In the Forest, We Go Slow
By: Coleen Douglas
Tags: Inspiration, Spirituality, Happiness, Nature, Trees

Photo by Coleen Douglas

Today we’re going out into nature

to breathe the fresh air

to shift our vision

beyond screens, beyond rooms

Out in nature is the safe place to be —

space for people to spread out

for viruses to float away

in the movement of the breeze

In the forest

trees tower above us

creek gurgles and sparkles as water flows over stones

air smells fresh

We go with essentials

water and a snack

extra warmth with scarf, hat, gloves

small ground cloth for relaxing on the forest floor

When we go into the forest

we don’t go far

we go slow

stopping often to connect

with all the life present around us

Listening for sounds

Touching leaves, bark, stones

Smelling flavors of tree trunks, the soil underneath

Tasting the air

Seeing trees anew

Silently opening our hearts

sending our love out to all the beings, seen and unseen

Love is the sixth sense

that unifies and deepens our relationship

The trees send their love back to us

We enter the forest and walk a little ways in

far enough to feel a shift from our day-to-day life

and we stop

Take a look to our left

where the trunk of madrone curves upward and

red smooth bark beckons our fingers to rub

Look straight ahead

tree after tree grows among the shrubs

so many plants living together in peace

To the right

poison oak leaves are turning red and dropping

joining the yellow maple leaves

in the collage of color and shapes on the path below

Look up

trees taller, most older than us

canopies of branches and leaves

allowing only delicate borders of space between them

Take it all in

offer gratitude and respect for

Indigenous ancestors who tended this land

over thousands of years

and their descendants who are alive today

Photo by Coleen Douglas

Breathe in the fresh air

knowing that these trees

right next to us

have created the oxygen we take into our bodies with each breath

In only 60 seconds

their oxygen circulates throughout our bodies

flowing in our bloodstream

We breathe out carbon dioxide

Our tree neighbors breathe it in

combining with water vapor and sunlight energy

these trees make their sugary food through photosynthesis

We breathe each other in and out

connected at the molecular level with each breath

how we evolved together over millenia

“Thank you!” we say aloud

Close our eyes, enter our hearts

bring forth a felt sense of love for the forest beings

We feel their aliveness, their life force energy

our hands tingling with their love

Opening our eyes we are now ready to enter further into the forest

knowing the intimate truth of our connection

Walking slowly

We notice the shapes and textures of the leaves

stopping to look closer and touch gently

shaking hands and greeting

some look pointy, but turn out to feel soft

we sniff our fingers to discover what scent may have lingered

We look for a place off the main trail

near a tree where there could be room for us to

take the time to be cradled by years of fallen leaves

Far enough from the trail

that the trees and shrubs hide us from other people

allowing us to get to know each other in a new way

Finding a good spot we walk over and say hello to the tree

ask permission to get closer

to be here together

The trees rarely say no

We touch the trunk and send loving energy in

setting the intention of connection

Preparing a place where we could lay down

we move any large sticks and stones

being careful not to damage other plants

We spread our ground cloths and lay on our backs

Taking some deep breaths

feeling the soft mattress of leaves supporting our backs

our bodies adjust into comfort

and our eyes open to the gift

The tree from the inside out

up the trunk

past the bare branches in shade

all the way up to the top

where leaves of the canopy kiss the sky

We close our eyes and listen

sound of wind through leaves

woodpecker’s beak exploring a tree trunk nearby

creek flowing

We move our hands from the ground cloth to the surrounding brown leaves

letting fingers explore below the surface

deep enough to feel the place where leaves compost into soil

our fingers rest there

feeling the energy of tree roots

connecting tree to tree via mushroom mycelia

sharing nutrients and water and communication in the dark

We tap into their flow and feel the forest in a different way

We ask if the trees have a message for us this day

listen with all our senses for a response

the message may come in words or song

as a color reflected in sunbeams

a feeling on our skin

a dreamlike vision

We relax and open further

Time slips away