Forest Bathing Recap: Journaling Among the Trees

On Saturday, September 14, 2024, a group of eight Balanced Soul Forest Bathers met at the Marion College Nina Mason Pulliam Ecolab to explore "Journaling Among the Trees." We introduced ourselves by discussing a favorite tree from our lives and our connection with it. Our morning began with a group meditation to help us to ground into the earth, allowing us to become more present and relaxed. We followed that up with a discussion about the reciprocal relationship between Humans and Trees, representing our cultural dependence on trees for all aspects of life. We then explored the Schumann resonance, a natural phenomenon that emits electromagnetic frequencies between the Earth’s surface and the ionosphere, often referred to as the “Earth’s heartbeat.”

We later reflected on how nature journaling is yet another way to tune into our reciprocal relationship with Nature. When we write down our thoughts and observations, we process the information more clearly, creating a more present relationship to what we notice.   

Writing a Letter Spoken from Nature

Our group completed a silent gratitude walk down into the Ecolab, holding the thought, "If Nature Could Speak, What Would SHE Be Saying to You?" When we arrived at the outdoor classroom, we discussed options for capturing a response from nature through creative writing. Participants chose between writing a Celtic poem or a letter spoken from nature or any writing that spoke to them. Acronym writing was showcased by sharing the book The Lost Words by Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris. It brings attention to the 40 words from nature that are no longer listed in the Oxford Children's Dictionary because children no longer use them in their everyday language.

Each participant pulled a Lost Words inspiration card and set a personal intention for their Forest Bathing experience. In addition to the nature writing, the group was asked to find objects in nature that represented some aspect of themselves, which they used to create a group Nature mandala.

We closed our time together by drinking Dandelion Tea (Dandelion happens to be one of the Lost words in the Oxford Children’s Dictionary), sharing our written messages from nature, and reading Rebecca Campbell's poem “The Mystery of SHE.”

The Mystery of She

By Rebecca Campbell

Her heart was connected to the flowers.

As they opened, so did She.

Her voice was connected to the birds.

As they sang, so did She.

Her wisdom was connected to the trees.

As they whispered, so did She.

Her womb was connected to the Moon.

As it waxed and waned, so did She.

Her attachments were connected to the tides.

As they let go, so did She.

Her passions were connected to the fire.

It was stoked, and so was She.

Her eyes were connected to the entire sky.

As it saw clearly, so did She.

Her spirit was connected to the stars.

As they shown, so did She.

Her soul was connected to the entire Universe.

As it expanded, so did She.

Participant Writings from Nature

Magpie

Mother Nature

Always there for me

God’s feminine presence; gift

Perfectly welcoming and healing

Intuition beyond understanding

Exactly what I need today and always

By Jenni Agramonte

I am the water that feeds the fish and carries the leaves.

I am the leaves that turn the seasons and give life to the lungs.

I am the rocks that crust the earth and ripple the water.

I am the wind that soothes the souls and carries the birds.

I am the song of many winged feathers that chirp and heal.

I am the sun that illuminates beauty and echoes off the water.

I am the water that feeds the sail and carries you home.

By Missy Apple Knotts

Forest Bathing Poem

She understands as much as we proclaim ourselves within her. In her visage, we reflect on the traits bestowed onto us. We are reminded of the realm that provided our ancestors the security of survival. Such as we are now, instinctively hastening forwards in time, still looking back in search of comfort: the origin of our growth.

She inspires, she listens, and she forgives. As much as we wade through her mystery, she does not provoke. To feel her breath hold us is to gain the insight of what was given, what we have, and what we’ve lost. All moments come to pass, the instant we feel embraced.

She is at the mercy of our own nature, born from scorched earth buried over and built upon as a golem of concrete and wire. To meet her under the guise of an equal force, we imbed our song into hers, as a dominion of steel bellows out his glory.

Within her, we displace the ground. And as we cut through her skin and wash from her springs, she embraces each movement, growing through and around it. As a gift that may scar, she accepts it as her own.

And still, she inspires. As we find ourselves lost in the tides of change, we look to her for guidance. It is the realm of nature that reminds us to accept change, and to grow through where it finds us.

By Caleb Apple Knotts

With love and gratitude,

Jenny

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Highlights from our Forest Bathing Experience: Blue Heron, Snake, Magpie, Root Chakra, Lost Words, Dragonfly, Hawk Cries, shimmering leaves, red Berries, Earth’s Heartbeat, Beaver tracks, Hibiscus…