#Forestbathing is something we can all take part in. Our connection with #nature is alive and ongoing. This then is your #woodland Invitation - How does it feel?
I have #fibromyalgia so “how does it feel?” has been the thing on my mind for the last few days as my nerve endings have been feeling rather worse for wear. We are also heading into wintery weather and the shortest day is very soon. This is the time we think of our creature comforts such warm scarves, thick woollen blankets and bowls of soup warm in our hands.
Below is a very short film I made of two trees I thought quite apt for this article. Then below are activity suggestions for you wether in countryside, city or housebound.
Next time you are outside use your sense of touch. What does the world communicate to you?
If you are in a city you can still do this exercise by using local street trees or shrubs. Failing that iron railings, concrete walls, bricks, metal, glass. What about the weather? How does that feel? Hot? Cold? How are the materials around you affected by the weather? How does wet brick feel, or cold glass on a frosty evening? How does it feel when you walk from one place to the other? Such as when you walk off the street and into a shop for example? What sensations do you notice in your body?
Are you housebound? Can you touch a Christmas tree? Real or fake it will have a distinct feel. Bella says try touching a piece of wood! Is it smooth or rough? Perhaps a friend or relative could collect some fallen twigs and bark or cones for you to feel. You could make a temporary display of them on a table or next to your bed. Spend a session with each item individually. Or perhaps you could open a window and feel the air change from hot to cold briefly. Maybe open the window a little to feel the breeze on your cheek … Let nature come to you.
If, like me, you suffer from chronic pain it can sometimes help, if only just a little, to engage with another type of feeling through touching and allow the sensations of touch to transmit through your skin. Pain can make us very sensitive so use that sensitivity to be alive to every texture sensation.
This may be a nature invitation and if you are stuck in a city you might feel your connection with nature is sadly lacking. But, this is the thing to remember: you yourself are nature. You are a living breathing creature and you are interacting with the world all around you all of the time. Think about that … how does it feel?
As I have said many times, it is free to become an official AST member, and always will be. A CommuniTree full of PositiviTree for woods, wildlife and wellbeing
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