Integration: Listening in Nature
Spending reflective time in nature is a potent way to help quiet a busy mind and drop into your inner wisdom. It’s a potent integration practice at any time, and especially within the first few days of a psychedelic experience. It’s great to set aside at least 30 minutes for this exercise, but there is no time restraint.
Find a place in nature where you can sit relatively comfortably and undistrubed by other people. Consider a place that brings you joy, or perhaps where there is a tree or rock you particularly admire, or somewhere with the sounds of nature - moving water, birds, wind rustling through the trees. It can also be a new place. Bring a journal orsome art supplies.
Once you are comfortably seated, start by feeling the weight of your body against the earth and take few long, deep breaths from the belly. You may also want to do a body scan - start at your feet and feel into each part of your body until you reach the crown of your head. If you are inspired, share some words of gratitude for your surroundings.
What do you notice?
Look around, what catches your attention? Be slow and curious. Observe in great detail, you could even draw it or write down the detail you discover.
What do you feel?
What is it like to be in slow observation? Is there an attraction or an avoidance of something in your enviroment as look around? If so, go slower and be curious as you explore it. Write or draw your feelings or impressions.
Is there a message?
Nature always has something to say, what might be a message here for you? If it feels in alginment, ask for support in your integration process, what peice of wisdom would support your healing right now? Open your heart and mind to what comes - an image, an story, a plant, a rock, and stay curious. Write or draw your first impressions, let it flow as it comes without trying to figure it out as you go. Trust what comes, even if it doesn’t make sense right away.
Give thanks.
When it feels like the right time to end the excerise, share your gratitude with your surroundings and any support you may have expereinced along the way.
Later, revisit your journal/art work, before bed can be a good time to do this as your mind may continue to explore this during dreamtime. What did you discover about yourself? What other questions do you have now? If you found something that feels potent, find a way to keep that alive the next few days - a sticky note, a prayer, or a symbol that will remind you on a daily basis.
