Self-Love Challenge - Day 19

Hug a Tree with Intention:

Today’s self-love challenge is to go outside and hug a tree with intention (I’ll explain what this means to me). I know that depending on where you live, it is really cold out, but it is worth the effort!

I remember reading a book that recommended that, at night, we should leave our problems outside our home, by leaving them with a tree and saying that we would pick it up in the morning. But by the morning, we would have forgotten to pick it up, or they would have lessened and we would go on with our day less worried. I don’t remember which book, and if you know it, please leave a comment below.

Although the idea of letting the problems outside my home appealed to me, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my problems with a tree - “poor tree” I used to think. I know that tree hugging sure is healing, so I developed an extra step to make me feel at peace with it, and that’s what I call “hugging a tree with intention”. Every time my energy is feeling off, or I’m carrying some pain that I’m unable to shift for whatever reason, I make a point to hug a tree. Instead of simply sending the energy to the tree, I visualize the tree taking that energy, and sending it through its roots into the earth, so that it can be transformed. And I see the energy being returned as love for the tree and for myself. It always helps to shift my energy and to release whatever is stuck inside. If you don't have anything to release today, while hugging the tree, send it love and receive it back.

If you are shy, or if you think this is too weird, start experimenting with just touching a tree, placing both hands on it, or just one hand, and sensing how it feels. If you have a chance to go to the park, just stand still for a while, and sense which tree to hug. You could also invite your spouse and/or children, and/or a friend to go with you. This way you are not alone hugging trees. 😉 If you do bring someone with you, make sure to take pictures of each other and post them on Facebook.