Nature Roaming for Spring Renewal

more about this event

Spring is an amazing time to be in nature, to smell the fresh soil, the color popping, the buds opening, the birds active. It can be a time of awakening for many. Come explore nature and take time for yourself that you know you need!

We can think about the life phases as our summer, fall, winter and spring. We associate certain energies and feelings as well as stages of development with the seasons. In spring, seeds start to poke through the soil. What has died has fertilized and protected the seed through the winter and now it is flourishing. Spring is linked to the dawn of the day, where darkness turns to light and everything comes alive! Spring is related to transformation, of death and rebirth, and the trickster.

You may find that although it is literally spring, you are experiencing other seasons or life stages, and possibly multiple at once: childhood, rebirth, & freedom (summer); deep introspection, confronting darkness and struggles within, & adolescence (fall); maturity, embracing who we are, growing into what we have to offer the world, responsibility, & leadership (winter). These can shed light on your intention during this Nature Roaming™ experience.  

Nature Roaming™ has four parts: Intention, Roam, Connect, Grow

Setting an intention. [You will receive a handout with these tips and a place to write you intention before the event.]

Setting an intention is an important part of Nature Roaming™. You should take the time to identify an issue you would like to work through. This could be something that you have been meaning to take the time to work on. It could be something pressing, something longer term you haven’t had the time to focus on, something you’ve been putting off. It could also be something you’re excited about getting started on and you want to consider all the possibilities.

·       What do you know of your intention now? 

·       Shape the intention. 

·       Work toward a clear statement. 

·       Make it whole body -- "embodied statement" 

·       What is your declaration to the world? There is something about declaring "This is what I'm spending my time on here" or "This is the reason I'm here" that makes it real. 

·       Intention provides some guidance or direction. Bring in intention during your time in nature and then let it go.

Examples:

·       Identify what is going on with a pain in the body. 

·       I want to understand what I’m holding on to and/or why I am holding on and how to let it go. 

·       I want to understand more about [something you’ve been trying to accomplish but can’t seem to get there] and what is holding me back. 

·       I want to know why [the thing that is keeping me up at night] is important to me. 

·       I want to be present and see what nature gives to me. 

Roam: Mindful hiking & journaling [You will receive a handout you can use to jot down notes.]

You may want to think about the ‘season’ you are feeling right and how that relates to your intention. 

How can you experience your intention? 

·       Create ephemeral art

·       Write a poem

·       Touch and feel the earth and flora

·       Pay attention to details

·       Notice how your body feels

·       Use your senses: smell the air, feel the breeze, feel the ground under your feet, listen to the sounds of birds, insects, leaves, water

Stop to journal about what you have learned about your intention. This can happen any time you are ready.

            Connect: Sharing & group coaching

Gathering as a group, open up about your intention and what you noticed about it on your hike. What surprised you? What metaphors spoke to you? In this way, you are connecting the dots between your intention and your nature walk. You are also connecting with others through sharing and listening. 

We will then spend more time journaling and especially identifying next steps. 

            Grow: Journaling, reflection, action planning 

This is where you plan for future growth. What do you want to do with what you learned? How do you want to go about changing in light of this? What steps will you take to ensure that happens? 

Questions to ask self: What are insights you have for yourself right now? What do you want to remember? How is what you learned here relevant in other parts of your life? 

Itinerary: 

9:30-10:00—arrival, getting situated, welcome, introductions. Briefing on Nature Roaming™ (the four parts described above) and safety talk (physical & psychological safety). What is one’s comfort in nature? What support do you need? Do you feel comfortable walking the trail? (Psychological safety). Health issues, allergies? (Physical safety). Emergency contact information. Discuss individual’s comfort with nature. Ensure everyone has an intention/thought to consider. Gather items, change shoes, if needed, gather journals and pens.

10:00-11:20 –Nature Roaming™. 

10:00-10:10 Centering/grounding. One of the ways that nature helps us is it lets us use all of our senses. Before our walk, we will stop to use our senses to be in the moment and to transition from busyness and work mode to relaxed and present. 

10:10-10:40 Walk mindfully at a relatively slow pace. Stop when you feel called to stop. Touch a tree or plant (beware of poisonous ones). Draw a picture. Write a poem. Pick up a rock. Also during this time, stop to journal about what you are feeling and how it relates to your intention. Nature may throw you some curve balls or take you in a direction you didn’t expect, which could also lead to new ideas. 

10:40-11:00 Gather as a group and share with one another about their experience, their intention and what they learned. Ask questions of the group. 

11:00-11:20 Hike back to the parking lot while considering what you learned. When you get back, write down what you learned and what you want to do to grow from that. 

11:20-11:30. Closing. 

Items to bring

1.  Water

2.  Sturdy shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty

3.  Bug spray

4.  Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses (optional)

5.  Snack

6.  Journal

7.  Pen/pencil

Support

If anyone has questions about this event ahead of time, I am happy to have a phone call to discuss. This includes if anyone wants to work through or clarify their intention beforehand.