Many people experience a deep spiritual connection in nature. I know I do. When I hike through the woods, sit by a stream, gaze at the sky, or even listen to a bird sing, I feel part of something larger. Nature feels like a cathedral to me, offering sacred space to reflect on my relationship with the Divine.

Psychologists have a name for this impulse to perceive the sacred in nature: “ecospirituality.” In a recent article published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, scientists reviewed research on how ecospirituality relates to two of the great challenges facing our world today: (1) preserving the well-being of our planet and (2) preserving the well-being of ourselves.

What Is “Ecospirituality?”

Many of us love spending time in nature. We may even identify as “environmentalists.” Ecospirituality, however, goes further: It involves viewing nature as inherently “spiritual” or “sacred,” something that inspires reverence or a sense of timelessness.

Consider these statements, which come from the main scientifically validated measure of ecospirituality:

“There is sacredness in nature.”
“When I am in nature, I feel a sense of awe.”
“Sometimes I am overcome with the beauty of nature.”

Do you resonate with these statements? If so, you likely score high in ecospirituality.

Ecospirituality Inspires Environmental Preservation

Our planet faces more environmental challenges than I can list here. Psychologists believe that perceiving a spiritual connection in nature motivates people to take care of our Earth beyond the influence of other pro-environmental attitudes and identities.

For instance, in one study, participants high in ecospirituality perceived elements of the natural world (like oceans, mountains, and forests) to be closer to their inner circle of moral concern than participants low in ecospirituality. For those high in ecospirituality, the Earth feels more like a good neighbor we’re compelled to help than a foreign citizen we feel we should.

Ecospirituality also encourages feelings of gratitude. When we perceive something spiritual in nature, we tend to appreciate it more.

Overall, available research suggests that, if we believe nature is sacred, we hold it closer to our hearts, and we’re more grateful for it. This makes us more likely to want to protect it.

Ecospirituality and Well-Being

Ecospirituality not only benefits our planet, however; it also benefits our emotional health. Psychologists believe that those who engage with nature on a deeper, spiritual level experience a range of such personal benefits.

Studies suggest that becoming deeply absorbed into nature amplifies the beneficial effects of being in green spaces on well-being. Ecospirituality seems likely to facilitate this kind of absorption. Research on the effects of feeling awe in nature similarly reveals benefits for reducing stress and enhancing mental health.

On the other hand, people high in ecospirituality also may be more likely to experience “ecological grief” when it becomes clear how the Earth is being harmed. These feelings of grief may be another reason why ecospirituality motivates environmental preservation.

How to Deepen the Connection Between Nature and Spirituality

The emerging science of ecospirituality highlights many benefits, both for our environment and for ourselves. So, how can we deepen our spiritual connection with nature?

Although the love of natural beauty may be an evolved instinct, as E. O. Wilson suggested, we likely need to learn the connection between the natural world and the spiritual world. One way to cultivate this connection is through stories that teach young people nature is sacred.

This kind of storytelling is a responsibility many communities—particularly indigenous communities—take seriously. It’s a responsibility other communities may want to embrace as well. For example, institutional religions could do a better job of drawing from their traditions to teach how the natural and the spiritual worlds are intertwined.

Practices to Develop Ecospirituality

If you’re looking for ways to explore your own ecospirituality, here are four practices you might try:

1. Go for a walk in nature to seek spiritual meaning. While on your walk, pay close attention to what strikes you as vast, beautiful, or spiritually significant. Use all your senses to connect with what you notice. See if you can draw any spiritual meaning from what you observe.
2. Pray in or about nature. Find a quiet place in a beautiful natural setting to pray, reflect, or become absorbed in the presence of something larger. Alternatively, you might focus your prayer time using an ecological theme. Pope Francis’s prayer in his Encyclical on “Care for Our Common Home” is a good example.
3. Be grateful for what the natural world has given you. For instance, you might take a moment to appreciate your food and its connection to the Earth before a meal. Be thankful for the soil, water, and sun that nurtured the plants, as well as the life of the animals or fish.
4. Learn more about the connections between nature and spirituality. Some options include “Saving Us,” by Evangelical Christian and climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe; “Braiding Sweetgrass,” by Indigenous botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer; and “Devotions,” by poet Mary Oliver.

The Interdependence of Personal and Ecological Well-Being

Psychologists often focus on personal well-being but sometimes forget the ecological factors that make this possible. We depend on the Earth, water, and land for survival and flourishing just as the planet depends on us.

As Indigenous scholar Yuria Celidwen says, “there is no human flourishing without Mother Earth flourishing first.” Developing a spiritual connection to nature is one way we can preserve both our planet and ourselves.