¶ Intro / Opening
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
¶ Meditation begins
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 .