Autumn. Leaves color in reds, oranges and yellows. Nuts and seeds ripen and fall on the damp forest floor. Naturally followed by the leaves, carried by a fresh autumn breeze, swirling down.
Is there a more beautiful time to lie on your back in the woods and take a bath? Being literally immersed in scents and colors?

When Anuscka had quite severe lower back pain in July 2018, just before we moved permanently from The Netherlands to Denmark, she benefited greatly from meditation in the forest. She wrote this about it:

We lie on our backs on a patch of grass among tall trees and look up. All sorts of things are flying through the air. Thick bumblebees and dragonflies, swooping swallows, dandelion fluff, an airplane on its way to a distant destination, gossamer silver threads of a spider, patches of clouds, butterflies chasing each other, a buzzard. Most you only see, some you also hear.

The swaying treetops create an ever-changing light on the ground. The shadow play is almost hallucinatory. Everywhere rustles and everything seems to be moving. With a little imagination, a gnome suddenly shuffles out from behind a tree stump, or a nimble forest elf dances on a branch.

We have been lying here for half an hour now, and the beneficial effect such an environment has on body and mind is already becoming noticeable.

- o -

Shinrin-Yoku

Japanese have known this for a long time, and have a name for it: Shinrin-Yoku. The word shinrin means forest, and the word yoku stands for absorbing the atmosphere through your senses. We call it in proper Dutch "bosbaden" forest bathing. For years it has been the ultimate 'secret' in Japan to - now scientifically proven - living a healthier, calmer and happier life.
Through Shinrin-Yoku you reconnect with nature in many ways. Consciously spending time in nature can lower your blood pressure, relieve stress and strengthen your immune system. Also, "forest bathing" can boost your energy, creativity and concentration.

Have you ever taken a forest bath?

General info on this artwork

The artwork 'Healing Forest (2)' is a new work in my collection 'Secret Places'. It is a digital transformation of a photograph. Printed on order with high-quality ink on museum-quality, acid-free cotton/rag paper (Hahnemühle Photo Rag® 308gsm). The work comes in a limited edition of 10, signed and with a certificate of authenticity. But of course, it is also available as Open Edition print, without signature and not numbered. Available in any size you desire !

Maximum size is 225Wx150H cm / 90Wx60H inches, any size available up to that maximum. So please let me know the size you would prefer.

I start with one or more photographs made by myself to create these artworks. Then I use digital painting, color adjusting and adding and transforming multiple artistic textures and effects. I do this until there is a surreal atmosphere that touches me and tells the story I want to tell you.

Prints of 'Healing Forest (2)' are available, please contact me for a quote. Available in any size you desire ! Prices starting at €55 / US$60.
And available in my Saatchi Art portfolio at the artwork page. But of course I can upload a limited edition in any other size.

And here are some more artworks in the Secret Places collection you might like:

ALL WE NEED IS LESS CONSUMING

Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…

So do you want to know your ecological footprint? 

Then visit this website: https://www.footprintcalculator.org/home/en 

And do you want to reduce your ecological footprint?

Then ask me, I will help you. For free. Or simply visit my website and choose in the menu for Your Footprint.

And if you appreciate my writings and art and want to support me, you can buy me a piece of fruit here: https://ko-fi.com/jacobberghoef, thank you 🍏 !

So are you interested in more? Then read what I wrote about System Change, Man's impact on the earth, Organic Change, Regenerative Agriculture, Regeneration