You Matter to the Earth - Spring 2023

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When I first heard about forest bathing, I learned how trees and plants emit chemicals, known as phytoncides, that have antibacterial and antifungal qualities that help the trees and plants protect themselves to fight disease. When humans inhale these phytoncides, these chemicals help us fight disease in our bodies by increasing the number of a type of white blood cell known as natural killer cells or NK cells which help our bodies fight disease and literally kill tumors. Learning that there is this measurable immune function boost from simply breathing under the canopy of trees opened the door for me to learn more. So trees are sharing these medicinal inhalants with humans, while simultaneously protecting themselves, while also sharing information with other trees through a vast mycelium network which is like this massive web of white stringy fibrous lines that run underground delivering messages and nutrients throughout the forest understory and sending up the occasional bloom in the form of a mushroom, the fruiting body of these mycelium networks. These mushrooms then blast out tons of spores into the air which we are all breathing and blowing around all the time. And it just goes on and on like that. Then there's the plant world. Where they grow, how they grow and what they look and taste like are not random, nor are they just metaphors for the kinds of nutrients and medicinal benefits they offer, but they are quite literally existing in a cyclical, intentional and reciprocal relationship with the land, waters, animals, bugs, breezes, birds, and other plants and beings. Even the ones we call "invasive" act as travelling plants for a reason, coming to tend to places and people that need them. Plants are trying desperately to work with us humans because we are part of their web. They have so much to offer us and ask for so little. All we have to do is to pay attention and be a little curious about them.  As fellow Earthlings, we are born right into these relationships and it is so easy to forget these connections exists since most of us humans spend the majority of our time inside, padded by walls and soft chairs and glowing screens, myself included. It has become this new challenge for us to step outside of our modern cocoons. Americans in particular are estimated to spend 90% of our time inside where the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations. Despite the convincing results of spending time outside in nature, the rewards of doing so can only be truly known and appreciated by those of us who do venture out to touch trees, gaze at clouds, smell flowers, listen to birds and winds and move with waters. These relationships are so personal yet the impacts span beyond our comprehension and beyond lifetimes. When I feel lonely, isolated, depressed or bored, the only lasting anecdote I've found is time in nature, alone and shared with people I love. When I can slow down long enough to just notice my heart beating while under the canopy of the forest, my belonging is no longer up for debate. Join me this season in re-membering your birthright as a human that belongs on Earth. The magic and wonder is just waiting for our attention and the natural world has so much to offer. Forest bathing is one of the most simple and accessible wellness practices I know of and welcomes every body. Join me this spring. Lets go forest bathing together and share what we are noticing and just coexist in our aliveness. ANFT Guide Training Immersions* *For ANFT trained forest therapy guides who are looking to complete their certification this year, I will be hosting the following 4-day in-person training immersions and I hope you might join me! June 11 - 15, 2023 in New Hampshire at Woodbound Inn   Aug 13 - 17, 2023 in Vermont at Basecamp at Beaver Falls   Oct 22 - 26, 2023 in Massachusetts at Rolling Ridge Retreat Center Become a Forest Therapy Guide! Train with me via The Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. This six month Forest Therapy Guide Training is a truly incredible journey and whether you go on to guide walks for the public or for friends and family or even just deepen into your own personal and collective nature connection, there are so many gifts that come from this course. Join me next autumn! Bullfrog Cohort begins September 14th, 2023 on Thursday evenings 6:30-8:30pm Eastern Standard Time   Bobcat Cohort begins October 4th, 2023 on Wednesday mornings from 10:30am-1pm Eastern Standard Time Learn more about training to become a Certified Forest Therapy Guide Learn More at ToadstoolWalks.com Copyright © *2021* *Toadstool Walks*, All rights reserved. My mailing address is: *tamwilley@gmail.com* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

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