May's Art Practice: Introducing Tree of The Month Club

An excuse to spend some dedicated, restful, and creative time outside

While on silent retreat, two incredible things shifted…

The small twang of the bell in the pre-morning darkness was jarring enough to rouse even the most unshakable meditators. The normally quiescent space shifts slowly into the sound of shuffling, sleepily towards the door for the first 45 minute sitting meditation practice of the day. Over the course of thirty days, it became increasingly obvious to me which activities would wind my nervous system up (and interrupt my sleep at night) versus which activities would gently purr my nervous system back down into a state of ease and contentment (and how those nights, I slept most soundly).

This past February, 30 days of silent meditation was an intensive observational study into how a nervous system is impacted. I was wildly surprised to be nourished so deeply by two major things—art and trees.

Introducing: The Tree of the Month Club

In next week’s article, we’ll venture a bit further into why the practice of doing repetitive art in an outdoor setting is so nourishing for our stress-response system, but in the meantime, sometimes it’s fun to experiment with the practice and see how it lands for us before we know the ins and outs of why we “should” try something new.

During the most gentle weather months of the year, The Art of Rest is going to be focusing on what I’ve jokingly been calling in my head “The Tree of The Month Club.” Once a month, we will find an hour out of our busy schedules to go outside, spend time with, and draw a tree.

It’s the perfect combination of:

• carving out some low-energy, self-care in the schedule

• finding intentional time to be outside in nature (or just your own backyard)

• practice some semi-repetitive art

Here’s What You Need In Preparation For Tree of The Month Club

What I love about this restful art practice is the simplicity.

All you need to do is:

1. Decide you’re now in the club

   1. Huzzah! No fees or sign ups. Once you decide you’re in—you’re in!

2. Pick one day out of your month (anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours)

3. Put together a small art kit

   1. This can be as simple as scrap paper and a ballpoint pen, or as elaborate as a full-blown easel, paints, brushes, and—of course—some snacks

4. Find a tree, or an element of a tree, you feel drawn to (pun intended)

5. Sit down to settle in

6. Draw until you feel complete

The great thing about choosing a tree to draw is that you can be as simple or complex as you’d like to be on any given day, and you will always come up with a different result. Sketchbook practices are fun because there’s no wrong way to do this and you never have to share these drawings with anyone. The process of the art, itself, is soothing to the nervous system and in taking the time each month, you’ll start slowly improving your artistic skills and building confidence in restful practices. You may even get to know some favorite trees better, or find new ones in your area you never noticed before.

Invite The People You Love Into Your Canopy

If you’re looking for an extra nervous-system boost—find some way to make this a connective experience, too. Whether you share your Tree of the Month Club art with me, or go on a tree-drawing adventure with a friend, creating connection is one of the most supportive ways we can facilitate our own rest.

I’d personally love to feature the art of other people’s tree drawings this summer and fall. If you end up drawing some trees, sketching some branches, or just photographing some cool leaves, please send them my way! I cannot wait to see what you’ve made.

As per usual—thanks for being here.

Wishing you a restful, creative time in the sunshine.

~Dagny Rose

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This sub-section of The Art of Rest, is all about—you guessed it—The Art!

Here we explore the creative practices that bring vitality into our lives. Whether we are creating for the pure joy of it, finding ways to have our art help make our lives better, or intentionally honing in on our creative practices, “The Art” is going to regularly touch into our creative pulse⁵.

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Looking For A Personalized Way to Optimize Your Rest?

Exciting announcement—My final spring bookings are open! I am looking forward to giving seasonal guidance around sleep health & nervous system regulation around stress. I offer individualized 1:1 guidance for those who want to use rest as a way to expand their creativity, folks who just need a tune up, all the way towards people who might be dealing with chronic rest related issues.

Shoot me an email at dagnyrose@theartofrest.me to inquire about getting started, having a seasonal spring check up, or to see how we might be able to work together. My final spring bookings are open from April 28 - June 15.