Spring is in the air so it’s the perfect time for us to come out of hibernation to connect with plants and harness the vibrant energy of the Earth at this time of the year. If you are feeling a little office bound or still reluctant to move from your couch, here are 10 ways to inspire you to connect daily with the natural world around you and allow the wisdom of the spirit world to weave into your life.
Grab your coat and get outside! Go take a walk for 20 minutes rather than wasting time on social media. I find that sometimes what seems like a grey day when you are inside looking out of the window, turns into be pretty pleasant when you wrap up warm and take a stroll. And if you already walk a lot on your daily routine to and from work for example, take a different approach to your walk. Walk with the curiosity of a child, observing the nature around you with fresh eyes. Practice using your peripheral vision and notice what grabs your attention at the corner of your eyes.
Find a tree and hang out! Let yourself be memorized by the magnificence of a tree that stands out to you and get in touch. Stroke its bark, observe how it grows, watch the bright green of its buds as they are coming into leaf, get a sense of what this tree is growing into. Let your imagination run wild with the things that this tree has seen over the years. Tell the tree your problems, give it a hug, see how it makes you feel.
BREATHE! Kind of obvious and absolutely essential of course. Through our breath we are intimately connected to the plant world and are alive thanks to their amazing ability to convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into oxygen and life for us through photosynthesis. So while you are outside focus on breathing deeply with gratitude as you connect with plants. Let a plant choose you and breathe with the plant and see how this feels.
Invigorate your sense of touch … Get physical with the nature around you. Allow your fingers to gently run over plants leaves, buds, stems, branches, thorns, flowers, dead bits, new growth, diseased areas…warts and all. Absorb how all of this feels and notice what surprises you or displeases you, what are your preferences? Are things wet, dry, cool, rough, smooth, prickly, soft, comforting, strong, delicate, fragile….? What else is touching your skin – the wind or sun on your face, your hair, the damp air?
Sing, chant, drum, make music with nature. Ever sung or whistled as your walk? Let yourself sing a song or make sounds to connect with plants. Are there any particular plants that inspire certain sounds in you?
Resonate gratitude… As you walk in nature or sit on a park bench by some bushes or under a tree, think about all the wonderful things in your life that you are grateful for. Envision each and every one and let it fill your heart and resonate throughout your entire body. Plants pick up this resonance in sound waves and will respond.
Honour nature and create ceremony… As you walk outside or sit with a favourite plant remember to give thanks and leave an appropriate token as an offering. This could be your song, a poem, your gratitude or a gift of something physical like a flower, seeds or tobacco. Or you might even pick up litter around the area to make the place look cleaner. This is all part of humbly showing your respect for the green kingdom.
Practice seeing with your heart.We spend so much time living through our thinking heads, try to drop your perception down into your heart space. The heart is our primary organ of perception and is our gateway for communicating with the plant world. Focus on your heart centre as you breathe, walk and spend time with plants.
Bring nature indoors. If you can’t get outside regularly then do the best you can with pictures and house plants in your home to inspire you as you work, cook and go about your daily chores.
Investigate and inspire others. If there are particular plants that you are noticing and hanging out with, then do your research, find out what they are, how they grow and what they might be used for. Join local organisations to support nature conservation in your area. You know the thing with land is they just don’t make it any more….
