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Wonder Seeker’s Practices for Connecting With Nature
Andrea Scher
Discover 3 ways to actively seek wonder in the natural world around you.
1. Create a Wonderscape
Just like a tablescape (an artistic arrangement of objects on a table), a wonderscape is an artistic arrangement of wondrous things you’ve collected! It can be natural things like rocks and shells or man-made things like small toys, marbles, or spools of thread.
Where a tablescape functions more like a decorative centerpiece, a wonderscape invites curiosity and interactivity. It wants people to play with it, ask questions, and feel a sense of wonder about it. It can be quirky or sentimental. Nostalgic or spark a memory. Each item tells a little story.
Wonder Seekers tend to be the best kind of scavengers. We collect little bits of beauty as we move around the world. A wonderscape is a way for us to display them and artfully arrange them.
How to Make a Wonderscape
Gather your treasures. You might already have some fun things around the house to add to your wonderscape! I found heart-shaped rocks, sea glass, sand dollars, and a tiny jar of glitter to put in mine. You could also head out on a walk with the intention of bringing home some treasures . Things like bottle caps, pine cones, colorful leaves, and seed pods are great to look out for.
My friend Elke has a wonderscape full of vintage spools of thread, thimbles, and features. Anything that brings you a spark of joy is perfect for a wonderscape!
Find a vessel for them. You can put your treasures on a shelf or in a bowl or spread them out on a pretty serving platter. It can be seasonal (perhaps made of natural things you collect on your daily walks) or something you build over time.
My friend Rachel’s wonderscape hangs on the wall in one of those vintage letterpress drawers. It’s full of treasures her young daughter finds when they are out and about, little toys, and other curiosities.
Share it. If you’d like to photograph your wonderscape and share it with the Wonder Seeker community, just hashtag your photo with #wonderseeker #wonderscape. So excited to see what you create!
Just like a tablescape (an artistic arrangement of objects on a table), a wonderscape is an artistic arrangement of wondrous things you’ve collected! It can be natural things like rocks and shells or manmade things like small toys, marbles, or spools of thread.
Where a tablescape functions more like a decorative centerpiece, a wonderscape invites curiosity and interactivity. It wants people to play with it, ask questions and feel a sense of wonder about it. It can be quirky or sentimental. Nostalgic or spark a memory. Each item tells a little story.
Wonder Seekers tend to be the best kind of scavengers. We collect little bits of beauty as we move about the world. A wonderscape is a way for us to display them and artfully arrange them.
2. Drink Moon Water
I’ve always been enchanted by a ritual that an old housemate would practice during the full moon. Before she went to bed that night, she would leave a bowl full of water on the kitchen table, right where the moon shone in the window. She would let it fill up with the moon’s energy all night and then drink it the next morning.
This housemate had a lot of rituals that fell into the witchy camp, but this is the one that always resonated for me. Instead of asking her exactly how she did it, I decided to create my own version.
What I love about this ritual is that it helps me feel more connected to the rhythm of the natural world and has me take a moment of quiet to consider my wishes and gratitudes for the month—a beautiful moment of reflection and intention setting. Many believe in the magical properties of the energy of the moon itself, that you are literally drinking in the moon’s energy. But I don’t think you need to believe that in order to get the benefits of the ritual, which, to me, are more about taking a moment to check in with yourself, tune in to your desires, and feel appreciation for all the goodness in your life.
I don’t do it every single month, but it’s always a wondrous thing when I do. Sometimes, I even put it in mason jars and gift the magic water to friends. I tell them to think about their wishes and intentions while they drink it and know that they are supercharged with the moon’s energy. This is always met with surprise and delight!
Here’s a simple way to do this ritual (modify as you wish!):
- Find a pretty bowl and fill it with water.
- Put the bowl outside (a place where it won’t be disturbed) or near a window where the moonlight can flow in.
- Close your eyes and infuse the water with whatever wishes and blessings feel most potent for you right now. What would you like to create more of in your life? Know that the moon's energy will supercharge your intentions.
- In the morning, drink the magic water!
3. Wonder Seeker Worksheet
What are some memories of wonder in your life?
Take a moment to list as many memories as you can here.
Here are some prompts to get the wheels turning.
- The first time I …
- When I looked up and …
- That time we were …
- I couldn’t believe that …
- It was so surprising to discover …
- It was just plain delightful when …
- When I was about five years old I …
- When I learned that …
- The first time I heard …
- My eyes got wide when …
Adapted excerpt from the book WONDER SEEKER by ANDREA SCHER. Copyright (C) 2021 by Andrea Scher. Published by Harper Design, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Reprinted by permission.
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