Moss and Lichen
~Nervous system support~
Now more than ever, supporting our nervous system is so important.
Forest Park is one of my favorite parks in Portland. It’s unique because it’s located inside the city. It’s one of the largest urban forests in the U.S. with 5,200 acres and over than 70 miles (113km) of trails.
I love wondering through the trees and connecting with the natural world. It always reminds me of the movie FernGully. Every time I visit the park, I am transported into a magical, mystical world. I imagine tiny forest creatures and faeries running around when humans aren’t around. I couldn’t imagine Forest Park without the moss, lichen, and algae.
Recently, in my NW Herbs class, we learned how moss and lichen are a big part of the forest ecosystem. We created what I call a “nervous system support,” using natural elements like wood, lichen, moss, and anything else we found in nature. Now I have a piece of the forest’s calm, healing energy in my home!
The rainy season has arrived in Portland, so now my lichen creation can be watered naturally outdoors, although it stays alive and vibrant all year round with just some misting during the dry months. It can be a beautiful and grounding centerpiece that reminds me of Forest Park every time I look at it.
What is nervous system support?
For me, it’s anything that grounding and slows me down, reminding me to breathe, offering calm and stillness amongst the chaos of daily life. Observing, touching, and BEing with the moss and lichen creation, I find a similar peacefulness.
What are lichens?
Lichens play such a big role in supporting the ecosystem. They provide oxygen and support life in obscure places that otherwise would not thrive, like in tree bark and rocks.
They’re created from the symbiotic relationship between the algae and fungi.
What is symbiosis?
It’s about harmony and balance. Rooted, calm, and majestic, this is why nature is our greatest teacher. Being in nature’s presence is very grounding and healing for our nervous system. It’s about co-creating with rather than resisting against, in a delicate dance. When we allow ourselves to tune-in fully, to use all our senses, to see, hear, feel and even sense beyond the ordinary, with our sixth sense, our intuition, we can begin to understand her language. It’s more of a feeling than something you can put into words. Through nature, we learn balance, and ultimately, we learn about ourselves.
In what ways do YOU like to support your nervous system?
