Give yourself the mental escape you need
On March 8th it will be one year since I went into isolation with my partner. I’m in a high risk group so we have been throughly isolated, for a year!
And honestly for the longest while I didn’t mind. I am an extroverted introvert so in a way being at home has been blissfull and I feel very blessed to have been able to spend this year in privalleged saftey.
But yesterday I got to thinking
It’s been…
A year since I hugged anyone apart from my partner
A year since we had guests at home
A year without the social interactions of everyday life.
A year of social events in 2d
A year of living virtually.
And I have to admit that this whole 2d virtual world is starting to get to me- Do you know what I mean?
Before Covid people used to say they felt bombarded by social media. But now living online everyday I don’t know about you, but for me I feel like I am under a constant information overload. It is so hard to find a mental escape.
Is it getting to you too?
This week I decided to do something about it. I put my foot down and I escaped! I went to the forest, the one place where I truly and utterly can feel peace.
I went forest bathing and wow it helped.
If you haven’t tried forest bathing I highly reccomend it. There is something truly powerful about taking a concious mindfull walk in the woods that revitalises me in a magical way.
One of the things I have really missed during living in the virtual world is hugging. I mean when hugging a loved one is off the cards, what can we do to feel comfort? Well this week I filled in my hug quota by hugging some trees.
Hugging trees might seem like a bit of a cliche. But on a bio-chemical level hugging a tree increases levels of hormone oxytocin. This hormone is responsible for feeling calm and emotional bonding. When hugging a tree, the hormones serotonin and dopamine make you feel happier.
And I don’t know about you, but for me right now anything that makes me smile, feel calm and happier is welcome.
And while I was there I felt wonderful!
24 hours later, back in the virtual world. Not so much.
I realised I needed some way to create a mental escape I could access at home when I needed it.
(And it had to be quick and easy to do)
I needed that sensory woodland experience at home.
The smells.
The natural light.
The fresh air.
The peace.
To get inspired I went on a pintrest binge and discovered the art of making a forest in a jar!
The perfect way to bring the forest home
And got to work making myself a place forestesque of peace in my home.
Now in my office on a windowsill I have made myself a sensory forest experience.
With a forest in a jar.
Fresh branches instead of flowers.
The cool air though the open window
And a little background nature music
It is amazing!
In an instant I can close my eyes, and my senses once again begin to feel rejuvinated by the subtle indoor forest experience.
Of course the hugging tree part is a little more challenging indoors! So I have subsituted my tree hugging for a 5 min tree of life meditation.
Is it the same as Forest Bathing- No
Does it give a sense of calm and mental escape- Yes!
It may seem a little silly but I don’t care. At this moment in time we all need to think outside the box to give us the peace, energy and calm we need. A small moment of sacred connection time for me in this crazy virtual world is a win!
If you like me have been needing that mental escape, I challenge you to make yourself a special forest sensory space within your home where you can take those mental escapes when you need them. And I would love to hear from you if you try it! Let me know in the comments or send me an Insta message and let me know how it feels.
Take care of yourself and take moments for yourself whenever you can.
Your future self will thank you for it.
P.s if you want to try the Tree of Life Meditation you can get an mp3 download for £3 from the Re:Root Your Life Shop.
Our Celtic and Nordic ancestors were deeply connected with nature. Shamanically, spiritually & personally. Discover how you can create your own spiritual path connected with nature with the Wheel of the Year.
