Nature’s hidden charms

Nature has always been essential to our physical and mental well-being. Long before wellness trends, people turned to plants and stones for healing. Early medicine was rooted in nature’s gifts. Today, some may call it grounding or eco-therapy. But really, it’s just tuning into an ancient, built-in instinct of finding meaning in the little things.

Who hasn’t stumbled on a feather and felt it was a sign of something special—maybe a guardian angel? Or picked up a seashell on the beach, carrying home a memory of salt and sun? Even something as simple as making a wish on a chicken bone traces back to our human need for ritual.

Glimpses of magic

Throughout history, cultures have given meaning to tangible forms, too, like rabbit’s foot charms for protection or four-leaf clovers for luck.

Across cultures, nature has been sacred, particularly water. When we baptize our children in Christianity, we pour blessed water on the babies from stone fonts. In Hinduism, the Ganges River is believed to be a sacred bridge between worlds.

There’s also the sensory magic felt in the rustle of wind through trees, the smell of the earth rising after rain, and the sweetness of jasmine in bloom. Moments like these root us in the present. And sometimes, bringing home a small piece of that experience, be it a fallen leaf, a smooth pebble, or a seashell, can serve as a totem.

Liz Dean, in her book “Nature’s Hidden Charms,” explores this beautifully: how little objects from the wild can hold energy, meaning, and even guidance when we slow down and pay attention to nature’s subtle ways.

How to gather nature’s charms

It goes without saying—always move through nature with a sense of respect. Take only what is freely given, meaning, fallen items that won’t harm the environment if collected. Better yet, you can simply carry a charm during your walk and return it, or capture its essence in a photo or sketch. But if you do bring something home, make sure it’s small, sustainable, and meaningful.

Dean’s book suggests avoiding anything toxic like fungi or unknown berries. Instead, use your intuition: what draws your eye? What feels connected to your intention? Set that intention before you begin, and move with an open heart, ready to receive.

As you explore, take pause, and breathe deeply. Feel the ground beneath your feet. Notice the textures and colors around you. Approach this with gratitude for nature, the present moment, and even yourself for taking the time.

If you live near the sea or mountains, the options are endless. But even in the city, nature offers unassuming corners—from a dog park to your own backyard, or even a gated village lined with trees. Even plant shops or old cemeteries have greenery you can take the time to pause in.

If you’re looking for concrete nature charms to collect, look for leaves and grass, twigs and small branches, sprigs of herbs, bark, or even wood chips. For more feminine nature charms, pick up flower heads and petals, feathers, smooth stones, and even eggshell fragments. On the beach, there are seashells, driftwood, fallen crab claws, seaweed, pebbles, and, if you’re lucky, sea glass.

Whenever you find something, remember not to just pick it up immediately. Stay for a while in that spot where it was resting. Notice its pattern. What do you feel as you hold it? Roll it in your hand to see if it’s safe. Gaze at it until its shape, texture, and energy tell you something.

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Dedicating your charm

Dean’s book, “Nature’s Hidden Charms,” has a whole framework that ascribes certain meanings and energies to these natural items you hold.

Once you’ve chosen your charm, be it a stone or twig, give it meaning. Is it for protection, calm, creativity, or love? Say it aloud, too, such as, “This flower supports harmony in my relationships.” Seal it with words like “Amen” or “Let it be,” Dean says. This little ritual deepens the connection you have to that object.

You can keep your charm on a personal altar at home, style it with candles and meaningful objects, or simply place it where you’ll see it every day, as a reminder of your link to the natural world.

Ultimately, nature’s charms aren’t something to be taken as superstitious, but are also a way to slow down in our increasingly busy world, while connecting once more to the earth. So next time you think of buying that pricey crystal or candle, maybe go for a walk instead.

In a world that moves too fast, these natural treasures help us stay grounded—reminding us that the most beauty and truth are often found in the simplest things.