Embracing the Wind of Change: A Journey with Nature as Teacher & Healer

A Journey with Nature as Teacher & Healer - The Wind of Change:

I was fortunate to attend the 40th HSP Gathering Retreat for Highly Sensitive People 6-11 June 2025 in Petaluma, California. These retreats, co-founded by Jacquelyn Strickland and Elaine Aron, have been held since 2001 across different locations. You can find more information about Jacquelyn's work and her forthcoming retreats here - https://jacquelynstrickland.com/hsp-retreats/

We were invited to participate in an exercise called Nature as Healer and Teacher. The process starts with having a question to ask, going out into nature (not a manmade environment), and going to a place that attracts you, such as a tree, meadow, or rock. When you get there, ask, "Am I welcome here?" and see if you receive a sign to confirm that. Once settled, ask, "What do I need to learn here?" and open up your senses to what you can hear, smell, and see. The important next step is to free write for 20 minutes, keeping the pen on the paper and moving all the time without worrying about grammar or spelling.

The Nature as Teacher & Healer exercise is such a powerful experience. You become so present and open to what comes to you when you are being yourself, being open, being in nature, and most importantly, being your authentic, truth-seeking HSP unique self.

The journey

Before starting the Nature as Teacher & Healer exercise, I reminded myself to ask a question that I wanted clarity on. I didn't stress about finding the perfect question, which I believe helped me stay open and receptive during the experience.

As I left the meeting room, I noticed others heading in similar directions, so I decided to go my own way. I remembered two magnificent Australian Gum Trees I had seen earlier and headed towards them. Approaching the trees, I asked if I was welcome and looked for a sign. A leaf fell, which I took as a sign, but I wasn't entirely convinced. My mind was busy with thoughts about sitting down and getting up (due to my hip osteoarthritis), the possibility of ticks (even though it was supposedly the end of tick season), and whether I was truly accepted. Then, I noticed a very attractive, comfortable-looking rock and thought, "Hello, my rock friend."

The following is my free writing. We were supposed to write for 20 minutes, but my session lasted between 13-15 minutes. I felt content to stop there, as I had such a deep and insightful experience.

It was a very meaningful and insightful experience, as you can read below.

I chose a lichen covered rock which looked just right for a seat and as I asked if I was welcome there 2 birds flew over the top of the bank as to say Yes! I sat on the rock and asked 'What do I need to learn here? As I asked this question, I listened to what I could hear, see and smell. I noticed the wind was all around me but really it was in front of me and to the right side, didn't completely wrap around me. Though writing this as I have slightly moved it seems to be a roar at my back. The grasses around me were swaying, they were different heights, thicknesses, different heads, different colours, shades, textures. The wind was blowing and making different noises through different areas, and I noticed that I thought the wind was the Wind of Change. The grasses in response were moving some in same direction, some not. They did not appear to be fighting or submitting to the wind but flowing with it, not bending or broken, not static or continuously moving, even if the Wind of Change kept calling out. This made me thing that………..

I am in a Wind of Change, and it isn't a case of surrendering or giving in or fighting the Wind of Change but to be guided and move when I want to. Sometimes with the flow of the majority, sometimes at my own pace, sometimes together with others, sometimes by myself. The different types of grasses and textures showed me the different levels that are in play and there is beauty and wonder in the difference and sameness.

The Wind of Change was quiet, then roaring, then subtle, then gentle and so can my response be to the Wind of Change.