Every Day in May - Week 2
The blessings of outdoor meditation
Like Sunrise in the east
That sets in the west
Do one ‘thing’ today
that you do best
Lemn Sissay
Dearest Soulful Seeds,
How was week 1 of ‘Every Day in May’?
Did you enjoy connecting with nature and taking time for self-care?
What did you notice?
As I took time to pause, breathe and connect with nature, I thought about my time in Greece last year. The morning meditations sat in a garden full of beautiful flowers, the geraniums blossoming, the trees swaying gentle overhead, the sound of the sea rippling along the stony beach. Birds singing, ants crawling, butterflies dancing, nature was thriving. Meditation outdoors in the warm early morning sun, was such a blessing. To be in nature, to feel, sense and listen to the rhythm, the movement, the flow of it all, while sitting, breathing and be present. What a joy.
Growing flowers within
Read about how nature was my sanctuary while working in Greece…
“Each time we pause and notice how we are feeling, each time we stop to take care of ourselves, each time we smell a flower, appreciate beauty, take a deep breath, we come back to kindness, friendship and love.”
Outdoor Meditation
This year, I am at home, reminding myself of the wonders of outdoor meditation, paying attention to nature, my breath and resting in simple awareness. I have been getting up early to listen to birdsong, to see the wonders of the morning light and to enjoy the little flower buds emerging. The sun may not be as bright as Greece, but the subtle soft pink glow of the morning sky, the chorus of birdsong, the little pink flowers emerging, the cool soft air touching my skin and the delicate shapes of the forget-me-nots, are all little blessings in themselves.
Some of my favourite things that I noticed were…
Ants on peony buds
A luminous green spider
The gentle curl of fern leaves
Dandelion clocks ready for wishes
Morning dew on scented geraniums
Sleepy little daisies with petals curled inwards
The sunlight gently caressing the tops of trees
The sweet song of a blackbird and a little wren
The whoosh of the jackdaws as they fly overhead
As I watched, wrote in my journal, and listed everything I noticed, I became curious, interested and wondered a little more. Why were those ants crawling all over the peony buds? And what was that luminous green spider? I went away to discover something new and learn more about the wonders of nature.
I discovered that ants love the nectar provided by the peonies, and at the same time protect the flowers from pests like aphids who would eat the buds. How amazing is that - nature taking care of each other.
I found out the name of the luminous green spider, and what a great name it is too, the ‘cucumber spider’. They are bright green, so they can camouflage themselves amongst the foliage. Nature really is amazing.
Have you written in your journal about your week 1 experiences?
What could you discover if you paused to notice and become curious?
Week 2 - Coming Home to Nature
This week has been about reconnecting with nature, noticing, observing and appreciating the wild areas around us. Let’s keep building this connection, our awareness, and start to develop our love of the natural world as we move into week two. Perhaps, as we grow the love of our wild spaces, we can start to take care of nature in small and thoughtful ways. From being creative, drawing or writing poems, to picking up litter, to learning more about trees, to taking a bus, instead of driving, to discovering more about insects. What could you do to give nature a helping hand?
Learn about trees
To discover more about different trees, you may wish to download the Woodland Trust App. Or visit the Woodland Trust website to read more about British trees:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/
Perhaps you have a similar organisation where you live, where you can discover more about the trees in your area.
Sir David Attenborough
The much loved writer, broadcaster and naturalist, Sir David Attenborough turns 100 on 8 May 2026, and to celebrate there are a number of programmes being offered on the BBC. You can read the article below to find out more.
https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/articles/2026/sir-david-attenborough-100th-birthday-on-the-bbc
For those without access to the BBC, you will find a variety of films narrated by David Attenborough on Netflix. There are also some amazing documentaries on Youtube that you may like to watch.
Let’s celebrate his amazing achievements and his 100 years of life.
Don’t forget…
Subscribe to Soulful Seedlings in May and gain access to my Mindful Living Membership for FREE, until the end of the year.
Comment below, join in the chat, or join us in the Soulful Seeds Sanctuary on Facebook to share your experiences. Let’s share this journey together.