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My favorite way to do autumn
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Hello Reader, In a single week we went from highs in the upper 90s to highs in the 50s, and suddenly I’m reaching for my favorite hoodie, hot tea, blankets, and all the cozy things. This time of year always makes me want to settle in a little more. My journals and fountain pens migrate back to the coffee table, I start lighting candles again, and I find myself craving slower mornings and more time at home. But I’ve also been thinking about how easy it is to let that coziness pull us completely indoors just as the natural world is putting on one of its best shows. A few years ago I wrote a post about the Danish idea of hygge, that feeling of coziness, comfort and contentment, and what it might look like to bring some of that feeling outside. One of the experiences that made me understand this happened during my Forest Therapy training in Vermont. I spent several hours alone in the woods with a blanket, my journal and a flask of hot tea. At some point I realized I had basically recreated my favorite slow Sunday morning ritual, just under a canopy of hemlocks. It was unbelievably cozy. And it changed something for me. Cooler weather didn’t have to mean the end of lingering outside. It could actually be an invitation to experience nature differently.
🌿 This week’s Nature Connection invitation: Bring the cozy outsideTake one thing you already associate with comfort and bring it outdoors. Make your morning coffee and drink it on the porch wrapped in a blanket, bring a book or journal to the park, or maybe pack a thermos of tea for your walk. Sit somewhere long enough to actually notice the cool air, the changing light, and what autumn smells like where you are. You don’t need to stay out for hours, just see what happens when you make being outside feel like somewhere you want to linger. And if you’d like me to create that space for you... 🍁 Make an autumn day of itOn Saturday, October 24, I’ll be at The Nature Institute in Godfrey, Illinois for Autumn Forest Bathing + Nature Therapy. If you’ve been waiting for the leaves to change or looking for an excuse to get out of the city for a few hours, this is it. The Nature Institute gives us more space, more woods, and a different kind of landscape than most of my St. Louis sessions. We’ll spend the morning slowing way down, engaging the senses, wandering, resting, and actually experiencing autumn instead of watching it disappear from the calendar. And I’m officially encouraging you to make a day of it. Enjoy the fall drive on the way there, spend the morning in the woods with us, and afterward head into nearby Grafton for lunch by the river. There are plenty of lovely spots to choose from, and it makes an easy way to keep the autumn outing going a little longer. Come alone. Bring a friend. Turn it into your own little autumn escape. Saturday, October 24 | 9–11am
🌲 And something I haven’t offered in a couple of years...Family Forest Bathing is back. On Saturday, November 7, I’m partnering with Flow State Holistic Health for a morning of Forest Bathing + Nature Therapy created for families with children ages 5+. I’m especially excited about this one because the adults aren’t standing on the sidelines while the kids have an experience. Everyone gets to participate. We’ll slow down together, explore through the senses, reconnect with nature and each other, and spend the morning alongside other families wanting more meaningful time outside too. Research continues to show that time in nature can support things like stress regulation, mood, attention and overall well-being for both children and adults. This is a chance to experience some of those benefits together. Saturday, November 7 | 9am–12pm Space is intentionally limited so the group stays comfortable and connected.
I hope wherever this week finds you, you make a little room to enjoy autumn while it’s actually here. Put on the sweater. Make the tea. Go sit under a tree for a while. And if you want some company, I’d love to see you out there. 🍂 In Peace and Presence, |
Hi! I'm Jess
Sign Up to be notified of upcoming Forest Bathing + Nature Therapy Sessions. I share about Forest and Nature Therapy, nature-based wellness, creative practices, and holistic well-being.