What does reconnecting with nature mean to you? You may know that it is important, or are wondering what it even means, and why it is important. Or maybe you already know why, and want some ideas on how to re-establish your connection with nature. Whatever it is, you have come to the right place! 🍃

Although we, kind of, all ‘know’ that we have lost our connection with nature in our modern lives, we often don’t know how to reconnect. The reason is that connection with nature is a FEELING, rather than a KNOWING.

You need to feel it. Experience it. That is the only way to really understand what it means.

Once you do, you will notice how this connection with nature is the only thing that really can make you feel complete ✨ Nature will always take care of you, in truly surprising ways (when all else fails).

Do you want to be happy? Do you want to feel whole? Do you want to feel like you belong? Then you want to read this.. 👇

Why You Want To Reconnect With Nature

Why Reconnecting With Nature Is Important

We are getting to the point where most of us feel that something is off in our modern society, and in the way we live our lives.

More and more people are getting burnouts, or feel stressed, anxious or rushed on a day-to-day basis. We feel like there are so many things we have to do, with only limited hours in the day.

But why? Do we really HAVE to do all those things? And is it normal to constantly feel stressed out or anxious? Is that just a part of life that we need to accept?

Really? Says who?

Maybe we have just gotten used to telling ourselves that this is normal.

What is ‘normal’ anyway? Who decides that? The people around you?

What do they know that you don’t?

Most people are programed to believe that what society expects from us, is what they need to do in order to be happy. But is that really the case?

The answer is NO.

This ´socially accepted´ way of living, is called living in the Culturescape; a constructed view of what are lives should be. This will ultimately NOT make you happy. No matter how hard you try.

How To Be Happy

So then what IS the way to be happy?

The answer lies in re-establishing your connection with nature.

You do NOT need to buy more stuff, you do NOT to earn more money, you do NOT need to own a bigger house.

Happiness comes from our feeling of connectedness with all that lives.

[Read that again.. ☝️🧐]

So, if happiness comes from our feeling of connectedness, you can be happy at any moment, in any place, at any time?

Indeed.

All that you need, you already have. It is inside yourself. (even though you might not be feeling it.. YET!)

What It Means To Reconnect With Nature

What It Means To Reconnect With Nature

Ok, so now we know WHY we need and want to reconnect with nature.

But what does that actually mean? And how can you actually get to feel that?

It all has to do with your natural state of being..

There is a reason we are called human beings. Our natural state is a state of ‘being’, rather than a state of thinking.

Think about this.. 👇

If you would live in the wild, would you need to stay present in the current moment in order to keep yourself safe?

Yes!

You would need to stay aware of your surroundings at all times. Being lost in thought for too long, could have very serious consequences..

Just like humans, wild animals have emotions. They are able to suffer and grief their loved ones. However, they do not have the ‘luxury’ to dwell on these emotions continuously, as they need to stay in a state of awareness (while preserving their energy) in order to survive.

Doesn’t that sound like a blessing? To get some unavoidable reprieve from our continuous suffering by simply getting into the current moment (or in the flow, if you will)?

We can refer to this state of mind of awareness as the animal mind. The state of mind where we get lost in our thoughts, we can refer to as the rational mind.

Reconnecting with nature starts with reconnecting with our animal mind..

[Read that again..☝️]

➡️ This is the MOST IMPORTANT thing to understand if you are serious about reconnecting with nature 🤓 The great thing is, spending time in nature, will naturally help you to connect to this part of yourself 🙌

You can find more about the animal mind vs the rational mind, in my post How Do You Communicate With Wild Animals?. For more details on the why, you can check out my post Why Reconnecting With Nature Is Important.

What Happens When We Reconnect With Nature?

So, maybe this was not the answer you were expecting? Did you think a few walks in the park were the answer..? (of course that is part of it ✌️ but it is not the essence 🙂)

In order for us to reconnect with nature, we need to learn to become present in the current moment, and reconnect with our natural state of being (our animal mind).

When we learn to do this, ONLY THEN can we begin to fully connect with ourselves and with the world around us..

Of course, spending time in nature, is one of the best ways to get there! 🌿

By the way, if this sounds woo-woo to you, that is because you are not FEELING it yet. Once you feel it, you will agree! 🙂

Eventually, reconnecting with your natural state of being, will lead you to feel deeply connected to yourself and to the world around you.

It will change how you see the world.

It will change your sense of belonging.

It will change your sense of security.

Although our rational minds cannot understand this, subconsciously we already know this connection is there. –->It is that niggling feeling that something is missing..

We just need to get this ‘inner knowing’ back into our conscious minds again, so we can make real change and truly feel fulfilled and happy in our lives 😌

Why It Starts With You

Have you ever heard the saying: You can only help others when you first help yourself? Well, that’s the thing.

We can tell ourselves, and others, what they need to do to live better lives (i.e. be more eco-friendly, care for animals, use less water, electricity, etc etc), but it won’t work.

It won’t work.

As long as we don’t FEEL our connection to nature, it is nothing more than a rational knowing that we need to improve.

But real change and motivation for change comes from a change in mindset.

And a change in mindset comes from a deep desire for change.

[Read that again.. ☝️🧐]

So instead of continuously talking about what needs to be improved, we need to start feeling more.

And this begins with YOU.

Only when you will start to FEEL it, you can truly live a happy life, feel a sense of calm, and understand what it actually means to feel connected with nature.

And only then, you will (naturally) begin to live this energy and inspire others to change.. 🍃

How Our Ancestors Lived: A Deep Understanding How Nature Takes Care Of Us

We love to think of ourselves as highly evolved, rational and civilized beings and feel as if we have evolved light years from our cavemen ancestors.

But have we really?

In one way, I beg to differ…

Obviously, our modern way of living brings amazing comfort, opportunities, interesting ventures and inventions. Don’t get me wrong, I love these comforts too, and am absolutely amazed by the creative power that us humans have! 🙌

However, I also think that, in all our exitement, and industriousness, we are missing two important things..

Maybe THE MOST important things:

1. How to be in our natural state of being (and therefore happy)
2. How we have created a planet where all other species are better of without us on it

If it is true that we have created the best world possible for ourselves, then why are so many people feeling unhappy, lonely and on the brink of a burnout?

–> Something has gone very wrong here ⛔

Don’t get me wrong.

I am NOT saying we should all go back to living in caves..

I mean, it is amazing that we are able to get to Mars, or any other planet for that matter, but what are we thinking to find there? Ourselves? Real happiness? Or a cleaner environment so we can start fresh, and do the same thing all over again?

Is it just me that is thinking this..? (I really hope not! 😕)

Being Self-sufficiant And Giving Back

To be fair, living in the wild, is the other extreme: it is hard! Definitely not an easy life full of comfort and freedom to choose how we spend our days. No wonder we chose to evolve away from that!

BUT. By living with the harsh elements and daily struggles of actually living in the wild, our ancestors had access to a vital piece of knowledge that we have forgotten about:

–> The knowing that nature takes care of us in mysterious ways

–> The knowing that nature is all about give and take (everything is an exchange of energy)

–> The knowing that we need each other to survive (both our fellow humans as well as animals and plants)

We might think of ourselves as such evolved beings, that are basically in control of everything, but don’t you think the ecosystem is far more intelligent than we can EVER understand..?

If we keep taking, and not giving, how can we ever feel whole..? 💔

The Benefits Of Being Close To Nature

Because nature brings us closer to who we are, and closer to where we really belong, it is no wonder that being in nature has wondrous benefits for our health, both mentally, physically, and spiritually! 🍃

Connecting With Nature And Mental Health

These are the benefits of connecting with nature for our mental health:

• Stress relief – Needless to say how much stress affects our wellbeing and our mental health. Spending time in nature is the best way to slow down (adapt to the pace in nature) and release some stress from your system.
• Emptying our mind – Nature just has a way of pulling us into the moment and out of our minds..
• Feeling of belonging – Subconsciously we all feel that we belong in nature (instead of in a high rise concrete building). By slowing down and observing nature, we will start to feel how much we all belong there.
• Connecting with yourself – In nature, nothing else seems to exist but that moment right there. This is where your inner voice speaks loudest. Listen to what it has to say!
• Healing from trauma – Nature has mysterious ways to make us feel whole and to help us heal
• Boosting creativity – When the mind stops the chatter, your inner voice has the space to speak
• Opening up to new ideas – no wonder these often come to mind during a walk..
• Living in the moment – Just breeeeaaaathe….

Connecting With Nature And Physical Health

These are the benefits of connecting with nature for our physical health:

• Grounding – Getting into our heads too much makes us feel ungrounded. If you like to know more, also read Grounding Yourself: What It Means, Why It Is Important And 15 Ways To Do It.
• Exercise – Lucky for us, we can exercise anywhere at anytime. Just make nature your gym 🍃
• Breathing fresh air – Nothing better than breathing some fresh air while walking or exercising (unless you prefer to smell the sweat of 50 other people of course 😛)
• Calming the nervous system
• Sunlight – Some free Vitamin D. Why not?
• Sharing memorable moments – Just swith off your devices (or don’t bring them at all) and spend some time together with your loved ones. No better place than out in nature!
• Strengthening your immune system due to mixed temperatures – We grow stronger by exposing ourselves to different temperatures. It may be uncomfortable at first, but really you will feel better and stronger because of it ⛺
• Strengthening your body when walking or running barefoot – Our natural way of walking is barefoot. A great benefit of doing that is the fact that it strengthens our body in ways that walking in shoes cannot do..
• Reducing the chance of illnesses – By releasing stress and exercising, we reduce the chance of illnesses in the body. In such a lovely way! 🤩
• Understanding our food – If you pick more natural foods, you will nourish your body more. This also means vegetables that were grown naturally. And eggs and meats from animals that had a happy, healthy life, and were fed healthy, wholesome foods. A tomato that grew from healthy soil, and a tomato that grew on hydroponics, may look the same, but they DO NOT do the same for your body! 🌱

Note that there is some overlap between the benefits for mental and physical health as they are both very strongly intertwined!

Best Books About Reconnecting With Nature

1. Becoming Nature

Becoming Nature: Learning The Language Of Wild Animals And Plants by Tamarack Song is THE best book about reconnecting with nature!

If you only read one book, read this one. It will make you become aware of how we are naturally a part of nature, how our state of beings affects us, and how we can communicate with the world around us.

The book also contains a lot of practical tips on how to apply it all in your life. It is really such an eye opening book to read. You will not be dissappointed! (Spread the word- or actually the book! 🙏)

2. What The Robin Knows

In What The Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal The Secret Of The Natural World, Jon Young takes us along into the amazing web of communication that is happening all around us.

Not only does this explain how birds communicate, but also how the whole forest depends on this.

Birds (and especially the Robin) can tell and show us so much more than most of us are aware of. Read it and allow your understanding of nature to change dramatically..

3. Healing with Nature

In Healing with Nature: Mindfulness and Somatic Practices to Heal from Trauma, Rochelle Calvert underlines a lot of the points that I have briefly mentioned regarding the effect of nature on our health.

If you are ready to dive into healing your trauma and doing shadow work, then this book will help you to understand on an even deeper level how nature can help you do that.

If you are interesting in healing trauma, you might also like to check out my posts on Energy Healing and Chakras.

4. A Field Guide to Nature Meditation

In the book A Field Guide to Nature Meditation: 52 Mindfulness Practices for Joy, Wisdom and Wonder, Mark Coleman takes you along on a journey of connecting with your natural state of mind through 52 mindfull practices.

I like that this is a very practical guide that helps you to get inspired everytime you go out into nature. Just pick any exercise from the book and do that. You will not be dissappointed! 💙

20 Activities To Deepen Your Connection With Nature

If you want to deepen your connection with nature, here are 20 fun (and some surprising) ways to do that 🍃 Have fun!

1. Free Up Time In Your Schedule To Connect With Nature

This has to be first on the list. Connecting with nature is an investment in yourself.

That may sound dramatic, but it really is. It will change your life for the better.

Give yourself time out of your schedule (no devices, no watch, no appointments) and decide that you will give your connection with nature the importance that it deserves.

Once you decide to do this for yourself, congratulations, you have taken the first step to changing your life 🤗

Now pick any of the below suggestions to start growing your connection with nature. Just choose what you are drawn to the most, or try them all!

2. Have A Meditation Practice

A meditation practice will help you to reconnect to your natural state of mind: your state of being. This is the core of your connection with nature.

If you are new to meditation, check out my Guide To Meditation to get started, and give yourself the time and patience to develop this skill. You will be amazed!

3. Choose A Sitspot

A sitspot is a spot somewhere in nature that you frequent regularly to observe the natural world around you.

This can be in a forest, a park, but also in your backyard. The more in nature, the better, but if getting to your sitspot becomes an obstacle, it is better to choose a spot nearby.

Choose when you will go to your sitspot (for example, once a day or week for an hour or more), and do it.

When you are there, sit down, relax and observe what is going on around you. What is the feel of the sounds and energy around you (the baseline)? What do you hear?

Does this change suddenly? When did it change and why?

Making these observations over time, will make you start to notice events and patterns that otherwise you would never have noticed at all!

For more tips, watch this video:

If you like to try this, don’t forget to bring a journal, something to sit on that doesn’t make noise (I use a reindeer hide) and some water.

John Muir Law, who created the video above, made a great book about Nature Drawing And Journaling. I have this book and sometimes use it to improve the way I draw and pay attention to details. The great thing about drawing animals and plants is the way you start to see them. You only really see the smallest details once you have tried to draw them.

For more about the sit spot (how to find one, what to do when you get there, and more) check out my post A Sit Spot In Nature.

4. Learn About Bird Communication

As mentioned earlier on, bird communication is so much more than the communication between birds.

The web of communication that birds create, are vital to all that lives in the forest and in nature. All animals depend on the birds for their safety. Isn´t that amazing?

If you like to get into this, check out What The Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal The Secret Of The Natural World by Jon Young.

This knowledge about bird language will help the observations you make while you are at your sitspot. It will open you up to a whole new world!

5. Do Volunteer Work

A great way to connect with nature, plants and animals (and to learn about them!) is through volunteer work 😸🌿 Some ideas of volunteer work to look for:

• Assisting at the local animal shelter or animal rescue
• Assisting at the local bird hospital
• Maintenance in local nature parks or areas
• Cleaning up garbage from nature
• Giving informational seminars about nature
• Becoming a nature guide (for a local association near you)
• Becoming an outdoor coach for children (for example in a summer camp)
• Assisting at an after-school care facility that organizes outdoor activities in nature
• Taking soil and water samples for researchers
• Becoming a forester
• Assisting at an organic farm (check out https://wwoof.net/)

6. Go For A Mindful Nature Walk By Yourself

Go for a walk in nature by yourself and really try to check in with your body, and feel part of your surroundings.

If you are new to this idea, you might like to listen to this video when you try it for the first time:

7. Exercise Outdoors

Any type of exercise that can be done outdoors is great. Whatever you like to do, often it can be done outdoors. Some ideas of exercise you can do outdoors:

• Yoga
• Tai Chi
• Swimming
• Strength training
• Walking
• Running
• Biking
• Kayaking
• Inline skating
• .. and so much more!

8. Go Camping (In The Wild If Possible)

Go out camping. It is a great way to really feel part of nature and the elements, and it makes you appreciate sitting by a fire so much more! 🔥

This may be a far stretch if you never go camping, but if you can, go out camping in the wild by yourself for a night. It will be a very intense experience! (and might help you get over your fears)

9. Grow Some Of Your Own Food

Whether you have a garden or not, grow at least some of your own food. This can be some herbs in the window sill, or some other fruits or vegetables you like.

Just start. There is nothing more gratifying than eating the food that you have grown yourself.

If you don’t have a lot of time, replace some of the plants in your garden, or on your balcony, with edible perrenials. That way you create your own mini food forest without spending a lot of time on it 🌾

10. Live By The Energy Of The Moon

The moon affects life on earth more than we are often aware of. I mean, it regulates the tides (!), so it makes sense that it has (at least some) effect on our bodies since they are 55-60% made of water.

When you become aware of the phases of the moon and the energy that comes with that phase, you can work with it, rather than against it.

Read more about how to do this in my post How To Use The Moon’s Energy To Optimize Your Life.

Or if you like to know why the moon has always been such an inspiration to our ancestors (and still is now), you may also like to check out The Spiritual Meaning Of The Moon.

11. Get Creative With Natural Materials

There are so many ways to spark your creativity with natural materials. Go out into nature and see what you find. Use leaves, twigs, flowers, pinecones, pine needles, pine resin, rocks or whatever else you can find 🍂🌻 Some ideas:

• Make a collage out of what you find on your walk
• Weave a basket out of bramble
• Make rope out of stinging nettle
• Carve a spoon out of wood
• Make a basket out of pine needles
• Make a bag out of tree bark
• Mozaic a plant pot with rocks

12. Make A Fire With Only Natural Materials

13. Cook On The Fire

Now that you got your fire going, cook on it 👨‍🍳 There are so many things you can make, and so many different ways to cook them. Some ideas:

👉 For more ideas, pics and details, check out my post Cooking over a campfire to reconnect with nature: 9 fun ideas.

14. Celebrate The Seasons

Every season has its own charm. Look for the activities that go with the season and really take them in.

For example, in the fall, definitely look for mushrooms, admire the colors in the forest and carve your own pumpkin 🎃

In the winter, enjoy the cold fresh air during a forest walk or run. In summer, go kayaking. In spring, smell the flowers and happy vibes that are all around us!

For what it means to live with the seasons, find out the benefits and 14 ways to enjoy every season to the fullest, check out my post Living With The Seasons 🍃❄️

15. Learn To Determine 5 Wild Edible Plants

16. Meet Up With Friends In Nature

The next time you are meeting up with friends or family, meet out in nature 😎

Go walking, organize a picnic, go camping, cook on the fire, take out a row boat or a kayak, spot wildlife or learn some new plants.

17. Learn About Nature

When you read a book or watch Netflix, watch or read about nature. Take this time to learn about the wildlife around us and the amazing workings of our ecosystem.

For some ideas on what to read, check out the books that I mentioned earlier in this post.

18. Observe Wild Animals

Go wildlife spotting. This does not have to be on an African savanna (unless you live near one!) for it to be fun. There is so much more to see in the park near you, than you might realize 🐾

Take the time to find a good spot (or go to your sitspot – see point 3 in this list) and be surprised!

For some easy tips on how to find animals in the wild, take a look at the section I wrote about this: 5 Easy Ways To Find Wild Animals.

19. Find Three Things In Nature That You Can Use As Your Compass

Learning how to navigate by only using nature as your compass is so great! 🧭

We are often completely oblivious of how many indications we can find when we are lost..

To learn more and to get started, read my post Nature as your compass: Learn to navigate with nature to always find your way back home 🌿

20. Source Your Own Food And Learn How To Prepare It

I think that it is vital that we all learn what it takes to source our own food from nature, and how we can prepare it. This is the only way to make us truly value and respect the resources that we take in need to survive and sustain our body.

Learn where your food comes from. Where have the vegetables been grown? What was the quality of the soil like? If you eat meat, did the animal have a good life? What foods did it eat?

If you eat meat, learn to butcher the animal that you eat yourself. There is nothing that will make you feel more connected and respectful towards the animal and the life that was given for you to live.

I know that eating meat is a controversial topic, and I am glad that it is! I believe the human body naturally needs meat in its diet, however not in the quantities that we eat it in these days, and not without taking good care of the animals that are providing us with this meat.

I found this quote, from a participant in the series Alone, in a book. I think this is so true:

“Every day we live, other things must die, and that is the law of nature. That is the way things work. And we don’t realize in our modern lives that the same thing is happening indirectly because of our actions. So even though this is hard to see it that directly, it’s more honest”.

By the way, those ‘things’ that must die, in order for us to survive, also includes plants. They are living organisms as much as animals are! I think it is important to be mindful of that 🌿

Nature And Spirituality

Why Nature Is The Core Of Spirituality

Spending time in nature, and getting back to our natural state of being, will make us feel something. Something that we may otherwise not be able to feel..

It will make us feel connected to everything around us.

It will make us feel that we are more than just our bodies.

It will make us feel how we are part of something bigger, a large grid of energy that we cannot see.. ✨

I am speaking from my own experience here too. My spiritual awakening happened while I was out in nature. If you would like to know more about that, feel free to read My Spiritual Awakening Story.

How We Are All Spiritual Beings

We are all spiritual beings. We do not only exist in our physical body, but in a much larger energetic body, which is not as visible and tangible, but is still part of us. We actually consist of 7 bodies! (Read more on that here)

Often we are not aware of the fact that we can sense energies around us with our subtle bodies (just like animals can), but we can all communicate through our energy. And we constantly are doing just that.

See for yourself how sensitive you are to these energies, and answer the questions in this post: 16 Signs You Are Spiritually Sensitive.

How Everything Is Energy And How We Are All Connected

Because we are all connected through our energy, the possibilities are endless, as long as you keep an open mind..

We can heal ourselves and others through our energy (read more in my post Reiki Energy Healing 101 🙌)

We can communicate with each other through our energy (read more in my post Telepathic Communication: Is Telepathy Real?)

We can control our state of mind and our mind’s energetic frequency (read more in my post about Alpha, Beta, Theta and Delta brain waves)

Isn’t that amazing?! 🤩✨

3 Spiritual Laws Of Nature You Need To Know About

There are 12 natural laws of the universe. They are all equally important, but I like to emphasize 3 of them that are especially important to know about if you are into spirituality.

I will get into those in more detail here: 3 Spiritual Laws Of Nature You Need To Know About.

Tribal Spirituality: Telepathy, Dreamtime And A Sense Of Being Part Of Something Bigger

There are many examples of the use of telepathy, and especially communication through dreams, in indigenous tribes in many areas of the world.

In particular the Aboriginals have been known to dedicate most of their waking lives to their spiritual development, and communicating through messages in their dreams.

Similar stories are known for many other tribes too.

My point is: it seems that the closer people are to nature, the more they ‘know’ that we are spiritual beings, and the more they are in awe of the magic that is to be found in nature..

Last But Not Least..

My hope is that more people in our world today will be able to get in touch with this part of themselves again, and experience this for themselves.

After all, it makes us happier, healthier, more connected, and has ways to heal us that are sometimes beyond our understanding!

Keep an open mind and get ready to be amazed ✨

I hope to see you in the forest! 🙂🌲

This post was all about Reconnecting With Nature – A Complete Guide.