For many people in today’s world, life includes a fair amount of time sitting still, often in front of a screen, concentrating on a task with our eyes and brain. Whether it’s a video chat with a friend or colleague, tracking the latest news, or driving, our energy can become stagnant or sluggish. The following short energy healing ritual with trees is a practice I’ve used to relieve mental fogginess and stress, especially after working on a computer. I offer it here as a way to renew your own sense of ease in life, whenever you want to rejuvenate your mind or body, or simply need a break.

Find a natural, wooded area away from busy streets or highways. The more secluded and private, the better.
As you walk into the area, leave the activities of the technological, mechanical world behind. Let any fears, anxieties, or pressures that you’ve experienced stay outside the wooded area.
Let your gaze be soft. Become aware of your footsteps and the way your arms move as you walk. Feel your feet as they make contact with the earth. Notice the color of the trees, temperature of the air, and any sounds you hear.
Affirm that you are protected, nurtured, and healed by the power of nature. In your own way, connect with a source of strength greater than yourself and tune in to the rhythm of your breath.
Choose a tree and stand or sit with your back against it. Align your spine with the tree and make as much physical contact with it as you can.
Be still and take several deep breaths. Feel the energy of life that flows through the tree and allow it to flow through you, too. Stay until you feel ready to leave.
As you walk away from the tree and out of the woods, give thanks for the trees and for healing. Extend gratitude for the ability to be here at this place and time.
Carry the gentle, peaceful, and life-giving energy of the trees with you as you return to the world.