“And into the forest I go,
to lose my mind and find my soul.”
We went in to the forest –
happy, calm, and playful. We walked and grew hot and tired. We rested under the
gentle shade of a large tree; the sunlight filtering through the leaves to
shine on our faces when the breeze blew strong. The mosquitoes had a feast!
Resting, we felt the
stillness of nature. Mother Earth speaking to us through woodnotes – the singing
birds (and the presence of a very rare bird, the magnificent pink pigeon, who granted us its brief and beautiful company), the rustling canopy, the trickling stream, the humming rocks, the
buzzing insects, the music of the roots beneath us. There is nothing more
grounding than to be out in the woods. There is an indescribable feeling of
being nurtured when you spend time with nature in the forest.
The
practice of forest bathing, popular in Japan, is a large part of preventative
healing in Japanese medicine for a reason. Nature holds many cures and
treatments for many illnesses; for example, walking barefoot in the soil is a
form of Earthing – absorbing the earth’s free flowing electrons through the
soles of the feet, which is beneficial physically and psychologically. Just
spending some peaceful time out in the woods, breathing in the rich air, forgetting
about daily routines, just sitting and observing the trees, the plants, the
flowers, the birds, and bugs, and beasts... it has a very calming effect on the
mind, it reduces stress hormones, the world slows down just a little and nature
inspires us to feel a sense of wonder for the landscape that surrounds us.
There is something about
being still, blissfully still, in the woods that gives me a clearer vision of
the magic of the Universe. I feel my energies are replenished; I feel deeply,
powerfully, connected to the Great Spirit and my soul is in better rhythm with
the beating heart of the cosmos. And, to experience such things with loved
ones, a sacred love, that is an added blessing for which I am ever grateful.
I urge you my friends,
take a little wander into the woods; don’t underestimate nature’s healing
powers. Sit in the deep still silence and feel our Great Mother’s beating
heart; listen to, and learn from, the magical whispers of ancient trees; connect
with the vibrations of Shakti seeping through the soil and flowing into us -
filling us with unique sensations of healing, empowerment, and energetic
rejuvenation.
Here is an affirmation that
I like to say aloud and upon which I meditate when I am out forest bathing J
