Coming Up for a Breath: Daily Walking, Community Art, and Nature

Where I walk in my neighborhood, people have painted the telephone poles. Here is a lovely example of this. I love this “community art.” The way that people think of adding colour, meaning, and design to our neighborhoods.

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There are some lovely character homes where I walk. One home has chickens in fenced yards that startle me out of my reveries. There are neighborhood cats who go on strolls, either skittish from my footsteps or boldly asking for a rub. There are areas of quiet, and areas with traffic. Mostly, what I like is that people are out walking, riding their bikes, skateboarding, chatting with neighbours, sitting on their porches, and playing with children. Mental health requires us to connect with our communities in some way and to slow down and savour our time. Even though I don’t know these people, the smiles exchanged, and the hellos are a welcomed part of my day.

On Thursdays, dad and I walk at Government House. Here are some photos as spring emerges. The snow drops were the first to come out. Then this beautiful mauve pink flower I don’t have a name for.

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My dad and I find these walks very nourishing. We chat, we walk, and we marvel at nature’s beauty. Today the sky was the colour of the ocean, a bluish hue of grey. We paused and sat on the bench, just taking it all in. It is a gift these quiet times to appreciate nature, how we are part of it, and how our mental health is so closely connected with the planet.

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Now to the ocean😊 A friend and I take our beach chairs and go to our favourite beaches and just sit and look out on the water. We see seals (and otters), and the dogs playing on the beach. It is an opportunity to pause in the stream of our life and connect. We slow down and take time to savour while doing our processing, and catch up on news, often involving both laughter and, sometimes, tears. These are precious moments in my life and its these moments that help my mental health. Life involves navigating both large and small challenges and there is nothing like connecting with a loved one and holding space for each other to help keep the heart full.

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Last night I was listening to a podcast hosted by an art therapist in the Slocan Valley where I once lived. She was doing her graduate work by creating this podcast and interviewing other art therapists. She interviewed her friend who is an environmental art therapist, a career I’d never heard of before. In a nutshell, this friend takes people on walks, helps them find a place that feels good, and facilitates art making from natural materials. She said in art therapy, there is usually a triangle: the therapist, the art supplies and art making, and the client. Nature becomes a fourth dimension, acting as a container and part of the therapeutic process. This art therapist will draw the client’s attention to what is happening in nature during the art making. If the sky changed, if animals have visited,  or if a wind picks up could all be meaningful parts of the therapeutic process. For example, what symbolism could be drawn if an eagle circles while they are making art? Nature can also be the resource, providing safety for the challenges the client might be working through. When in familiar natural spaces, this art therapist feels like nature is supporting the work. I thought this was an incredibly beautiful way of practicing.

I reflect to my own experiences in nature when I am either connecting with my friends or on my own and how nature is this incredible resource, container, and source of inspiration. When I was recovering from mental illness, my walks in nature were pivotal. I remember when I lived on Denman Island, how I would walk this cliff walk through the forest. Once I came  down into a gully and suddenly, the forest was alive as many eagles lifted off the ground into the sky. They had obviously been feeding on something or perhaps drinking in the creek. It was amazing to be so close to these powerful birds. Another time, when I felt much grief in my recovery, I found a lovely tree and just curled up at its base letting the forest absorb my grief. Without a doubt nature is a healer for me, like it is for many people.

Nature is also a way to find the answers I need in life. I like this excerpt form a poem by Edna Saint Vincient Milley’s poem “The Great Alone.”

I will go alone,
I will go where the hawk is flying,
Where the winds are free, and the earth is good,
And I will find the answers there.

There have been many times I have gone to the ocean to seek some answers or sit with my unrest. I make these cairns of rocks, and I often dig my feet into the sand. The sound of the waves, the wind, and the birds is calming. I love it when I see the sea otters playing and feeding in the waves. I usually go to a beach near a heron nesting site, so these beautiful birds are usually on the beach. In the summer, I lie in the sun and wander in the shallow water, watching the tidepools. There is nothing quite as relaxing as this for me.

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to put my sense in order.” John Burroughs

This poem I wrote during a time when work was incredibly stressful captures nature outside my living room window. I would watch the crows on this tree and the rise of the moon. This small corner of nature from my apartment window was very grounding.

Night Light

Fullness muted

by slivers of shadow

the mirror reflects

tired eyes of sacrifice.

I pull off the day’s costume

breath deeply

desperate to live

the dance underneath.

Soon candles lit

space cleared

tears stop

words spill

I shed skins

of sadness

to return to

an open heart.

Outside my window

late evening emerges.

Crows gather

at wisdom’s tree

Luna rises,

pulled up

by the tide of

a deep ocean sky.

This pull inward

this joining with the wild

is the cosmic call of

Mama Moon.

Her shining strength

asking who else

will join the light

of this brave night?

Night Light © Meegan Simpson-Cooke 2023

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Okay, are you ready to dive into making some art?🎨

Therapeutic Arts Activity

This activity is simple this week. Go on a walk in your neighborhood and find art. This could be art that people have made or photographs of nature. The point is to not hurry, but to immerse yourself in the beauty of your surroundings. If you live in a place where the area around your home doesn’t feel conducive to having a relaxing walk, find another place to walk.

Instructions

As you walk photograph this found art. Think of some way to display it. You could simply create a new background on your cell phone. Another idea is making a drawing of the inspiration of your daily walk.  

Materials Needed

• A camera or phone camera
• Supplies for drawing (optional)

Once you’ve completed this activity, here are some questions as guidelines for your personal explorations:

1. How you feel when you find art in your community?

2. Have you ever created art in community or in nature? If so, describe the experience.

3. Does nature ever inspire you to make art?

4. Does walking in nature help your mental health?

I really enjoyed my walks these past couple weeks. They are a highlight of my day. There is so much beauty and life out there. Whenever I get stressed, a walk outside is a great antidote. I hope you can enjoy activities this coming week that bring calm and joy into your life.

❤️❤️❤️With care and kindness, Meegan

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