Last week was a good week. With three Forest Bathing groups, I was doing what I love, spending time in nature, and meeting some pretty cool people in the process.
Each time I take a group out, I have a different experience myself. I notice different things, I feel it emotionally in a different way, it even feels different physically, and this week was no exception. There was a bit of a theme for me this week however, and that was tiny things.
As I noticed these tiny things all along the path, it struck me how we are all an integral part of the bigger whole. The ants crawling along a downed log, the buds ready to open, little mushrooms everywhere, they all have their part in the web of life. Later, after reflecting back on the week, the tiny things reminded me of the constantly changing nature of all things. So today, I bring you “the Magic of Tiny Things.”
An ant by itself can’t really make a big difference, but put them together and they are capable of (literally) moving mountains! We know ants can cause a lot of damage to a building’s structure, and that same power helps return fallen trees to the Earth. Carpenter ants particularly are useful for this and they make their nests and tunnels in the soft wood. This work helps contribute to the natural decay of stumps logs and dead limbs, and the decayed wood provides nutrition for new growth. Impermanence, community and renewal all at work.
Fungi, such as mushroom, are a major player in the forest eco-system. Growing on the sides of fallen trees, these little beauties help break down the trees, again returning them to the soil. Not only that, but an underground web of mycelium, from which mushrooms grow, help trees share resources and communicate with each other. In return, the trees share nutrients with them. Impermanence, community and renewal all at work.
It’s spring here in the mountains and the evidence is all around us in the appearance of tiny growing things. After life begins to slow down in the fall, all that work that ants and fungi and other beings put in begins to pay dividends as Spring ushers in new life. The arrival of warm temperatures and longer days signal the flora that it’s time to open their buds. New growth means new habitat for birds, lizards, bees and other woodland creatures. On one of the outings, we noticed a teeny tiny white fir seedling with the seed still attached. I was there again two days following and noticed marked differences. Impermanence, community and renewal all at work.
This idea of being a part of the larger whole is something that most people notice during a Forest Bathing Experience, and it’s impact can be profound. Not quite sure what I mean? Gather your friends and join me for Forest Bathing, then you’ll get it. For more information on Forest Bathing and how you can book an experience, visit my Forest Bathing Experience page.
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