nature as healer

By Tianna Godsey, Events Coordinator

We hosted a unique event at Gwynedd Preserve called Nature as Healer: A (Grief) Writing Workshop with instructor Naila Francis, of This Hallowed Wilderness. Naila holds sacred space for all types of grief that we carry in a society and culture where grief is largely avoided, ignored, or invalidated. Grief comes in all forms: with transitions of life, family differences, politics, and painful losses either through death or the end of a relationship.

Event participants found solace together with the whistling wind, rustling meadows, time spent communing with nature around the pond, and gathering in the memorial garden. Naila opened the workshop by asking us to tune in to our senses; as we sat together among the circle of trees near the management center, the sun began to peek from the clouds and warm us. Naila then had us share what brought us there, and led us in a writing exercise, expressing what our grief wants us to know—or what we want others to know about our grief. I then led the group in a silent walk alongside the vast meadows, offering us a chance to open our perspective, and we regrouped around the pond where Naila asked us to find a being in nature (a tree, plant, etc.) and speak about what we had written, either silently or out loud. We also made an offering back to the Earth in thanks for holding space for us and all we carry.

The next stretch of silent walk led us to the Betz Memorial Garden, where we gathered for another writing exercise. Naila prompted us with either, “And the Earth said…,” or “May I offer myself…” and then a chance to openly share our writing or reflections. Everyone expressed sincere gratitude for the space and community this event offered, as we wandered and connected to each other. Those who shared their writing at the end had very powerful and moving reflections. Afterward, we walked back to the parking area together and were able to connect on various topics before everyone disbanded. An incredibly nourishing time, proving that nature does, in fact, act as a powerful healer and space to hold our various grievances.

I’ll share some of my own writing from the event. “And the Earth said, let me hold the grief you carry for a little while—you are not alone. Float like a feather, or a falling leaf. The leaf dropped down from the wind; a feather came to me along the water’s banks. And the Earth said, I see you and I hear all that you carry… Release yourself to the vibrant winds and descend, like the leaves release from their tree and become nourishment for the land. The Earth said, you do not have to deny yourself the fall of grief; there is life to be had in the breaking down, and decay. There is life to be found even in the darkest depths…. We are all ephemeral, and we will return to this nature when the time comes. So much beauty [to be found] even in the loss of autumn.”