Forest Bathing
A walk in the woods is good for the soul.
The Japanese call it shinrin-yoku or forest bathing. Sounds beautiful but what is it? To bath in the woods is to simply walk in nature and absorb all that she has to offer. I’ve also heard it called ‘forest therapy’ and the best part about this therapy is that it is free and available to absolutely everyone. A gentle amble in the woods will leave you feeling light, airy and inspired. But why?
At one point in time Ireland was covered in a ‘blanket of woodland’. The word blanket is aptly used here for the following reasons. Historically, the forest gave us everything we needed, shelter in the form of wood from trees, heat and light in the form of fire, protection and cover from enemies and the elements, food like nuts, mushrooms, all manner of edible greens like fern heads, three cornered leek and pine needles to name but a few, running water, medicine and shelter for the animals that we lived in harmony with. We lived, loved and died in the woods for thousands of years.
Only recently, while strolling in my happy place, I followed the above thought process and then came to the realisation that the woods gives us not only safety and food but it also gives us knowledge in the form of books. Trees are cut down and pulped to make paper which make books. This is mother natures transfer and preservation of knowledge and therefore power and it is all for us.
Taking a walk in the woods may be akin to taking a step back in time and connecting with those who went before us. Maybe they paved the way for us and in return this gives us a sense of security that we are on the right track, maybe this is the feeling that we are wrapped in a ‘blanket’ by our forests.
I always feel safe in the woods. When I am stressed, troubled or burnt out or even just looking for inspiration or fun, I go to the woods. I’ve always felt like it has a great wealth of knowledge to give us all, if only we paid attention.
In our busy modern lives, our bodies can become bombarded with positive ions. Positive ions can be extremely detrimental to your health but what are they? They can be classified as anything that is toxic or electromagnetic, for example, TV, smart phones, household chemicals, industrial waste in the local atmosphere but even your clothes and food can contain positive ions. Ever feel frazzled after a day in front of the computer? That is most likely mild, positive ion ‘poisoning’ and on a prolonged basis it can cause, mood swings, depression, skin allergies, inflammation and fatigue.
So how do you combat the positive ions? You combat positive ions with negative ions and dense forests are jammed packed full of negative ions. So this is why we leave the woods feeling light, airy and refreshed, the positive ions have been leeched out of our bodies without us even noticing, thank you trees!
Next time you go to the woods, amble, breath deeply, watch the light as it plays on the tree tops, listen to the breeze rustle through the leaves, hear the birds singing, feel your footsteps on the soft earth beneath you, let your mind wander, exhale any doubts, fears or anxiety you may have, inhale fresh air and earthy smells, trust yourself and those that have gone before you, know that it is all perfect to be there right at that moment.
Next time you go to the woods, pay attention, it might be trying to tell you something.
Here is a link to wonderful hiking trails and forest walks in Cork.
Thank you for reading. May you live wild and free.
Love,
Hilary x
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