One sense that often gets overlooked is how we sense nature with our heart — through emotions, feelings, memories, and inner knowing. We all have an innate ability to connect deeply with nature, but with less practice, we have forgotten how to do this.

Do you feel the emotions arise when you’re in nature? Like the thrill of crashing ocean waves, or murmuration of blackbirds, the colorful explosion of a field of wildflowers, or the heady perfume of jasmine flowers. Over the centuries as we spend less and less time with nature, we’re less able to just BE in and appreciate it. This appreciation can lead to wonder and awe, joy and replenishment, and brings benefits to our body, mind and spirit.

Melinda will guide us through exploring nature with an open-hearted lens with a nature journal. We’ll see how to tap into feeling nature, stimulate the muscles of intuition, and begin listening to nature’s subtle language through our hearts.

Melinda Nakagawa, Spark in Nature is a nature journaling and nature connection mentor who guides her students to cultivate a deeper relationship with the natural world, slowing down to nature’s pace and sensingthe unseen, rather than just looking and labeling.  Her approach bridges science, nature, art and heart to spark awareness, wonder and appreciation in nature.

Melinda has kept nature journals for over 25 years and continues to be sparked with wonder by each journal she fills.  She hosts a monthly online Monterey Bay Nature Journal Club to all, and Spark Circles, an online community forum for nature journaling with guest speakers, collective learning and mutual support as well as online nature journaling courses.

To learn more about Melinda and her classes, and receive her newsletter, go to sparkinnature.com.