Journeying with Giants
Once, I was sick for a month with a nasty cold and cough and wasn’t able to go outside for walks in nature. I found doing anything that exerted my body resulted in fits of coughing. I knew that I needed to quiet and still myself so that my body could heal.
Being in nature is one of my self-care practices, and it was so relaxing to finally be able to walk through the woods again. As I followed a path, I saw many Cedar and Douglas Fir trees. Many of them stood 100's of feet tall boasting their ancient age. Trees have always fascinated me especially Douglas Firs.
As I walked, I noticed the roots of one Douglas Fir, they were massive and sprang up upon the path. I wondered how old this tree was to have roots this large. As I stood pondering the tree’s roots, I decided to spend some time with these amazing giants. After poking about, I found a secluded spot and sat among the trees and plants. It just so happened that there were quite a few Doug Firs surrounding me so I quieted and asked what wisdom these ancient trees held for me.
The first thing that I noticed was the stillness in the forest. It was mid-afternoon so the birds were quiet and there was no wind. In the distance I could hear the river, but it was flowing gently. Everything was peaceful and quiet.
I found this very soothing and noticed that I was breathing slowly and deeply. With each breath I could smell the soil and trees. It was a hot day and the heat intensified the scents of the forest. It was a beautiful calming smell and I created an essential oil perfume blending the scents of the forest as inspiration.
There was some sap on the Doug Fir next to me and I touched it with my finger. The sap was sticky and I could feel the scent in my chest. Douglas Fir is calming for the nervous and respiratory systems and this was what I was experiencing as I sat by these trees.
I then sat on the ground with my back against the tree and I felt very supported and grounded. It has been important for me to feel grounded and connected to the earth, as it has been a major way I have healed during challenging times. Collectively, we have been challenged over the past three years and it is important for people to feel connected to nature and the earth.
We live very hectic lives and spend a lot of time in our minds thinking about all the things that we must do throughout our day and week. Often, we forget that our bodies are communicating with us. Being grounded supports us to connect to the present moment. As I mentioned before, I have always found the forest a beautiful way to ground into ourselves.
As I sat quietly with the Douglas Fir, it occurred to me that these trees are solid, straight and have ancient strength about them. They were showing me how to connect and ground myself into the earth so that I can feel safe, secure and present with everything that is happening in my life. As I walked on, I was so grateful to the trees for sharing this important lesson. Sometimes we need to experience the same lesson over again and again—often from a different angle to get another perspective.
When I got home, I pulled out my Douglas Fir Essential Oil put it in my diffuser because I wanted to continue to hold that calm grounded feeling within myself. Nature is an amazingly generous teacher if we are willing to quiet ourselves and take the time needed to learn the lesson.
Through my personal journey, I have found that nature is one of the best tools for self discovery, healing, and balance. I have developed a series called the Wisdom of Nature where together we learn about forest bathing, grounding, space holding, and the natural elements. Receive practical, nature-based knowledge in a group setting, while taking a break from the city hustle. For other inquiries please feel free to connect with me here.