Mindful Foliage Scott Dee

This recording is certainly a break from most of the noise that goes on during the day! When the wind isn't blowing, it's completely silent - somehow pressing down on your ears even more heavily than sound would. 

Take a 10 minute vacation from the sounds outside with a little bit of desert quiet.

Check it out on Rumble and YouTube! 

If you've ever settled in to prune an especially important or lovely plant, then you probably know the joyously powerful sense of awareness this has brought. It can certainly be easier at times to bring your awareness to a plant than to the mindless mindfulness of deep meditation. 

Today we'll be engaging three of the senses, all centered around whatever plant catches your attention. Starting with vision, one of the easiest senses to engage in nature, you'll be guided to look over every aspect of whatever is growing before you. Smell too, which floats on the wind and air that both your and the plant are sharing. Texture is just as important, to get a sense of the plant's physicality. 

Please to do not breathe in or touch plants that might cause an allergic reaction or other issues. I wouldn't touch a poison ivy - but they're probably fine to look at! 

This guided practice can be performed indoors or outdoors equally well. I recommend trying both if you have the time and weather to do so. 

For more information on other mindfulness practices or to learn more about the green nature around us, check out my website at www.mindfulfoliage.com. If you just want to look at pretty pictures of plants, swing by my instagram @mindfulfoliage. For exclusive content or to support the show, find me on patreon.

The outside world is always putting on a music show. The unique combination of wind, water, rustling plants, and moving critters provides a cacophony of sound to keep you right in the here and now. It's impossible to predict (and difficult to record!), and sometimes the best thing to do is sit back and listen. Being present for all these wonderful sounds can deepen our connection to nature. And, added benefit, mindful listening is a practice we can benefit from at nearly any time.

I highly encourage you to go outside and find a comfortable place to sit or lay down. Even if it's not in the heart of the woods or adjacent a burbling stream, I'm sure there's a tree rustling or a bird calling somewhere nearby. If the outdoors are a little far away, listening to the sounds happening outside your building, inside it, and in the same room are useful alternatives.

For more information on other mindfulness practices or to learn more about the green nature around us, check out my website at www.mindfulfoliage.com. If you just want to look at pretty pictures of plants, swing by my instagram @mindfulfoliage. For exclusive content or to support the show, find me on patreon.

Today's guided meditation is a routine that I employ pretty often. This session includes three easy practices:


Resonant Breathing, where you'll breathe at a pace that resonates with the overall cycle of the body. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system while generally just helping your mind and body calm down.
Bhramari (humming bee breath), which resonates the head and buzzes all the thoughts away. Plus, it's just such a relaxation sensation!
Body Scan, starting with the right hand. I'll go through each part of the body at a steady pace; all you need to do is be aware of that part. 

This combination of practices is easy to work into other meditation routines or expand into a longer session. 

The guided portion begins at 1:50. The introduction prior to that explains how each of the steps will go - recommended if you've never tries humming bee breath!

For more information on other mindfulness practices or to learn more about the green nature around us, check out my website at www.mindfulfoliage.com. If you just want to look at pretty pictures of plants, swing by my instagram @mindfulfoliage. For exclusive content or to support the show, find me on patreon.

One of my favorite practices is simply sitting still and listening to nature. There's always something going on out there - nature is always making music through the plants, animals, wind, water, and earth. Being present for all these wonderful sounds can deepen our connection to nature. And, added benefit, mindful listening is a practice we can benefit from at nearly any time. 

I highly encourage you to go outside and find a comfortable place to sit or lay down. Even if it's not in the heart of the woods or adjacent a burbling stream, I'm sure there's a tree rustling or a bird calling somewhere nearby. If the outdoors are a little far away, listening to the sounds happening outside your building, inside it, and in the same room are useful alternatives. 

The guided portion begins at 1:10. The goal is to keep your awareness on the sounds happening around you. To make this easier, try to practice this with only one earbud in, or by playing it off the phone speakers. Give your ears the chance to hear the music. 

For more information on other mindfulness practices or to learn more about the green nature around us, check out my website at www.mindfulfoliage.com. If you just want to look at pretty pictures of plants, swing by my instagram @mindfulfoliage. For exclusive content or to support the show, find me on patreon.

Square breathing is a pranayama that flows exactly how it sounds. Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, then hold for 4 more. This even pace is astoundingly powerful at calming the body and mind together. The long holds stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, balancing it against an overactive sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system. 

Try to breathe deep into the lungs. Use your diaphragm, and focus on the feeling of your belly expanding and contracting with each breath. If you're not yet used to breathing with your diaphragm, then it may be easier to practice laying down.

The guided portion begins at 1:28. You can practice square breathing anywhere you can practice regular breath! Once you become accustomed to the rhythm, try changing the pace to be a little longer or slower, or just breathe evenly at whatever pace feels right for the moment. I highly encourage you to practice square breathing whenever you have a few spare moments and a desire to relax. 

For more information on other mindfulness practices or to learn more about the green nature around us, check out my website at www.mindfulfoliage.com. If you just want to look at pretty pictures of plants, swing by my instagram @mindfulfoliage. For exclusive content or to support the show, find me on patreon.