20日2月2024年・火曜日

Join us on a daily journey of Shinrin Yoku Invitations. Each day, we will offer a small prompt to inspire reflection and mindfulness in your interactions with the natural world.

① BEFORE
Approach the invitation with an open heart and mind. You may leave the invitation in any given moment.

Mindfulness: Before reflecting on your connection with forest, take a few deep breaths to center yourself. Acknowledge any emotions you’re currently feeling without judgment.

Compassion: Reflecting on past experiences with nature might bring up a range of emotions—joy, nostalgia, or even sadness for moments gone by. Remind yourself that it’s okay to feel these emotions.

Gratitude: Embrace a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to reconnect with these memories.

Physical Comfort: Choose a quiet and comfortable place where you are unlikely to be disturbed. This could be a cozy corner of your home, a garden, or any space where you feel at ease.

Sensory Setting: Enhance the atmosphere with elements that make you feel at ease.

Journaling Tools: Have a notebook and pen handy if you wish to write down thoughts, emotions, or memories that arise during your reflection.

Personal Safety: Ensure that your chosen space is safe and accessible, especially if you decide to venture outside. Let someone know about your plans if you’re heading into a secluded area.

② INVITATION 3
The neurobiological basis of the sense of sight involves the intricate processing of visual stimuli by the brain to form images. This process begins with light entering the eye and being focused onto the retina, where it is converted into neural signals by photoreceptor cells. These signals are then transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve, where they are processed in the visual cortex and other related brain areas to produce the perception of sight (Hubel & Wiesel, 1968).

Intentional deprivation of sight, such as closing one’s eyes for a few minutes, can shift the focus of sensory processing from visual input to other senses, such as hearing, touch, and smell. Research in sensory substitution and deprivation suggests that the brain adapts to the loss of input from one sense by enhancing the sensitivity and processing capabilities of other senses (Bach-y-Rita & Kercel, 2003).

1) Find a spot that feels inviting to you and position yourself comfortably, either sitting or lying down.

2) With your eyes open in your chosen position, take a few minutes to observe the surroundings in front of you.

3) When you’re ready, gently close your eyes for at least two minutes or longer as needed. With your eyes closed, focus on your breathing. You might want to place your hands on your belly to enhance this focus.

4) Whenever you feel prepared, slowly open your eyes and continue to observe the scene in front of you for as long as you’d like.

③ AFTER

You may want to leave the invitations in any moment if you feel discomfort for any reason or you may want to ask yourself some questions.

What did I notice about my environment that I hadn’t before?

How did my perception of the environment change before and after closing my eyes?

What emotions or thoughts surfaced during this practice?

How did focusing on my breath affect my state of mind or body?

Did I discover anything new about myself or my connection to nature during this exercise?

Express gratitude towards yourself and the space that welcomed you.