… creating space for the development of an ecological being’ness

A nature practice involves making space in our lives for an intentional and relational engagement with and amongst nature. It can be a deeply nourishing practice that supports the development of an embodied nature-relatedness which can evolve how we feel, cultivate the way in which we think, and inspire our attachment to the web of life. As we acclimatise to being amongst the living world our capacity to attune grows: we notice more, become more mindful, and over time our relationship with the more-than-human is profoundly deepened. Attuning in this way fosters an embodied state of being, offers up wisdom, and invites a shift in our perspective of the animals we are within the ecological web.

Into The Heartwood delivers a series of immersive, outdoor, seasonal sessions, supporting the development of a nature-relatedness through the facilitation of embodied mindfulness exercises, environmental expressive arts, and practices in participant’s local land between sessions. Working with the processes involved in Rites (such as thresholds between severance, liminal space and incorporation), sensing into the reciprocity of your relationship with the living earth, and allowing your own unique creative voice to express and respond is the bedrock of the nature practice offered here. Approaches that underpin this work include eco-psychology, eco-philosophy, environmental expressive arts, rites of passage and somatic mindfulness.

This process begins during winter (when applications open) and, entering into the growthful arc of spring, summer and autumn, offers an intentional and emergent ecological practice that holds at its centre the query, who am I in nature? By getting curious about this focus - amongst others - through process focused exercises, ritual and ecological arts (such as environmental arts, movement, sound, the written word), we open ourselves to a rich experience that can also support a personal and professional development. Working together, amongst the more-than-human-world, leads to an expansion of relationship and awareness that is inclusive and supports an ecological and embodied intelligence. Working creatively offers an opportunity to process through this ecological mindset, garnering greater understanding, expression and communication. Entering into a reciprocal relationship with the living world we offer back our gratitude, understanding and creativity.

Through engaging in Into The Heartwood process, we can cultivate..

·         a somatic mindfulness

·         a vital aliveness

·         an embodied state

·         our animate selves

·         a deepened sensory awareness

·         an engagement with creative expression that is free of value-judgement

·         an intentional engagement with the more than human world

·         an altered pace

·         a reciprocal relationship with the natural world

·         working in alignment with the seasonal turning of the earth

·         our appreciation, respect and care for other species and living organisms

·         a deep love

·         a sense of a shared self

Into The Heartwood is CPD for human relations practitioners who take their work outdoors, or are wanting to develop an ecological practice to support their work. This offering is to foster a personal nature-relatedness practice which is supported naturally by sensory (and therefore creative) exploration. This is not a supervision, therapy, or a training in how to take your practice outside, but will be a personal underpinning to your professional practice.

Application for sessions in 2026

Please contact me via email (see below) and we’ll arrange a brief chat on the phone. Following this, I’ll send you a booking forms and further information. Please complete and return along with your fee and this will book your place on the workshop.

Fees

£75 for the taster day workshop (the two dates are stand alone one day workshops)

Payment via BACS

Into the Heartwood 2026 (dates yet to be confirmed

Into the Heartwood Taster day workshops

If you are interested and would like to attend a taster day, I am running one day taster workshops in 2025. Please got to https://www.natashasephton.com/nature-basedcpdworkshops for more information.

It is urgently understood that our species’ separation from nature is having very serious consequences on many levels. Restoring our relational position within the living earth feels like an appropriate response to our world in these times, providing the opportunity to develop a healthier affiliation with the natural world, as well as our own beings.