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Slow down and breathe in the medicine of nature. “This shinrin-yoku invitation is called: ‘Forest breathing’. Spend a few moments just feeling the air moving around you and within you as you breathe. Breathing in, be aware of what you are receiving from the trees. Breathing out, be aware of what you are returning. BreathingContinue reading “Forest Breathing – a Shinrin-Yoku invitation”

“This invitation is called: ‘The Joy of Little Things’. As you wander or sit-down somewhere in nature, notice the micro-world present on the ground. Take your time. Let your curiosity guide you. What are you noticing?” A shinrin-yoku (forest therapy/bathing) walk guided by a certified ANFT-guide consists of several ‘invitations’. These assist you in slowingContinue reading “The Joy of Little Things – a Shinrin-Yoku invitation”

“This invitation is called: ‘Traces of nature’. In a city, like in a forest, nature is everywhere, but it often takes more focus to actually notice it. Using all your senses, notice how nature is present in the streets of the city. I wonder if nature is noticing your presence, too?” During a shinrin-yoku (forestContinue reading “Traces of nature – a Shinrin-Yoku invitation”

Simply being present in the natural world – with all our senses fully alive – can have a remarkably healing effect. It can also awaken in us our latent but profound connection with all living things. This is ‘forest bathing’ (‘bosbaden’), a practice inspired by the Japanese tradition of ‘shinrin-yoku’. It is a gentle, meditativeContinue reading “Delving into dusk – Shinrin-Yoku invitation”

Komorebi – the dance between the light and the dark. In Japanese, there’s a special name for the contrast between the sunlight and shadow and the way the two dance through the trees: Komorebi. Komorebi is one of my favo words. Whenever I stroll through a forest or city-park, or sit by a pond orContinue reading “Komorebi”

Spring has just begun. Do you hear the growing number of bird songs, notice a difference in the light each day and smell the freshness of new beginnings?  To welcome a new season, may I share ten ‘Love Letters to the Earth’ from one of today’s most revered Zen Masters and an inspiration to many,Continue reading “Love Letters to the Earth”

“This invitation is called: ‘The Journey of Water’. The element of water can appear in various shapes and forms such as waves, fog, snow, clouds, raindrops, crystals, ice, or as your drinking or bathing water. The water may have at one time been frozen high on a snow-capped peak, or maybe it cascaded down a mountainContinue reading “Invitation: The Journey of Water”

A strong breeze on my face. Bright sunlight warming my back. Sizzling noise coming from the surf below, trying to grab my feet. Hoarse cries of seagulls flying in the sky above me. My eyes being hypnotised by the dancing waves. In front of me thousands of starfishes. Making me walk with the stars. SmiledContinue reading “Walking with the stars”

Listen to the wind. You can hear the world breathing if you just listen. These breezes whisper melodies of different lands, Transcribed through time. They are like wind chimes. Swirling energy carrying seeds of wisdom. You can hear them as they blow through leaves of ancient trees, These breezes, Breathing and exhaling, Telling the storiesContinue reading “Listen”

“In all things of nature there’s something of the marvelous” (Artistotle) It’s an early morning in late September. Sunlight is radiating through the morning fog on the Amstel river, painting the small waves in front of me with silver sparks. In the air I smell the unmistakable earthy, plant-like scent of sweet water. There’s hardlyContinue reading “Water & Shinrin-Yoku”