In our busy, digitally-driven lives, we all need a personal sanctuary — a sacred space where we can be in harmony with the natural world and nurture our bodies, minds and souls.
The best part? This sanctuary doesn't need to be a remote cabin or a complicated retreat. It can be a simple, designated spot you claim as your own, right outside (or even inside) your home.
Defining your sanctuary
Think about a small space that offers you a moment of quiet connection.
For one of our Nature-Based Therapeutics Services onsite class participants, that sanctuary is a simple bench facing west toward a bird feeding station. This spot offers a daily ritual of peace:
"Here I can watch the sun setting, appreciate my interconnection to the web of life, and find a deeper relationship with nature. It’s my daily reminder to slow down."
A sanctuary is a place to:
- Be quiet: Step away from noise and obligations
- Be creative: Engage in simple, mindful activities
- Let go: Release stress and daily worries
Practicing gratitude through creativity
Once you have your designated spot, you can use it to practice mindful connection to the natural cycles around you. One beautiful way to do this is by creating simple earth art using found objects.
This activity is a peaceful and creative way to express your gratitude for the natural world. Look for simple, temporary gifts of the earth that you can arrange and appreciate:
- Leaves in their vibrant autumnal colors
- Fallen berries or flower petals
- Smooth stones or pieces of bark
By arranging these bits and pieces into patterns such as mandalas (circular designs representing the universe), you engage in profound mindfulness:
- Mindfulness: You are fully focused on the texture, color and placement of each object
- Finding beauty in change: You learn to find beauty in what is dying, falling and decaying around you, recognizing the natural cycle of life
- Adding meaning: This simple ritual can transform a regular moment into a meaningful, creative expression of peace
Because the materials are never quite the same, the outcome is always unique, reflecting the ever-changing nature of the world outside your door.
What will you create?
Your personal nature sanctuary is an invitation to pause, breathe and deepen your relationship with the world around you. It’s where routine meets restoration.
To paraphrase the words of the poet Mary Oliver:
Tell me, what is it you plan to create in your one wild and precious nature sanctuary?
Nature-Based Therapeutics onsite classes at the Arboretum help you connect with the natural world. Upcoming experiences such as An Immersive Mindfulness Experience: Awaken to Nature, Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), and Nature Journaling: A Mindful Writing Workshop to Explore Outer and Inner Nature are unique opportunities to help you cultivate your own sense of presence and reflection within the beauty of the Arboretum gardens.
Cover photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis
Dr. Jean Larson is the manager of Nature-Based Therapeutic Services at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and is faculty lead of the Nature-Based Therapeutic Studies at the Earl Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing of the University of Minnesota.