I treat myself to a half hour snowshoe in the back woods this afternoon. It is a sunny cold day in Ottawa. When the sky is this blue and happy, the spirit has to follow.

The paths out back are well worn by footsteps so I go in search of deeper snow. Snowshoeing on packed trails is futile; your cumbersome clodhoppers lack the grace and practicality that deeper snow affords.

I weave through the trees, enjoying the tree-dangling, shiny bits of ice that catch shy little sunbeams. Winter forest bathing is one of the quickest, cheapest ways to appreciate often dismal winter weather. I need to do more of this, I remind myself.

Forest bathing, or Shinrin Yoku in Japanese, is the art of taking in the forest through our senses. It is also a proven healing modality. I will be talking more about forest bathing in future posts and the role it played in my healing journey, but if you are not familiar with it (or just want another lovely article to read), check out this TIME article.

What I want to focus on now are those shiny, tree-dangling bits that caught my attention. I did a quick search for dappled sunlight when I returned home. Anyone that spends time in a forest lives for dappled sunlight moments. These ephemeral rays evoke a sense of calm, as if to say: “stop trying so hard. If we can spread our light in a seemingly dark forest, so can you.” They remind me to Be.

I almost fell off my chair when I saw that the Japanese also have a special term reserved for dappled sunlight. I lived in Japan many years ago and never came across this word. Perhaps I was too focused on feasting on seasonal delights and learning the finer nuances of fine sake. Youth truly is wasted on the young.

The word is Komorebi (koh-mo-reh-bee). Translated it means “sunlight that filters through the trees”. Apparently it is vey popular in haiku. No kidding. How succinct and minimalistic, capturing the essence of a simply divine, fleeting human experience.

Just saying the word makes me breath more slowly and deeply. Try it – it has a totally meditative rhythm to it.

Inhale 2 counts- koh mo

Exhale 2 counts – reh bee

Surefire way to instantly decrease your blood pressure and increase oxygenated blood levels.

If this has piqued your interest in Japanese words that will quite literally knock your socks off and soothe your soul, check this out.

I will bring this first journey post to a close. Wherever your wandering is taking you today, I hope sunshine, warm socks, and komorebi lighten and brighten your passage. Friend, let your light shine.