Community Voices ⎸ Forest bathing in St. Cloud stirs up everyday magic of parks, people

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — A cardinal whistled. Cheer-cheer-cheer. A pileated woodpecker whooped. Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo. And the wind whipped the tops of the oak trees at Riverside Park on Sunday. 

Insects, mushrooms, rocks, mortar, tree bark, branches, burls, and the Mississippi River inspired contemplation and relaxation. They also forged moments of connection within a group of strangers.

A group of “forest bathers” immersed themselves in the natural elements of the park for two hours under the guidance of Alexa Shapiro, a certified forest bathing guide and the event manager for Project Optimist. 

This started Project Optimist’s Biophilia celebration event, which highlighted our human connection to the environment through art. We have explored this theme all year through essays, artist features, creative prompts, and articles. It was something special to experience our affinity with nature, while outside and with other people. 

One participant described a spiritual experience: A personally significant Bible verse about a tree planted by the water came to mind and gained new meaning. That inspired another forest bather to mention a related song and then sing it – unaccompanied, simple, and lovely. 

Throughout the experience Alexa provided invitations to engage our senses in different ways for about 15 minutes each time. She’d call us back with a delightful holler, “Weeeeee-oooooh.” Then we circled up and shared what we observed and experienced. 

The textures of natural elements became a theme. One person noticed how swirls of bark looked like eddies in the water. I went out to study the texture of the large bulbous burls on an oak and became captivated by the intricate details of a decomposing dragonfly wing that caught my attention instead.

During one of our circles we noticed a young deer with oversized ears walked through the brush and into the clearing about 50 yards from us. 

Before we wrapped up, Alexa helped us engage our sense of taste with tea she brewed from home-grown lavender and bergamot. We shared a moment of gratitude for the natural world, each other, and our guide. 

And even though it was hot and humid, the tea was a perfect finish to the experience. I had even gained a new appreciation for the shade of the oaks, the coolness of the grass, and a calm mind, which keeps my body at a lower temperature.

A few people have suggested to me that a practice with a name like forest bathing sounds a bit “woo-woo” or unnecessary, when we can immerse ourselves outside without any guidance.

I say there’s benefits to both. Go outside and be your own guide – walk, contemplate, or daydream on your own. And next time you get the chance to share that experience with other people, with space to open your mind and senses in new ways, take that opportunity. 

You’re likely to experience the everyday magic of bird song, burls, or whatever calls to you.

This column was edited by Jen Zettel-Vandenhouten. It's part of our Biophilia series about nature and design, and it's supported by a grant from Arts Midwest. Learn more here.