We Can Be With Nature Wherever It Exists

Accepting "what is"

Forest Bathing is a practice, an art, or perhaps I should say, an experience - - available and accessible for many people and many situations. As a Forest Therapy Guide, I can tailor my guided walks to the locations and abilities of participants. Though a forest bath typically involves a walk of one mile or less, the terrain can vary from a wooded area with roots and rocks to a flat, tree-lined, gravel trail. Recently, I even had the privilege of adapting a forest bath for two unique settings.

As a National MS Society Ambassador, I joined two co-facilitators in speaking about mindfulness and resilience practices to fellow ambassadors across the country. A 15-minute block of time during the quarterly call allowed me to share my personal background in somatic practices, discuss how I incorporate everyday meaningful acts of joy, and share beneficial outcomes of being with nature. Then I offered a guided mindfulness practice for participants.

Prior to the virtual meeting, I invited participants to select a nature item, something that spoke to them from inside their home or outside their door. They were asked to bring the item to our Zoom call so we could work with it during the meeting. The invitation was open to allow for a range of accessibility. If an individual had greater physical or geographic access to outdoor spaces, they could select an item there. A front yard could be just as beneficial, and indoor spaces also allow for invitations with nature, such as houseplants.

Accepting "what is"

My second opportunity was a 30-minute session at the Hope Noted Summit, an event focused on seeking hope in the midst of pain. I sat with attendees to share the art of forest bathing, speaking about its benefits and then, again, leading participants in a mindfulness meditation with a nature item. As participants were gathering for the in-person session, they had the opportunity to wander into the wildflowers and select something that called to them, or individuals could select from a basket of nature items I had collected in my yard. My basket contained pine cones, a short branch with crispy brown leaves, a vibrant green fern stalk, a few stones.

Guided forest therapy is intended to open our senses. It can move us out of our fast-thinking heads because we slow down and engage our feeling, being heart. While a seated meditation with a nature item is clearly not the same as a forest bath, my hope was to demonstrate that there are many ways to engage with nature.

I work in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s state capital. There is one area outside the Capitol building that captivates me on each of my lunchtime walks. It features several rows of towering trees, a magical canopy overhead. Learning to attune our senses to nature’s beings has many rewards, and I had discovered that in this space a few weeks earlier. On that day, I spotted the light-colored wings of a hawk against the dark green trees, the predator dipping down to the ground and grabbing a squirrel with its razor-sharp talons. 

As a favorite spot, I returned to this setting again at lunch to record a guided meditation. Pictured below, it does not feel like the center of a city. Yet, through the recording, you may hear background noise from people in conversation. You may hear a truck rumbling by on the street or even a plane overhead. And you will also hear my voice, my connection with the leaf I selected while walking to the park bench.  

On forest baths where I have encountered seemingly loud, unpleasant noises or distractions, I call to mind the attitudinal foundations of Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Though the nine attitudinal foundations are interconnected, two tend to resonate for me more often. They are “acceptance” and “letting go.” These attitudinal foundations remind me that is often more pleasing to welcome the moment as it is occurring, rather than how I think it should be. I can detach from the notion of a “perfect” experience and understand that nature will deliver what I need in that moment. 

In that spirit, I invite you to this seated mindfulness meditation. Select your nature item before starting the recording and set your intention to accept what is. And wherever you are listening, I invite you to open to the knowledge that we can be with nature wherever it exists.