Outdoors, surrounded by nature, we often feel more connected and at the same time find our way back to our own center more easily. The beauty and abundance that surround us, especially in spring and summer, can be deeply impressive. A walk in the forest or simply being mindful among plants and trees are very easy ways to let go of thoughts and ground yourself more in the here and now.
What if you could experience nature even more intensely? The singing bowl can help you connect with nature even more deeply. To inspire you to use your singing bowl outdoors more often, we would like to share a simple guide to a singing bowl meditation in nature with you in this article.
1. Preparing for the singing bowl meditation in nature
Pack your singing bowl and mallet safely in a bag. A special singing bowl case or a singing bowl pouch is best suited for this. A singing bowl cushion or a felt coaster for your singing bowl can also be helpful, but is not a must.
You don't have a singing bowl and matching mallet yet?
For beginners who want to dive even deeper into working with sound in the future, we recommend the Peter Hess® Universal Bowl. If you mainly want to use the singing bowl for meditation, the Peter Hess® Sangha Meditation Singing Bowl can also be a good alternative. As a matching mallet, the soft felt mallet from Hess Sound is suitable for beginners and advanced users alike.
2. Finding a beautiful place in nature
Look for a quiet, green place in nature that especially appeals to you today. This can be a park near you, a forest or your own garden. Which trees and plants do you particularly like? Which scents do you find especially pleasant? Trust your first intuition completely and follow your feeling. Once you have found a place, set yourself up with your blanket, your singing bowl and anything else you have brought so that you can stay here comfortably for a while.
3. Placing the singing bowl
Find a comfortable, upright sitting position and place the singing bowl in front of you on the ground or on your cushion or coaster. You should be able to reach the singing bowl easily with your mallet without leaving your upright sitting position or stretching your arm out too far. Now close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to center yourself and become calm.
4. Finding your grounding
Imagine releasing more and more weight toward the ground. Your hips become heavy, and the connection between your legs and the ground becomes ever fuller. Your inhalation can help you focus, and with your exhalation you can release more and more weight toward the earth. Perhaps the image of a tree slowly sending its roots deeper and deeper into the earth will help you. Feel the grounding and how it strengthens your connection to your surroundings.
When you are ready, slowly open your eyes and consciously take in the beauty of nature around you. Let your gaze wander gently over the lush green of the leaves and the vibrant colors. Notice the scent that surrounds you and how the air touches your skin.
5. Connecting with nature through a mantra
If it feels right for you, you can focus on individual plants, trees or elements and repeat this mantra quietly or out loud a few times:
“I see the beauty of nature in every detail.”
Let your gaze rest on the tree or plant until you have taken in all its splendor.
6. Including your singing bowl
Now bring your attention to the singing bowl in front of you. Look at it with appreciation and notice its shape, its texture and the light reflected by it. If it feels more comfortable for you, you can also place the singing bowl on the heel of your hand. Take the mallet in your hand and gently strike the singing bowl at the upper rim. Feel the gentle vibrations and the sounds spreading around you. Strike the singing bowl again as soon as the sound has faded.
7. Connecting sound and nature
Consciously notice how the sound flows out into the vastness of nature. Focus on details in your surroundings and observe them with particular attention. This can be a single leaf moving in the wind, the strong trunk of a tree or a blossom that especially appeals to you right now. Take in the full beauty of your environment. You can also briefly close your eyes again and again to bring your attention back to yourself and your grounding.
8. Letting body, sound and nature become one
Feel how the sound of the singing bowl flows into you and the vibrations spread through your body. More and more, you absorb the vibrations of the singing bowl and let them flow through your whole being.
Now imagine your body itself becoming a singing bowl and the nature around you beginning to resonate. You now consciously give the vibrations you have absorbed from your singing bowl back to your surroundings. Stay with this image for a few minutes until you can perceive the steady flow of energies more and more.
Now listen to the sounds of nature: the singing of the birds, the rustling of the leaves, the rushing of the wind. Let the sound of the singing bowl merge with the natural sounds of your surroundings. Feel how the sound of the singing bowl enhances the liveliness and energy of nature and deepens your connection with it. Let the calm and harmony of the natural surroundings permeate you and enjoy being one with nature.
9. Ending the singing bowl meditation in nature
Strike the singing bowl one last time and let the tones fade away. Now bring your focus back to your breath. Breathe in and out evenly through your nose a few times while you once again attentively listen to the sounds of nature around you.
Before you open your eyes again, take a moment to notice what has changed and what you have experienced during the singing bowl meditation in nature.
Connecting with nature regularly helps you find more calm and serenity. You can gain better access to your inspiration and get in touch with your inner wisdom. Above all, consciously connecting with our natural surroundings reminds us that we are never separate from one another and are in constant interaction with each other. If we take good care of our environment, we are also taking good care of ourselves. The singing bowl meditation in nature can help you remember this again and again, to perceive the needs of your environment better and to act accordingly.
