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What's outside of your picture window today?

Just Want to Talk | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (2376)

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@callalloo

I keep seeing Forest Baths listed as an event type to help get more people back to connecting with nature and its energy fields. I never seen that phrase, Forest Bath or Forest Bathing, before so thought it might be a post-lockdown phenomenon. And lockdown itself triggered a renewed appreciation of the natural world for a lot of people who had time to review life priorities. I hope the trend continues to grow.

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Replies to "I keep seeing Forest Baths listed as an event type to help get more people back..."

I hadn't heard of Forest Baths, but it sounds like moving in the right direction. The Willamette Valley of Oregon has a few places where there are hot springs and someone has built bathhouses where people can relax, enjoy the warmth.

I was shocked years ago to learn that some of the little kids who came out to "help" us collect data had never before walked on earth/dirt/soil! Until the watershed where I volunteer was devastated in 2007 by a huge flood, part of what we did was take families and teenagers out to "help" us collect data. We taught them lots of basics about rivers, fish, forests, birds, etc. After the flood, it was simply too dangerous to allow little kids and families to come into the river canyon, so I really miss that! I remember a 12-year-old who came out toward the end of the season one year, when there just weren't any fish spawning in the three miles we surveyed. Then, I helped him don waders for the trip across the main stem for the final mile walk uphill and back to our vehicles. While I was helping his mother get into waders, he stepped into the river...and flushed out a hen steelhead of about 12 pounds starting to work on building a redd, not 10' from where he stepped into the water. I'll never forget his eyes! Talk about "big as saucers!"

I did the forest bathing twice now. Each time I got something special out of it. For me it was all about being mindful with the program, while connecting with nature. Needless to say I felt energized and relaxed the whole day. It has beneficial effects for all kinds of things, from being addicted to electronics, to anxiety, to many others.