30 Ways to Practice Whimsy in Nature
Small invitations to find wonder in the wild
Whimsy is Trending for Good Reason
Whimsy is trending and I’m all for it. This makes perfect sense. We’re in the middle of a slow collapse during late-stage capitalism, things can feel heavy. Last week, I wrote about going on a news diet because we are inundated with negativity. Everyone is feeling inflation, the economic downturn and the stifled job market. AI is taking jobs while increasing global warming with its huge data centers. We are at war for reasons no one fully understands.
This is why we need whimsy.
When I think of whimsy, I think of doing something for the sake of joy, beauty and fun without commodification, purpose or productivity. Very anti-capitalist. AI sucks at being whimsical. Whimsy is light, regenerative and refreshing when we need it most.
Forest Bathing
As a Nature Therapy Guide, my job is to take people into green spaces and give them invitations full of whimsy that allow them to connect more mindfully with the more-than-human world. This is called forest bathing from the Japanese translation shinrin yoku. There is not actually bathing involved, though I guess there could be if the invitation calls for it. Forest bathing and mindfully spending time in the natural world calms the nervous system, relaxes, heals and restores us. Whimsy has a similar effect of uplifting our spirits with simple gestures of joy.
Whimsy in Nature
So here is a list of whimsical things to do in green spaces. Please add your own whimsical ideas in the comments below so we can keep a good list going. Remember to practice common sense, land ethics and safety when in wild places.
In the rain or snow, tilt back your head, open your mouth and stick out your tongue.
Scan the ground for treasures like a cool shell, fallen leaf or twig to take home and place in a special spot to admire.
Look for animal tracks and if you find them, follow to see where they go.
Inhale deeply and name all that you smell.
Splash in puddles or mud. Get dirty.
Explore your environment with touch. Touch everything you are curious about and notice what textures you like.
Pick a color and look for everything in that color you can find.
Greet every insect you see from bee to spider with a cheerful hello.
Hug a tree, notice how your nervous system shifts.
Sing to a flower, share your current favorite song. Notice how the flower reacts.
Gather items that interest you from trash to pinecones to lichen and create an altar to the earth beside the trail for others to find.
Wander off trail, let your heart sense guide you. I wonder what you’ll find.
Find a seed like acorn, pinecone, or dried flower or grass and plant it in a special place with a good intention for the land.
Find a body of water and let your fingers skim the surface. Maybe take off your shoes and dip your feet.
Build a sandcastle.
Build a snowman.
Draw pictures or words in the dirt with a stick.
Bring your camera and take up-close photos of things that catch your eye.
Close your eyes and listen. See how many sounds you can identify near and far.
Skip.
Eavesdrop on bird songs. See if you can determine if they’re talking about you.
Lie on the ground and watch the clouds. Practice nephelomancy.
Count butterflies.
Climb a tree or boulder.
Build a shelter for a human or fairy.
Nap on a bough or a patch of grass under a tree.
Pick berries and eat them off the bush.
Share water from your canteen with a thirsty plant.
Find a mossy boulder shaped like a chair and sit with it.
Stand facing the wind and let it blow you about. Dance like a tree.
Add your whimsical nature ideas…
Say “pardon me sir,” “lovely to meet you,” and “charmed, I’m sure. Also, “why yes I’d love to dance” before doing a little twirl.
I love “ greeting the insects”! Greet everything that you see, give compliments, make small talk, like you’re at a party with beautiful friendly people.