In episode 39 of the nature therapy podcast, I share some thoughts and feelings around the mighty season of Spring, and I offer you a simple ecotherapy exercise to try inspired by the season. Click on the slim black player above to listen.

In this week’s ecotherapy podcast, I stroll around my windy garden offering some thoughts on Spring from an ecotherapy perspective.

This time last year, it was Spring here in Scotland. It was also (to the day) the day that the British government announced the first COVID-19 lockdown. It got me pondering on many factors of human experience and how they interact with the conditions of nature and the ecosystem.

Largely, for a lot of people, Spring is a most welcome season. The growth, the life, the light after the darkness….there is something just inherently positive about this cycle, and as such it can have so many positive effects on us as humans. However, life is not so simple, is it? What if we experience the loss of a loved one in Spring? How might that affect how we relate to the season? I’m also aware that there are many people who enjoy ‘wintering’ and being cosy indoors throughout winter. Nothing wrong with that!

Despite our individual responses to seasons based upon our personal life stories, few can deny that there is something inherently uplifting and positive about more light, and more growth. In the spirit of the Spring arriving (even though the Scottish wind had me wearing two jackets whilst recording the podcast!), I invite you to go on a little ‘growth’ walk, specifically looking for - and bonding with - signs of growth from nature. Please let me know how you get on with this if you do it, and I hope you enjoy this week’s podcast!

Happy Spring! (or Summer, or Autumn, or Winter, Rainy Season or whatever is happening whenever you read this blog!)

Spring-y smiles,

Stephen x