Bathing in a Forest

Dipping toes into fallen gold leaves,

Submerging beneath bare tree limbs,

Washing with nature’s cool breath,

Soaking in the silence,

Scrubbing away stress,

Rinsing with sun,

Laundering

my soul-

Cleansed

To begin my Sunday morning, I went forest bathing for the first time.  This means taking in the forest through our senses. It is not exercising but just being in nature and connecting with it through our multiple senses. 

I am thankful that Yoga with Linda offered this experience today. A small group of us walked, meditated and journaled out in the woods. We sat under the blue sky surrounded by crunchy, dried fallen leaves and soaked in the sounds, sights and smells of nature surrounding us. As I sat there, I could feel my muscles relax and my shoulders lower. I was able to let stress of the week go and feel refreshed by the end of our time. I definitely felt cleansed.

**During our journaling time, this nonet poem began to take form.  A nonet poem has 9 lines. The first line has 9 syllables, the second line has 8, the third has 7 and so on until the last line has 1. **

Maturing to Let Go

 A season is ending,

seeds ready to fly.

When will each let go?

From sprout to leaf to flower

to the mature pod opening to the world,

a season is ending.

The full plant gave all of itself

to form and foster

seeds ready to fly.

They shake in the forceful winds.

Gathering bravery to finally leave this home.

When will each let go?

Walking along a trail, the opened milkweed pod caught my attention. The plant had matured from Spring to Fall and was now in the final stages of the season. The seeds were clustered together wavering in the cool, crisp breeze. The wind was forceful but the seeds were still hanging on. It just made me wonder when each one will let go to begin life on its own. 

Poetry Form: Cascade 

Fading Mask

Fading chlorophyll 

reveals leaves true colors

gold, red or orange.

Elegant beauty displayed

as green’s mask falls more each day.

Can we learn from leaves?

Drop our protective facades,

a daunting risk.

Show our true selves to others.

Our realness -as  stunning.

Walking around during the last few days, I have been delighted in the foliage before me. Finally, the reds, yellows and oranges of this season are on display. As I walk through the trees with fallen leaves rustling about my feet, I remembered reading that these colors are always present in the leaves but hidden by chlorophyll during the spring and summer.  As the leaves stop making chlorophyll, the green fades and these true colors are shown to the world. 

This idea of green being a mask floated about in my head.  It made me think about people and how we wear masks daily and don’t reveal our true personalities to many people. But the people who do get to see our true colors often see the beauty in our vulnerability and love our faults as well as our strengths.  This acceptance adds beauty to the world. 

Poetry form:  Tanka (2 tankas in this piece)

The Beauty in an Ending

Released from unsustaining tethers,

golden confetti

downwardly chassés

celebrating

autumn’s final

vibrancy.

I was standing on a trail looking up through the trees towards the sun. Suddenly, a strong autumnal breeze shook the leaves releasing golden flutters into the sky. It was so beautiful as golden leaves glided from side to side on their way to their final resting place. I felt as if Mother Nature had tossed confetti into the air in celebration of the lifecycle of these leaves. They had reached the end of their time but were ending their lives in pure beauty, grace and peace. I was so thankful I was a part of this moment and shared in the calmness that pervaded the forest around me. 

Nature = Truly Me

 Without words,

         you soothe my soul.

Without embraces,

          you surround me with understanding.

Without hearing,

          you accept my secrets, heartaches and dreams.

Without judgment,

          you offer compassion and care.

Without thoughts,

         you fill me with wisdom.

With you, I am truly me. 

Over the long weekend, I had the privilege to spend time camping. One morning as I sat sipping my tea and looking out over the trees into blue sky, I realized how much nature gives to me. It is there for me in good times and where I run to for comfort on those challenging days. Breathing in the scent of a forest, relieves my stress and calms my mind. Just sitting in its peace, lets my mind wander allowing me to think through paths of solving problems or reaching goals. Nature always reminds me to be mindful and notice the awe in the world around me. 

Nature relaxes me. Nature rejuvenates me. Nature influences me. Nature is me.

Thank you nature for all that you give to me. 

(Photo was my view that inspired me to write.)

Behold the Beauty

Dapples of burgundy

Swishes of gold

Daubs of ruby 

Brushes of orange

Splashes of chestnut

Shades of emerald

Framed by pond and sky

- an autumnal masterpiece to behold.

I am in awe every autumn when surrounded by the amazing foliage of Western New York. It is my favorite season in part due to nature’s artistry.

I stood looking out across the pond and felt like I had been dropped into a framed landscape in a museum. The colors were so vibrant with various hues highlighted by the sun’s rays. The pond and sky were a natural frame to the spread of trees before me.  I just stood and admired for many moments.

I wanted to capture this view as a reminder of the season’s beauty. I used my camera to snap a photo or two but these images do not do the scene justice. The human eye can see the real beauty.

So if you live where the leaves change color, go outside, look around and behold the beauty!

Reiterate Wishes

Wishes

spring from

what could be...

A betterness

A kindness

A happiness

A lovingness

A peacefulness

An easiness

A hopefulness

A healingness

A successfulness

for you,

             for me, 

                        for the world.

Ever since I was a little kid, I loved to blow the seeds of dandelions into the wind. I would close my eyes, take a deep breath and exhale across the fluffy whiteness of these seeded dandelions. As I exhaled, I would make a wish or two believing fully that the magic of nature would make them come to pass.

As I was walking the other day, I saw a few of these white fluffy balls alongside the path. I decided to indulge in my previous practice. I bent down, plucked one from the ground and held it before me. I closed my eyes and thought about what wishes would be. Then I blew directly into the ball releasing seeds into the air. I put faith into each small parachute seed to plant my wishes into the soil wherever it landed and help them blossom. 

Take a moment to indulge in the joyous childhood practice…what would your wishes be?

Photo Credit: Felicia Hutter