‘Nature is woman’s best friend,’ she often said. ‘If you’re having troubles, you just swim in the water, stretch out in a field, or look up at the stars. That’s how a woman cures her fears’.

– Fatema Mernissi, Dreams Of Trespass: Tales Of A Harem Girlhood.

Don’t you just love that?

Even though a trip to the shopping mall or a day out with your best friend does wonders to create excitement and get away from it all, there really is nothing equivalent to sitting in nature. Connecting with the earth, soaking your feet in fresh sea water or fluttering around your garden and collecting a handful of daffodils. Whether its feeling the freshness of home grown vegetables or sensing the earth’s energy revitalise your soul through the tingling beneath your soles, one fact stood the test of time: there is an infinite healing in nature.

Is it any surprise that the Prophet (peace be upon Him) spent hours and days encompassed  by the mountain of Cave Hira?

I’ve found that whenever I’m feeling stressed or out of balance, escaping to hidden, lush parks, riversides and even a quieter neighbourhood (away from the city) is like therapy. It’s pretty hard to feel sad when your lying under the stars in Morocco or ascending the magnificent mountains of Arabia. Though back at home, London life is such that where surrounded by tall buildings, skyscrapers and city lights (which look beautiful in the dark). Even though I love exploring the city especially at night, nothing could be better than gazing at the sky on a cold, crispy evening whilst eating gelato!

It’s healing and it’s grounding. When you walk a little closer to the sea and feel the waves gushing through your feet, it’s as though all other problems you have become non-existent. Our bodies need that connection with the earth – it doesn’t have to be staggering. It’s as simple as bringing in fresh flowers for you home, growing your own salad leaves in your balcony or planting roses on your windowsill.

Lastly, our souls BLOSSOM from that connection with the earth. Our souls thrive in nature. I realised this after visiting my grandmothers house which is situated in a really peaceful area, a minute away from the riverside and lots of greenery. Upon going there, I instantly felt much lighter, as though a burden had been lifted. A burden that I didn’t even know existed. I didn’t  realise how tense and strained my body was until seeing how free it could be!

Simple, grounding suggestions to include regularly: Just a few pointers: 1) Company matters. You could be in the most dingiest hotel but if your with the right people, it could be the most perfect experience ever. 2) It’s the simple things.

– Walking under the twinkling stars on a cold, crispy night and holding tightly onto the arms of the man you love and resting yourself ever so gently on his body.

– Playing with your children under the beaming sun, letting their innocent feet touch, feel and roam the grass beneath them. It’s a moment of laughter and sunshine.

– Planting and harvesting with your grandmother. Really digging into the soil, getting your hands dirty and letting that heal you.

– Going to the farmers market with your aunts and cousins, exploring all the organic and local produce. Fresh, whole foods infused with vitamin love are healing for your body too.

– Time by yourself in nature, maybe a walk in a secret garden or swinging in your local park. That time alone is so rejuvenating. Particularly early morning.

This is an ayah in which Allah describes nature, which I think is so beautiful:

“And it is He who sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby the growth of all things. We produce from it greenery from which We produce grains arranged in layers. And from the palm trees – of its emerging fruit are clusters hanging low. And [We produce] gardens of grapevines and olives and pomegranates, similar yet varied. Look at [each of] its fruit when it yields and [at] its ripening. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.” (Qur’an, 6:99)

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