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The Cathedral of the Forest

Bathed in the soft, leaf-filtered light of an early autumn morning in the forest, the warm tones of the falling leaves envelope the soul. Tall oaks stand as buttresses to the sweeping arch of branches, and the stained glass of leaves sift the light before it falls on the forest floor. A deep breath of the crisp fresh air and Nature permeates the soul.

In a peaceful setting such as this, the song of your soul can reach the surface of your consciousness. Birds sing in perfect rhythm with the beating of your heart and the pace of your stride. Each brightly colored fall leaf follows a precise and sure path to the ground, and morning dew on the leaves glistens more vibrantly than one thousand jewels.

Contact with the primeval morning in the forest, away from the rushing pace of modern life, refreshes that soul and heals the harm we inflict on ourselves through living at our breakneck speeds. Walking in the woods allows time for reflection, time for fantasy, time for discovery. It is a way to reawaken the now dim dreams of long ago, to hope once more, to wrestle with defining your place in the grand scheme of things. Once or twice every year is not enough. This woods-walking is long-term therapy that needs to be faithfully administered frequently.

Think about it. When your body is sick, we may take three or more pills per day for weeks or months. These pills are usually concentrated forms of compounds found in nature. Some people try to go to their place of worship once a week. What they find there is a concentrated form of what lives unadulterated and unrefined in the forests of the world. In the forest, you just have to listen a little closer and visit more frequently.

A cathedral, with its massive scale, well-planned architecture, and orchestrated layout, is designed to have an impact on people. I have talked to even the most unreligious people who have acknowledged that when visiting the great cathedrals of Europe during a vacation, they could feel a "presence" and felt as if they were in the vicinity of greatness as they approached the altar of these massive churches. If they were observant, they would feel the same thing in nature, where greatness and grace flow freely without the hand of man orchestrating it to such overwhelming levels. You will recall that small doses of medicine are helpful, whereas an overdose may kill you.

If your soul is ill at ease, and you feel as if you need healing, try Nature's medicine. No matter how many times you go to the forest to contemplate, study, exercise or dream, the wholesome balm of the forest's healing cathedral will not allow you an overdose. It never grows stale, and it never needs to be scheduled or orchestrated. When you need it the forest is there, the Cathedral of Nature. Step under its arch and flow with the healing winds at the altar of heaven.