Come Into the Forest to Lose Your Mind, Come to Your Senses, & Find Your Soul!
“Find a tree you’re drawn to. Sit with it and imagine it could share some advice with you, or maybe you want to tell it a secret.” I recently issued this invitation on my first formal Guided Forest Therapy Walk for the public after my week-long intensive training to become a Certified Forest Therapy Guide.
The invitation was a little “edgy” for a couple of the people on the walk. One wrote on her evaluation that it felt strange to “talk” to a tree. But another person shared that while sitting with her tree, she thought about her young college-aged daughter, and her struggle in knowing how to support her daughter.
The participant said that while sitting with her tree, she thought about how gardeners stake young trees loosely so they can sway in the wind and develop a strong base.
Sitting with the tree gave her insight into how she can give her daughter some space to grow.
“All that from a tree,” she said.
Being connected to that tree helped my client Lose her Mind—her monkey mind, that is. We can be walking in nature but still be thinking about the problems that plague us every day. Spending time connecting with the More Than Human World provided a break from every day life so she could see her situation from a new perspective.
On this walk, I also helped participants Come to their Senses. Through a guided meditation, I helped my clients connect deeply with the beauty around them using their 5 senses and beyond, including the imaginal with Tree Invitation mentioned above.
As we listened to the loud traffic sounds from nearby I 25, some participants were disturbed by the noise and said it detracted from their experience. Initially, I felt bad, but after discussing it with my fellow guides in training, I realized it could have been a perfect way to lean into an edge. After all, The Forest we were in has to listen to that same noise every day. What might it have to teach us about how we can cope with the “noise” of our everyday lives?
I can’t wait to see what The Forest has to offer you! Please share your stories with me, and if you want support, I would love to schedule some Forest Time with you! Even if we can’t share the same physical space, we can still do the work with you in your nature space, and I in mine. I’ll serve as a Guide to open the Doors. And The Forest will be your Therapist.