When William Congreve wrote, “Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned / Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned” all the way back in 1697 (The Mourning Bride) he had given an embodiment in words to the rage of man, but such rage is nothing in comparison to the wrath that nature could bring.
Anger, bitterness, hatred and contempt are all seeds of destruction, seeds that we as man have sown and time and time again brought demise onto ourselves, our kin and the world we live in. Anger clouds our better judgment and inhibits our ability to make just and logical decisions. The fury of anger when uncontained becomes rage, the fiery emotional storm that leads us to taking actions we will regret once our senses return to us (domestic violence, emotional abuse, etc). Yet I ask of you; “what is the rage of man when faced against that of nature?” While man may conduct a war that takes out a country, nature need only release a wave of water to wipe out an entire population. However, despite the magnitude of its force, it would seem that nature has dealt better with containing its’ fury than man has. In fact nature has in itself provided us with ‘aids’ to help tame if not contain our anger.
Nature has given us the following:
- 1. The calming effect of nature’s garden
When anger overwhelms us, our thoughts are in a mess. We cannot hear our better self speak; we act out in violence to release the pressure building in our heads. But have you ever noticed how talking a walk in the park or a stroll through the woods with the cool breeze blowing against you and the 101 sounds of nature calling at you actually helps to release that pent up pressure? I can’t quite explain the science behind it, but the fact is being among nature is enough for nature to work its healing magic.
- 2. The nurturing effect of nature’s scent
Aromatherapy isn’t just for women. It is the therapeutic use of plant-derived, aromatic essential oils to promote physical and psychological well-being that benefits anyone. Aromatherapy helps with any ailments and anger is no exception. Imagine the power of nature, when just the whiff a scent can take all that stress away.
- 3. The soothing effect of nature’s tea
Perhaps it’s just something that is in built in the nature of man – but turning to a drink when things are rough is nothing new and neither is the magnified effect of our problems from turning to it. So if you’re going to have a drink, skip the alcoholics and give holistic a try. Nature has any herbs and flowers in her garden that can give your clouded mind some peace and your weary soul a relief. A calm mind and soothed body is really all you need to control your anger.
Everyone among us has anger, it is a matter of how we choose to sow the seed…and remember, as romanticized as William Congreve’s quote may be – the fact of the matter is possessing such rage is destructive to not just others around us but also ourselves.
