Forest Wisdom
Ideas and ponderings related to forest therapy.
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There is no bad weather, only bad clothes
Norwegians have a saying, “Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær!” which translates to “There is no bad weather, only bad clothes!” In Scandinavia, where weather can be notoriously changeable and can get quite cold, the locals still enjoy making the most of the outdoors, regardless of the weather. There is a general sense that the weather, like most things in life, is as bad as you make it to be. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Finland, Norway and Denmark are ranked top in the list of the happiest countries in the world. So when the weather has you stuck indoors, consider how a change in mindset…
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A Word on Invitations
During a forest therapy walk, your guide will periodically invite you to consider or try something. Sometimes it may be a quest to find a leaf or tree that resonates with you, other times it may be to become aware of movement as you walk – the options are endless! These invitations do not actually come from the guide but from the forest. I don’t mean this in a necessarily esoteric way, just that the guide will intuit the invitation that a specific location seems to call for with those particular participants. Thus every walk is unique. Invitations are designed to help open participants to the forest therapy experience through…
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Identifying Poison Ivy, Poison oak, and Poison Sumac
While catching up on my landscaping today I had a surprise encounter with some poison ivy. I think I will be ok since I treated the contact area quickly but time will tell! During forest therapy walks I make a habit of pointing these plants out when I see them, but some locations are better than others for finding them. To help, I wanted to share a website I stumbled across recently with a great write-up on how to identify these plants: https://gardenerdy.com/how-to-identify-poison-oak-poison-ivy-poison-sumac-plants
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What to Bring to a Forest Therapy Walk
You don’t need too much to have a great walk, but a few essentials packed in a knapsack or small backpack can make all the difference. COVID ADDENDUM Please bring a face-covering/mask and respect social distancing guidelines. Dress appropriately for the weather. You will be spending some time walking slowly and some time sitting. Usually you would be in shade, but sometimes we may make use of a field or other open space. Wearing layers is a good way to be flexible for times when, for example, you may get chilly when sitting and warm when walking. You may get dirty so dress like you would for a hike –…
