Rewilding the Senses: Awakening to Spring
Last week, it was -5 degrees. As I write, it's 75. Arkansas weather keeps us on our toes, and perhaps that's why I have spring on my mind—just shy of a month before the official date. After weeks of bundling up and bracing against the cold, I walked outside today and felt a shift. The air smelled different, the birds sounded bolder, and my body seemed to exhale in a way it hadn’t in a while. The earth is stirring, and whether the calendar agrees or not, so am I.
Spring is the season of emergence. The first daffodils have appeared, and the birds that seemed to vanish over winter are back. Last week, I spotted a female cardinal at the feeder, with a male not far behind. The days are stretching out bit by bit, the sun holding on just a little longer each week. But it’s easy to miss these subtle transitions. Amid work and the usual daily routines (oh, those endless notifications!), nature’s quiet transformations are taking place. Rewilding ourselves involves consciously noticing our surroundings. That’s why this season is an ideal invitation to awaken our senses and remind us that we, too, are part of this great unfolding.
Rewilding Our Senses with the Season
Each sense holds a key to awakening a wilder, more embodied presence. Nature is always communicating—but are we paying attention?
The following thought prompts invite you to slow down just a little and notice what’s happening in the more-than-human world. Nature is like a museum, constantly curating a new collection, or a church with an ever-evolving liturgy. If you’re open to beauty and awe, there is always something new to discover.
Noticing the Shift
Step outside. Beyond the temperature swings, what’s actually different today compared to last week?
Maybe you notice how the sun lingers just a little longer before setting. Or how the grass suddenly has a hint of green. Maybe a tree that stood bare all winter is now showing the first signs of buds.
Try softening your focus—less effort, more noticing. Instead of looking for something, see what reveals itself to you. What stands out? What has changed?
Hearing the Shift
Walking outside this morning, I noticed more bird songs than usual. It wasn’t an overwhelming chorus, but their calls were there, enchanting the air in a way I hadn’t heard in weeks. It made me stop for a second. Had they been there yesterday, and I just hadn’t noticed?
The wind has lost its bite, and the quiet of winter is starting to thin out. The world isn’t loud with life yet, but something is shifting. The more-than-human world is stirring. What do you hear?
Smelling the Shift
Take a deep breath. Hold it. Exhale. What does the approaching spring smell like? If spring’s approach was a person, what scent would they exude?
The air is different now. Maybe it’s the damp earth, still holding onto the snow’s melt. Or the scent of pine or cedar, sharp in the morning air. If you’re lucky, there’s a faint sweetness—blossoms just beginning to open, even if they’re not quite visible yet.
Whatever it is, take it in. Smell is one of our most ancient ways of connecting with the world around us. Let it remind you that you’re part of this shift, too.
Tasting the Shift
What flavors mark the shift in season for you?
Maybe you crave fresh greens or citrus after months of heavier winter meals. Our body recognizes the change in season before our mind does.
Take a moment to notice what’s growing around you. Wild violets are some of the first blossoms to appear. Although violets are edible, they have been nearly forgotten, perhaps due to their fragility. Take a moment and recognize the shift in what’s growing nearby. Recognition and admiration reconnect us to the cycles of the land – which in turn reconnects us to ourselves.
An Invitation to Awaken
This week, I invite you to take a Sensory Walk. Choose a place—your backyard, a park, a forest trail—and, instead of walking for exercise or destination, walk for sensation. Move slowly. Let your senses guide you. What does the wild world have to say to you? Being receptive is the only requirement.
Spring is not only happening around us—it’s happening within us. As the earth awakens, so can we.
If you want to deepen your connection to nature and explore how sensory rewilding can transform your well-being, join me at ReWilding: Lab. Whether through a guided nature-based coaching session or an upcoming workshop, this is where we reconnect with our wild wisdom.