How nature can heal

I would like to share the story of how I started nature journaling and how it helped me heal my body and get my life back from a debilitating health condition. 

I have suffered from a chronic illness for many years, a problem of the autonomic nervous system. At my lowest point the illness was completely debilitating and I passed most of my time in bed, unable to work. Sometimes I was so exhausted I lacked even the strength to hold a book. Sometimes my sympathetic nervous system was so highly activated that even listening to an audiobook felt like an overwhelming stress. Some days there was nothing I was able to do except lie motionless in my bed. Through all this, nature was a force that buoyed me and allowed me to remain connected to the world outside of myself.

Below is something I wrote in my notebook during this time. It shows how I was still able to connect with nature and enjoy its healing benefit, even on days when I was unable to leave the house:

15/10/2012

“As I lie here in my bed, a wind sweeps in through the open door. With it comes the smell of the outdoors, of the soil, as well as something sun-warmed, green and alive. The smell connects me with the world. Even though, for now, I am confined to my bed, there is a wildness to which I belong and can access in small ways whenever I need to connect with and be reminded of it, of my own true nature.”

On my better days I was able to go out into the backyard and I would sit on a deck chair and watch the trees and follow the activities of birds and other creatures. This became my sit-spot. It gave me so much joy to notice the changes that were occurring around me in this small patch of green space. Two crows were nesting high in a gum tree. I was thrilled to see their nest and to watch their comings and goings. Then I started to notice other nests, other birds, and the multitude of wild activity that was going on around me. A suburban backyard is absolutely full of life, when you take time to notice it. 

I began to write down all these things in a notebook and add some sketches here and there. I wrote about the changes I was seeing and also about how I felt during my time in nature. When I was able, I would go to the park in front of my house and sketch there too, or just sketch the park from my bedroom window. I noticed that one of the trees I could see was losing its leaves in spring instead of autumn and this brought many questions to mind. I wrote the questions in my journal. 

Nature observation and nature journaling became a type of meditation for me; a way to slow the mind, calm the nervous system and stay connected with myself and with the world. Although this time in my life was full of uncertainty and physical limitations, I found a calm and centred place and felt happiness and fulfillment deeper than ever before. Through close observation of nature, I was able to live fully in the present moment. Documenting the backyard in my nature journal gave my life structure and purpose and kept my mind focused and active. 

Finding this level of inner calm and practicing self-care alongside nature, let my nervous system rest and restore. From this point I was able to begin to build strength and recover my health. I started an exercise routine, very tentatively at first and building from there. This was a long and slow process but I know that finding so much calm was the foundation for being able to spiral upwards instead of downwards. Today I am more physically well than ever. Although I do still have to manage my health condition, I am living a life I never imagined possible during the days of my illness. 

For me, nature connection is synonymous with inner connection. There is a deep peace that comes from paying attention, experiencing wonder and feeling connected to the world around us. For me this has been a profoundly healing, life-changing experience. 

Self-care through nature journaling

Self-care through nature journaling

I recently asked my community of friends on Instagram about their barriers and challenges, the things that hold them back from bringing nature journaling into their daily lives. The most common answer was that they either don’t have time or don’t prioritise the time to journal. So many of us are fully-booked these days. Our lives are filled with obligations and commitments and it feels like there is simply no way to squeeze another thing into our schedule.

In order to start making time for nature journaling in a busy day we need to adjust our thinking a little bit. If we think of nature journaling as another “activity” that we have to somehow find time for, we certainly won’t do it. An alternative is to start thinking about nature journaling as a way to practice self-care. 

It is so easy to get over-stressed, run-down, depleted and burned out. Self-care is the antidote to this. We all know that to take good care of ourselves we should eat well, sleep more and take regular exercise. Did you also know that time spent in nature has been proven to lower rates of stress, anxiety and high blood pressure and to calm the nervous system? Nature journaling can facilitate this. It is a way for us to slow down, calm the body, quiet our busy mind and find our roots again through nature connection. 

Just like we see tremendous benefits to our wellbeing by practicing meditation for only a few minutes each day, so too we can experience huge benefits by connecting with nature for a few minutes whenever we can. We don’t have to schedule a long hike in the forest or a week-long camping trip (though these activities are wonderful when we do have the time). Even taking small snippets of time out of our day to tune-in and connect with nature can be beneficial. The trick is to begin to understand that nature is all around us and we can access it whenever we take a moment to notice. 

A moment out of our busy days just to slow-down and connect with nature through a nature journal is a beautiful and gentle way to start taking care of ourselves. 

Nature connection through a sit-spot

Nature connection through a sit-spot

Do you know about the concept of a sit-spot? A sit-spot is a place you go regularly, to connect inwardly, to yourself, and outwardly, to nature. Time spent in your sit-spot is a form of active meditation. It is a mindfulness practice that will help you be calm, happy and healthy in mind and body, and will be a huge source of inspiration for your nature journaling.

Recently, I spent the morning with a small group of nature mentors. These folks gather regularly with the aim of connecting with nature and learning to better help others make this connection in their own lives. Our task that morning was to go a short way into the forest and find a quiet place to sit with the intention of listening to ‘bird language’. Each of us walked mindfully as we went to find a place to settle down for the next 20 minutes. I had a cup of fresh herbal tea in my hand. As I settled myself onto a log, I tuned into my breathing. I noticed myself slowing down. I noticed the way my skin felt under the touch of the winter sun. I tuned my ears to the sounds of birds. What bird was that? What was he trying to say? I watched small skinks running in and out of the loose bark on a nearby tree. I felt calm and connected, to myself, to nature, to my place in this world. 

I have had different sit-spots over the years. As a child I used to go to the lower branches of a backyard pine tree. Of course, I didn’t label it a sit-spot back then. It was just my special place to return each day, to sit quietly, contemplate and watch nature. Years later, my sit-spot was a sunny patch in my back garden. It had a wonderful view of two huge eucalyptus trees, which hosted an astonishing amount of life and activity. Still another sit-spot was cradled in the roots of a Swamp Cypress in my local park. These days my sit-spot is at the bottom of my garden where there is a small pond. I sit beside the water and watch birds, lizards and insects go about their day.

Where to find your sit-spot

Ideally your sit-spot will be close to home, in your backyard, if you have one, or in a nearby park or green space. It needs to be a place that is easily accessible, somewhere you can go regularly. 

To find a sit-spot, take a short walk around your yard or neighbourhood. While you’re walking, look for a place that speaks to you. Keep your mind and your senses open.  If sitting on the ground is difficult for you, look for a park bench, or a fallen log or large rock that could support you. Once you have found your sit-spot, go there as often as you can to reap the many benefits of this beautiful practice. 

How to use your sit-spot

Your aim is to tune in as much as you can. Your time here should be distraction free. Turn your phone on silent and put it in your bag or away from view. 

Begin by noticing your body and your breathing. How does the air feel as it enters and leaves your nostrils? Is it warm or cool? How does your body feel in the place where your legs rest against the earth?When thoughts come into your mind, don’t push them away but also don’t follow them. Let them drift past you like clouds in the sky and gently bring your mind back to your senses and the things you can see, hear and feel around you.

Sit quietly in your sit-spot as often as you can. Daily is best. Try for 10 minutes at first and work towards 20-30 minutes, if you can. This gives nature time to accept your presence. You will notice that after you have been sitting quietly in your sit-spot for a while, the animals begin to behave in their natural way. You will begin to feel yourself to be part of nature, not separate, like we can so often feel. 

Let it be part of your routine

When you visit your sit-spot regularly over a period of time you will start to notice changes in nature, through the days, through the seasons and through the years. Let the practice become part of your daily routine of self-care; a way to slow down, connect deeply with nature and with yourself.