EarthWise: Bringing together the wisdom of the Earth found in nature, science, mythology and spirituality.
An EarthWise Invitation to Walk
Come along for this simple EarthWise walk in the winter woods. This invites reflection, observation, connection and being immersed in the varying and sometimes delightfully surprising moods, lights and shadows of this season.
This is a quiet and contemplative walk. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is hurried. Along the way something may catch your eye. It could be an unexpected burst of festive colour, more redolant of the festive autumn than the hush of mid-winter. Or it could be the play of sunlight filtered through trees. You might notice the echoing of a solitary woodpecker, the sound amplified by the otherwise still woods. Or you might notice crows calling overhead, sitting one by one in a serious singlefile row on the skeleton branch of a tree, far above the woodland floor.
Indulge your senses
There is no single way to do this walk of quiet contemplation. You can walk and pause where you like. If you wish, you can sit in a spot as long as you want. Take off your shoes and feel the pleasant coldness of the earth under your toes. Feel the earth altogether– it is another way of connecting with the nature that is around you. Or you may wish to simply walk, and not pause. It is up to you. Indulge your senses as you wish.
You may listen to the call of birds, or the absence of bird song. You can listen to the crunch of moist leaf litter underfoot, feel the rough bark of a tree, breath in the invigorating sharp cold and crisp air. You might smell the gentle aroma of the leaf carpet, or notice a sudden burst of sunlight in the trees. It is your walk, your senses, and your woods. Indulge.
Bright red berries
The overhang of the bright red berries is unexpected and casts a festive glow into the afternoon. The red and green of the woods carry a delightful contrast, mimicking the mainstream colours of the holiday found outside the woods. Here, the red is natural, bright and inviting. The gentle woods await.
What do the berries make you think of? What scent do they have? How do they feel if you gently reach out to the fragile branch? How have they managed to cling on this far into winter?
Subtle shades in the woods
The woods are far from bleak, without colour. But not all bursts of colur are vibrant and vivid. Some are more quiet, more muted, requiring a closer look to notice them. The softer reds of these berries suggest a moment of contemplation, enjoying their contrast against the brown of bare branches and rich green hues.
Sun and shadow
The woods are neither all sun or all shadow this time of year. When the sun appears, it glints with a golden fierceness that belies the fact it lacks the warmth of summer.
The winter sun can offer a moment of brilliant contrast. The light is filtered through the branches of trees, which themselves cast long shadows onto the ground.
The sunlight reveals the ruby red berries clinging onto the tangle of branches. They cluster together, offering their own rich colour into the tapestry of shadow and sun that is part of the winter walk.
What do you notice when you see the sun? It might not be visible from here in summer, but the bare branches make the view much different and more visible than when all is richly covered in summer growth. The sudden view of the sun in winter offers a golden light and rich play of shadows. It is a feast for the senses, for colours of subtle shade and shadow against the brilliance of the sun.
Contemplation
A fallen log in the woods is an inviting place to sit. It offers a place for quiet respite, should you wish, on this contemplative winter walk. The moss on the surface is soft, and provides a comfortable cushion against the harshness of the bark. Whether you sit on the log or continue past, what do you think as you quietly contemplate this winter season in the woods?