Forest Bathing: Deepening our Relationship with Nature (begin in the Spring)

The concept of forest bathing grew out of a practice in Japan called Shinrin-yoku that spread to China and Korea and now to the United States. It is about swimming in the living being of the forest: drinking in the smells, feeling the breeze on your skin, hearing it move through the trees, soaking up the warm healing rays of the sun, noticing the vast array of colors and shapes of life around you, experiencing Nature. This is a meditative practice. 

By slowing down, connecting with awareness to the abundant life in and around you, these walks can be immensely healing. This experience helps you to feel refreshed, calmer and at peace. Your body, mind, spirit and heart have an opportunity to feel a deep sense of connection between yourself and life.

Cape Cod gives you a very special opportunity to deepen your relationship with Nature because of the unique environments provided by marsh, creek, ponds, forest, dunes and beach. 

Come on a guided walk where you will be shown how to pay attention in a new way. Create a sense of greater health, well-being and appreciation by opening up from the heart to the beauty in you and around you. By walking slowly in silence, being guided through several brief meditations and learning about some exciting science that supports these ideas, you will deepen your knowledge and experience your connection to the web of life.

Develop a relationship with Nature by opening your heart to the beauty of Cape Cod.

This poem that I wrote describes my experience of this practice.

Walking slowly,  very slowly

Breath moving in and out

Deeply.

Steps and breath become one rhythm.

Synchronistically arms, shoulders, hips sway

following an easy rhythm

Feet caress the Earth. 

Heart light expands beaming all the way around

joining the Green light of Nature. 

Energy of recognition sparks 

connection with twin pine.

Flowing along the woodland path

like a cell in the blood stream of the forest,

Hands extended become antennae. 

Sensing the presence of the whole,

I slide into the living being of the forest

differentiation 

no differentiation.

The fungal network webbed below 

connects with my feet,

flowing within the soil,

flowing within my soul,

connecting energetic currents of this Being

filling with joy

delighting in this intimate dance

sunlight and shadow

warmth and coolness

soft and hardness

blend.

Love flows everywhere 

as I enter the Heart of Creation…….

Forest Bathing Walks on Cape Cod  (go to schedule for details)

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster. It is necessary to go to their website www.ccmnh.org or call 508 896-3867 in order to schedule a walk. They happen  May through October . The group size is limited to 6 people.

The Center for the Spiritual Journey in Chatham, www.csjcapecod.org or 508-945-1304, is another organization that is scheduling walks once a month all year long. Please check their website or call for information and to register ahead. The group size is limited to 6 people.

If you’d like to schedule your own group walk call Carol at 240-538-1672 or email her at drcarolmarcy@gmail.com. The cost is $10 per person with 4 to 9 people per group.

YouTube: These walks were created for an experience with Forest Bathing during COVID isolation. While these videos give you an idea about the practice of Forest Bathing, they are not as deep an experience as in person.

Wing Island Meditation Forest Bathing Walk https://youtu.be/51PVYLrYFlQ

Virtual Forest Bathing Meditation Walk at Eagle Point https://youtu.be/pn3aCLlggLg