Tree-mersion

An April 2012 New York Times article touts the benefits of trees, and recent scary mass-deaths of trees across the globe. More positively, it mentions something I've never heard of -- forest bathing.

In Japan, researchers have long studied what they call “forest bathing.” A walk in the woods, they say, reduces the level of stress chemicals in the body and increases natural killer cells in the immune system, which fight tumors and viruses. Studies in inner cities show that anxiety, depression and even crime are lower in a landscaped environment. Trees also release vast clouds of beneficial chemicals. On a large scale, some of these aerosols appear to help regulate the climate; others are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral. We need to learn much more about the role these chemicals play in nature. One of these substances, taxane, from the Pacific yew tree, has become a powerful treatment for breast and other cancers. Aspirin’s active ingredient comes from willows.

I wanted to title this post "Forest Bathing" but realized it might sound too much like a bunch of dirty hippies taking baths in the woods. Tree-mersion feels like... what I feel... living here.

The concept of "forest bathing" helps me understand why I might have adjusted so quickly to living at Walker Creek. I couldn't believe, after four decades of mostly big-city existence, how deeply I felt at peace living here. Like, we're talking, in the space of about two weeks. And in the face of the depths of a Western Washington winter (our family finally moved to our forest home completely on October 1, 2011). It is truly amazing to live at Walker Creek. Thank you, woods, for the daily forest bath.

Solstice Glows Orange

like a salmonberry...

Sometimes, when the sun doesn't shine, you have to look extra hard for beauty. This means slowing down, changing your definitions, altering your expectations. And when you look through this lens, you'll always find it. Beauty.

Happy Summer Solstice, Walker Creek. Liquid sunshine, golden berries, glowing children.

[P.S. Much as it may appear, the sun did actually shine on the actual Solstice. M & I watched a gaggle of nine children, who had a heavenly time playing outside together in the Meadow, and later our family played at the creek near the watering hole - the air felt just warm enough that I plunged into the deep part of the cool creek. And came out renewed.]