It is no secret that spending time outside, in nature, is good for the soul. I will often sit on my patio with a cup of tea to get away from work or stress and just relax. However, lying outside, on the ground, is something different. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is. Just go outside and lie down for even just 10 minutes, and watch what happens.
The sky will change before your eyes.
Whether it is dawn, dusk, afternoon, or midnight, doesn’t matter. As you lie on the floor and look up at the sky, you will observe beautiful, magical changes happening right before your eyes. Clouds will shift and change shapes, the colors of the sky will paint a forever-changing show of hues, the sun will rise or fall and the moon will brighten the sky. You will be hypnotized by the show happening right before your eyes and you will wonder why you rarely take notice of the exhibition that happens everyday, right outside above your head.
The sounds of nature will capture your attention.
As you lie there on the ground, you will tune in to all the different sounds happening around you. You will likely close your eyes for a few seconds and pick up on the noises of nature. The wind will rustle the leaves, birds will chatter, crickets will chirp and small creatures will scurry by. Sounds you never quite listened to will prick up your ears and give you a new sense of the outside world.
You will see the world from a different angle.
It is seldom that we lie down, on our backs, unless we are in bed going to sleep. Yet, when you are outside lying on the ground, you are viewing the world from a different angle. You will no longer be looking down at whatever happens to be below you, but you will be looking up. Nothing will be the same. Your perspective of the world will be altered.
You will feel small.
As humans, we are used to feeling big and powerful. However, when you are on the ground, lying flat, you suddenly feel small and delicate. A humbling sensation will overtake you as you realize that we are so tiny compared to the grandiose world around us.
Little creatures will be living their lives right there with you.
For once in your life, you will be at eye level with all the small insects, lizards, frogs and whatever other little creatures happen to be around you. For a few minutes, you will get insight into how they live their lives. You will watch the interactions happening between the small animals and you will realize that they are all just as much a part of this earth as you are. Maybe you will make eye contact with the lizard that stares at your from behind the shrubs. Or maybe an ant will journey up your arm and you will watch it as it marches along with no intent to harm or attack you. Every little creature is living its life here as well and it’s important to recognize that.
You will feel the earth.
Whether you are lying on the grass, in the sand or even on the street, you will feel the earth right beneath you. Unconsciously, you will start to run your fingers through the grass or touch the small stones beside your body. Your feet will wiggle their way into the sand or rub against the dirt floor. Let your body move freely on the terrain and all of the sudden you will feel grounded. Smell the scent of the mud, soil and turf surrounding you. This is the land we live on and all of it, down to the dirt, is amazing.
Birds and bugs will fly above you.
Birds will fly above you and you will be astonished by the way they move so effortlessly across the sky. Butterflies, dragonflies and other insects will flutter above, simply and smoothly, as if they know exactly where they are heading. The deft movements of the birds’ wings will fascinate you and you will start to take notice of all the various motions different birds have mastered. You will sense an inescapable charm as you watch these majestic creatures traveling by air, living by way of the wind, journeying through the heavens.
You will feel content.
After just a few moments, you will feel relaxed, at peace and content. The earth we live on is a marvelous place. There are so many things happening around us that we fail to notice on a regular basis. Once you take the time to stop and observe the fact that we are not alone, you will feel connected and gratified. Just lie down, for 10 minutes and look up. This is an amazing world.
Find this article (slightly altered) on elephant journal here!
The sky will change before your eyes.
Whether it is dawn, dusk, afternoon, or midnight, doesn’t matter. As you lie on the floor and look up at the sky, you will observe beautiful, magical changes happening right before your eyes. Clouds will shift and change shapes, the colors of the sky will paint a forever-changing show of hues, the sun will rise or fall and the moon will brighten the sky. You will be hypnotized by the show happening right before your eyes and you will wonder why you rarely take notice of the exhibition that happens everyday, right outside above your head.
The sounds of nature will capture your attention.
As you lie there on the ground, you will tune in to all the different sounds happening around you. You will likely close your eyes for a few seconds and pick up on the noises of nature. The wind will rustle the leaves, birds will chatter, crickets will chirp and small creatures will scurry by. Sounds you never quite listened to will prick up your ears and give you a new sense of the outside world.
You will see the world from a different angle.
It is seldom that we lie down, on our backs, unless we are in bed going to sleep. Yet, when you are outside lying on the ground, you are viewing the world from a different angle. You will no longer be looking down at whatever happens to be below you, but you will be looking up. Nothing will be the same. Your perspective of the world will be altered.
You will feel small.
As humans, we are used to feeling big and powerful. However, when you are on the ground, lying flat, you suddenly feel small and delicate. A humbling sensation will overtake you as you realize that we are so tiny compared to the grandiose world around us.
Little creatures will be living their lives right there with you.
For once in your life, you will be at eye level with all the small insects, lizards, frogs and whatever other little creatures happen to be around you. For a few minutes, you will get insight into how they live their lives. You will watch the interactions happening between the small animals and you will realize that they are all just as much a part of this earth as you are. Maybe you will make eye contact with the lizard that stares at your from behind the shrubs. Or maybe an ant will journey up your arm and you will watch it as it marches along with no intent to harm or attack you. Every little creature is living its life here as well and it’s important to recognize that.
You will feel the earth.
Whether you are lying on the grass, in the sand or even on the street, you will feel the earth right beneath you. Unconsciously, you will start to run your fingers through the grass or touch the small stones beside your body. Your feet will wiggle their way into the sand or rub against the dirt floor. Let your body move freely on the terrain and all of the sudden you will feel grounded. Smell the scent of the mud, soil and turf surrounding you. This is the land we live on and all of it, down to the dirt, is amazing.
Birds and bugs will fly above you.
Birds will fly above you and you will be astonished by the way they move so effortlessly across the sky. Butterflies, dragonflies and other insects will flutter above, simply and smoothly, as if they know exactly where they are heading. The deft movements of the birds’ wings will fascinate you and you will start to take notice of all the various motions different birds have mastered. You will sense an inescapable charm as you watch these majestic creatures traveling by air, living by way of the wind, journeying through the heavens.
You will feel content.
After just a few moments, you will feel relaxed, at peace and content. The earth we live on is a marvelous place. There are so many things happening around us that we fail to notice on a regular basis. Once you take the time to stop and observe the fact that we are not alone, you will feel connected and gratified. Just lie down, for 10 minutes and look up. This is an amazing world.
Find this article (slightly altered) on elephant journal here!
RSS Feed
