Nature-based practices

RELATIONAL ORIENTATION

You will be offered and guided in practices at each stage of the session.

Beginning with a practice of arrival, and a relational orientation to this place. You will make a small offering (as we might when visiting someone’s house), introduce ourselves and our intention for the session. I will support you with practices for orientation (to place, the seasons, the relationship).

We will make a conscious step into the landscape and therapeutic container.

SENSITISE YOUR LISTENING

We move towards practices which tune the senses. This could include mindfulness or simple creative activities. Practices support us to slow-down, quieten and settle the nervous system. This helps us listen.

We sensitise to the both natural environment and our inner world. Gentle awareness is brought to the body so you can feel the messages and gifts of being in connection with the landscape.

You may choose to hang out in tuning-in for a whole session. It is a skill many of us yearn to reconnect with.

YOUR BEAUTIFUL QUESTION

You will be invited to bring a ‘beautiful question,’ and offered prompts prior to the session to generate this.

Listening deeply (outwards and inwards) we will bring this question to your surroundings.

You will be offered practices to consult with the landscape; ask the breeze; consider the ecosystem of your life. This may be the quiet contemplation of a ‘sit-spot’ or more active practices of making.

All the while we notice the generosity being offered all around you.

OFFERING MEANINGFUL THANKS

You will be invited to consider ways to offer gratitude for the physical benefits and wisdom you have received.

This might include offering a song, or words of appreciation; pulling some weeds; picking-up rubbish, making a commitment to advocacy or contributing to citizen science. Offerings will reflect both what is needed, and your particular way of loving.

There is an option for sessions to move more and more in this direction over-time. There is so much to be thankful for, and many therapeutic benefits to being in a genuinely loving and reciprocal relationship.

INTEGRATION AND RETURN

We end the session with integration through bringing words to what has been experienced.

You may set intentions and identify what you are leaving behind.

You get ready to return to your daily life, holding the gifts of nature’s wisdom. Perhaps you feel yourself a little further embedded, and woven into this world.

Some people may choose to remain on-site after the session for further journaling or take a walk.

WEAVING OURSELVES IN

Whether we’re creating a basket or a assemblage, we weave threads of ourselves and the wider world together. Weaving supports our nervous system to settle and time to slow.

Weaving brings us into contact with natural materials, the seasons and the therapeutic elements of rhythm and connection.

Weaving has a therapeutic benefit of reflecting our patterns back to us gently- do we tend to hold a little too tight or do we find it hard to brings things together. The practice supports us to make small adjustments, and create a new pattern.

EMOTION REGULATION

Using natural materials we create a piece to support your emotion world. Helping you to connect with your most expansive self and your place within the world.

It may be a nest to hold your heart safely; a power-object to call on courage; an altar to respect your ancestors; symbolic protection for dreams.

Materials may be collected during the session or brought along with you. Sessions can also be completed online, using materials collected at home.

SOUL CARDS

Using collage we create cards like we might find in a oracle deck. Each card reflecting the wisdom of a natural element - an animal, water, ancestors, wind, volcanic fire.

Collage allows us to tap into archetypal and collective wisdom. Like a dream, associations and clarity emerge and often catch us by surprise. Collage also encourages discernment ‘yes this image, no, not that one,’ which can be a vital skill in following your calling in daily life.

We draw on the practice developed by Seena B. Frost.