Contemplation of Nature Zoom – 5 elements
Contemplating the Five Elements: A Global Earth Day Meditation Journey
On April 19th, 2026, I had the privilege of participating in a 90-minute Five Elements Contemplation meditation as part of the 24 Hours of Mindfulness Earth Day celebration initiated by the Redwood Sangha in Nairobi, Kenya. This international gathering brought together mindfulness practitioners from across continents in a beautiful celebration of our interconnection with nature.
I have made a 5 elements Contemplation of Nature zine for you to download and use.
If you would like a link to the video drop an email to info at imaginary life dot net.
The meditation was gently guided by Ajay Rastogi, an ecologist based in the foothills of the Himalayas. Ajay and I have worked for a decade on Resilient Leadership education that works on both inner and outer resilience. In the last decade we have presented our work at Cambridge University, met with Satish Kumar, created a podcast on deep ecology, and written academic papers on the convergence of biocultural sustainability and spirituality practices in the Himalayas, and how key frameworks, practices and insights can be used for transformational experiential education to all age groups.
Connected and interconnected.
Accompanied by the soothing double bass melodies and rhythms of Paul Erhard, Professor Emeritus of Music at the University of Colorado we embarked on a journey through the five great elements that compose all of existence. Paul has been playing Double Bass since age 12, and his accumukated experience and knowledge oth western and eastern music shone through.
What made this gathering particularly special was the people who attended; the friendship could be felt across the airwaves. It is really different to sit together even if it is on a zoom call. You feel a deep integration of ecological awareness with your own mindfulness practice- you feel held by the group.
Ajay began by requesting a one minute compassionate silence for all the suffering in the world. What is happening today is completely overwhelming, but by helping ourselves and each other stay grounded to reality, we can cultivate the inner resilience we need to act and drive change together- to do what we can when we can and emed intrinsic values in ourselves so that we can naturally make better decisions, as part of the way we live.
The silence was followed by Paul’s reading from Kazu Haga’s book “Fierce Vulnerability” on how we really are made up of stardust, quite literally. Paul read beautifully. This set the tone for our exploration of interbeing, a term coined by peace activist and engaged buddhism teacher Thich Nhat Hanh.
The meditation was also very accessible; it is an open-eyed practice where we each choose a “nature buddy” to observe: a plant, leaf, tree, flower, sky, water body, patch of grass, or piece of rock. Through this simple yet profound practice, we sit and simple turn our awareness to the fact that there is no separation between us and nature. We are all made up of the same molecules, interconnected in the true reality of interbeing.
Now this sounds like an obvious thing to contemplate on but when you actively sit and meditate on this notion of interbeing, softly gazing at something from the non-manmade world, something happens in the brain, cognitively. It is called the relaxation response. You body sends messages to relax. Cortisol levels drop. Things happen physiologically that are very healing to your body. Moreover, it is proven that immersion of this kind in nature creates another transformation- material values diminish and intrinsic values are amlified. This is somethign that is well studied. Years ago the WWF did an experiment where they took several CEO volunteers and took them on a nature retreat in Scotland (if I remember correctly…I will try and find the reference later). One night they were asked to stay totally alone out in nature. What happened was profound. They had time to take a step back and think about the fleeting nature of life. On what is important. On how we are destroying the very home that sustains us.
Our zoom journey through the five elements was therefore both scientific and spiritual.
It introduced Sanskrit terms for the elements.
Akasha (Space): The open, inclusive element that allows all other elements to exist. We explored the space within our cells, organs, and minds – the gaps between thoughts that allow new insights to arise. “Breathing in, I see myself as space. Breathing out, I feel free from anger, craving, and jealousy.”
Vayu (Air): The invisible element that connects us all. We brought awareness to our breath, the air in our lungs and sinuses, and recognized how the air we breathe was once inside another being – tree, flower, cloud, or human. “Breathing in, I see myself as air. Breathing out, I feel free from grasping, longing, and envy.”
Agni (Fire): The element of energy, transformation, and illumination. We felt our body heat, metabolism, and heart fire – the spark within that has the power to burn away what no longer serves us and illuminate the path forward. “Breathing in, I see myself as fire. Breathing out, I allow transformation to unfold.”
Jal (Water): The most abundant element representing fluidity and emotion. We became aware of our blood circulation, lymphatic system, and the natural flow of emotions like a river acknowledging all that flows into it. “Breathing in, I see myself as calm water. Breathing out, I see things just as they are, clear and without distortion.”
Prithvi (Earth): The element of solidity, stability, and nourishment. We felt the ground beneath us, our bones and teeth, and imagined roots growing deep into the earth connecting us to mountains and rocks. “Breathing in, I see myself as earth. Breathing out, I support growth in all beings.”
As Thich Nhat Hanh reminded us: “There is no separation; I am one with consciousness. Breathing in, I dwell in this present moment. Breathing out, this is a wonderful moment.”
The meditation concluded with beautiful reflections shared by participants, and I read out the words participants had written about how the practice landed for them and which elements resonated most deeply. Paul played as I read. The connection between us all was tangile as noone wanted the session to end. It was very moving. A collection of total strangers can become a community on only 90 minutes.
This is perhaps the biggest lesson of all.
In a time when division and disconnection often dominate our consciousness, even a 90-minute journey through the elements can become a radical act of unity. By returning to our elemental roots, we remembered our fundamental interconnectedness with all of life, with each other, and with the Earth that sustains us all. We can send ripples out into the world by creating spaces for unlikely connections to happen, and it isn’t difficult. Every action and inactions counts. It has impact on the world around us and on our own bodies.
The integration of ecological awareness with mindfulness practice is not just theoretical, it is lived experience that resonates in our daily lives. As Ajay reminded us, “We can do this meditation wherever we are.”
May our awareness and practice can serve the healing of suffering in the world, the awakening of all beings, and bring peace and harmony through our daily actions.
See foundnature.org & timeartspaceart.com for more info on Ajay and Paul.