Author: Jodi Levine
Founder and Executive Director of Earthroots Field School
Being in nature and connecting with the elements of life has a nurturing effect on our nervous system. Our human physiology developed over hundreds of thousands of years while our ancestors lived outdoors, fully engaging with the living world on a moment to moment basis. Our long ago ancestors’ senses were attuned to the world around them, processing wind movement, angles of light, patterns of movement, sounds, sensations underfoot and more, telling them when it was safe to rest, and enabling them to make decisions for survival.
When we moved to indoor lifestyles, much of this innate wisdom went dormant. Even though our modern lifestyle is quite different from our ancient predecessors, the physiologic design is much the same. When we tune back into the rhythms, sounds, sights and sensations of being outdoors in natural settings, these internal systems awaken, helping us process stimulus in a more balanced way.
Listening to bird sounds and flowing water, feeling sunlight on your skin, walking in dappled shade beneath trees, watching the movement of swaying grasses, the feeling of earth beneath our feet… these simple actions can sooth a stressed nervous system.
Making a habit of being in nature does wonders for our health. But sometimes we cannot access our favorite trails, or make a trip to the beach, even though we need a dose of nature. Here are tips on how to access the healing power of nature without going too far from your front door.
Practice these strategies to bring in balance and calm. Integrate them into your regular wellness routines. When you are feeling stressed, sad, anxious, or fearful, lean on them more. Before you begin any of these, turn your phone off and be present with the experience. All of these suggestions are wonderful to do with people of all ages.
1. Earthing, also known as Grounding
Walking barefoot makes me feel strong and connected.
Take off your shoes and place your feet on the earth. Whether it’s sand, soil, mulch, or stone, this simple action stimulates 200,000 nerve endings in each foot in a way that is very different from when we wear shoes. When we walk barefoot, our feet are able to flex, grip, and sense in ways that communicate more to our brain about our surroundings, and connect us to the earth’s magnetic field. These movements and sensations are restricted when we wear footwear. There are times when it is important to protect our feet with shoes, but it is equally important to allow our feet to feel the earth, to move freely, to grasp, stretch out and interact with the contours of the land.
Try it: Go for a barefoot walk. Start with short sessions and build up over time. If this is new for you, your feet may be sore at first. As you spend more time walking barefoot, the soles of your feet will grow thicker skin, making it more comfortable to walk for longer stretches.
2. Listening to bird sounds
Listening to the birds awakens my connection to those around me.
Even through a window, or from a balcony, listening to the sound of birds has a way of helping us relax. Birds are messengers, and communicate to other birds and other species through vocalizations and movements. Paying attention to bird language opens the door of awareness to the world around us.
In the morning, before sunrise, the birds in my area get very vocal. I call it “chirp-chiree”. It’s a joyful feeling to hear the neighboring birds welcoming the new day.
Try it: Consciously listen to the sounds of birds while taking deep, relaxing breaths. When are the birds active around you? Try listening at that same time each day and make a habit of connecting with the birds.
3. Watching sunrise and sunset
Watching the day come and go reminds me that life has a pattern, and is predictable.
There’s something soothing about noticing the changes between day and night. This simple act helps us orient ourselves to the rhythm of natural light, which before the lightbulb was invented, set apart waking and sleeping rhythms.
Try it: Tune into the rhythms of the day and night. Even if you cannot see the sun at the time of sunrise or sunset, you can likely notice the changes in light around you. Step outside, or look through the window, to pause and watch the day begin at dawn, or to greet the coming night at dusk.
4. Laying with the Earth
The nurturing feeling of laying with the earth reminds me that I am cared for.
The earth has a magnetic field composed of negative and positive electrical charges; that’s what makes a compass needle point north. Atoms and cells that make up our body also have positive and negative charges. Different household and industrial tools expose us to further radio and electromagnetic frequencies on a daily basis. Stepping outdoors and allowing our bodies to attune with the energy of the earth has a nurturing effect.
Try it: Find a place without cement or asphalt, where it feels safe to lay down on the bare ground. Take off your shoes, lay down on your back and relax your whole body. Take deep breaths. Allow the earth’s magnetic field to meet yours. Breath deeply, feeling held by the earth. Imagine letting any stress move through and out of your body, to be transformed effortlessly by the earth, just like compost. Stay there for as long as you’d like.
5. Gaze at the Night Sky
The expanse of the night sky reminds me that we are part of a long lineage of people who have walked this earth and observed the same celestial patterns.
Our human ancestors used the night sky as a guide map, and some people still do today. The moon holds the rhythm of the days, weeks and months, and the stars hold seasonal rhythm and pinpoint directions in the same way that they have since ancient times. And if that seems like too much to take in, then there’s the beauty. Nothing compares to seeing glowing planets and stars against a dark sky.
Try it: Look up at night and observe. Stars have patterns, what do you notice? Go out at the same time each night and see how the sky shifts through the seasons. If you live in a place with light pollution, go out on a clear night, and although you may not see as many star patterns, you will likely find something shining and beautiful to gaze upon. While looking at the night sky, think of your ancestors smiling at you. You are the one they dreamt about.
6. Sitting with a Tree
Being among the trees reminds me to take a slower pace and listen for the answers in new ways.
Trees are like a bridge between the underworld and the sky. Their roots grow as deep and wide underground as their canopy grows high and around. Trees absorb our expelled carbon dioxide and release oxygen, making the air clean for us to breathe. They provide us with food, medicine, shelter and material for so much that supports our lives. Trees are host to countless animal species, sheltering them in their bark, branches, root systems, hallows and leaves. They have been shown to communicate with other trees in the forest, moving resources through the root systems, offering nutritional support during times of stress. Trees are our allies.
Try it: Find a tree near where you live. The closest one will do. Go to it often, and get to know it. Find a comfortable position leaning on or sitting near the trunk. Stay there for a few minutes, up to an hour. Go when you can, or add it to your schedule several times a week. Be present with the tree. You can also use this as a place for your quiet sit.
Check out our Sit Spot Video on YouTube
7. Be with Water
Water softens me, reminding me to let my emotions flow.
Our planet is made of 70% water, and our bodies are also made of water. The water we drink, cook with and use for washing was once a cloud, raindrops, snow, or like my children remind me, long ago it was dinosaur pee. Water is ancient, reminding us that we are always connected with the life around us.
I think of emotions as an innate physiologic tool letting me know if I am moving in the right direction or not. Sometimes during stressful experiences, I disconnect from my emotions. While this can be helpful in a fight, flight, or freeze moment, after the stressor passes, acknowledging the emotions and letting them move through, is a natural part of the healing process. At those times when emotions are hard to name, or difficult to let go of, water can help them soften and flow.
Try it: Fill a bowl, basin, or bathtub with water. You could also do this at the ocean or any natural body of water. Greet the water with intention. Connect with the water by sharing gratitude or thinking of meaningful ways that you use water in your daily life. Submerge your hands, feet, or body into the water, and feel the sensations of water on your skin. Breathe. Let the water meet you where you are at emotionally. If you feel like crying, cry. If you feel like laughing, laugh. Just be with water.
This blog was inspired by the work of Jodi’s mentors Jon Young and Elizabeth Christen
