Lesson 4 – Awakening your sense of touch

Introduction
What you will learn
Awakening touch
Action steps
Your field activity
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Introduction to this lesson

Hello and welcome to lesson four – Awakening your sense of touch.

Previously, we explored what nature awareness actually is, the benefits of spening time in Nature and how and how it can bring colour, magic and vibrancy to your daily life. In this section, we will begin working on your senses – specifically, how to start awakening your senses to become mindfully aware of and connected to nature.

What you will learn:

In this masterclass you will learn:

Why developing your sense of touch is important
How to interact with nature through your sense of touch

So, are you ready to begin noticing and connecting to nature? Then let’s get started!

Awakening Your Sense of Touch

The objective of nature awareness, is to start acclimatising your senses to notice the world around you and engage and interact with nature and one of the best ways to do that, is by awakening our sense of touch.

Often, we think of vision as our most important nature awareness tool. Afterall, there is so much going on in Nature. It is beautiful, magical and awe-inspiring.

But for today, we are going to close our eyes and instead focus on our least-thought-about, but most important connection sense – the sense of touch.

Because, whether it is running our fingers over the bark of a tree, or sinking our toes into the warm sea sand, touch is important for us. Think about how a young child explore the world. They first and foremost use their sense of touch. So, that is also what we are going to do.

Your action steps

To begin this exercise, find somewhere safe and calm – preferably a green space outdoors, but if not, try being beside an open window (if you can safely stick your arm or head out of the window, even better). Then warm yourself up with the following routine:

Relax and take a beautiful breath in, then out
Shrug and relax your shoulders and put on a beautiful smile
Close your eyes
Feel the air upon your skin

Aim to spend about 5-10 minutes on this activity all together, including the field activity below. Remember, these exercises can be done any where – even in the city. Perhaps you can fit it in while waiting for the bus, or while taking a tea break or lunch. (If you are in a closed environment and feel the need to connect to Nature, try finding a window – even a closed window, see what the weather is doing, then imagine doing this exercise outside in your favourite place. )

Your field activity

Now, start paying attention to the sensations on your hair and skin. What can you feel?

Begin by feeling the air surrounding you – feel it hugging you, touching you, sweeping past or landing on you – the breezes, sunshine, snow or raindrops.
Then move your attention to the ground beneath your feet – feel its firmness, texture and bounce – earth, rocks, grass, moss, sand, mud or asphalt.

Now think about how these sensations make you feel. Think about the physical sensation itself – textures, movements and temperatures.

Then think about your emotional reponse to these sensations – are they pleasant, unpleasant, bring back memories, make you shiver or make you smile?

Really pay attention to the sensations you experience, then note your thoughts and feelings down in your workbook. We will be diving deeper and getting hands-on with nature in the next module.

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