Tree Allies: Ecospirituality and Ecopsychology
Nature Therapy means listening to nature. The language of nature is sensation, there are no words, you must listen with your heart. It is a feeling, not academic. Spending time in stillness, I notice all the beautiful bits of treasures that decorate the forest – moss, rocks, pine cones, leaves, logs. I feel the mycelial network underground connecting everything, the underworld showing me the pieces to my puzzle, emotionally and mentally. This is ecospirituality (when the natural world speaks nonverbally) and ecopsychology (when the outer natural landscape mirrors the inner psychological landscape). As above, so below.
Things I struggle with come together and I can see the forest beyond each tree. Perspective. Encouragement. I see this process when working with clients in nature, too. They feel, sense and receive their own messages from nature. Nature is another therapist in the room.
Sometimes what I hear in nature in my personal practice comes to me as art. I forage plants and trees and depict what I hear on canvas. Pictured here is one of my foraged nature art pieces featuring the physical, emotional and spiritual healing properties of trees. This is a tree ally, a support, a friend, to be with on your healing journey. Meet the PNW native Red Alder Tree…
Alder is an extremely strong tree. Their roots are so strong that when they hit rock, they don’t go around the rock, they don’t push the rock out of the way, they don’t avoid the rock, they EAT the rock. Quickly. They break down the rock, pull out the minerals, ingest it, digest it, and disperse the nutrients throughout the forest to other trees and plants through the mycelial network. Strong masculine action energy to face challenges head on, aggressively break it down into manageable pieces and use it to nourish rather than block. Break through.
When I’m up against a rock and a hard place, Alder helps me face the challenge head on, break it down to not be so overwhelming and use the hardship I’ve worked through to nourish others around me. Strength to move through and grow.
For more Foraged Nature Art, see my blog, Instagram, and canvas prints for sale.
If you’d like to have a Nature Therapy session focused on art, or otherwise, I’d love to hear from you!
Kaela Koepke, MS, LMHCA
Nature Therapist and Nature Guide
