Leaves also have a great power to relax your mind


Leaves mark the natural rhythm of the seasons - soft new green leaves in spring; bold, rich gold and red in autumn; crackling underfoot in winter. Collecting leaves can be a mini-meditation on change and on celebrating differences, because they come in so many shapes and sizes. Pick a handful of different leaves and look at them very closely - at the textures and patterns, the colours and flaws - and at how incredibly beautiful they are. You can have some very simple, satisfying, creative fun by making leaf rubbings.

Leaf Rubbings

Arrange the leaves on one piece of paper, then place another sheet over the top. Secure the sides with a few pieces of sticky tape, if you like. Run a wax crayon or stick of charcoal lightly over the top of the paper from side to side, covering the whole piece of paper, so that the leaves' shapes come through as rubbings.

Many native cultures have in common the view that everything in the world is filled with spiritual energy drawn from a universal power. It follows that everything is connected on an energetic level - air, earth, water, rocks, trees, animals, humans - in the great cycle of life.

So we are faced with a choice: we can either distance ourselves from this natural state and try to control or dominate it, or we can embrace it, and try to embody the spirit or essence in ourselves. One Native American tradition for restoring energetic balance is smudging - or burning - of special herbs, usually sage.

Buy a smudge stick from your health-food store. Light it as you would an incense stick and walk through your home, allowing the sweet-smelling smoke to fill the rooms. As you do so, say 'With this smoke, I will clear away negative energy.' Welcome the spirit and scent of nature into your home, and be grateful for the spirit forces all around you.

If a smudge stick doesn't appeal, note that decorating with freshly cut greenery does more than just add a touch of colour to your home. In pagan times, villagers cut branches of evergreen trees, such as pine and juniper, and brought them indoors during the cold months because they believed they were home to powerful spirits.

The scent, shape and texture of many everyday trees and shrubs such as eucalyptus, ferns, ivy and cypress work wonders on your mind and body. The scent of eucalyptus, for instance, is a mood lifter and a relaxant, while cypress is a nerve tonic and can help you feel more tranquil. No flowers in your garden to pick? Just snip a few lengths of graceful greenery, then sit back and admire their calming presence.

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Note: This article was sent to us by: Harriet Peemble at 06092010

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