Module 1: The Disconnect
Earthing Practice
*This is an option activity, but I encourage you to engage with it in some way!
Kathryn R. Barush, has widely studied Pilgrimages. She shares that a pilgrimage, in many cultures and religions, is a meditative practice devoted to slowing down, re-centering, and connecting to the natural world. This ecological practice is recognized as a time of travel, but backyard pilgrimages are a more accessible and eco-friendly (reducing the carbon footprint) while still creating an embodied experience.
The practical assignment this week is to set aside time to go for an embodied Nature Pilgrimage. This can align with forest bathing practices as well. Go for a walk for at least an hour if possible, go without an agenda and focus on immersing yourself in nature.
-Pause and engage with a plant, as much as possible, stop and take in what the plant looks like, gently touch the leaves on the plant (make sure you are not handling a plant that has a protective poison mechanism like poison ivy), smell the plant/flowers (this often is connected to our taste sensation as you can almost taste the things you smell), and take time to sit with the plant. You can sit in silence, you can read to the plant, you can talk to it, you can write a poem about it, journal about it, or draw a picture of it.
You may be curious to look up what the name of the plant is and information about the plant (which is amazing!!), but make sure you don't spend much time on a screen.
You may feel prompted to journal, write a poem, or to create. Use time during or after to reflect on how your body and mind felt during this practice and after.