Nature's Healing Power: Reconnecting for Planetary and Human Well-being

Planetary and human health is undoubtedly in a current state of critical challenge and strain, but the blueprint for healing and happiness surrounds us. Although Americans spend less and less time outdoors, we have not entirely lost our connection to the Earth. Outside our front doors, there are trees, animals, creeks, and an enormous diversity of life that research shows, and our intuition knows, has extraordinarily powerful healing effects on human health and well-being. By opening up sensory awareness in a forest, we have the potential to reduce stress, moderate chronic disease, and fully awaken to the gift of being alive. We, as a human species and as individual humans, are not alone on this planet. The Earth holds and nurtures a vast ecosystem of life, life that is intrinsically interconnected and can mirror, support, and provide healing for one another. As humans reawaken to the physical, psychological, and spiritual healing that nature provides us, perhaps we can begin reciprocating healing right back to the Earth and all the life she carries in a meaningful way. The future of our species depends on it.