusive space gathering all creation. Total and perfect inclusion is what Love is.”
Thomas Keating writes, “We come across Oneness in infinite ways. This is because God is always happening. In the divine Oneness, there is no other.”
Within the Christian tradition, Jesus’ beautiful imagery crystallizes the concept of Oneness: “I am the Vine, and you are the branches. Abide in me as I in you” (John 15: 4–5). As individuals, organizations, communities, animals and Earth, we are the branches tied back to the Source of All Being in the Vine. We are one active living organism—together.
So why does this matter? Why does understanding our interconnectedness make any difference? Imagine how active attention to and integration of this deep knowledge would change our world. Decisions would be approached differently, resources would used more consciously and the simple acknowledgment of our shared humanity would lead us to a world where we respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively. Consciousness would be elevated.
Contemplating what might be different naturally leads to the question: How can we activate Oneness in our lives? It takes nothing more than an open heart and a mindful awareness of what is in your field of vision, both practically and spiritually. One can let the experience unfold by getting still, listening to your inner awareness or simply gazing at the sky. If you desire more formal practices, I invite you to try centering prayer, spiritual direction, meditation and mindfulness experiences at Prairiewoods.
Author Paul Smith writes, “There are many different degrees of intensity, concentration, and conviction in the Oneness experiences of different individuals. Like all divine-human creation, it emerges as a co-creation molded by both God and our consciousness. Don’t expect or try for your experience to be just like another’s. The most striking effect of the experience of Oneness is not new fact-knowledge or concepts. Instead, it is a new-found spiritual energy, a greater spiritual vision. We are raised to a whole new level of life.”
As the Prairiewoods symphony continues to waft through my window, the words of Black Elk, an Oglala Lakota tribal leader, come to mind: “Peace will come to the heart of humanity when they realize their Oneness with the Universe. It is everywhere.”
—Leslie Schwarting, Prairiewoods spiritual director & retreat facilitator