In episode 23 of Nature Therapy Online, I take a walk around my house looking for signs of other life forms. What might I find here—and who, I ask, is living with you without you knowing about it?!

In this week’s ecotherapy exercise, I decided to try an exercise that I am often inviting others to do, yet haven’t done in a focused way myself before. As I encounter signs and sounds of other life forms here within my home, it strikes me how much of my personal history is tied in with my responses to these life forms. 

How do you feel about the idea of small creatures living in or around your home? Does it frighten you, creep you out, or do you welcome it? What kind of reaction might you have if you knew that a beautiful songbird liked to visit your windowsill, or if you saw a rat in your rubbish bin? Tune in to explore with me.

In episode 22 of Nature Therapy Online, I take a sunny Autumn walk here in Midlothian, Scotland. I ponder on the topic of simple nature-based conversation. I ask: does simply talking about nature have therapeutic effects?

Something has been occurring to me more and more this year about ecotherapy. I’ve noticed that when people talk about nature they feel good, and their mood seems to improve. I’ve learned this from working both online and with people in-person. Isn’t that interesting?

In Episode 21 of Nature Therapy Online, I tell a classic nature story from Japan. This story is part myth, part meditation, and it explores themes around pet-friendship and nature-connection.

I have deliberately not given a clear title to this story, as I would like to keep an element of surprise as to where the story goes. I hope you find it inspiring, relaxing and enchanting.

In Episode 20 of the Nature Therapy Online podcast, I take a walk in a local graveyard and woodlands here in Midlothian, Scotland. I talk about the joy that can be found in noticing and accepting Nature’s natural cycles of life and death.

In this week’s ecotherapy radio show, I take on a big topic: death. This theme was suggested to me by Deirdre in Long Island, New York, and I thought it was a great idea for a show. Thanks Deirdre.

It’s not an easy topic for any of us. There remains such a great unknown around death; a lot of fear, and a lot of denial. However, death is absolutely everywhere in nature, and it can be a great and powerful teacher if we open our eyes to it.

In this episode of the ecotherapy radio show, I slow down a little and talk about the air we breathe. How often do you think about the air around you? How often do you stop to consider how the wind feels blowing against your ear, how reliable it is for a flying animal, and how is keeps us alive every second that we breathe?

If you’re anything like me, you probably take it for granted every day. In this episode, as an ecotherapy exercise I invite you to spend a little time giving air all of your attention, even if you’re at home. I then offer some invitations that you can take outside with you on a refreshing walk, keeping this amazing element as your focus for the entire time.

In Episode 18 of Nature Therapy Online, I take a trip to a wild running river near my home in Midlothian. I reflect on the effect that water has on our emotions and wellbeing.

Human beings feel good when we are near water. It is in our programming. It’s where we come from. Deliberately spending time near open water (be it a river, ocean, or even a small stream or pond) improves our happiness and wellbeing, and that is what this week’s episode is all about!

On this week’s ecotherapy podcast I interview the inspiring founder of PRANA Ecotherapy—Alasdair Taylor, from Sydney, Australia.

Alasdair tells us about his past work in Scotland and current work in Sydney. He touches on important themes around ecology and what we can learn from indigenous cultures from across the world. We also touch upon themes of creativity, culture, history and health; all shared lovingly with Alasdair’s friendly, approachable and down-to-earth attitude.

Alasdair is a truly great person as well as a source of inspiration, and I’m sure you’ll agree that he is a pleasure to listen to. Tune in to hear him guide you through a simple but powerful ecotherapy grounding meditation, and to learn more about the great work he is doing both in Sydney and online.

In episode 16 of the ecotherapy podcast, I talk about about rocks and crystals whilst standing under an umbrella in my rainy garden.

As I watch the sheep and listen to the sound of crows and raindrops, I ponder on the power and beauty of rocks and crystals.

Finding, pondering on, and meditating with rocks is a powerful act. Focusing on such solid, strong earth-y matter can really ground us back into the world around us, and help us to settle our busy minds. Tune in to find out more.

In episode 15 of the Nature Therapy Online podcast, I share a nature story/tale with you. Fox and Dog is a story that was originally told by the Scottish travelling community.

Just a few days ago, I recently told my first ever public story at an event for the wonderful Scottish Storytelling Centre. I told this story which I am sharing with you today; the story of Fox and Dog. This simple and gorgeous tale captures the struggle between the need for wildness and freedom, and the comforts of domesticity. Although this is captured in the tale with two different animals; the wild fox and the tame dog, I think this is a battle many of us feel internally, even if we are not always conscious of it.

In this episode we go for a Scottish ecotherapy walk. We explore how we can use mindfulness to truly have fresh encounters with nature.

Those of you interested in forest bathing (otherwise known as shinrin-yoku), may be particularly interested in this episode. Today we go for a walk together in the South Esk Valley in Midlothian, Scotland. It’s a very green Scottish ecotherapy experience—I instantly started getting attacked by falling Autumnal pine cones! I encounter the calming sound of the running river, noisy crows, a worm-like pine tree and a little insect making its’ way through a world of moss. These kind of encounters are the most ordinary experiences that we can have as human beings. They also happen to be some of the most beautiful things we could possibly experience while we are alive.