We have all found that that we benefit physically, emotionally, mentally and creatively from the’ DIL days’ and, although words can't do it justice, we have identified these reasons why:
The process of attuning to nature with a sense of no pressure accesses an attuning to the self.
Working outside in nature for a whole day feels good for our lungs, as if we wake up every cell of the body, becoming more present and alive.
Being part of a core group and a practice that is consistent supports us in our everyday lives.
Being in nature is significant as we experience it as holding the potent essence of creativity, embodying the cycles of life, death and rebirth/regeneration.
Getting to know the place we return to through all the seasons, weathers, and changes has such resonance with the body, the self, and the nature of healing.
We not only move creatively but also may write, draw, take photos and teach ourselves about the landscape. We find that creativity itself is a threshold into healing, as well as being a vessel to hold a journey of healing. We then take what we learn into our own individual practices as artists and health practitioners.
The process of attuning to nature with a sense of no pressure accesses an attuning to the self.
Working outside in nature for a whole day feels good for our lungs, as if we wake up every cell of the body, becoming more present and alive.
Being part of a core group and a practice that is consistent supports us in our everyday lives.
Being in nature is significant as we experience it as holding the potent essence of creativity, embodying the cycles of life, death and rebirth/regeneration.
Getting to know the place we return to through all the seasons, weathers, and changes has such resonance with the body, the self, and the nature of healing.
We not only move creatively but also may write, draw, take photos and teach ourselves about the landscape. We find that creativity itself is a threshold into healing, as well as being a vessel to hold a journey of healing. We then take what we learn into our own individual practices as artists and health practitioners.
A dil writes of her own experience:
Some personal reflection on DiL and healing in relation to my own practice as a dance artist:
DiL is for me a treasured part of my unfolding journey of embodied practice. I continue to cultivate sensory awareness and ways to open the senses to nature more and more.
Immersion in nature over prolonged time can catalyse deep healing. Time and time again I have both witnessed and experienced how this can lead to both a release of deeply held grief and a great sense of communion with the Earth/nature and with others.
Moving into the body is parallel with moving into the Earth – so much opens up. There is much healing potential in this.
(re)learning about natural patterns and cycles is healing in itself, as is taking the time to simply ‘be’ in place.
I love to learn about the constant embrace of gravity and how so much of life is in dialogue with this.
The repeated structure of walking, over all the seasons, pretty much the same walk, that leads into moving in a familiar landscape helps us get to know the place and ourselves more and more. We have a container for our exporession, our physical conversation with place and each other, our healing. It is grounding. It is of great support in a world full of pressure to disconnect from nature, disconnect from our inner landscapes.
In moving, there is a point where the bodymind becomes fluent in a creative, healing energy that is beyond words, that is other than words. DiL is so valuable to me as one of my nature-focussed practices that hold me in my explorations of this, and in my facilitation of its possibilities for others.
Some personal reflection on DiL and healing in relation to my own practice as a dance artist:
DiL is for me a treasured part of my unfolding journey of embodied practice. I continue to cultivate sensory awareness and ways to open the senses to nature more and more.
Immersion in nature over prolonged time can catalyse deep healing. Time and time again I have both witnessed and experienced how this can lead to both a release of deeply held grief and a great sense of communion with the Earth/nature and with others.
Moving into the body is parallel with moving into the Earth – so much opens up. There is much healing potential in this.
(re)learning about natural patterns and cycles is healing in itself, as is taking the time to simply ‘be’ in place.
I love to learn about the constant embrace of gravity and how so much of life is in dialogue with this.
The repeated structure of walking, over all the seasons, pretty much the same walk, that leads into moving in a familiar landscape helps us get to know the place and ourselves more and more. We have a container for our exporession, our physical conversation with place and each other, our healing. It is grounding. It is of great support in a world full of pressure to disconnect from nature, disconnect from our inner landscapes.
In moving, there is a point where the bodymind becomes fluent in a creative, healing energy that is beyond words, that is other than words. DiL is so valuable to me as one of my nature-focussed practices that hold me in my explorations of this, and in my facilitation of its possibilities for others.