Full Immersion
“Keep close to Nature's heart and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods.
Wash your spirit clean.” –John Muir
Forest Bathing
Ever heard of it? In Japan, its a commonly prescribed medicine.
Scientifically, plants and soil emit substances that have...
Antibacterial + Antiviral + Cortisol-Lowering
Essential oils.
Our bodies absorb them by smell. (Florence Williams, Nature Fix)
Since nature is one of the only places we truly use all 5 senses, brief nature immersions help us:
Cognitively (increasing focus),
Psychologically (lowering blood pressure)
Creatively (increasing clarity)
On a recent trip to the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest,
I found myself immersed fully
yet again
in forest.
May I share that with you?
What Does Full Immersion Sound Like?
"God is a friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls."
-Mother Teresa
As my daughter and I walked through the forest, I found myself...
Compelled
by
Quiet.
She turned to look at me but said nothing.
When we spoke it was...
Only
in
Whispers.
What compelled us to speak so softly?
That gentle hum in your throat when you inhale the aroma of lavender in your teacup.
Immersion, to me, feels like a whisper.
Soft + Quiet + Peaceful
What Does Full Immersion Look Like?
"There are a hundred ways to kneel and kiss the ground." -Rumi
In the rainforest, sunlight that reaches the forest floor is rare.
When it does, the leaves spread wide.
Faces + Arms + Bodies
Open wide to
fully immerse
in every beam's
warm energy.
Immersion, to me, looks like this.
Absorbing + Supplicating + Giving Thanks
What Does Full Immersion Taste Like?
"There is an eternal love between the water drop and the leaf. When you look at them, you can see that they both shine out of happiness." - Mehmet Murat Ildan
There is simply no greater way to taste full immersion of nature than by
A synergy between nourisher and nourished.
The water...
to the plant...
to the drinker...
To the Nose... Palate... Bloodstream... Muscles...
And ending, perhaps, with...
...Your Smile...
Full Immersion Is Not Photogenic
*I confess, I did try*
But, I found myself releasing the desire to photograph.
Full immersion is uncontainable.
William Hazlitt says:
"We do not see nature with our eyes, but with our understandings and our hearts."
He's right.
Dear Tea Drinker and Retail Partner,
Know that our customers have been fully immersed.
With each sip of my tea...
My farm + My flowers + My Family's Laughter
And, I offer my blessing and gratitude in that...Immersion.
As always:
Thank you
I'm honored to be your herbal tea farmer.
Be well,
Shannon