“I believe the world is incomprehensibly beautiful — an endless prospect of magic and wonder.” ~ Ansel Adams
With spring arriving in the Northern Hemisphere, I have felt a yearning to be out in nature. Just hearing the birds sing, seeing green sprouts burst into blooming plants and flowers, and feeling the warmth of the sun can instantly restore my body, mind and spirit. Indeed, the rejuvenating power of nature is deeply healing, and fills us with a sense of awe and wonder that invites in a renewed gratitude for being alive.
What is wonderful about nurturing yourself in nature is that you can experience this empowering sense of renewal in both active and passive ways. Whether you are hiking, walking, or just sitting out in nature and soaking up the sunshine you can feel the restorative benefits of nature. According to research, being in nature decreases stress, anxiety and depression, and increases a sense of calm and well-being. Studies have shown that we can improve our immune system by spending time in nature and decrease our stress hormones and blood pressure. Nature also helps us cope with pain and improves our mood and vitality. Even adding a plant to a room made a difference in the studies I have read.
Understanding the healing power of nature to ground and nurture us has inspired many of us to use essential oils in our self-nurturing practice. You can invoke the feeling of being in nature by diffusing essential oils in your home or on your diffuser bracelet. I have been loving Terroma’s Ease and Peace Calming Blend as it invokes a feeling of being in the forest for me. I experience profound peace in the forest as it seems to breathe with me and embrace me with its sacred silence. I feel such reverence walking amongst these trees and always feel like I have come home when I am in a forest. I love that I can embody that experience with this beautiful Ease and Peace blend and feel deeply nurtured by the Lavender, Frankincense, Mandarin, Geranium, and Cedarwood. What a blessing that whether we can be out in nature or not, we can bring the healing experience of nature into our homes with essential oils.
I invite you to explore the following questions as you reflect on the healing power of nature in your life:
Where do you go in nature to restore and rejuvenate?
How often do you nurture yourself in this way?
How does connecting with the beauty around you change how you view the world?
What essential oil blends uplift and nurture you?
May you remember the wise words of Rachel Carson, “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”
May you restore and nurture yourself in nature and as you nurture peace in the world from the inside out!
Sending you peace, love and gratitude, Kelley Grimes, MSW