Forest Bathing: experiencing the healing power of trees
Losing ourselves in time
It was hot and crowded as we waited in line. There were warnings about hornets stinging visitors. I felt restless and irritated. We got our map and started walking through the woods. Muir Woods is full of old growth coastal redwoods. They towered over us as we walked. A stream ran through the middle of the pathways. Under the towering trees, it was cool and the sun was filtered through the leaves. I experienced the healing power of the trees almost immediately. I relaxed. My husband and I wandered without looking at our watches or phones. All the frenetic rushing of the last few days melted away. It felt like I could breathe again.
Feeling God in the forest
People at Muir Woods whispered to each other or said nothing at all. There were signs asking people to respect the sacred space. In fact, one area is called “Cathedral Grove.” When we entered this area of the park, tears came to my eyes. All of the stress and worry of the past week came welling up. It was the same feeling I often experience in a church, cathedral or other sacred space. There was a certainty about the God of creation. No other explanation could exist for a place like this. It was a place where I could just “be.”
History recognized this space as special
“Delegates from all over the world met in the spring of 1945 to draft and sign the Charter of the United Nations. President Franklin D. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, shortly before he was to have opened the United Nations Conference. On May 19, the delegates held a commemorative ceremony in tribute to his memory in Muir Woods’ Cathedral Grove, where a dedication plaque was placed in his honor.”
– National Park Service
History seems to have realized the healing power of trees. Imagine the world at that time. It was reeling from a worldwide pandemic, a depression and two world wars….and that was just since the turn of the century. So when leaders from around the world came together to envision a new way forward for peace, they chose to gather in nature among these majestic trees. These trees which could trace their age back to the middles ages. What amazing things they must have seen over the past 800 years. And because they will live for many more years (up to 2200 years), they are still young despite their size.
The healing power of trees
As we stood there, it dawned on me that these trees will be here long after us…and our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Trees stand as sentinels to time and help put things in perspective. Looking up at the towering canopy, there was a sense of peace and timelessness. I realized others had been coming to this forest since the 1500’s and must have felt it, too. Before this trip, I loved forests. During this trip, I realized their power to heal my anxious soul. Now when I am feeling anxious or depressed, I know the healing which comes from taking a walk among the trees.
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