Scott

Concord, CA, USA

Lisa Abramovic

Portland, OR, United States

Marta Wilde

Wieliczka County, Poland

English

Join me for a restorative spring afternoon in a rainy Pacific NW forest. This is one of a series of visualization practices inspired by brain retraining principles, helping you rewire your nervous system for calm, presence, and peace. Here, we'll explore the sensory experience of the forest and emerge feeling grounded and alive again.

Brain Vacation- Rainy Forest

Hello, and welcome my friend. It's time to take another brain vacation, and this one is inspired by my love of the Pacific Northwest. So let's get settled. And remember, these next few minutes are for you. Allow the body to soften into the surface underneath, feeling supported and safe. Make space for a few deep, slow breaths, releasing any tension in the jaw and shoulders. Bring a gentle smile to your face, and then let it go, relaxing around the eyes. Give yourself permission to press pause on your day. And let's take a journey to a beautiful, lush, green forest. Find your feet, grounded into your boots, warm and dry. Feel the softness of the damp earth underneath them. Now feel the warmth and comfort of your clothes against your skin, your body wrapped in layers of fabric, like a reassuring hug. And notice the gentle sound of rain on the shoulders of your jacket. What color is the jacket you're wearing today? It's a cool early spring afternoon, and you've found the perfect spot in the forest, where the trees are tall and strong. The ground is rich with leaves and needles, and everything is blanketed with lush emerald moss. Stand here for a moment, taking in the sights. What do you see? Notice the texture of the bark of the trees. Run your hand along the ridges. Feel the spongy moss, the cool moisture it leaves on your palm. See the clouds hanging low, brushing the treetops, a soothing fog. Notice the raindrops as they touch down on leaves, rocks, the toes of your boots, making everything glisten and shine. Take a slow, intentional breath, filling your lungs with fresh, moist forest air. Feel the scents of cedar and fir trees, moss, and damp soil. Smell the aliveness, the ground bursting with new energy, the tiny leaf buds starting to unfurl. Notice how breathing in this verdant spring enlivens you, infuses your cells with softness and moisture, inviting you to take an even deeper breath, to take up even more space where you're standing now. Let this healing forest air travel into the depths of your body, mind, and spirit. As you breathe for the next moment, maybe say a little thank you with each exhale, giving gratitude for the abundant wisdom of this ancient forest. Now turn your ears to capture the sounds of the forest around you, the sound of the rain, of your breath, your boots on the ground as you wander slowly through the trees. Perhaps you notice a beautiful bird song, or you hear a squirrel rustling around above you. Just open yourself to this unique soundscape, letting whatever is here wash over you and through you. Anchor back into your feet now, your warm boots, the soft ground. Immerse yourself in the richness of this experience, feeling healed and whole, held and safe in this lush green forest on a rainy spring day. Take another deep breath, knowing that you can carry some of this restorative energy with you wherever you go next. And then when you feel ready, start to gather your awareness into your present body and the space around you. Feel the surface you're on, the sensation of air on your skin, and open your eyes. Thank you so much for joining me on this special brain vacation. Take care, and I'll see you next time.