Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Forest Bathing



Tip-toe-ing, I enter nature's house of prayer: leaf rustle, leaf crunch, soft sighing breezes, bird-chirp, chipmunk chatter, thick friendly trunks covered with moss and old man's beard. Staunch, enduring, arms pointing to heaven, the forest is teaching us how to pray. My footsteps slow. My ears attune to Deep Listening. My heartbeat slows to join that of the Earth Mother. I breathe in Peace. I breathe out thankness. My prayer: that a world this beautiful will continue to exist.

Forest green and gold, 
I take your deep peace with me
out into the world.


for Kanzen Sakura's prompt at dVerse: to write a haibun about Forest Bathing, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in the forest to increase inner peacefulness. Something I do often.

11 comments:

  1. Beautiful! My favorite stance for prayer is the arms lifted up, taking in and giving back.Like a tree, with the trees in "nature's house of prayer."

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  2. I like the idea of the forest teaching us how to pray.

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  3. In my mind I view nature as a sort of Cathedral, one that we could never hope to create. God's glory unveiled. This is beautiful.

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  4. In my mind I view nature as a sort of Cathedral, one that we could never hope to create. God's glory unveiled. This is beautiful.

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  5. Luv the awareness and listening deeply

    Much love...

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  6. Nature's house of prayer.. well put. I like the term "deep listening", which is required to achieve maximum spiritual blessing. Thank you.

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  7. Trinity, my favorite escape/reunion. My son's first camping experience.
    This took me back...

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  8. You're so right in taking the peace of the woods and hopefully share it with our loved ones.

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  9. yes...let it continue...peaceful!

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  10. A beautiful prayer Sherry ~ May it be for a long time ~

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  11. Love this prayer... the only religion I would subscribe to, to gather peace and slow my breath... lovely.

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