Exposure to Nature Cultivating Love

The Anthropocene is defined as a geological epoch that represents an interval with a very strong impact of humans on the planet. It is a human-centered geological age that shows global environmental changes which particularly affect the relationship between humans and the system of the Earth. Recently, the role of nature has been increasingly discussed in the context of the Anthropocene and the impact of nature on emotions. The authors argue that the way in which humans deal with nature and how they feel about it, especially during the Anthropocene, needs to be researched in more depth. Consequently, the purpose of this study was specifically to investigate how exposure to nature cultivates love. The study adopted an exploratory qualitative approach based on an abductive design. The sample consisted of five retreat center managers, five retreat facilitators, and 20 retreatants participating in spiritual retreats in South Africa. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews. Ethical considerations were applied and ethical approval was given by the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. The findings of the study reveal that spiritual retreat participants reported different ways in which they experience and show love in exposure to nature, by spending time in natural landscapes of spiritual retreat settings. The study participants expressed being able to show compassionate love, empathic love, and loving-kindness to their loved ones, themselves, and others. In addition, the findings revealed that the retreat center managers and facilitators reported loving, being kind to, and respecting the natural environment, including all sentient beings. The cultivation of love through the experience of nature is an important facet of sustaining nature in the Anthropocene. Conclusions are drawn and recommendations are given.