This blog shares a student’s reflection using the Nature Reflection Cards, a tool that invites personal insights through imagery found in the natural world. The chosen image was card No. 12: a quiet road with a broken white stripe running down the centre, stretching forward into an unknown path.

From the beginning, the student felt an immediate pull toward this image. The quiet road seemed to mirror their own journey—an uncertain passage walked not just in the physical world, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Observations Along the Road

As the student spent time with the card, small details came alive. The trees lining the road revealed a story in their leaves: fresh green shoots beginning to bud, orange leaves still clinging tightly to their branches, and countless more lying scattered on the ground below.

Those fallen leaves became symbols of release—memories, experiences, and hardships that had already been shed. For the student, these included the loss of loved ones, the decline of health following the Covid vaccination, the deep psychological toll of workplace trauma, and the physical and emotional shifts of menopause.

They realised that holding on too tightly to these “leaves” would mean stagnation. It could even lead to a slow wilting. But letting go, while painful, opened the way for growth.

 

Hope on the Forest Floor

Then another layer of observation emerged. On the forest floor, beneath the weight of the fallen leaves, new growth was appearing. The leaves that had been shed were not wasted; they were feeding the soil, becoming compost for something new.

This realisation softened the student’s perspective. Endings and losses, while painful, had a hidden purpose. They were not simply discarded remnants, but part of a greater cycle of renewal.

 

Trees That Reach Across

The student also noticed the trees themselves. Though separated by the asphalt road, their branches reached outward, stretching across to meet one another above the divide. The road did not stop their union, nor their growth.

This became a metaphor for connection and community. Even when separated by challenges, the student recognised that they, too, were held by the strength of others—their family, their friends, and the people who had appeared in their life “in the right season.”

 

A Discovery: Marcescence

Curiosity led the student deeper. They began to wonder: what happens when leaves don’t fall? Can a tree bear the weight of both old and new leaves?

Their research led them to the concept of marcescence—the retention of dead leaves through winter. Instead of being a flaw, this process serves a purpose. The dead leaves offer protection, shielding the new buds until spring comes. Eventually, the old leaves fall, but only when the tree is ready.

This discovery became a profound turning point.

 

From Shame to Self-Compassion

The student reflected: “I don’t need to carry shame that I am not fully healed from workplace trauma. I am still marcescent. I will release when it’s safe. Until then, I honour the protection.”

The weight they carried was no longer a sign of failure or weakness. It was, instead, a form of protection—a way of guarding tender new growth until the right time for release.

This shift marked a movement from shame toward self-compassion. Past experiences, while heavy, could still become nourishment. They could protect, teach, and eventually transform into something that would benefit both the student and those around them.

 

Anchoring the Lesson

The student has since kept card No. 12 on their table. Each morning, while drinking their mate, they sit with the image. It has become a daily anchor, reminding them of their new mantra:

“I’m still marcescent. I will release this when it’s safe to. Until then, I honour the protection.”

This simple phrase grounds them in patience and gentleness. It reminds them that healing cannot be forced, and that their journey—however uncertain the road ahead may seem—is unfolding in its own rhythm.

 

The Wisdom of Nature

Nature, in its quiet way, often mirrors back truths we struggle to see in ourselves. A road lined with trees, a scattering of leaves, or the persistence of marcescence in winter can hold lessons about resilience, timing, and compassion.

For this student, the reflection became more than an exercise. It was a reminder that their experiences are not wasted, that their struggles are part of a larger cycle, and that even the weight they carry has meaning.

Healing, like nature, has seasons. Some leaves fall easily, others cling until the time is right. But always, there is growth beneath.

And so, the journey continues—less about rushing toward release, and more about walking with gentleness, patience, and compassion for oneself.

 

Explore Your Own Reflection

Nature often mirrors parts of ourselves that words alone cannot reach. If you feel curious about what nature might reflect back to you, you might like to try this practice yourself.

The Nature Reflection Cards are one of the tools used in the Advanced Accreditation in Nature Based Therapy, supporting deeper insight, emotional awareness, and compassionate self-reflection. If you’d like to learn more about integrating nature-based practices into personal or professional work, you can explore the course here: