nature as healer

Nature As Healer workshop at Hildacy Preserve, spring 2025

For the second time, Natural Lands’ Hildacy Preserve hosted Nature as Healer: A Writing Workshop with instructor Naila Francis of This Hallowed Wilderness.

Despite 20 mile-per-hour wind gusts, participants sheltered beside Crum Creek for a grounding meditation, open share, and poetry reading, and then wandered silently down the trail, pausing to take time to nourish and reflect beside the flowing water and up alongside the meadow. Red-shouldered Hawks, Turkey Vultures, and myriad songbirds flew overhead, and two turtles sun-bathed on a log. Tree branches danced in the wind, and both trout lilies and spring beauties bloomed along the forest floor.

In her reflection, Naila shared, “I know the wind was fierce at times but perhaps had much to say to us.”

Of the attendees, two happened to have lost children within the last year or so and connected deeply during the event. Attendees all shared their immense gratitude for an event where they could share the

ir grief and feel, at least for a short time, that grief shift or lift through the healing power of nature.