A Forest Bath Experience
20 of us gathered Sunday, May 2nd, at Storyhouse for a Forest Bath Experience. We began in the Storyhouse Meadow, then moved into the woods at the Listening Circle, and back inside Storyhouse for a sound bowl meditation and a simple tea ceremony, with our guide, Nancy Schmidt.
Nancy tells us she came to forest bathing through meditation because she loves the forest and is "in it all the time." She has been meditating and practicing yoga for 30 years. Nancy teaches communication classes for young adults and says she incorporates both practices into her classes. Today we are privileged to join her here to get a sampling of her speciality.
We gather first in the meadow in front of Storyhouse, to be ‘earthed’ as Nancy calls it. And she reminds us: “the earth is flowing up through the energy. The electricity of the earth is flowing back up through your feet or feet up through your body. It's a mutual exchange, a reminder that we're not alone ever in this world.”
Blue sky, shining sun, the day is perfect. Many folks take off their shoes as we settle into the grass, and breathe.
“Only when we know ourselves can we actually communicate with others in intentional ways and without reactivity,” says Nancy. “And creating mutual understanding is more important today than I think ever. So I've been really called to start doing this for community.”
Nancy continues. “I want to invite a little bit of play today. And I'm not talking about child-like play - we've been there. This is adult life. This is like joy tapping into what we know is in there. And maybe we've had a hard time. So let the birds sing. Let the trees, let the wind wash over them, that's the play. If you feel like rolling on the ground, that's the play. If you feel like kissing or licking a tree, that's the play. I'll invite you to do that as we go along. Oh, my other big agreement. We're gonna do it in silence.”
And off we go, in an already-sacred silence, into the Listening Circle, where we are all invited to find a tree, any tree, and be with that tree - Hug the tree, lean into the tree, get to know the tree. We set off on our individual tree journeys and come back together. We’re invited to share one word of our experience.
“Connected. Humility. Privilege. Gratitude. Community. Mutuality. Love. One.”
There is laughter, there are tears.
It always amazes me how deeply a short journey into the woods can take someone. It no longer surprises me.
Back at Storyhouse, we sit with eyes closed while Nancy plays her Singing Bowls for us. A mediation, a rest, a reflection - it is whatever is needed.
Finally, we finish with a tea ceremony, supping together.
Again, short words are shared.
From someone very new to Whidbey: “I would just like to say thank you. But I do want to say to the group I didn't know what to expect. This is the first time I've done a Forest walk. I just moved here and to see this amount of people show up for something like this is so amazing. It just is really cool.”
We are all reminded how vital, life-giving, being together in community is.
Nancy reminds us that “this moment in time will never come again.”
“And so,” she continues, “this ends our time together. We can take a sip of this wonderful gift from this earth - knowing this forest, this moment, this. These moments are here for you to come back to you, to return to - return to your breath, return to the forest, return to your drink. Take these moments out of the chaos, out of the busyness of our lives and take a moment every day. I encourage you to do more of that.
We need more of you.”