Some of nature’s healing is obvious. Grabbing some rays on a sunny day quickly increases our blood levels of Vitamin D which in turn helps us to absorb and assimilate our mind and muscle relaxing minerals. This in turn often leads to a good nourishing night of sleep which further boosts our immune system.

Lately in our community many have been thinking of the trees and the way that they can clean our air and provide oxygen and how a walk in the woods can erase pent up stress and tension. So for many of us it is pretty obvious how helpful nature can be.

Last week as the weather continued through another grey, wet and tiring pattern I decided that enough was enough and I donned my foul weather gear and went out for a walk. A few seconds after I had merged into the weather a crack of lightning and thunder greeted me as if to say “Hello, what took you so long?” and I smiled inside and out. I had forgotten how long it had been since I had given myself permission to play in the rain.

It is so easy to get into the pattern of longing for the good weather, pouting and shouting when we do not have it, and hurrying ourselves inside away from anything we deem inclement. As I walked in the rain I rediscovered that wild and free part of myself that had been stuffed into the corner for many months while meeting the demands of life. Ahhh I could breathe again and just be me.

The sound of the rain hitting my hood, the feel of the drops on my face, the sensation of the water swirling about my boots as I sloshed through a puddle or two all reconnected me with the my childlike wonder and the element water. Thank you water for all that you have done, all that you do, and all that you shall do.

There is a song that we use in Shamanic ceremony to bring up our power in preparation for daily life and to remind ourselves of all that we are a part of. I don’t know it’s original source – it was taught to me the old way – it was handed down through singing, but I share it with you today to let you make it a part of your life if you choose to…

“May we walk in beauty each and every day,

May we walk in beauty in a sacred way,

May we walk in beauty each and every day

May we walk in beauty in a sacred way.

May the beauty of the fire lift our spirits higher.

May the beauty of the earth fill our hearts with mirth.

May the beauty of the rain wash away our pain.

May the beauty of the sky teach us how to fly.

May we walk in beauty each and every day,

May we walk in beauty in a sacred way,

May we walk in beauty each and every day

May we walk in beauty in a sacred way.”

As I walked in the rain that day I did offer to the rain the pain that I was feeling for the way that we humans treat the earth. The recent oil disaster and the cutting of even more trees in Chatham-Kent has fueled a primal fire in me. I let some of my anger, rage and deep grief flow away with the rain that day.

I am choosing to channel the rest of that energy into understanding how I can bring some balance to this situation, and I am receiving my guidance bit by bit as to how to proceed. If you too are disturbed more than you want to be by recent happenings perhaps it is time to listen to your feelings and ask what your personal part in all of this is and how you can begin to make a positive difference.

Often I think that I am the only one who is feeling this kind of response to events, but in the days since oil has spilled and trees have fallen I have spoken to many people who are feeling angry, out of sorts, tearful and just lost for no obvious apparent reason.

Shamanic colleagues have reported the need to take a hiatus from work to find balance again in the arms of nature. Other professional colleagues have been sharing their anger and frustration over the news that continues to upgrade the scale of the oil disaster. It seems that I am not the only one feeling this way lately. And when it gets all too much to bear I take myself out into nature and shift my focus to what is well and healthy and let that strengthen and nourish me.