Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go on a guided forest therapy walk? This week, The Lore Company investigates the practice of Shinrin-Yoku by ​attending a walk with LA-based Forest Therapy Guide Ben Page. Follow Sally, Melissa, Sofia, and Phil as they experience a familiar national park in an all new way.

Day-to-day life is constantly full of sound: traffic, construction, phones, televisions, radios, pets, and people. We train ourselves to block the noise out, but in doing so, we risk ignoring the subtle whispers of the earth. This week, April McClellan reminds us of how nature has much to teach us, if only we quiet ourselves long enough to hear. 

For thousands of years, plants, trees, and fungi served as medicine for humans. In a modern world of advanced medical science, we often forget that many common drugs are derived from plants: aspirin from willow bark, morphine from poppies, digoxin from foxglove, and pseudoephedrine from the ephedra plant. This week, Caitlin Keddie takes us on a walk through the pharmacy of the forest, and identifies a variety of plants with beneficial uses.

When taking a relaxing walk in the great outdoors, we often allow nature to clear our minds and bring our attention to the present moment. The practice of forest bathing emphasizes the use of our senses to interact with our surroundings. But how does the history of the land we walk on affect our experience in it? In this week's article, Linda Karlen proposes important questions about the intersection of past and present in nature therapy.

Exercising in the great outdoors can be exhilarating and rewarding. The fresh air, beautiful scenery, and wildlife serve as a magnificent backdrop for maintaining our physical well-being. But what happens to our experience in the outdoors when our routine changes? This week, Lucien Meadows recounts the tale of a personal journey through recovery from an injury, and how it allowed him to discover a new world in a place he once thought familiar.

We invite you to join us for Forest Bathing Day, when Forest Therapy Guides worldwide lead a connected walk experience for all people. This day emphasizes connection with the Earth and other nature enthusiasts, no matter the distance between us.

Flowing water, emerald hillsides, and mossy forests can give us a sense of relaxation, even if viewed in a picture. This week, photography student Cara MacNally shares her work with us, which focuses on the calming effect of nature through the lens of a camera.

This week's poetry showcase depicts the transformative experience of spending time alone in nature. Hannah Smith describes through poetry how a solo camping excursion helped her see the world, and herself, through new eyes.

The thought of death can be worrisome and uncomfortable to us. But this week, Rebecca Lexa discusses death as merely a new beginning - both as a transition of matter and chemicals, and as a beautiful process of nature that perpetuates life.

What role do animals play on our journey to developing meaningful connections with nature? This week, F. R. Gagliano depicts her encounter with a deer in the woods, and how the experience brought her closure and hope.