From a broken stumped tree, I gazed down at three silences, sitting on a log. They closed their eyes and drank in the air. From the shrub and the trees opposite, through the twigs, a robin redbreast flew out dancing over the air and bouncing off the ground until he came to rest, in stillness,…
The blossoming of belonging: How nature can provide solace in the face adversity
In his book ‘The doctor and the soul’ the great psychiatrist Victor Frankl tells a story which illustrates the redemptive power of a ‘deep nature’ experience, and the solace that nature can provide in the face of the grimmest of realities. The story shows that cultivating a connection with the natural world can help transcend…
Mindfulness Practice – Connecting with a Tree
Is there a tree you walk by regularly? Maybe somewhere on your daily commute? You might have passed this tree by and ignored it hundreds of times in your life already. The next time you are passing, intentionally slow down as you approach the tree, then stop for a few moments. Stop. First, feel the…
Why you should spend more time in nature
If the natural world could be packaged as a pill and sold in pharmacies it would be flying off the shelves – such are its proven physical, mental, and emotional benefits. But luckily it can’t be packaged, or sold, which is good news because it means that it’s free. All it costs you is time….