At the end of a tough year, sharing a gentle forest song to bring in some calm. We hope your new year is filled with peace and love.

FOREST SONG

There are many gifts that trees and forests give us. Some of them are obvious, but some remain hidden. In our race for development and growth, a few of these gifts may have been forgotten or overlooked. But spending a few mindful moments with the trees brings them back to our attention. And attention leads to awareness.

FOREST SONG | Nature Video

* Please watch in full screen with headphones for best results.

The invisible gift of breath that connects us to the forest, teaches us a simple truth on the art of living. Amidst the ups and downs, twists and turns, the ever present breath reminds us that life is about giving and receiving. Learning to give, is learning to love. And learning to receive is finding peace.

This forest song has been shot in Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the most enchanting regions of the eastern Himalayas. It is a haven for birds and hosts an extraordinary variety, numbers and accessibility of species. *The bird featured in the film above is an emerald pigeon.

A free download of this forest song poster is given at the very end of this post. Feel free to share the film or the poster with those who might need a breath of peace. Read on for a simple forest meditation and the text only version of the forest song.

FOREST MEDITATION | Tree Practice

Here is a beautiful tree mediation by Lee Steppacher. It’s called the ‘Tree Practice’

“Tree” is a word, a concept. This a practice to really know a tree, with all of our senses, and our relationship to it.

Keep attention in the body, below thoughts.

Walk with the intention of finding a tree that you are drawn to. Let your body guide you. If someone else takes ‘your’ tree, find another – there are many.

Spend some time a ways away from the tree and take in the whole tree with your eyes.

Notice its silhouette, the aspects of the tree. Consider parts of the tree you cannot see, e.g. the roots.

Reflect on how this tree came to be here, what it has experienced. Consider how the tree interacts with the world around it – the wind, beings living in, on, under the tree, relations to water in soil etc.

Move closer to the tree and get to know tree more intimately, with all your senses: touch the bark, smell it, notice its temperatures, the sounds of leaves —- whatever feels right.

Keep attention in body, no need to think. Gently move from outside experience to inside experience.

Be light with exploration. How else might you connect?

Lean on tree, feel its support. Sit at its base, try tree to your back, or to your front.

Maintain openness, and listen.

Scientists have found that trees can communicate in a special way– don’t over think this (especially if you are a scientist). No need to ask how or why, but just consider what you might learn from the tree.

FOREST SONG | Words

Breathe

I am your breath
as you are mine

Our lives linked
forever in time

On your first breath
I was there for you

As I am with you
right here, right now

Breathe

In your sadness
you may forget me

In their madness
they may cut me

but till I remain
I send you my gift

Breathe

A simple truth
for a complex world

Learning to give,
is learning to love

And learning to receive
is finding peace

Breathe

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END NOTE

What lessons have the forest gifted you? Let us know in the comments below. For more gifts from nature, try our Nature Calm course.

Healing Forest is a project that aims to bring people and forests closer to each other through inspiring stories, films, and articles . Our aim is simple. Helping people heal. Helping forests heal.

REQUEST: In the season of giving, please share this post with those who might need a little peace and love. | *Download the forest song poster here.