Talking with Nature: Sharing the Energies and Spirit of Trees, Plants, Birds, and Earth

by Michael J. Roads, Genevieve Wilson (Illustrator)

From the pristine land of Australia come the remarkable voice of Michael J. Roads. Simplistically one might say that Michael Roads talks with Nature. He converses with rivers, with trees, with plants, and with the animal kingdom. But to say so would be to pull his story out of context, to overlook the painstaking soul-searching Michael experienced in order to come to terms with his greatest gift. Acceptance and integration gave birth to the wisdom in the pages of his "It concerns me that the human race has allowed separation from Nature to become established as accepted reality. Hence, man and Nature, rather than man of Nature. Do we as humanity stand above and beyond such power? Regretfully, our continual involvement in the violence of war, our ever-increasing environmental pollution as well as the expanding proportion of mentally-stressed people in our society clearly demonstrate that intelligence is not at the forefront of human endeavor. We are the nature we abuse. To establish a reconnection with Nature is to reach into our Selves, reconnecting with the timeless wisdom we each containbut few indeed are the people who will allow themselves time for this process. Do we take responsibility for ourselves, or do we invest our power in the mythical they who we believe created the mess we are in?" The book is a beautifully written spiritual autobiography of the author and his remarkable encounters with the natural world. Michael is led step-by-step to a final wisdom, remarkable in its simplicity and in its message of hope for mankind.

Genres: Nature, Spirituality, Nonfiction

151 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know animal communication but in a class segment, tried a tree. Plant intelligence is not new. My parents' house has a three-trunk cottonwood to whom I have felt close all my life. I regret missing this cottonwood most, about them moving soon! I was impressed to find "Talking With Nature", 1985, focused on plants and nature elements, like water. This was Michael J. Roads' first book. Aspects of Michael's writing and presentation could be better. The style was indulgent, which detracts from conveying anything. We don't need prose, we need convincing information.

Given that this subject is surreal and how anxiously Michael wants messages from nature taken seriously: this is the time for straightforward expression. Double adjectives, like "wet, dripping" are irritants. His message is paramount for those keen and intelligent enough to absorb the fact that we aren't the sole possessors of wisdom. A chief theme, to the contrary, is that we are slow at the hamster wheel of knowledge available to us, for fear of adjusting our beliefs and wanting people in synch with us. I value Michael's commitment to imparting this and am doing likewise via this review. His introduction ranted overmuch about hoping people would believe him and I wished he would just plunge into his story.

I appreciate the nuggets I gleaned and have made a small, new shift in the way I approach nature, although I always had faith they understood me and felt my strong love for all of my home and forest plants. Michael's revelation would come across most naturally as a chronological story, rather than selected psychic transcripts. What was peculiarly lacking was not sharing any contact his family members made with plants. They surely must have witnessed things occasionally, or at least what their reactions were to his experiences.

[Amy Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8 stars. I love books on animal communication and on intuitive and spiritual guidance,this book mixed all of that together in a lush Australian atmosphere. It's beautifully and vulnerably written with vivid descriptions of nature.
The guidance the author recieves is mostly from the river and from the plants and trees,but there's a few animals too. The lessons really resonated with my own experiences speaking with nature,these beings never use the word "I" and have a specific,more old world way of coming across.
The wisdom he received here is amazing and needs rereading many times to fully absorb. Much of what nature told him aligns exactly with teachers like Abraham Hicks,which I found really exciting.
A very special, very deep book. I did find it was easy in parts to put down and didn't have me running back to continue reading,but I think it's almost better to read it leisurely and when inspired so the teachings hit you at the right times anyway. Very good book, especially coming from a male author,I'm glad he didn't shy away from all the 'feelings' and doubters he might get and published this very beautiful,raw book.

[Erin Shaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wanted to be enlightened by this book as it was recommended by a good friend but was disappointed. The “IS” prose for describing a God or creator of all things was I think an attempt to make his messages more digestible for non-spiritual people but I found it repetitive and impractical.

I gathered some good messages, but overall I think the book said a lot of things while saying not very much at all. I am noticing though that I am much more aware of the natural world and humanity’s place in it as a oneness, but I do not see it as a very provoking or impactful book. It was hard to get through.

[David Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt a deep disappointment in the book. It moved from one subject to another with a lack of connection.
Don’t worry all will be understood soon.
It felt more like schizophrenia than a nature whisperer.

[Saurabh Ranjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book. reveals possibilities of Accessing Knowledge from Plant/Birds/Trees/Earth.
We realize Everything has consciousness. Every component of the world is a hologram.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book of hat was (when I read it) a 4-book series. They portray a journey in understanding taken by the author. I actually read these in reverse order, and found this one the hardest to read, as the author was so resistant at the time to opening his mind to new possibilities. I found these books extremely valuable in providing a firsthand account of the types of things that spiritually aware people might experience within (or beyond) their lifetimes. It helps to paint a revealing background to our everyday reality that promotes well-being, and hints that whatever we might be experiencing might be serving purposes for good that we cannot quite yet fathom.

The series:
- Talking with Nature
- Journey Into Nature
- Into a Timeless Realm
- Journey Into Oneness