When We Slow Down, Nature Meets Us There

Last weekend, I had the privilege of holding my Held by the Summer Sun Retreat in the beautiful South Downs.

Nestled in a bowl of the valley, surrounded by nature, it felt as though we were being held not only by the warmth of the summer sun, but by the landscape itself.

The day was an invitation to slow down, reconnect and simply notice.

Because when we create the space to pause, nature quietly meets us there.

The Landscape That Held Us

Throughout the day, there were so many moments that gently invited us to pay attention.

A family of rabbits darting through the grass sparked a little Watership Down moment. Hares appeared too, keeping just enough distance to watch us as we watched them.

High above us, buzzards soared effortlessly through the sky, while gulls drifted on the summer breeze. A woodpecker busily searched for food beneath the bark of a tree, reminding us that so much of nature’s activity happens just below the surface, often unnoticed.

The willow tree became a beautiful companion throughout our day, its branches moving gently in the breeze, creating ever-changing patterns of light and shadow across the garden.

We watched the clouds drift overhead, noticing their different shapes and stories, and enjoyed a day where the temperature seemed just right ~ warm enough to linger outside without needing to rush anywhere.

Around the garden, fruit trees quietly promised the coming harvest. We discovered an almond tree, something many of us had never knowingly seen before, and tasted the first ripe blackberry of the season.

A tiny moment, but one that reminded us that nature offers her gifts in her own perfect timing.

The Gift of Simply Noticing

One of my favourite moments of the day came during our Just Noticing sharing circle.

We gathered around the fire pit, even though no fire was lit.

We didn’t need one.

The warmth came from the stories, reflections and quiet presence we shared together.

We also took time to choose our own sit spots ~ finding a place to simply be with nature.

To sit.

To watch.

To listen.

To notice.

So often we tell ourselves we don’t have time, yet when we create the space, nature quietly meets us there.

A view from our day held by the summer sun ~ captured beautifully by one of the lovely people who joined me.

EcoNidra Beneath the Willow Tree

One of the most memorable moments of the retreat came during our EcoNidra practice.

Rather than staying inside the geodome, we carried our mats beneath the graceful willow tree.

Some people chose to rest in the warmth of the sunshine, while others settled into the cool shade, each finding exactly the place that felt right for them.

As we reached the Earth Journey, I simply invited everyone to listen to the world around us.

The breeze gently moved through the willow branches.

Birds called across the valley.

Insects hummed quietly in the long grasses.

Then something extraordinary happened.

One participant shared afterwards that it felt as though the breeze had paused at that moment, allowing the sounds of nature to become even clearer.

It was one of those moments you can’t plan and couldn’t recreate if you tried.

The same thing happened during EcoNidra at the lake the previous week. Again, I chose not to play recorded sounds, trusting that nature would provide all that we needed.

And once again, she did.

It reminded me that sometimes the most beautiful soundtrack isn’t one we choose.

It’s the one that is already there, quietly waiting for us to listen.

A Living Reminder From Nature

Lemon balm gently accompanied us throughout the retreat.

It formed the heart of our altar inside the geodome before each person chose their own plant to care for.

We meditated together with the plants, they joined us for our EcoNidra practice, shared our tea ceremony, and at the end of the day each one travelled home with its new guardian.

A living reminder of a day spent slowing down and reconnecting.

Moving Towards the Harvest Season

This invitation to notice has continued into my yoga classes, where we have been exploring loving kindness for the Earth and the gentle transition towards Lammas and the harvest season.

Lammas, traditionally a time of giving thanks for the first harvest, invites us to pause and recognise the abundance around us ~ the fruits ripening, seeds forming and all that the Earth has offered after months of quiet growth.

As we move through late summer, nature reminds us that everything has its own rhythm.

The Earth has been quietly creating, growing and giving all year, and now we are invited to pause and offer our gratitude ~ not only for the beauty around us, but for all that supports and sustains us.

A reminder that we are not separate from nature.

We are part of this beautiful, ever-changing cycle.

Continuing the Practice of Noticing

Since the retreat, I have continued this practice in my own little moments of noticing.

Each morning, as I step outside with my early cup of tea, a robin has been waiting, perched on the edge of one of the garden chairs, as though reminding me to pause before the day begins.

On my walks, I have noticed the first yellowing leaves on the horse chestnut trees ~ tiny hints that although summer still surrounds us, the wheel is already beginning to turn.

Nature is always changing.

The question is...

Are we noticing?

Camomile Lawn ✨🌿💚

Nature-led wellness for body, mind & soul

If you feel called to slow down, reconnect with nature and create space for yourself, you are warmly invited to explore my upcoming nature-led retreats and wellbeing experiences at Camomile Lawn.

https://www.camomile-lawn.com/pages/wellness/events