I have been nature journaling for several years now. After being diagnosed with MBC, nature and the outdoors became a place of sanctuary. Nature has provided many healing places for me, whether it was watching the sunrise at 11,000 feet above sea level or at the beach, a waterfall, a reflective pond, a quiet meadow, the red glow of the sunset reflecting off the granite of a large mountain, it all was met with my spirits acknowledgement of peace and calm.
Nature provides sanctuaries in our quest for health and healing. Nature is known for its calming affect.
Nature has provided me an education in mindfulness and how to be present with myself and my surroundings.
Nature journaling allows one to slow down and stop to take notice. To really look at and study and wonder, process and then articulate in a creative way, what we are looking at. It produces gratitude, peace, and admiration for the world around us. It helps us to get outside of our own heads for a moment, and to just be.....
One does not need to be an artist or a professional "DRAWER" to take part in the therapeutic modality of nature journaling. One just needs a piece of paper, a couple of drawing materials, and something from nature. One does not need to go far away to see nature. You can pick up something from your daily walks, or the backyard. You can take your nature journaling to the park, or the botanical garden. You can even just choose to focus on what you have in your house, like a plant. Then, follow these steps:
Slow Down.
Open all of your senses
Record the details of what you are drawing.
Reflect on how the object or drawing makes you feel. What questions does it bring up?
I have included some of my pages from one of my nature journals. I am not an artist, nor can I draw, however the process of journaling my nature observations slows me down to take notice. It has created a curiosity in me to want to learn more about my surroundings. It has brought me fresh appreciation for my world and being a part of it.
Finding things (hobbies, rituals, routines) that make us feel calm, mindful and present are all important parts of survivorship.
So next time you see an interesting bug, leaf, flower, stick....pick it up. and draw it. (but maybe take a picture of the bug instead of taking it home).
And if you would like to learn more about nature journaling, let me know in the comments below. We just might put together a series in the FALL, when nature is in abundance with changing colors.
Here with you,
