May brings signs of Spring all around us, and with the longer daylight hours and warmth returning to the ground we are prompted by Mother Nature to go out into the fresh air and refresh our connection to the natural world.
You ARE a Child of the Universe!
Finding and developing a deeper connection with mother nature can still the mind, filling us with focus and enabling us to find a sense of peace that leaves us unruffled when life takes a sidewards turn. Breathing mindfully whilst immersing ourselves in the woodlands, fields and streams allows us to connect with an inner wisdom passed down the generations and we find ourselves communing with mother nature’s soul at the very deepest level. Our ancestors lived closer to the land than we do in modern life, but by noticing the changes in the landscape, the creatures that share it with us and the plants and trees that grow around us, we can foster that deep connection for ourselves too.
Therapeutic Effect
Going for a walk in the rain (ok, not a deluge but light rain is actually pleasant), we notice the sounds and the scents that the moist air brings to our senses. The scent of dry earth after rain falls has a particularly therapeutic effect and even has its own name – “Petrichor”, from the Greek words “petra” meaning “rock”, and “ichor” which refers to the golden lifeblood of the gods in Greek mythology. That “earthy” scent is so refreshing to our senses, it’s worth putting on your raincoat and going outside to take a few deep breaths of this free feel-good compound in the air!
Strolling on the beach, paddling in a stream, a moment spent looking at the stars, even a cuppa in the garden will connect you to nature if you allow yourself to disconnect the daily mind-chatter for a moment. When we gaze at the night sky we are struck by the endless nature of the starry universe. Letting us put things into perspective, this really is the “bigger picture”. It’s interesting to note that we share 97 percent of our atomic makeup with the stars themselves. You really ARE a child of the universe.
Breathing Techniques
Lots of the tiredness we feel can be attributed to over stimulation of our body’s stress response, so combining the breathing techniques we looked at in January’s issue of Free Spirit with time in nature will re-set your mind, body and spirit to hear the unspoken messages of nature.
It can be a nice practice to find a place to sit in on a regular basis for, say, half an hour a couple of times a week. You will begin to notice changes; the different birds and animals that visit at different times of the day, and with the changing of the seasons what plants are most abundant. This could be a place in the countryside or even a bench in your local park, but the key thing is to go often and sit to connect with the place and mother nature within it. Journalling what you notice will give you a record to look back at and it’s a great way to record your feelings and how nature let you find what you needed on that day.
Remember, self-care is never selfish!
Posted: 16/05/2025
Related Category: Holistic Wellbeing
