Rooted in Stillness

A personal reflection on nature and mindfulness

There’s a quiet kind of magic that unfolds when I step outside into nature. The rustle of leaves, the scent of sun-warmed earth or freshly cut grass, and the steady rhythm of my breath. Nature has always been my sanctuary, it’s where I feel most connected, grounded, and at peace. It is where I can hear myself more clearly, the inner voice that is often trying to be heard against the roar of the world around me.

Long before I had the language for it, mindfulness lived in these magical moments. I spent my early childhood romping through forests, playing in streams deep in the English countryside, and climbing apple trees in the orchard at the end of our garden. My mind was filled with imagination and make believe, from fairies that danced between the flowerbeds, to mice and hedgehogs holding banquets under the giant oak trees, nature was a constant place of wonder and aliveness for me. Now, many years later, the magic is found in the way morning light touches the rose petals, the sound of the wind rustling through the trees, the constant chatter of birdsong and the grounding presence of my bare feet on the earth. These gentle invitations from nature to pause, and notice help me return to myself over and over again.

Mindfulness isn’t something separate from life, it’s how I live, how we all can live. Whether walking through forests, exploring mountain trails, swimming in the ocean, listening to the wind rustle the leaves or simply resting in silence under the trees, we can all return to presence with softness and intention. Nature makes life easier, it is an unwavering reminder that we are not separate from the world around us, but rather part of something deeply wise and ancient.

The next time you find yourself in nature invite a sense of slowing down, become curious to your surroundings..what can you see..what can you hear…what do you feel?