Our Awake in Nature journey begins
The clouds are grey and low in the sky, and there is a cool wind that comes and goes but blows right through me when it does. We start in the warm with some introductions as to why we have come. I read a little about Imbolc to talk about the significance of this time of year, and it being the first festival on the Celtic wheel of the year.
Imbolc was traditionally celebrated when the first cows and sheep gave birth and milk could be drawn off to add to the sparse winter provisions. Imbolc is the festival of awakening marking the beginning of spring and the returning of the light. We are encouraged to sustain a gentle pace and as life slowly stirs. Connect with the Earth by walking in nature, listen to your intuition and breathe deeply. What is stirring within you that wants to be brought to life? Allow it time to emerge.
We walk. We release tension from the body with mindful movement. We connect, ground, root. Connect with the breath, connect with the earth. We feel the sensations in our feet and we use our hands to ‘see’, to touch and connect with what is here – wood, grass, soil, trees, leaves. Hard, soft, rough, smooth, spiky, cool, cold, wet, slippery and more.
We notice our reactions to the cold wind. My body braces itself bringing everything in close to keep as much warmth in as possible. I feel cold. I feel elated. I feel resistant. My mind says ‘stay with it’, ‘feel it’, ‘let it be’, ‘I think that is enough now’ and ‘let’s get out of the wind for a while’.
We are in the polytunnel, protected by the wind, but still so open to all the sounds around us. We listen to the body - what do I need to know? What is important to me? What is my intention? What do I want to grow?
We gather again in the warm to share and drink tea.
Awake in Nature – mental health programme – is all about connection.
When you connect with yourself you are aware of what is going on inside you and what your needs are so you can live a fulfilling and purposeful life. You feel at peace with yourself and the world around you.
Connecting with others is hard wired into human behaviour, in fact, it is essential in helping us live a long life and supporting our mental and physical health.
Being in, and connecting with, nature reduces stress and anxiety, gives us a greater sense of well-being, increases creativity, resilience, joy and motivation, improves our physical health, creates a greater sense of calm and a stronger sense of overall connection and increases our kindness towards others (Green & Keltner, 2017).
This is a journey about becoming awake in nature, to connect with our experience, inside and out. An opportunity to tune into, and learn from, nature. To become alert and aware to what is here. To learn to rest in the ebb and flow of life to help us grow resilience in the face of adversity, and to live a full life.
Join us on this journey by attending one, some or all of the sessions. Or getting out in nature in your own way and connecting with the changing seasons.
Reference:
Green, K. & Keltner, D. (2017). What Happens When We Reconnect With Nature. Greater Good Science Center: Berkley.