For many years I have practiced daily walking outdoors. It is a meditative quiet time, where I relax and escape from my monkey mind cage.

Ideally immersing in nature is part of the walk. Daily walking requires a certain self-discipline, because realistically, every day does not offer “perfect weather”. (We all have our own definition of that – if we didn’t, people wouldn’t talk about the weather so much.)

I have walked in cold, rain, snow, gloom as much as I have enjoyed sunshine and bright shiny weather. And I have come to love all of it. Every day the Earth has her own  moods.

Here’s the thing: I love sunshine as much as the next person. And when we’re feeling down, it can be a real mood lifter. But depending on what I’m dealing with in my day, sunshine can feel like a good friend trying to jolly me out of my problems, rather than giving me space and really listening to me.

My observation over the years is that those moody, rainy, snowy, cloudy days also have their own merit for solitude and introspection. They are the perfect back drop to quiet my conscious mind. And there inevitably I find the space for the true answers to come through from my subconscious.

Rain or shine, nature is my therapy. I find the beauty, grace, quiet and solitude I need to transcend the rat race. I enjoy communing with nature and feeling connected to Earth’s every mood.

Photo courtesy of Debbie Pan, Pexels

Earth’s Moods | Nature thereapy © Susan L Hart 2019 | Hart Haiku