Rumination and Connection with Nature

19 Jun

19th June 2022

Rumination
/ruːmɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

Noun
A deep or considered thought about something.
The action of chewing the cud.

Rumination in cows (and other herbivorous animals) describes the action of eating grass and other forages where they chew and re-chew food over an extended period of time. The rumination process allows them to eat forages and other high fiber feeds that are not be able to be eaten by humans and other non-ruminant animals. In humans, rumination usually refers to a mental process that occurs where you have constant and repetitive thoughts about something; typically, a problem or situation. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, rumination is defined as “obsessive thinking about an idea, situation, or choice especially when it interferes with normal mental functioning”. When people ruminate they often play the same thoughts over and over in their heads often analysing their current distress, the reasons for it and its consequences.

Rumination is linked to depression and anxiety. When people ruminate they activate part of their brain called the subgenual prefrontal cortex (SGPFC), an important brain region involved in emotional regulation and reward mechanisms and resulting in feelings of sadness and helplessness, loss of pleasure (anhedonia) and lack of motivation. A study called ‘Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation’ found that people who went for a 90 minute walk in nature experienced a sizeable reduction in blood flow to the SGPFC and a reduction in ruminations, whilst the people in the study who went for a walk in an urban area experienced so comparable reductions. The researchers reflected that nature experiences impact rumination in a way that is significantly more profound than more urban experiences.

In her book ‘The Nature Fix’, Florence Williams describes nature connection as having the same effect on rumination as shaking a favourite toy in front of a crying toddler to distract them does.

Further Reading!

Bratman et al (2015) Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation

Nature-Connection Resources

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All Four Nature-Connection Booklets

£11.00

A small collection designed to gently open the door into deeper relationship with the natural world.

This complete set of four Forest Healing booklets brings together practical guidance, reflective ideas, and simple nature connection practices that can be used anywhere — from ancient woodland to a nearby park, garden, or even a single Sit Spot outdoors.

Written to be accessible, grounding, and easy to follow, these booklets offer a pathway into the core practices of Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku), Silvotherapy, and everyday nature connection. Rather than asking you to achieve anything, they simply invite you to slow down, notice more deeply, and allow nature to become an active presence in your wellbeing.

Across the four booklets you will explore:

• What Forest Bathing, Silvotherapy, and Nature Connection actually are
• The key benefits of spending mindful time in natural environments
• The practice of the “Sit Spot” and how to develop your own relationship with a chosen place
• Simple, practical Forest Bathing invitations you can try alone or with others
• Ways to bring nature connection into everyday life, even in small moments

Together, they form a gentle introduction to practices that have been shown to support reduced stress, improved mood, greater clarity of thought, and a deeper sense of belonging within the natural world.

These are not academic texts or rigid instruction manuals. They are invitations — encouraging you to step outside, slow your pace, and rediscover the quiet intelligence of trees, weather, and landscape.

Whether you are completely new to nature connection or looking to deepen an existing practice, this collection offers a simple, supportive starting point for building a more intentional and restorative relationship with the living world around you.

A small set of booklets that can change the way you experience even the most familiar patch of nature.

Buy all Four Forest Bathing and Nature-Connection Booklets for £11.00 including FREE P&P within the UK.
Postage to the Rest of the World is £4.

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Hinoki Cypress Essential Oil (10 ml)

£15.00

10 ml of Therapeutic Grade Hinoki Cypress Essential Oil in a dropper bottle.

Bring the calming scent of the Japanese forest into your home with Hinoki Oil. Distilled from the sacred Hinoki Cypress, this beautifully woody and citrus-fresh essential oil is inspired by the restorative practice of forest bathing and helps create moments of calm, mindfulness, and nature connection.

Hinoki Oil – Bringing the Essence of the Japanese Forest into Your Home

Imagine stepping into a quiet forest of ancient Japanese cypress trees. The air is cool and still. Sunlight filters through the canopy, and the scent of warm wood, fresh needles, and distant citrus fills your senses. This is the experience that Hinoki Oil can evoke.

Distilled from the revered Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa), a tree that has been treasured in Japan for centuries, Hinoki Oil carries a distinctive aroma that is soft, woody, slightly smoky, and subtly citrusy. Its fragrance is often associated with traditional Japanese temples, forest shrines, and the restorative practice of forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku.

Many people find Hinoki's scent deeply calming and grounding. Rich in natural plant compounds known as phytoncides, it offers a simple way to bring a little of the forest indoors when spending time among trees is not possible.

Use a few drops in a diffuser during meditation, yoga, journalling, or quiet reflection. Add it to a warm bath to create a spa-like atmosphere, or simply inhale its aroma whenever you need a moment of stillness and reconnection.

At Forest Healing, we love Hinoki because it captures something of the quiet wisdom of old forests. Its scent invites us to slow down, breathe deeply, and remember that we are part of the natural world, not separate from it.

Ways to enjoy Hinoki Oil:

• Diffuse to create a peaceful, woodland-inspired atmosphere
• Add to a nature connection or mindfulness practice
• Blend with cedarwood, bergamot, frankincense, or lavender
• Use as part of an evening wind-down ritual
• Bring the scent of the forest into your home, workspace, or therapy room

A small bottle of Hinoki Oil offers more than a fragrance. It offers an invitation to pause, reconnect, and experience a little of the restorative spirit of the forest wherever you are.

Postage and Packing is £2 for up to six 10ml bottles in the UK.

Due to insurance and liability reasons, we no longer ship our essential oils to the USA or Canada - Sorry!

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All Three Ayurvedic-Inspired Oils

£30.00

Ayurvedic Wellbeing Collection – A Complete Ritual of Scent, Self-Care and Botanical Wisdom

A thoughtfully curated collection inspired by the ancient traditions of Ayurveda and the restorative power of mindful self-care.

This special bundle brings together three complementary botanical oils that invite you to slow down, create space for yourself, and cultivate moments of calm and presence in your daily life.

Combining our Ayurvedic Blend Essential Oil, Ashwagandha Oil, and Kumkumadi Oil, this collection offers a simple yet meaningful self-care ritual inspired by centuries of plant-based wisdom.

What's Included?

Ayurvedic Blend Essential Oil

A rich and grounding aromatic blend of Frankincense, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, and Agarwood (Oud). Warm, woody, and deeply contemplative, it helps create an atmosphere of stillness and reflection through diffusion or aromatherapy use.

Ashwagandha Oil

A traditional Ayurvedic infusion of Ashwagandha root in nourishing sesame oil. Ideal for massage and body care, this deeply grounding oil supports relaxation and provides an opportunity to reconnect with your body through mindful touch.

Kumkumadi Oil

A luxurious Ayurvedic facial oil centred around saffron and a rich blend of botanical extracts. Traditionally used as part of evening skincare rituals, it helps transform everyday self-care into a moment of presence and restoration.

A Ritual of Slowing Down

Modern life often encourages us to move quickly from one task to the next. This collection offers an invitation to do the opposite.

Begin by diffusing the Ayurvedic Blend to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere. Take time to massage Ashwagandha Oil into the skin, bringing awareness back to the body and breath. Complete the ritual with a few drops of Kumkumadi Oil applied gently to the face, creating a quiet moment of care before rest.

Together, these practices encourage a slower rhythm and a deeper sense of connection with yourself.

Perfect For:

• Creating a regular self-care or wellbeing ritual
• Meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation practices
• Evening wind-down routines
• Gifts for those interested in Ayurveda and natural wellbeing
• Anyone seeking a more intentional approach to rest and restoration

At Forest Healing, we believe wellbeing grows through small acts of attention and care. This collection brings together three beautiful botanical oils that support those moments, helping you create a daily ritual inspired by nature, presence, and ancient wisdom.

A complete Ayurvedic-inspired self-care collection for body, mind, and spirit.

Postage and Packing is £2 for up to three 30ml bottles in the UK.

Due to insurance and liability reasons, we no longer ship our essential oils to the USA or Canada - Sorry!

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Celtic-Inspired Nature Connection Invitations

£10.00

As the seasons change may we pause to meet the turning of the year with wonder.

Celtic-Inspired Nature Connection Ideas offers gentle, creative ways to deepen your relationship with the living world around you — through seasonal reflection, simple rituals, and nature-based practices inspired by Celtic tradition.

Whether you are looking for a meaningful gift, a companion for your own practice, or a way to mark the longest day with more intention, this book invites you to slow down, step outside, and listen.

Celebrate the light. Honour the land. Reconnect with the natural world.

This 40 page perfect-bound book is A5 in size and contains 16 Celtic-Inspired nature connection invitations including: Spiritually Engaging with a Tree; Becoming One with the Earth; The Cailleach’s Stone; Thin Places; Appeasing the Sídhe; and one for each of the four ‘Cross-Quarter’ days - Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh.

There is also an overview of ‘The Celtic Calendar’ and how and why nature played such an important role in Celtic culture.

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Nature as a Guide: A Pathway to Mental and Emotional Health and Wellbeing

from £12.00

Find guidance, resilience, and wellbeing through the wisdom of nature.

This practical 64-page workbook combines nature connection activities, mindfulness practices, and reflective exercises to help you improve your mental and emotional wellbeing. Discover how the lessons found in trees, seasons, landscapes, and natural processes can support personal growth, resilience, and positive change. Includes access to more than 30 additional nature connection activities, articles, and downloadable resources.

Nature has been guiding and supporting human wellbeing for countless generations. This workbook is an invitation to step outside, slow down, and rediscover the wisdom that has been waiting for you all along.

Nature as a Guide: A Pathway to Mental and Emotional Health and Wellbeing

In a world that often encourages us to move faster, achieve more, and spend less time outdoors, nature offers a different invitation. It invites us to slow down, notice, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters.

Nature as a Guide is a practical and inspiring workbook designed to support your mental and emotional wellbeing through nature connection, mindfulness, and gentle self-reflection. Drawing upon the wisdom found in woodlands, landscapes, seasons, and natural processes, this workbook encourages you to discover how the natural world can become a trusted companion on your journey towards greater resilience, balance, and wellbeing.

Across its pages, you will find thought-provoking exercises, reflective questions, and nature-based activities that help you explore where you are in life, where you would like to be, and how nature's patterns and metaphors can illuminate the way forward. From learning resilience through the changing seasons to finding inspiration in the quiet strength of trees, the workbook helps translate nature's lessons into meaningful insights for everyday life.

Whether you are experiencing stress, navigating change, seeking greater self-understanding, or simply longing to deepen your relationship with the natural world, this workbook offers practical tools and gentle guidance to support your journey.

As an added resource, the book includes access to more than 30 additional nature connection activities, articles, and downloadable materials, enabling you to continue exploring and developing your own relationship with nature long after you have completed the workbook.