In 2017 the foundation of my entire world shattered. My home, business, my spiritual community, my marriage. Gone. Overnight. I felt broken. Lost the will to live, and experienced a total and absolute dark night of the soul.
Somehow, I needed to rediscover myself. Reconnect with my soul. Rise from the ashes.
So I started walking in nature daily and found great solace during those moments. Soon walks turned into bigger hikes.
Mother Nature called me at the deepest levels. I wanted to melt so deeply into the Earth, to become at one with nature, to let go of the suffering, to find peace in the pain and to heal my soul. Eventually, in an effort to find myself, I conjured up a plan to go and live in the wild abroad. At first, I thought I’d live in a tent, foraging and filtering water from streams. I bought all the kit and was ready to go when the universe decided to give me a bit of an olive branch.
Miraculously I was offered a tiny cabin in the mountains of La Palma Island for 250 Euros a month. Of course, I said ‘Yes please, I’ll take it’. It meant I didn’t live in the wild, but rather spent 4 months hiking, every single day in the mountains.
My only goal… to heal my soul and find myself.
Not only did I find myself, but all of the hiking and immersion into nature healed my soul beyond measure.
I rose out of the ashes, whole, complete, on fire with passion, respect and the deepest appreciation for the gift of life.
Let’s look at why hiking and being in nature can heal our soul, and help us at the deepest levels…
Me, hiking and loving it years later!
How hiking heals the soul?
Mother Nature has a frequency of pure love, respect, non-judgement and acceptance. She can hold us, nurture us and love us with unwavering unconditionality. We can take our deepest pain, our fears, and our vulnerabilities, and she’ll simply let us be.
In nature, we can be completely ourselves, with all our mess, our brokenness, with all our hearts and there is no judgement whatsoever.
Nature can regulate our internal rhythms, restore inner peace and rejuvenate us.
Whenever I feel the need to heal I turn to Mother Nature. Hiking. Walking. Consciously connecting with the Earth. And generally surrendering myself and melting into the land. If we are open to it, she gives us connection at a deep spiritual level, cutting straight through all of the mental chitter-chatter and mind stuff!
Mother Nature speaks directly to our soul and heals us. Or at the very least, offers us some serenity in the storm.
Nature IS the best therapist
“Walk as if you are
kissing the Earth with your feet.”
Thich Nhat Hahn
When people spend time in nature, whilst feeling safe, Mother Nature can be the best therapist. I’ve certainly found that to be true. Mother Nature naturally lowers our cortisol levels, reduces anxiety, and boosts immune function while promoting feel-good hormones and chemicals within our body.
Depression and anxiety are significantly reduced by walking in nature.
Multiple studies by researchers show that forest bathing (a fancy name for hiking in the woods) significantly reduce stress.
And it’s free! Well, it can be free… until you get super passionate about it and want to acquire the best hiking gear haha!
Mother Earth is an electromagnetic being – and so are we! We are made of the same stuff. Not surprisingly, when we connect with nature our energetic frequency begins to oscillate the same frequency as the Earth. We attune to her heartbeat, her breath and she holds us.
Me in 2019 on top of the world in La Palma 2400m up… having risen out of the ashes.
Hiking can clear our mind
Hiking and connecting with nature can help to clear our mind, giving us head space to allow tension and turmoil to unravel itself.
When walking, eventually the mind becomes stiller, naturally. This creates internal space so that we can think more clearly, which in turn means we are more like to make more helpful decisions in our lives.
The body keeps the score
If you explore the work of Gabor Mate (The Myth of Normal and When The Body Say No) or Bessel Van Der Volk (The Body Keeps the Score) then you’ll be aware that unprocessed and unhealed emotions become locked within our body. Eventually, these unhealed emotions wreak havoc with our mental, physical and spiritual health.
Dr Gabor Mate and Bessel Van Der Kolk have both shown through scientific study and decades of experience that the body speaks to us and lets us know when anything is out of kilter.
Getting out in nature and hiking can help to unblock stuck and stagnant energies, especially when you consciously bring awareness to them. Hiking creates space in our minds and balances our hormones, which is conducive to healing.
Hiking balances our hormones and feel-good chemicals
Hiking at a happy pace, in surroundings where we feel safe naturally reduces our stress levels. We experience an increase in serotonin from being outside. Serotonin is the chemical responsible for our sense of well-being. Walking, hiking and being outside will also increase our levels of endorphins. Endorphins are amazing for stress relief.
When our stress is reduced and our internal chemicals are balanced we naturally heal.
Full article here… How to create your own happy hormones.
A guided meditation for healing in nature when hiking
There’s a meditation I have done many times when releasing old energies that no longer fit me, especially when hiking.
When we hold on to trauma, old programming, or any unhelpful energies, they are stored in our bodies, in the cells of our being. Stuffed away. Compartmentalised. Sitting in there, subconsciously and unconsciously effecting our mood, mental health and eventually our physical health.
I hope something here strikes a chord.
Feel free to comment below.
Love & Plants
Anastasia x
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