‘Reunion (noun) – the action of being brought together again as a unified whole’.
For all of us here, living at Londolozi, communion with nature has brought us into a deep reunion. More than ever we see ourselves as a unified whole, not only with each other but with the greater idea that we are all an interconnected ecosystem sharing one planet. Many of you will say that it’s easier when you are surrounded by nature everywhere and your morning commute to work includes a Torchwood Tree, an elephant traffic jam and a rather stunning African sunrise. I would agree that it may be easier for us out here in the wilderness of Africa BUT in truth we have come to now know that you can have a nature reunion anywhere, both internally and externally. The beautiful action of communion with nature is a choice and here are a few ideas of how to start…
Today I speak of Grounding, re-Earthing or Earthing Science…
“the soul of the land can best be felt through the soles of your feet”
In simple terms, Grounding means to bring your focus to what is happening to you physically, either in your body or in your surroundings, instead of being trapped by the thoughts in your mind that are causing you to feel anxious.
Londolozi sound master and alternative healer, BeJay Watson, explains: “Trees are the greatest teachers when it comes to grounding. They keep you ‘Earthed’ and connected to nature by allowing you to become deeply rooted. Trees have strong deep roots just as we need to have a solid footing. At the same time trees have huge branches that reach for the sky looking for the light. We too need the ability to lift and feel a sense of lightness and ease.”
Trees are a timeless symbol of our connection to everything around us, and a powerful reminder that our own happiness and health are inextricably intertwined with the happiness and health of all living things.
Re-Earthing or grounding is a wonderful nature reunion tool that we do at Londolozi in an ancient forest or along a sand covered river bed but you can do this anywhere. Take a moment to bring your focus to what is happening to you physically, slow down and take in your surroundings. Now track towards nature, this can be the smallest patch of grass or snow, it can even just be sky out of a window or a forest a park somewhere just re connect you to the Earth in some way.
Tips for re-Earthing anywhere:
- Walking barefoot: Have you ever been outside on a warm summer’s day and felt the urge to run barefoot in the grass? One of the easiest ways to ground yourself to the Earth is to walk barefoot.
- Be like a tree: Stay grounded, keep growing and know when to let go.
- Cold plunging: Clear lake swimming, a dip in the ocean or even snow angels, are all beautiful ways to ground yourself.
- Lying on the Earth: Skin to earth contact is a powerful way to feel connected and supported
Lie down with your belly to the ground,
like an old lion in the sun. Smell
the greenness of the savannah, feel the damp
earth through your clothes, let an ant
wander the uncharted territory
of your skin. Lie down
with your belly to the ground. Melt into
the Earth’s contours like a harmless snake.
All else is mere bravado.
Let your mind resolve itself
in a tangle of grass.
Lie down with your belly
to the ground, flat out, on ground level.
Prostrate yourself before the soil
you will someday enter.
Stop doing.
Stop judging, fearing, trying.
This is not dying, but the way to live
in a world of change and gravity.
Let go. Let your burdens drop.
Let your grief-charge bleed off
into the ground.
Lie down with your belly to the ground
and then rise up
with the earth still in you ~ Nancy Paddock
Bronwyn, I loved all the pictures🤗
Absolutely true and beautiful! What a wonderful healing video.
Yes – being connected to and with nature is a wonderful feeling and so important, especially in today’s crazy world.
Your words, accompanied by the artful photos and beautiful video, would make any reader venture outside to seek their own nature reunion, and possibly book a stay at Londolozi to experience the substance of your video. Thank you for this second part of Nature Reunion.
Lovely thoughts, lovely blog! My thanks.
Londolozi…..where my heart rests.
I wish the whole world would live a environmentally friendly co-existence of man and nature, the world would be a better place to live in then. Having many trees for lots of oxygen and having clean air to breathe in. Having clean unpolluted running water, won’t that be fantastic .Walking barefoot is so nice especially on the grass.
Beautiful…no more words required 🙏🏻💕
This is just what I needed today. Instead of fretting over my to-do list, I looked out the window where I sit, the green palo verde tree against the rich, blue sky and thought: If all I get done today is the “planned,” simple dinner picnic in the desert with my husband…that is enough. (Passing the poem on to my FB friends.)
Another lovely and deeply important post to ground myself in nature on a regular basis, even if it is occasionally through the pane of a window!