Moments later, Abby’s breath caught when Nash led her under a canopy of old-growth trees. The giants stood with a regal air inviting respect and seemed to thrive in the surrounding beauty. Abby marveled at the variety of species, each vying for her attention. She turned to Nash. “What an incredible place to forest bathe. I’m glad I chose north.”
Nash’s eyes feasted on the many tall friends. “If you’d like to learn more about the trees’ gifts, let’s sit on that giant log. Then later, we’ll do a proper bathing. Sound good?”
“Yes, I’d love that.” Abby hung the backpack on a nearby helping limb and joined Nash. “This place seems to rain serenity. I can’t think of a time when I’ve been in the woods and felt this way. It’s hard to describe.”
“That was my exact experience when I entered the stillness for the first time. After a few visits, the trees began to trust and share things with me. Man, I bet that statement sounded barmy to you.” Nash cast his gaze toward Abby.
“Don’t worry. I vowed yesterday to suspend judging anything in Charm. I’ve convinced myself it’s a healthy choice, or I’d risk classifying me, myself, and I as the one who’s coconuts. Anyway, you’ve got a willing student. I already possess a growing affection for our tall friends. Go on. Get carried away.”
A smile spread over Nash’s face. “Now I’m the one asking a question. Since your career led you to skincare formulating, have you ever explored what incredible elements trees offer?”
“Thank you for that insightful question and interest in my work. The answer is no. My focus has been exclusively on flowers, but I admit your idea sounds intriguing and worthy of exploring.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Nash rapped his knuckles on his knee. “Yes, so researchers and scientists are intensely involved in studying how spending time in the presence of trees affects our six senses.”
“Sorry. Hold up there. Six senses? Six?”
Nash nodded.
“Okay, I’m hooked.” Abby sniffed to see what her smell sense could tell her. She shrugged. “Is there a special technique to use?”
Nash touched his index finger to Abby’s lips. “Start by finding a quiet patience.”
Abby distracted her mind by asking it to wrestle with the concept of quiet patience and not Nash’s touch. “So basically, you want me to shut up and chill?”
His mouth turned up at the corners. “If you can.”
“Mister, I’ve got more chill in me than— It’s the shut-up part I seem to have a problem with of late.” Abby clapped her hand over her mouth and nodded for him to resume.
A chuckle escaped from Nash before his demeanor shifted to an earnest teacher. “First, I’m inviting your ears to tune in. Listen to what you hear, for nature is never silent. Tune into our tall friends.”
Abby devoted the next few minutes to developing the art of listening to nature’s sounds. After she acknowledged the birds’ chirps, throaty frogs, and the breeze rustling leaves, the concert shifted. She heard a humming of varying decibels, followed by an unfamiliar fizzing and popping sound. Were the trees actively responding to their environment? Feeling awed by this awareness, Abby pondered if she could hear the tree’s song, could they hear her too? She listened in four directions, experiencing a subtle change in the vibration. Why had she never paused to eavesdrop on the forest before today? The simple answer was she’d always been focused on the obvious in nature and missed out on this deeper interconnection.
Nash’s voice interrupted the forest’s chatter. “What you’re experiencing is called psithurism. It comes from the Greek word psithuros, which means a kind of whispering. Trees make all manner of sounds as they respond to what’s happening in their environment. For example, their noises change during a drought or an ice storm. Pretty amazing, huh?”
Abby took a deep breath of her surroundings. “Yes, really amazing. Thank you for introducing me to the trees’ sounds. I find them almost hypnotizing.”
“You might like to know biologists believe each species has a different voice, a different song.”
“That’s mindboggling,” Abby whispered.
Nash’s eyes roamed the woods. “I promise, the more time you spend in the company of trees, the more they’ll communicate and share their gifts.” He rose and moved toward an elder poplar. “Let’s do the sense of smell next since that one called to you earlier.”
“Sure, I’m ready to sniff me some tree scents.” Abby sat up straighter.
Nash stifled his laugh and stayed in teacher mode. “So, being in the woods provides a powerful aromatherapy encounter. Terpenes make up various tree oils. They smell nice, which can amplify our good mood, reduce anxiety, and generally produce relaxation in us. Again, different species produce their own terpenes. The forest acts as one giant aromatherapy session. Ready to fill your nose with joy?”
Abby nodded, relaxed, and tucked her legs.
“This time, close your eyes and take a shallow but intentional breath through your nose. Focus on the smells. Once you identify the strongest, your brain will allow the more subtle smells admission.” Nash watched Abby’s shallow tidal breathing. “That’s great. Shallow breaths work best. Now, on the next breath, see what scents show up.”
She whiffed a faint earthiness, followed by pine, which made her think of the holidays. Other distinctive scents introduced themselves during the minutes she spent in discernment. The practice brought her a surprising feeling of pure pleasure.
“You can open your eyes now,” guided Nash. “You seemed to have tapped into the forest’s many scents.”
“Yes, and I even got a whiff of Christmas. You’re an excellent teacher. Did you by any chance instruct at college?”
For a moment, Nash looked melancholy. “Guilty as charged. I was a professor before coming to Charm. I’d been awarded generous grants. They allowed me to do the work in Peru that I told you about earlier.”
“I bet your students adored you. No doubt, it’s Dr. Nash Walker that is missed.” Abby couldn’t deny her growing respect for this man and his accomplishments.
“Thank you for saying that, and yes, it’s Doctor. Why don’t we get back to the sense of sight?” Nash blinked a few times. “Start by clearing your vision. Treat yourself to a few rapid blinks. Good.”
“I aim to please. Next?”
“Next, would you agree that when you’re around a town or city, the stimuli appear constant and unrelenting?”
Abby frowned. “Explain, please.”
“A vehicle darting in front of you, the barrage of advertising signs, tons of people moving around, sirens, garbage trucks, the list is endless. All of this is causing your nervous system to act on high alert and deplete energy, among other things. Are you with me?”
“Very much. Just envisioning my typical day caused me anxiety.” Abby shifted her gaze to a pair of butterflies and felt a calmness return.
“When you visit the forest, your eyes can relax and take in nature’s show. You see your world as a safe sanctuary, and the benefits come immediately. Treat your eyes to a few more blinks and settle on something. For the next moments, simply gaze softly on that something. If you feel drawn to merge with it, do so. That’s a pretty cool experience, and it happens when your vibration matches. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to analyze the meaning of my words. Keep doing the gentle and shallow breathing. Perfect. Now, enjoy the gift of forest sight.”
Abby’s eyes landed on a tree with an interesting above-ground root display. The roots twisted and wrapped around each other in a free form design. Yet as she went deeper, treating the vision as a form of abstract meditation, she saw their inner dependence. Her mind leaped to reflecting on a growing inner reliance on Nash. Similarities existed. He was guiding her toward making peace with being in Charm, which was far from an easy task. Abby broke focus but kept that awareness. “Forest gazing is a sight to behold,” Abby said. “I mean that in every way imaginable. Whew.” She blinked a few times.
“Well said.” Nash studied Abby before continuing. “It’s unusual for someone to perceive on the level you’re experiencing today. For most, it takes many forest visits to awaken even one pure sense.” Nash took a long drink from his bottle.
“Goodness, I’m blessed to have you guiding me.” Abby signaled she was ready to proceed.
“Yes, ma’am. Since you’re such a quick study, I’m combining taste and touch.” Nash sauntered over to a tree and picked up something at its base. With a rock, he broke the shell. Returning to Abby’s side, he opened his fist to a pecan. “For you. Touch and then taste.”
Abby held the nut in her hand and sent it appreciation before placing it in her mouth. She rolled her eyes heavenward. “Now, that’s one flavorful pecan, unlike the ones I buy at the market. It’s bursting—”
“With nature’s life-giving energy,” Nash finished.
“Yes, exactly. I can almost taste the energy.” Abby swallowed, anxious to hear what Nash would add to the taste and touch teaching.
“Tasting requires devotion to the present moment because the flavors dissipate quickly by the mouth’s digestive enzymes. When you eat a fresh pecan, the energy is strongest. Of course, that applies to all food. Mindless eating seems to define how most take in food nowadays. Would you agree?”
“I do agree. Generally, I’d say we’re lost in our heads with thoughts. It doesn’t matter if we eat alone or with others. Mindless eating, as you call it, has become normal.” Abby sat with the awareness.
“But now, you can choose another way to experience food. I strive to eat at least one meal a day from a receiving place.” Nash extended his hand to Abby.
She stood. “I’m going to give that a whirl. Instead of mindless, I’m going for mindful.”
Nash gave a nod. “I’m stealing that last sentence before you copyright it. Touch awaits.”
“Don’t tell me I have to hug a tree,” Abby kidded. She followed Nash to a small clearing spanning fifty yards.
“You don’t have to do anything. Let’s move on to tree touching. Take that elm standing over there. In fact, let’s do it.” Nash grabbed Abby’s hand and led her to the elm. “Feel the bark.” He placed her hand against the trunk.
Abby touched the tree lightly and felt the tree’s bark seem to soften, receiving her affection. “She’s kind. I like this elm.” Abby gave the trunk a little pat. “I like the touching sense a lot.”
“Then you ought to tap into touch first when forest bathing. Time for the sixth sense.” Nash stepped back.
“I’m excited to learn how this sixth one plays in the forest. Enlighten me, wise woodsman.” Abby turned away from the elm to join Nash.
“Woodsman, huh? You do like to bestow names.” Nash led them back to the center of the cleared circle. “Do you see how the trees surround and cocoon us?”
Abby nodded.
“The sixth sense asks you to experience tree wonder. When you wonder, you gain inspiration and maybe a little humbleness. At least I do.” Nash paused. “What are you feeling?”
Abby ignored her mind’s attempt to steer toward admiring Nash’s handsome everything and instead stole a quick peek at the woods. She grabbed a breath before answering. “I feel…I feel awash in the tranquility.”
“Outstanding. That tells me you’re prepared to forest bathe.” Nash surveyed where they stood and made some adjustments. “Okay, keep perfectly centered. Ready?”
“Ready.” Abby relaxed her body and told her wayward mind to hush.
“This is what I call The Method. It’s my version of forest bathing. First, I’d like you to cast your six senses out toward the trees. Observe them. This is subtle but powerful.” Nash’s voice took on a reverence. “Next, find your tree. It’s the tree that calls to you, beckons to you. Then, using all senses, go stand under it. Lean on it. Touch the tree. Take in the aroma specific to it. Gaze deeply into its soul. Listen to your tree’s voice. If led, let your tongue taste a leaf. Absorb everything. And when you feel ready, join me on the log. I’ve one final thing to share about the tree you choose. Any questions?”
Abby shook her head, never having an assignment that left her breathless with anticipation. She set out toward her tree.
Unaware of the hour that had passed, Abby returned to a waiting Nash. The tree bathing had awakened a part of her primordial nature and married them. Once home, she felt confident the yearning to visit the forest wouldn’t abandon her. She’d experienced another gift from Charm.
“Hello there.” Abby gave a little wave. “I’m back and ready to declare my love affair with the forest. Did you miss me?”
Nash glanced up. “Alas, I was sitting here pining away and feeling pretty jealous about you seeing a walnut tree,” Nash bantered. “That’s strong competition.”
Abby plopped down next to him. “Are you competing?” Great, she thought. Her yap was at it again. Surprising her even more, she felt Nash’s fingers tilt her chin toward him.
“I think I am competing. Be warned, I’m a man who plays to win.” Nash’s green eyes locked on Abby’s cognac ones.
“I like a winner,” Abby answered, ready to smack herself. Did she forget where she was and how she got there? It was like Charm was home, and she’d known Nash forever. Her walnut tree made a loud swishing sound, grabbing Abby’s attention. “About my tree beau, you taunted me about sharing something more?”
Nash cleared his throat and pulled back. “Yes, your tree of choice has something to impart that you’ll find…well, you can answer that yourself. Trees carry predictions for those that believe. It’s said feeling called to bathe with a walnut tree means you may travel to foreign lands. A walnut has a single taproot, which portends you will soon tap into the right direction.” Nash paused. “It is said bathing under a walnut brings success and lasting romance.”
Abby thought about his words. “If I buy your tree fortune-telling, I’d agree Charm qualifies as a foreign land to me. And I sure need success at finding the right direction home. As for lasting romance, your walnut tea leaves may have missed the mark.”
“I don’t think so.” Nash glanced at his watch. “Listen, we’d better head back to the farm. Grab your backpack and say so long to your new friends.”
Taking one last glance at another charmed place, Abby nodded. “I hope to return here. Thank you for introducing me to forest bathing. I’ll never forget it.”
“You’re welcome. Being here was good for me too. How about you lead the way?” Nash produced a walking stick for Abby. “Compliments of one of the tall friends.”
Abby used the stick to wave goodbye to the trees. She set out with the man who’d activated two different natures for her…the forest one and her female one.