Seven Keys to re:connecting with Nature

1.Prepare for all weather

Exercising in nature can improve your mental health in as little as just 5 minutes.Investing in rain wear is a worthwhile purchase when living in Ireland. It allow us to embrace the elements with ease and comfort. 

2.Take a stroll through your garden or street with awakened and alert sense of curiosity

Visit your local park for a stroll, find a ‘sit spot’ and take a few moments to become aware of all your senses.Perhaps connect with a tree you feel drawn to, rest your back against the tree's trunk to ground & strengthen your body, become aware of your breath and become present in nature.Enjoy observing surrounding smells, sight, taste, touch and sounds. Notice the bird sounds, plants, hedgerows and trees rustling and crackling in the breeze. Feel the touch of the air upon your skin and sense into it, what does it feel like? is it damp? Dry, cool? Warm? Moist?  And so on.

3.Visit the Sea, rivers, lakes and streams

The human body is made up to 75% water, so it makes sense to spend time connecting with this element. I feel there’s something rather uplifting when we taste and smell the sea breeze. The sound of the waves crashing on the shore can really soothe the soul.

4.Create and Plant an edible garden at home or join your local community garden or start up your own.

Planting a seed and watching it grow is a deeply satisfying practice. Gardening is one of my favourite past times, whenever I’m feeling  ungrounded or under the weather just a short period in the garden helps me to re-root and anchor my energy. The joy of simply getting your hands stuck into the soil.Perhaps consider applying the ‘Permaculture ethics and principles here ’Permaculture Ethics; Earth care…People Care…Fair Share.Start small and plant things you really love to eat, make tea from, look at & smell.

5.Learn about ‘Foraging wild foods

This is one of my personal favourites. The joy and excitement in gathering food and medicines from the wild is something I highly recommend you try.Ireland is an incredibly rich land. For example the humble yet full of sting ‘Nettles’, a good place to start when foraging. Using a scissors you can snip the top ‘new growth’ of the nettle and place into a winter soup.A great way to nurture your liver and keep the body strong during the winters months when there’s less greens about and a lot less to forage.Few Foraging Start up Tips: Carry a foraging handbook or take samples and check them out before you start eating anything. Best to be sure.

6. Star Gazing under ‘’Billion star accommodation!’’

Yet Truly Priceless

Astronomers say there are 300 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy alone. Close your eyes and imagine what travelling through space must look like.It should be on everyone’s bucket list to, just once, stargaze in an open field, on a clear night, away from the city lights, like our ancestors used to do.

7. Switch off when you go out to Tune in

Gift yourself time away from your mobile phone & portable devices.It is important to allow yourself time to be alone and this includes disconnecting from our cell phones which are becoming more and more of a distraction in the modern lifestyle.Angie Kinsella alongside Emily and Natasha Duffy are running ongoing retreats called ‘Digital Detox’. A Digital Detox is a designated period of time where people stop using their digital devices, like smartphones, laptops and tablets. The benefits of digitally detoxing have been widely researched, and include reducing stress and anxiety, strengthening relationships with family and friends and increased creativity. For more info see www.digitaldetox.info