Derrin joined Nature Beats in it's Year 2 of delivery and has never looked back. She’s now a mentor and has started her outdoor forest school educational instructor journey, while supporting Wild Earth. Here Derrin writes her reflections on Wild Earth experience so far.
Yoga, Relaxation and mindfulness
“Yoga and relaxation has opened me up emotionally and has helped me develop a lot of personal growth. When I feel overwhelmed or anxious in everyday life I remember our sit spots or sensory meditations and I am able to calm myself. I am more in tune with my physical health and feel much more alert daily.
It has affected my life by helping me feel less anxious, surer of myself and feeling more positive than I ever have. Since taking these practices into my life I feel I have grown a lot and I feel healthier for it. I am currently learning to drive and was only brave enough to start because I finally felt self-confident enough through these exercises.
I feel that thanks to the mindfulness I have changed the way I think, and I now rarely have dark or negative thoughts and when I do I can deal with them and carry on with positivity and a bit of motivation.”
Derrin joined Nature Beats in it's Year 2 of dleivery and has never looked back. She’s now a mentor and has started her outdoor forest school educational instructor journey, while supporting Wild Earth. Here Derrin writes her reflections on Wild Earth experience so far.
Yoga, Relaxation and mindfulness
“Yoga and relaxation has opened me up emotionally and has helped me develop a lot of personal growth. When I feel overwhelmed or anxious in everyday life I remember our sit spots or sensory meditations and I am able to calm myself. I am more in tune with my physical health and feel much more alert daily.
It has affected my life by helping me feel less anxious, surer of myself and feeling more positive than I ever have. Since taking these practices into my life I feel I have grown a lot and I feel healthier for it. I am currently learning to drive and was only brave enough to start because I finally felt self-confident enough through these exercises.
I feel that thanks to the mindfulness I have changed the way I think, and I now rarely have dark or negative thoughts and when I do I can deal with them and carry on with positivity and a bit of motivation.”
Filmmaking
“Filmmaking has meant that I have gained the ability to see the world how other people see it, giving me perspective on who they are and how they perceive the world.
Filmmaking has made it easier for me to see beauty from many angles and to sometimes looks at things differently to see what I couldn’t before, it has engaged my love of art and form and encouraged me to experiment with photography and film.
When I first began filmmaking I had very set ideas about how things would look but they very rarely looked how I wanted, now I am able to see a shot better and know how to approach it to get the effect I want. It has increased my awareness of film production and has given me insight on how to edit effectively.”
Music Workshops
“Music workshops have reawakened my love of music which previously had waned over the years and has rekindled my passion for singing. It has allowed me to experiment with new genres and themes and has encouraged my lyric writing again
These sessions have helped me appreciate music more in everyday life, from movies to games I have found myself being drawn but the soundtracks new albums that I previously had no knowledge of. The urge to write music and poetry has returned and I am finding it very positive.
I have sang so much since I started and have performed to a few large crowds again for the first time in years, this has given me so much confidence to keep writing and singing.”
Natural Art
“Natural art sessions have allowed me to tap into my creative side and express myself in a very primitive and raw way, giving me a way to address my own issues and feelings in a way I can understand and enjoy. It has been a very calming and meditative experience.
I have been affected daily by natural art, I notice more beauty and form in any environment and I notice more nature in urban areas. Its has allowed me to try new directions in art and and make new choices when making creative decisions.
I have developed a love for using nature more in my own art and using nature as a muse to produce something that connects us with the earth in different ways. I have enjoyed exploring different medias like leaves and sticks to make things that are simple and beautiful and connect us to our ancestors.”
Bush craft
“Bush craft has given me the chance to work and live like my ancestors. It has taught me patience and many things about the natural world, about myself and the resilience of life.
It has helped me realise my true passion in life and where I want to be in the future.
I have become more mindful towards the planet and the affect modern man has on the planet. It has taught me the impact our intelligence has had on our world and how we need to change to save it for the future. It reminds me to be thankful every day and be kind to others and the environment, as well as trying to live sustainably.
Bush craft has opened my eyes to energies I wasn’t open enough to feel. I believe I listen much more and speak less, I am gentler towards other people and I am far more sympathetic to the damage we are causing to the planet.”
Nature based music
‘Nature based music is a way for me to connect two great loves together and feel like I am part of the earth and the music. Being able to collect the sounds ourselves and hearing the finished piece is such a wonderful journey.
It has affected my every. Day life by helping me connect more with the sounds around me and reminds me music can be made with anything or anyone very simply but very effectively.
Since I started making nature-based music I have begun to listen closer to the birds and every day noises to find rhythms that happen naturally, it has given me a greater love of bird song and identification and I feel better connected to music again.’