As you may have read, at the start of May, I was unwell and in the hospital. Being unwell continued for the entire month, and gradually, I am returning to my old self. It was mental health awareness month, and despite a hectic work schedule with lots of travel, I slowed down. I still met my commitments, but as I physically slowed down, what I noticed was how my mind, too, felt it had more space.
My passion is running, and I had strict instructions from the doctor that this was not allowed. Instead, I took long walks across Tring Park. I love walking, so this has not been a frustration. Because I have been at a slower pace, I have taken in more of my surroundings and surprised myself by noticing the trees. Of course, they have always been there, but having headspace allowed me to really notice them. Then, last Sunday, I was walking through one of the forest paths when I had this real urge to go and hug a tree.
I know what you are thinking, reader. It seems a little ‘out there’, maybe a little woo-woo. If you follow me on socials, you know I am all about trying holistic practices, not always those strongly grounded in science. There is some context here as to why tree-hugging was in my head. I read Emerald + Tiger’s newsletter the previous week, which was all about tree wisdom and the upcoming Summer Solstice on June 20th.
I’m guessing this knowledge was buried in my brain because the idea of hugging a tree was front and centre as I walked down the tree-lined path. A voice popped into my mind for a second, “Are you sure you want to do this? Isn’t it a little weird?” but I ignored it. I wasn’t sure about the merits of how to choose which tree to hug. Is there a technique to this? I went with gut intuition, looking around to see which tree was calling me. I wanted one free from ivy crawling around it. The tree I picked seemed to have a pull as a good hugger.
The first thing I did was to make sure no dog walkers were about to walk past me. I would have died if they saw me. I had spotted some earlier behind me, but I was all alone. I approached the tree, greeted it, and gently put my arms around it.
Wow.
I was surprised at how it felt like it was hugging me back. I leaned in even harder and closed my eyes. It felt comforting. I felt held. I have never experienced anything like it. After I had given it a big hug, I felt very emotional and got a little teary, which completely surprised me. I was feeling okay before the tree-hugging started. I took a moment before walking on, almost immediately coming across two men walking a dog. I am glad I had stopped tree-hugging before they walked past me. Can you imagine, “Morning, don’t worry about me. I’m just hanging out here hugging a tree!”.
I reached the fields and started walking down a slope. Nobody was there except the rabbits eating breakfast, who had little interest in a tree-hugger. I came across another tree I liked the look of and thought, “Why not let’s give it another go?” I did the same but felt light and happy with this tree. I laughed out loud. This tree was giving off a different energy. I thanked both trees for allowing me to hug them and hold me.
If I had the time, I would have meditated against the tree or journaled on what had come up. This will be something I will do next time, allowing space to stop and think. In fact, on Friday, I chose to do my Instagram live teaching breathwork and journal prompts from underneath an old tree (this is where I need to learn the types of trees). Being close and connected to nature felt wonderful whilst engaging in these positive psychology interventions.
I know you’re thinking, “Okay, Coops, what is the science behind tree hugging?”.
When we hug a tree, our brain releases the happy hormone oxytocin, the hormone of love and trust, and all the warm fuzzy feelings. Naturally, being outside and being with nature is particularly good for our mental health. Dr Stone Kraushaar, PhD, a clinical psychologist known as The Hug Doctor, suggests that we hug (each other or trees) for a minimum of 21 seconds to benefit from the increased release of oxytocin and the many benefits of hugging kick in—improved immune system, reduced stress, lower blood pressure, better sleep patterns, and much more. Also, hugging is a form of meditation because it is about being present in the moment.
The Biophilia Effect is often cited as a reason why being in nature is good for us. Humans subconsciously connect to environments inhabited by plants and animals rooted in biology and evolution. Some studies show that people who hug trees feel calmer and more relaxed than those who do not. Research has also shown that hugging trees helps reduce stress, as measured by the cortisol levels in the saliva, which lowers blood pressure and heart rate.
As I touched the tree's bark, it felt rough under my hands. It was gnarled and reminded me of tough old skin. Despite its appearance, it felt comforting. Although the bark was hard, it held its secrets and magic. It was a protector. What surprised me with my research is that trees emit immunity-boosting antimicrobial essential oils, as tree bark has the properties of terpenes. Exposure to this specific kind of phytoncides has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety and improve mood. The proximity to the tree bark means that when you embrace a tree, you maximise the ability to inhale these beneficial molecules. Who knew tree bark was magical?
Trees are rooted in various cultural, spiritual, and environmental practices. I am reading a beautiful book called The Bleeding Tree: A Pathway through Grief Guided by Forests, Folk Tales and the Ritual Year, in which the author, Hollie Starling, shares beautiful folk-inspired stories about trees as part of her memoir. The first is about the Burial Tree, which is based on how trees play an important role in the funeral customs of several Filipino ethnic groups. For the Caviteño people near Manila, trees serve as burial spots for the dead. It is fascinating to think there is this rich history and storytelling through trees. As a fantasy film geek, I also thought about the trees in Lord of the Rings, from the fictional Mallorn Trees used as great tree houses and the Ents who greatly resemble trees and were shepherds of certain forests. Further research, I discovered Tolkien was a lover of trees in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 165 (1955)
"I am (obviously) much in love with plants and above all trees, and always have been and I find human maltreatment of them as hard to bear as some find ill-treatment of animals."
This is where you find me—someone who has immersed themselves in the world of trees. I love being a little slower and noticing more. I am much better now and don’t want to lose this awareness of being more present. I want to expand on it and absorb it by seeing what interests me and what else I can be curious about in my surroundings. I always say things happen for a reason, and my body in May gave me a different lens to view the world.
I would love to hear if you’re a tree hugger 🌳 Maybe you’re a sceptic or a little curious! If anyone has any tree wisdom, I would love to read it in the comments.
Until next week.
Take care,
Coops.
Aww I loved this. I have found myself hugging a tree on a few occasions whilst walking my dog. There is something so lovely about it. My kids thought I was weird at first! Be well coops x
I'm not a tree hugger but I am a knee hugger, grown up children hugger, grandchildren and extended family hugger and, occasionally, husband hugger. I say occasionally, because, after nearly 50 years of a "we don't hold hands" type of marriage, hugging is a fairly recent phenomenon!