This is lovely, John! I firmly believe in 'forest bathing'... I had a profound personal experience of forest bathing as medicine once years ago, and have never forgotten it. I also talk to trees (in my head 😂, can't help myself, they are beings to me). I planted some native trees in my garden years ago, and they have become a proper patch of woodland now. I love walking there, am always filled with wonder. There is a very wet patch of land in the middle of it, I was wondering if it would be possible to plant bulrush there. Hope all is well with you. 💕
Living the life there Ali :-). As for wet patch. We could not use our Tree Labyrinth during winter months due to being too boggy, but from 3 years after planting Alder and Willow trees they soaked up the water and we could walk the Tree Labyrinth all year round.
Another choice is going all out to create a pond there. Its a huge joy watching the wildlife make use of the pond. The best is when the 'armies' of frogs arrive from all directions for the mating time.
We built a pond, planted a few native trees, a few fruit trees, and a hedge row on our property when we moved to the Dingle Peninsula 4 years ago. We also stopped mowing the lawn. Since then, it has been an absolute wonder watching new plants arrive and thrive, along with myriads of bees, moths, butterflies, dragonflies and other insects. Plus the frogs and tadpoles in the pond!
I love this idea and am passing it along to Bart! He has built a mini-forest in his back yard, plus 2 vegetable garden areas, one a heugelkulture, and lots of native flowers. But when he returns, I'll bet he would lead folks into the greenbelts around here. He used to do that, training folks how to feel the energy spots in the woods. Wish I had felt stronger about getting up and down when you and I went out, but just didn't want to sit down and not be able to get back up with my bum knee.
Bart would have got an idea of what I was doing when he visited the Tree Labyrinth at Carrowcrory, so I am sure his wee woodland serves him well. I used to also arrange Bards In The Woods session in woods on Sunday afternoons, in addition to the labyrinths.
I’m not sure about training folks to feel the ‘energy spots’ in the woods as this is how that California Forest Bathing man goes about it. I feel any part of woodland is an ‘energy spot’ and even approaching it is too.
The point I was trying to interpret over the past edition of ‘communion’ and then followed up with this, is having the confidence to let our sensory synthesis flow and forget our logic, words, and compartmentalising everything. I find the idea of ‘Green Prescription’ quite funny, but it’s what many people feel is their comfort zone, though I think phone apps are replacing that now.
So my approach is to be with people to show them place, a bit like leading a horse to water, but let people work out how to let go and join in what is around them. With Bards in The Woods, we encouraged people to write poetry from feelings on the spot, and that motivated a lot of people to let go and be part of all that is around them. I picked that up when I was thrust onto a stage at 5 years old and ‘demanded’ I perform. One of the best experiences of my life that set my life.
I wish I have the energy and abilities I had at the Labyrinth Gardens and Bards In The Woods, but as I write this I realise I may be making this compilcating. Again, back to ‘leading a horse to water’. Just go to woods and water and not try to expect or organise anything. Anyone with any disabilities should be able to let go into that?
This is lovely, John! I firmly believe in 'forest bathing'... I had a profound personal experience of forest bathing as medicine once years ago, and have never forgotten it. I also talk to trees (in my head 😂, can't help myself, they are beings to me). I planted some native trees in my garden years ago, and they have become a proper patch of woodland now. I love walking there, am always filled with wonder. There is a very wet patch of land in the middle of it, I was wondering if it would be possible to plant bulrush there. Hope all is well with you. 💕
Living the life there Ali :-). As for wet patch. We could not use our Tree Labyrinth during winter months due to being too boggy, but from 3 years after planting Alder and Willow trees they soaked up the water and we could walk the Tree Labyrinth all year round.
Another choice is going all out to create a pond there. Its a huge joy watching the wildlife make use of the pond. The best is when the 'armies' of frogs arrive from all directions for the mating time.
We built a pond, planted a few native trees, a few fruit trees, and a hedge row on our property when we moved to the Dingle Peninsula 4 years ago. We also stopped mowing the lawn. Since then, it has been an absolute wonder watching new plants arrive and thrive, along with myriads of bees, moths, butterflies, dragonflies and other insects. Plus the frogs and tadpoles in the pond!
All reads wonderful, heavenly and sanctuary :-)
I love this idea and am passing it along to Bart! He has built a mini-forest in his back yard, plus 2 vegetable garden areas, one a heugelkulture, and lots of native flowers. But when he returns, I'll bet he would lead folks into the greenbelts around here. He used to do that, training folks how to feel the energy spots in the woods. Wish I had felt stronger about getting up and down when you and I went out, but just didn't want to sit down and not be able to get back up with my bum knee.
Bart would have got an idea of what I was doing when he visited the Tree Labyrinth at Carrowcrory, so I am sure his wee woodland serves him well. I used to also arrange Bards In The Woods session in woods on Sunday afternoons, in addition to the labyrinths.
I’m not sure about training folks to feel the ‘energy spots’ in the woods as this is how that California Forest Bathing man goes about it. I feel any part of woodland is an ‘energy spot’ and even approaching it is too.
The point I was trying to interpret over the past edition of ‘communion’ and then followed up with this, is having the confidence to let our sensory synthesis flow and forget our logic, words, and compartmentalising everything. I find the idea of ‘Green Prescription’ quite funny, but it’s what many people feel is their comfort zone, though I think phone apps are replacing that now.
So my approach is to be with people to show them place, a bit like leading a horse to water, but let people work out how to let go and join in what is around them. With Bards in The Woods, we encouraged people to write poetry from feelings on the spot, and that motivated a lot of people to let go and be part of all that is around them. I picked that up when I was thrust onto a stage at 5 years old and ‘demanded’ I perform. One of the best experiences of my life that set my life.
I wish I have the energy and abilities I had at the Labyrinth Gardens and Bards In The Woods, but as I write this I realise I may be making this compilcating. Again, back to ‘leading a horse to water’. Just go to woods and water and not try to expect or organise anything. Anyone with any disabilities should be able to let go into that?
LOVE The Hare's Corner concept! Sharing with a couple of similar non profits in my area. Thank you! 🙏 💚
Thank you, I think this is wonderful. Every success doing something with this.