1. Hello! 2. Something to watch & listen to 3. Reclaiming your senses 4. So many books! 5. What's next? 6. Questions?
Hello Reader,
I worked for a theatre company in Glasgow whose tagline is ‘ravishing the senses’, so it’s no wonder, 15 years later, I discovered nature and forest therapy as a practice. Since then, and 7 years on, I have immersed the principles into my work.
The shift might sound surprising, but in many ways, it was a natural progression. Theatre Cryptic taught me the power of immersive experience, how engaging all the senses could transform a moment. Nature and forest therapy takes that same principle and grounds it.
As a guide, my role isn’t to lecture about nature or lead you on a strenuous hike. Instead, I invite you to step into a slower rhythm and experience simple “sensory invitations” designed to open your awareness—feeling the sun’s warmth on your skin, noticing the way the wind plays with your hair, hearing birdsong as if it were the first time, breathing in the air deeply enough to taste its freshness. These moments are doorways into connection.
And here’s the key: the destination isn’t “out there.” It’s right here, in the moment you’re in. Forest Bathing isn’t about reaching a scenic lookout or ticking something off your to-do list—it’s about being present in your own body and in the living world around you.
When we immerse ourselves in nature through our senses, we reconnect not only with the world around us, but also with ourselves. Stress softens. Clarity returns. And we begin to feel, once again, like part of the living system we’ve always belonged to.
Cates Park, N. Vancouver, by Maria Verdicchio
something to watch & listen to...
The Serenbe Biophilic community in Georgia, U.S., proves that design can naturally improve health. Residents report losing weight, feeling more connected, and experiencing enhanced mental well-being—simply by living in a nature-integrated environment.
Paul Nygren who is the visionary behind Serenbe, relays the success of Serenbe and it’s 700 inhabitants to the fact that, ‘when you honor nature, nature honors you’.
For most of human history, we were surrounded by rustling leaves, trickling streams, and the smell of damp earth on a daily basis. We evolved with the rest of nature. This bond is so deeply embedded that scientists have a word for it: biophilia, the “love of life.” But our modern lives—full of screens and concrete—pull us indoors and away from that bond.
Without realizing it, we become “inside creatures,” disconnected from something that is both our birthright and our biological need. That disconnection can leave us stressed, restless, or even unwell.
This is where sensory immersion comes in:
Sight – You’re invited to truly see the intricate veins of a leaf, the way morning light filters through branches, the sudden burst of color in a wildflower. Even if you’re indoors, gazing at the view from your window or a favorite plant can reawaken your visual connection.
Sound – Deep listening reveals the rustle of leaves, the cadence of birdsong, the murmur of a nearby stream, or the silence between gusts of wind.
Touch – The cool smoothness of a stone, the textured bark of a tree, or the brush of grass on your fingertips can ground you in the here and now.
Smell – Breathing in the scent of pine needles, fresh rain, or blooming flowers does more than please the senses—trees release phytoncides, compounds proven to calm the nervous system.
Taste – Sometimes, the invitation might extend to safe tastes from nature, like a 'forest' tea brewed from local plants, or simply the crisp taste of clean air as you breath through your mouth.
This isn’t about learning something new—it’s about remembering something ancient.
The beauty of this practice is that it meets you wherever you are. You don’t need a wilderness backdrop. You can find connection in a city park, on your balcony, or beside a single tree. The key is slowing down enough to notice.
so many books!
There are so many books that I want to read, and I have thought about opening a bookshop that specializes in books on Nature. I got the idea from the bookshop Folde, in Dorset (England). I love what they do. Sigh. Another idea. But, who knows?
In the meantime, I follow quite a few botanists, horticulturalists, and other nature related Instagram feeds. One of my favorites, Joey Santore, akacrime_pays_but_botany_doesn’t, hasn’t written a book called, Concrete Botany. He is so entertaining- smart, direct, funny, knowledgeable, and his story is inspiring. I love listening to his IG posts, and can’t wait for his book.
In Joey's own words, ‘Concrete botany is about a diversity of topics : the human relationship with plants today, "weeds" and ruderal plants, how I got into Botany, how accidentally stumbling into a relationship with the living world affected (and vastly improved) nearly every other aspect of my life, why most modern horticulture and landscaping is trash, why the current human relationship with - and perception of - plants is deranged, why lawn-killing and creating native habitat is good for the soul, why Mexico has the coolest native pioneer species, what the hell a pioneer species is in the first place, what biogeography is, and a lot more.’
what’s next?
Starting at the end of September, my new group program, EMERGE, specifically designed for post-menopausal businesswomen, begins. Do you want to be part of the Founders Circle? This small group program will be a transformative space to navigate this powerful life stage with purpose and renewed vitality.Read more HERE.
I have aYoutube channelwhere I’ve compiled some of my favorite nature related videos with research and practical tips, HERE.Please subscribe so you’ll know when my own videos are released.
As I mentioned last week, I offered online nature journaling sessions last year, and plan to offer more in the Fall/Winter. Let me know if you’re interested! Email me or use the let's chat button below.
I hope this newsletter offers you another perspective, peaks your curiosity, and, most importantly, reminds you that you are not alone on this life path.
With deep roots and wide-open branches,
Maria
Maria Verdicchio | Infinite Roots Nature-led strategies to live well hello@infiniteroots.ca
