Soaking in the forest (Week 22)
"And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul." We have always been drawn to forests in the way described by Scottish-American John Muir, the "Father of the National Parks." And never more than now, with the Japanese phenomenon of shinrin-yoku spreading across the globe. This week, I spent many a contemplative moment searching for my soul during an activity that raises a lot of eyebrows when you tell people you're going "forest bathing." Once I explained that the activity involves no nudity or even water, I saw some slow nods of understanding. This zen-like bathing is simplicity itself – you are merely soaking in the natural environment and communing with the elemental forces of nature. I decided for a DIY approach to forest bathing, even though a quick scan of Vancouver Island therapist listings reveals that there are several qualified practitioners of shinrin-yoku who would be happy to share their insights with me for a pretty...