Engaging Your Senses Mindfully in Nature

using your senses

Engaging Your Senses In Nature

In this article we will consider how to begin engaging our senses to help us tune in to and connect with the natural world - and the man-made world, in a conscious and mindful manner. A way that helps us to feel a part of and one with our surroundings and to notice the beauty and wonder of nature.

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. We have five wonderful senseswhich can helps is tune in to our surroundings. But one of the best ways to begin awakening our senses to notice the world, is by using 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, I think the most important of our senses to apply when we practice mindfulness in nature, is 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, when you are out and about in nature, close your eyes and feel instead. Feel the wind, the sun, the raindrops, the temperature of the air. Feel the grass, stones and gravel beneath your feet, or the plants, trees, grasses and mosses growing around you. Really pay attention to the sensations, the textures, the temperatures - and how they make you feel.

Using your senses of taste and smell

Now, we will move on to awakening our sense of smell - yet another rarely-thought-about but very important sense.

In fact, this sense comes as a two-in-one package, - both taste and smell together, because, we need our sense of smell to enhance our sense of taste. And, while we might not at first associate these two senses with Nature connection, there is definitely something satisfying about the smell of Nature.

Just thinking about the smell of wild flowers, herbs, cut grass or rain-dampened earth immediately transports and makes you smile. See, it is true, isn't it?

So when you are out and about, practice using your sense of smell. Smell and taste the wind and the air, the scents and perfumes carried on the currents. Notice the smells of damp moss and running water or the salty breeze. Savour the tastes and smells of mint, pine and cut grass. Enjoy the smell of flowers and wild berries.

Your sense of hearing in nature

After waking up our senses of touch and smell it is time to begin tuning your ears to awaken your sense of hearing. Because, even in seemingly peaceful places, there is often much to hear - wind, water, trees, grasses, birds, insects and even animals.

Of course, there are the sounds of human activity to listen to as well. (While you might wonder why listening out for people is important, they can tell you where trails or settlements or landmarks are, which helps in wild wayfinding).

So pay attention to all the little and large sounds, where they are, who they are and what they are doing. For example, notice the sounds of the wind as it journeys towards you through the trees. Listen to the roll and crash of the ripples and waves.

Hear the birds singing - what do they say? Why are they singing? Are they in conversation with other birds? Listen to the hum and buzz of the insects. Notice the sounds of the animals - what are they doing? Why emotions or messages are they conveying? Really tune in and pay attention.

Honing your sense of sight

So, we have practiced waking up our touch, smell and hearing and now it is time to start awakening our sense of sight and tuning our eyes to notice the subtleties and movements of Nature. Because often, even though we think we are walking around with our eyes open, but once we start mastering nature awareness and really begin to pay attention, we realise just how much we gloss over and how much we do not see.

Start by taking a big breath in and out, then shrug and roll your shoulders to help you relax; smile a beautiful smile and this time, keep your eyes wide open.

Look carefully around you - up, down and all around. Notice movement, colours, the play of sunlight and shadows, the way colours merge into one another or the way they are demarcated. Notice the large things and the little things, the overall picture and the tiniest details.

What do you notice? What can you see?   How are things moving - and why are they moving? How does observing nature make you feel? Really pay attention to your environment. Then, reflect on the thoughts, feelings, mesages and emotions they envoke.

Now it is your turn!

What do you think about this exercise? Do you practice any of these activities when you are out and about in nature? Why not share in the comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts and feelings about them. And don't forget to subscribe by clicking the pink betton below to be notified about new blog posts, quizzes and tutorials x

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What next?

If you enjoyed this article, why not check out these related posts and pages:

Why being in nature won't help you de-stress

why being in nature won't help you de-stress

Why being in nature won't help you de-stress

Have you ever heard that being in nature is good for you and is one of the best things for stress? Well, what if I told you that this is not true and simply ‘being’ in nature is just about as good as not being in nature at all and in fact, being in nature won't help you de-stress.

Well, okay. Being in nature can help you de-stress, but only if combined with mindfulness and connection. 

Imagine for a moment that you are walking through a park. But you are wandering along with your eyes glued to the screen and your headphones in your ears. You flick glances occasionally this way and that around the screen, your thumbs absently scrolling, while your thoughts ruminate over worries and stresses, frustrations and anxieties. 

How would you feel by the end of that walk?

I’m guessing that by the end of this walk, you would be feeling just as stressed as you were when you started it. In fact you probably would not have been aware that you had just completed your walk and wondered how you arrived at the end of it!

How to de-stress in nature instead...

Now, imagine walking through that same park. But this time, with you phone safely out of the way in your pocket and your senses turned outwards. You turn your head towards the sounds you hear - bees humming, grasshoppers strumming and birds singing vibrantly in the trees. You breathe deeply, enjoying the inhaled perfume of roses, lilac and hyacinths, cut grass and recent rain. Joyfully, your eyes wander this way and that, delighting in the sunshine and clouds, the dappled leaves, the fluttering butterflies and the beautiful flowers.

How would you feel by the end of this walk?

I’m guessing you would be feeling pretty good. Definitely less stressed and perhaps more hopeful, energised and content.

These two walks were both in the same place, but the results are so different. This is because while doing the second walk, you were present and aware, using your senses and noticing all the amazing things happening around you. But during the first walk, your attention was directed inside your own head, leaving you unaware of what was going on.

I believe it is this mindfulness, which makes the difference in helping you de-stress when in the presence of nature. Not simply the act of being physically in nature. What do you think?

Why not try it the next time you are out and see if you notice a difference.

Goodbye for now and happy nature walking,

Leila x

What next?

Spring Nature Study Ideas

spring nature study ideas

Spring Nature Study Ideas

Spring is a special time for nature study, due to the unique phases of growth and development occuring in this season. The buds on the trees, dormant through the winter, swell, grow and burst. We can observe the change and maturing of catkins and blossom. Flowers emerge providing splashes of colour to delight the senses. Birds begin their dawn chorus and can be easily seen flitting through the trees. And of course, babies of all shapes and sizes can be found skipping and playing in the meadows, woods, ponds and riverbanks.
 
So, what sort of projects can you do as part of your spring nature study? Here are my favorite spring nature study ideas:
 
  • Examine buds, twigs, catkins and blossoms
  • Get to know local birds, their nests and their nest building behaviour
  • Observe flower structure, seed and seedling growth
  • Enjoy the growth and development of baby birds, insects and animals

Let's have a look at how to use these ideas...

Start a tree nature journal

Trees are a great starting point for nature journaling and spring is the perfect time to begin observing and documenting their seasonal changes and cycles. Some of the things to look out for, are:

Tree buds -  Buds are a great way to identify trees in the winter and early spring before they have come into leaf. Examine different trees and look for differences and similarities in their leaves. See if you can work out which trees they are. Then, observe how the buds grow, swell and burst into leaf over time and see if your identification was correct.

Twigs - Twigs are another way to identify winter and early spring trees and they can tell you a lot about the age, health and growth of a tree. Look for leaf scars, bud scars, direction of growth and general orientation. Take a look and decide if they slender or stubby, straight or zig-zaggy, curving upwards or pointing down or if they have spikes or thorns.

Catkins - One of our earliest visual clues to the arrival of spring, are the welcome sight of catkins. Pay attention and watch how they grow from short, stubby stumps into long, soft, dangly lambs-tail catkins. Take on in your hand and examine it. Notice its tiny details - its colours, patterns and texture and its tiny, individual flowers and dusty yellow pollen.

Blossom - Who can resist stopping to admire a dainty, puffy blossom? Notice the number and arrangement of the stamens, the shape and colours of the petals, and the colour of the anthers. See if you can identify a tree by examining its blossom.

Explore seeds, seedlings and flowers

I don't know about you, but as spring arrives, I can't wait to go out into the garden, find the first flowers and get my hands into the earth. I love handling and preparing the soil, getting to know my seeds and watching them as they grow.

Spring flowers - Take the time to notice all the wild and cultivated spring flowers in the woods, parks, lanes and gardens. How do the flowers unfurl and open? Do they open and close in bad weather or follow circadian rhythms? Are the flowers and leaves both growing at the same time or are there only flowers?

Seeds - Plan, prepare and sow your new year's vegetables, herbs and flowers. Get to know each species' seed and observe how it puts out its roots and shoots. Notice the size, shape and number or its cotolydons or first leaves. Examine its root growth, roothairs and rootlets and see how each plant matures, blossoms and  fruits over the year.

Soil - As you prepare the earth and sow your seeds, take time to really get to know the soil you are working with. Notice its content, colours, smells and textures. Get to know the creatures living in and dependent upon it.

(You can check out this nice video on spring flower identification.)

Get to know your local birds

As spring approaches, I think the songs of the dawn chorus seem louder and more melodious as your neighbourhood birds begin declaring their territoties and searching for a mate. This makes spring a great time to start listening in and getting to know your common species.

Birds - While the trees remain leafless, it is easier to spot birds nesting, roosting and singing in the trees. Listen for their songs and try to spot them, then try to work out what they are. You can do this by taking a closer look with some binoculars, or try your hand at identifying them by their songs.

Nests - Try to spot nests in the trees, too. Do different species prefer different trees? And, where abouts in the trees do they prefer to build - the top of the tree, hidden amongst the twigs or near the forks of larger branches. See if you can spot them gathering nesting material too - what are they collecting?

Birdsong - As mentioned above, spring is a great time for getting to know the orchestra that is the dawn chorus. See if you can listen in and focus in on individual songsters. Outside of the dawn chorus, listen for territorial songs - can you hear two or more birds answering and sparring with each other? See if you can spot who's singing.

Bird flight - Another aspect of birds that we often forget, is getting to know them by their flight. Because, all birds have their own characteristic flight pattern. Some flap and glide, some flap, flap, flap. Others fly on a more or less straight line, while others dip and bounce in a wave-like up-and-down motion. Next time you spot a bird flying, stop and take a look.

Look out for baby animals

Baby animals can be spotted in the distance while driving alongside fields, observed if you're quiet on nature walks, or found on our ponds and rivers. And don't forget, this includes wild animals like foxcubs and fawns, as well as domestic animals.

Tadpoles - Keep your eyes open for frogspawn if you live near a lake or pond and watch how the grow, metamorphose and develop from frogspawn to tadpoles to froglets, to frogs. If you have the facilities, you could even hatch some frogspawn at home and watch them grow before returning them to their original location.

Caterpillars - Watch out for caterpillars too, because, while we might associate them more with the summertime, there are some species which overwinter as pupae before emerging in the spring. See which plants they are seeking out and try to find out what butterfly or moth it will eventually turn into.

Ducklings, cygnets and goslings - While on the look out for frogspawn, keep your eyes and ears open to spot baby water birds hiding among the reeds and rushes. Ducklings, cygnets and goslings may be obvious, trailing behind their mothers, but other species such as moorhens and coots are a little more shy and secretive.

Lambs, calves or foals  - Finally, look out for lambs, calves and foals capering in the fields and fox cubs, leverets and fawns frolicking in the meadows. See how they interact with their mothers, with each other and with their environment. You can even observe them over time, learning about their stages of development from newborn to fully mature.

Summary

Well, there we go! A quick overview of some of my favourite spring nature study ideas. I hope you enjoyed this article and would love to hear your thoughts.

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