THE WISDOM OF BIOPHILIA—NATURE IN HEALING ENVIRONMENTS

INTRODUCTION

Biophilia is defined as a love of the living world. We seek nature, especially when we don’t feel well. Nature can calm us with a beautiful sunset or invigorate us with a spring rain. Both ancient and modern people use nature in healing. Nature has always offered healing places: a sacred spring, a reflective pond, a quiet grove, and majestic peaks. For centuries we have sought these sanctuaries in our quest for health and healing.

Hypocrites believed that the vital spirit provided the essence of life and natural healing ability. The word “ disease” gets its meaning from “ dis,” meaning apart and “ease,” meaning balance; dis-ease describes a loss of balance and harmony. Designing with nature can restore balance and harmony within the environment.

Nature is our guide to balance and harmony. Nature-based designs draw upon the innate intelligence found in nature—when plants turn their leaves to the sun for light, when a bird sits on eggs, and ultimately, when our body knows how to heal itself.