Can you remember the last time you took a moment to feel the warm sun on your face? Listened to the birds sing? Lingered to smell a blooming flower’s fragrance?
Spending mindful moments in nature helps us reconnect with ourselves, our loved ones and the natural world around us.
When we feel the wind on our skin, smell that first bout of rain, crunch in the snow, stare at the fluffy clouds and we feel its calming restorative power. Being in balance with nature inspires us to live in harmony with the seasons and nature rhythms.
Something as simple as stepping out for a ten minute walk everyday, reducing your junk intake, sleeping early, five minutes of meditation or just devoting time in a day to do something happy for yourself. All that needs to be done is sowing that seed. Embed and firm up the decision to change for the good – and there is your initiation to becoming that blooming flower.
Our body has the inherent ability to maintain, and restore health. Self-healing extends beyond the skin level. The body works hard on its own to support recovery from injury and illness. Damaged, destroyed, or dead cells are replaced daily and automatically in your major organ systems. When you have a virus, your immune system attacks it. The digestive system consistently replaces old cells that line the gastrointestinal tract with newer ones. When you break a bone, bone cells kick into action to grow back together. This internal healing is supported by our connection with nature.
Appreciating nature can be simple. Take a moment to sit outside, close your eyes, take a deep breath and let your senses take everything in. Here are some practical, inexpensive ways you can enjoy nature: ● Try nature journaling! Draw, take photos or write about what you see, hear, feel, taste and smell. ● Spend a moment drinking your morning hot water/tea/coffee while sitting outside.
- Gaze at the moon or stars and look for constellations/planets.
- Keep plants, cut flowers and fresh herbs inside your home.
- Cook meals using the herbs or vegetables you’ve grown.
- Create an outdoor garden or indoor garden.
- Explore bird watching. Put up a bird feeder.
- Hug a tree
I really love this quote from Mexican medicine woman Maria Sabina. It is a lovely reminder that there are so many simple things we can do to help ourselves feel better when we’re feeling stressed, sad or overwhelmed.
Cure yourself, with the light of the sun and the rays of the moon.
With the sound of the river and the waterfall.
With the swaying of the sea and the fluttering of birds.
Heal yourself, with mint, neem and eucalyptus.
Sweeten yourself with lavender, rosemary, and chamomile.
Hug yourself, with the cocoa bean and a touch of cinnamon.
Put love in tea instead of sugar
and take it looking at the stars.
Heal yourself, with the kisses that the wind gives you
and the hugs of the rain.
Get strong with bare feet on the ground
and with everything that is born from it.
Get smarter every day by listening to your intuition,
looking at the world with the eye of your forehead.
Jump, dance, sing, so that you live happier.
Heal yourself, with beautiful love, and always remember …
You are the medicine.
