How To Holistically Heal...in the Presence of Nature

A Letter That Struck a Deep Chord, Propelling Me to Share This

Experience this Newsletter in all its online glory. Go here

---

In this edition…

1. Healing: …in the Presence of Nature

2. Reverence: How to Engage with Nature

3. Exploring: Live everything. Live the questions now.

Healing encompasses a comprehensive holistic approach, acknowledging the intricate web of factors that shape our well-being: our health, inheritance & genetics, environment, relationships, creativity, spirituality & self-care. Reverence is the deep respect & attention to the things that truly impact healing. Exploring is the journey into the deeper work, meeting the parts, wounds & survival strategies that keep us small, stuck & suffering with persistent symptoms & feelings.

Pic: The white azaleas in my parents' garden, sprinkled with fresh raindrops, filled the air with their soft, sweet perfume, while the gentle buzz of bees among the flowers drew me into a moment of complete immersion. You can spot one of the bees buzzing around in the top left.

1. Healing: …in the Presence of Nature

On my way back from visiting my parents and their wonderful garden—rich with fruit, vegetables, herbs, and edible weeds—I put on an audiobook of Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke, one of my favourite writers. His writing has always resonated deeply with me, and during this drive, a particular passage struck a chord. Rilke’s words were a reminder about the power of nature in healing - mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

In the letter I listened to, Rilke wrote:

"If you trust in Nature, in the small Things that hardly anyone sees and that can so suddenly become huge, immeasurable; if you have this love for what is humble and try very simply, as someone who serves, to win the confidence of what seems poor: then everything will become easier for you, more coherent and somehow more reconciling, not in your conscious mind perhaps, which stays behind, astonished, but in your innermost awareness, awakeness, and knowledge."

Rilke’s message here is profound. He highlights how trusting in nature and life's small, humble moments can offer a deep sense of ease and reconciliation. For those on a healing journey—whether from physical ailments or emotional struggles—this passage gently reminds us to surrender to the simple, often overlooked parts of life. It encourages us to attune ourselves to the rhythms of nature, to slow down, and to engage with what is real and organic in the world around us. In this way, nature itself becomes a partner in our healing, a quiet yet powerful force that aids our journey to health and balance.

Rilke's writing speaks to the philosophy behind holistic healing: to trust the wisdom of nature, and to allow healing to happen not just in the body but in the mind, soul, and spirit. Just as nature works quietly and persistently, so too does the process of healing unfold in its own time, through small, consistent efforts, and through a deep relationship with the earth.

Pic: Bright green chickweed carpets the ground among the edible herbs and weeds. Known for its soothing properties, chickweed can be used to ease the sting of nettle leaves on the skin. I quickly rubbed some chickweed juice into my skin after brushing against the nettles while collecting lettuce leaves.