Healing Forest

Parks, forests, coasts, urban gardens, backyards, or any space where nature is predominant are prime places for nature-connection experiences. The activities shared here may be done alone, in pairs or with groups.

As with any outing in nature, please be aware of any potential hazards, such as poisonous plants, slippery rocks, and bugs that bite.

Nature Connection 1︱Opening Senses

Find a quiet place and get comfortable either standing or sitting on the ground. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and wait to feel grounded. Become aware of your environment by focusing on one sense at a time. Tune into sound and notice the sounds near and far, the silence in-between sounds, and the whole soundscape. Tune into touch and notice the texture and qualities of the air on your exposed skin. Spread your fingers (and toes) and feel the air between them. Notice the the warmth and coolness from the sun and shade. Tune into smell and notice the different aromas present. Taste the air. Tune into gravity and feel it pulling you to the earth. Gently sway your body. Put your hands over your heart and feel your heartbeat. Return to any sensation you like. Are birds singing? Are trees rustling? Can you feel the warmth of the sunshine? When you’re ready to open your eyes, open them slowly and notice all around you.

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*The Japanese art of Forest Bathing contains many activities and exercises that train your senses to tap into the healing powers of nature. Here’s an example:

Nature Connection 2︱Gratitude Walk

On a walking trail, park or open space, walk at a pace that feels comfortable to you for about 20 minutes. No matter how you walk, focus your attention on nature and your breathing. You may like to alternate between slow, brisk, and fast walking. Slow walking fosters a heightened state of awareness, calm and connection with the natural world. In large open spaces, such as a park, try slow walking in circles, expanding and contracting the size of your circles. Faster walking relieves stress and energises the body. No matter how you walk, do pause along the way to notice the small wonders of nature.An interesting addition to your walk is to create a feeling of gratitude. By focusing your attention on things that fill you with gratitude, you can shift your mind from any negativity or pessimistic thoughts. Here’s a simple list to help you fill your heart with gratitude.

Nature Connection 3︱Make Friends With Trees

Find a tree that attracts to you and get to know it well. Spend at least 10 minutes with your tree. Some possible ways to engage with trees are:

Explore the tree: Gaze at the tree for five minutes. What does it tell you about itself? Trees belong to different species and have histories, families, stories, and unique qualities. Lean against the tree, touch the tree, feel its leaves, bark, flowers, fruit. What knowledge does it share with you?

Climb the tree: Carefully climb (shoes off) and find a place to sit or lie safely and enjoy the view.

Tell the tree a story: Share a secret, your dreams, a prayer, or send a message to a loved one. Trees provide a non-judging space to express yourself.

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Meditate with the tree: Either sitting or lying down, breathe and become aware of the interconnected link of breath between you and the tree.

Stretch your body with the tree: Use the tree as a support to stretch your back, arms, legs and torso.

Nature Connection 4︱Grounding with Body and Breath

Find a quiet place in nature, take off your shoes and stand on the earth. Relax your breath. Straighten your spine. Become aware of the sensations from your legs, ankles and feet moving up from the ground. Stand for a few minutes until you feel stable. Then, move your awareness slowly up from the feet to the top of your head. Notice if there’s tension, stress, or stiffness in any part of your body. Stay with the areas of your body that call your attention. Take a deep breath, expanding your belly. Pause. Exhale slowly to the count of five. Repeat. Imagine the forest air soothing your body with every in-breath and your tiredness dissolving into the ground with every out-breath. This deep breathing brings fresh oxygen and phytoncides (natural compounds that increase blood cells which fight cancer and tumors) into our lungs, tissues and organs. They also ground our bodies and can give relief from inflammation, pain and stress. Benefits of deep breathing are amplified manifold in the forest.

Nature Connection 5︱Animal Kingdom & Empathy

Indigenous cultures considered animals to be our brothers and sisters and knew how to understand them, as did saints, sages, yogis and mystics. Animals experience the world in ways that overlap our own, and each species has special characteristics. We can learn to appreciate animals by bring their aspects into ourselves through observation and play. If you’re alone, sit someplace quietly and open yourself to observe the animals by maintaining a neutral, open, gentle state of awareness. Find the qualities you love most about your favorite animal and bring these visualizations into your own body. After some time, animals and birds will become used to your presence and may come out of hiding.

For groups, stand in a circle and ask people to call forth their favorite animal. Then, give yourselves a fun task, such as building animal homes, or enacting the role of your animal. After 10-15 minutes of play, reconvene in a circle to create a poem. Begin with a word or sound that suits the day, and then going around the circle each person contributes a word/sound until a freestyle poem emerges and runs its course.

Empathy is one of the fundamental life skills that needs to be mastered in these complex times. In a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected, empathy helps us expand and grow our relationships. Empathy is also the lifeblood that helps us nurture and sustain those relationships. The most important take-away from the nature walk is the fact that our empathy is not restricted to just other human beings. It has to expand itself to include other species and our environment as well.

Nature Connection 6︱Nature Art

Create an impermanent artwork made from found elements of nature. The work of Andy Goldsworthy is an inspiration, but we need not go so far! Some ideas for your nature art: gratitude mandala, animal home, ikebana, labyrinth, a magical fairy house and bridge. If you’re with others, try a ‘gallery walk’ afterwards to share your creations. (For more ideas see our post on Nature Art )

Nature Connection 7︱Nature Journaling

Create a personal record of the nature around you by keeping a nature journal. What is a nature journal? Simply put, it is “the regular recording of observation, perceptions, and feelings about the natural world”. (Clare Walker Leslie, Keeping a Nature Journal)

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The act of nature journaling encourages us to become keen observers of details and seasonal rhythms and deepens our understanding of the natural world. It reinforces our nature connections and it stimulates reflection on experiences, thoughts and emotions. It helps us remember what has been observed and learned, cultivates on-going curiosity and contributes to establishing a sense of place.

Developing the habit of nature journal can be tricky. Make it inviting. Keep it simple. Encourage it but let it be optional. Let your child record in whatever way he would like (sketches, poems, photos, brief descriptions, pressed plant samples, etc.). Do it together. Review and reflect on past entries occasionally.

Check out these resources for inspiration and how-to’s:

• Nature Journals for Beginners
• Why Nature Journals are Important
• The Naturalist’s Notebook by Wheelwright and Heinrich
• Any book by Clare Walker Leslie
• Easy to follow drawing tutorials by John Muir Laws

Nature Connection 8︱Nature Therapist

Nature is a wonderful therapist. Using your senses, let yourself be drawn to an element of nature, such as a tree, a rock, or light. Sit comfortably with it and ask a question, silently or aloud, that you are seeking support or guidance on. With your senses open and mind neutral, listen. An answer may come to you in the form of an intuition, a physical sensation, an insight or a visual image. It is possible that no answer will come while you wait, but it may come to you later in another way. The intention is to rest your mind and let it be open to receive.

Nature Connection 9︱Dance

Dance in nature. Dance with the wind. Dance alone with headphones. Dance with friends. Make a drum circle. Stomp and clap. However you like. Be respectful of nature and dance with it. Try our Joy Walk, that combines movement and nature to help you release trapped emotions and hidden stress within the body.

Nature Connection 10︱Water Healer

If water is present, find a comfortable place to sit beside the water to meditate or simply enjoy the sensory experience. Water sounds and visuals calm our brains and nervous systems. Moving waters encourage going with the flow, letting go, movement, change, and creative energy. Still waters encourage self-reflection. If possible, feel the water with your hands and feet. Get a natural foot massage and refresh yourself.

*For a deeper dive check out our Nature Calm page with 150+ ideas from around the world that create a calmer, healthier you. Just like the forest, this website holds many hidden treasures waiting to be found. To get uplifting new ideas that help you and your loved ones grow in life, do join our free monthly newsletter.

Additional article inputs by Julie Hall and Monique from USA

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor