Rewild Yourself by Simon Barnes

23 spellbinding ways to make Nature more visible

Hi, I’m Sue and I write about the beauty and ingenuity of Nature, and how we can deepen our connection for our optimum health and wellbeing. Discover more Nature-inspired content on Spiral Leaf, Twitter and my video Nature Channel.

Rewild Yourself is a small book packed with treasures where journalist and author, Simon Barnes, encourages us to appreciate the natural world around us by developing a mindful and deep connection with Nature.

Each chapter is introduced with quotes from story tellers such as C S Lewis, Rudyard Kipling, James Joyce and J K Rowling to capture a sense of magic, mystery and adventure that runs throughout the book.

Simon shares many ideas and practices for the novice and those looking for inspiration to return to Nature. It's a great resource for learning about the great outdoors and trying out new things in the wilder places.

Subjects includes observing and naming common species and birds as a way to become more familiar with wild things and boost motivation to spend more time outdoors; realising the magic of waterproof trousers that can give us access to Nature in all topographies and weathers; what to love about snakes and animal dung; and the joys of early rising and reading secret signs.

It is true that when we purposefully pay attention to the intricacies of our natural surroundings, we unlock the opportunity to experience the joy of unexpected delights that Nature generously bestows upon us.

One of my favourite ideas in Rewild Yourself is the Bottomless Sit. I can vouch for the fact that there is nothing quite like finding the perfect place to relax for a while and lose yourself in Nature. This is especially satisfying if you have walked a fair way or have discovered a beautiful place which is less visited and off the beaten track.

Simon brings two magical things together by saying: The spell of the bottomless sit works well when combined with the spell of the magic waterproof trousers [or dry-bag]. He recommends introducing the practice in easy stages where you need to keep going until you reach a moment when the urge to move decreases. This is when you start to notice the birds and watch them in the hope that something wonderful will turn up such as a Kingfisher, an Otter, a Badger, a Dragonfly or another such privileged sighting.

I love that a whole chapter is dedicated to the art of sitting still, moving slowly and melding into the landscape so that normal life can resume around you having initially disturbed the peace on arrival. By becoming invisible, things quickly return to normal and one by one, all kinds of animals, birds and wildlife start to appear.

Another idea is time travel where we can experience an entirely new and magical world by using the wake-up function on our phones to get up at an ealier time than we are used to. We know that getting out into daylight first thing in the morning helps us to keep our circadian rhythm in check during the darker days of Winter and this applies to the rest of the year as well.  

Rising early in the Spring means we can watch the sunrise and listen to the Dawn Chorus at the same time. In the British Isles, the best time to listen to our birds as they wake up one by one to sing their hearts out is on the first of May.

As Simon says, it is the biggest and most important song of the day that says, I’m still here, I’m still alive and I’m still in my prime, and all around and on every side the answer comes back, and so am I!’

Simon rightly says that this is one of the biggest wildlife miracles open to us here in the British Isles. I am fortunate to be able to listen to the birds as soon as I wake up living so close to the tallest of trees but I must admit when I go out to watch the sunrise and listen to the dawn chorus, I am reminded that there is nothing quite like it and I should do this much more often throughout the year.

Simon provides many practical ways to enjoy Nature from travelling the hidden roads, looking beyond the edge of the Earth, penetrating darkness, reading secret signs, regaining lost senses, walking for health and finding fantastic beasts in the wild.

I particularly like how conscious he is of the fact that it is not always possible to go outside and explore Nature in the kind of wild places he talks about. The book is written in such as way that places you there in your imagination with suggested ideas on how you can take part wherever you happen to be at that moment of time..

One thing is for sure, appreciating Nature is a personal and ongoing journey. It’s about developing a deep and heartfelt connection with the world around us. The more we immerse ourselves and actively engage, the more profound our appreciation is likely to be.

Here are some recommendations found in the book on how to cultivate a greater appreciation for Nature:

• Spend more time outdoors

• Practice meditation and mindfulness

• Observe wildlife closely

• Learn more about Nature

• Keep a journal or field study book

• Disconnect from technology

• Be aware of the changing seasons

• Do not disturbe and leave no trace

• Spend time on your own in Nature

• Explore Nature-based hobbies

• Contribute to conservation and community projects

• Practice gratitude for natural things and wildlife

• Be creative and let Nature inspire you

Rewild Yourself is an enjoyable read and insightful reference book that provides lots of ideas on how to get closer to Nature by paying greater attention to the wonders of the natural world.

Thank you for reading and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

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Rewild Yourself - 23 Spellbinding Ways to Make Nature More Visible by Simon Barnes

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