Forest Bathing Inspired Meditation: Unlock the Power of Full Awareness (56)

Hi everyone and welcome back to How the Wise One Grows. In episode 55, we spoke with Daillen Culver about forest bathing, also known as Shinrin- Yoku, and the power of this practice. I have been sitting with Daelyn's words and trying to dive more and more into this practice and this week we're going to have bathing-inspired forest meditation. So it's not a formal forest bathing practice I'm not versed in that But on based the conversations we've had and forest bathing practices I've listened to and one that I did just before recording this podcast had me feeling so good we're going to take time to have a forest bathing inspired practice together today. So during this practice, I invite you to just let go of any timeline, of any destination, of any control. This guided practice is about 8 minutes, so I just want you to release that worry of what's coming next, of keeping track of any time or any destination, and let yourself just drop in. Let yourself relax and just hang out with nature as you would with a friend. Right now, if you can go outside to do it. If not, maybe grab a house plant nearby or something natural you can sit with. But I would highly recommend, it if you aren't able to get outside now. You download this episode and practice this at a later time during your day or your week. So take a moment, find some space to be with nature. And let's just start with 3 deep breaths. So take a moment to notice where your body touches the earth. You can gently rest your eyes or soften your gaze at a point in front of you, take a big breath in, feel this prana, this life force, fill the body, exhale slowly, and let it all out Again. Inhale, exhale. Let it go One more. Inhale And exhale And then return to the sensation of where your body meets the earth. Continue to notice the sensation of the breath as it moves in and out of the body, and then slowly open your eyes And take a moment to really notice where you are right now. So soak in this space, this nature scape, as if it's the very first time, with this sense of wonder and awe. Take a moment to just be still here, let yourself soak it all in And then notice if there's anything that you're just naturally feeling drawn to. Maybe it's a tree, a leaf, a blade of grass, some moss. Just slowly, let yourself gravitate towards what's pulling you right now. So slowly walk towards that thing that's calling you in And as you approach it and meet it, just start to really explore it with the five senses. Let yourself get closer to it, see the elements of this that you might have otherwise missed. Maybe it's some bugs on a leaf, or little follicles that almost look like little hairs on the stem of a branch. Maybe a spider web. Just let yourself notice more acutely with your sense of sight. Look any sounds, any sounds in the space around you. Notice if there's a sound to this element that you've been drawn towards, maybe even gently. Touch, not harming, just gently. Bring in the sense of touch, touching this natural element that you are communing with. Notice how it feels as it brushes against your skin. Take a moment to even notice the sensation of the wind and the air And notice your breath. Notice how the breath you're breathing in this air and your exhale releasing it. This breath, this air is connecting you to the earth, these natural elements around you. We're supporting this life force, this breath for one another. Maybe you want to stay with this particular element Or maybe something else is pulling you, calling you. Let yourself gravitate towards that. Just take the next few moments to soak in what's here, slow down and connect with no agenda, with no destination. Let yourself soak in the life around you in this moment, and in just a few moments you'll hear the gentle ringing of a bell. That's the formal close of our practice, but if you'd like to continue, please feel free to do so.