Mother nature as healer

Nature is our body, mind, and spirit

“Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”

—John Muir, Our National Parks

When I was younger, my family took vacations in Yosemite, hiking and swimming in lakes, and enjoying the outdoors. I have always been grateful to my father for introducing me to the serenity and spirit of nature. I remember even as a young child, listening to John Denver’s Country Roads as we headed into the mountains of Yosemite, this chill would run through me, an excitement I can only attribute to being Home.

Whether you connect to the mountains or truly hate the bugs, don’t especially love getting dirty, and feel scared of the dark, nature has many opportunities to heal and help us remember that we are naturally whole and beautiful just the way Spirit made us. I have found in my healing practice with women, that ‘nature’ is one of the common denominators in people’s healing journey. Whether it was walking on the beach, spending time in the garden, taking herbal medicines, even eating healthy vegetables and fruits, being in the mountains, fire ceremonies, getting a daily dose of sunshine, sweat lodges, walking the dog, or simply lying on the grass and watching the clouds float by, people have continually shared with me how nature provided healing, refuge, peace, and clarity for them in one way or another.

The beauty of using Mother Nature to heal and connect to yourself is that She is always available. Often, I find that many of us want that deep connection to Spirit, guides, angels, and the other realms. The reality is that our nervous systems need the Earth Mother to ground, reset, and connect to our own navigational system. We need to get lost in the forest to find ourselves, even if the forest is in the comfort of our own backyard with our shoes off, barefoot in the grass. Our bodies need to unravel and reset from years, decades, and generations of masculine living, frontal learning, and the insane speed of life.

We are here to anchor to the Earth and go on a vision quest of our senses, and our inner world. When we feel lost, or out of balance, Mother Nature can soak up our fears, show us how to release them, and steer us in the right direction of our souls. When we immerse ourselves in Mother Nature, she can help us reset and remember how magically our world truly can be when we let her take care of us and nurture those pieces within us that truly need to rest.

So I urge you to use the healing power of Mother Nature to assist in healing parts of yourself when you need it.

START TODAY.

Step out into that beautiful world of Mother Nature that surrounds you and allow yourself to soak up all her majestic beauty and wonders. Immerse yourself in the healing energy and let your cells bathe in the miracles that surround you.

Here are my Top 8 tips for connecting to Mother Nature for greater health and healing within your life.

1. Get outside. 
   This sounds ridiculous I know, but quite often we can spend the whole day going from one place to another or inside a car or a mall or the office or in front of the computer or TV without even being outside. Spend time, even 10 minutes a day actually outside and breathe fresh air into your lungs.
   

2. Exercise outside. 
   Go for a walk on the beach, down by the river, in the park, or wherever you can in your local area and surround yourself with nature during your exercise routine remembering to be mindful of your surroundings and take in the beauty around you. Get your bare feet to the earth and imagine you are pulling all the energy of the earth into the souls of your feet and energizing your whole entire body.
   

3. Be mindful. 
   Look at the nature that surrounds you. It may be a garden you pass on the way to work, a huge tree in your backyard, or your own loving pet. Be present and mindful of the nature that surrounds you on a daily basis.
   

4. Connect with nature.
   Touch it, feel it, smell it. Engaging all your senses as you spend time in nature allows the nervous system to calm down and more oxygen to enter your body having a wide range of physiological benefits.
   

5. Look up. 
   Notice what the sky is doing every day. Gaze at the stars for a few minutes, watch the clouds, feel raindrops on your skin and feel the sun warm your face. Make an effort to ‘look up’ at the giant wonderful sky above you every day.
   

6. Read, write or study outdoors.
   No matter how long your to-do list is, you can get a healing dose of sunshine simply by moving an indoor activity outdoors. While outside you can spend some time sipping tea, listening to the birds, or just jump right into your writing, reading, or studying. Have a hard time disciplining yourself to journal, meditate or read every day? Create a practical outdoor summer ritual that you can look forward to and stick to it!
   

7. Moonbathe
   Take a long walk in the moonlight – look at the stars and listen to the sounds of the night – the moonlight will cast a new light on everything. You don’t have to be in a rural or suburban area to enjoy nature – urban areas offer the opportunity to head outside and enjoy the night air and the stars too! 
   

8. Go on a Nature Quest
   For the nature lovers, I suggest choosing to spend time in nature, for hours, overnight, or anything in between. A Nature Quest is a designated time you spend in nature, feeling, healing, reflecting on your life, and releasing and unwinding the nervous system by just being and allowing the Earth to hold you. I can personally attest to the fact that the more time I spend outdoors, the better I feel – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. If you’re feeling stressed, depleted, or out of sorts, allow nature to work its healing magic! Wherever you live and however busy your schedule is, make it a priority to get out of the house and spend some time enjoying the warm weather and beauty of the great outdoors. 

Are you interested in creating more sacred time for yourself outdoors, but unsure of how to find the time, create the space, and what to do? I offer healing sessions virtually and outdoors in the Colorado Mountains, to help you discover your joy from nature and assist you on your inner journey to joy, light, and spirit inside. 

For more information, please email Ariela at ariela@mysoulcentered.org