In this episode, we explore Izzy’s curious question: What’s it like to be inside a tree during a storm?

Step into the heart of an ancient oak as the rain begins to fall. Feel the rhythm of the storm from within, safe and steady, as you connect with the deep roots and towering branches of the mighty tree. This meditation will help you find calm, even when life’s storms roll in.

Inside an Oak Tree

Finding Calm in the Storm

Hey! Thanks for dropping by. This is mello, where we answer your seriously goofy questions about the world, take you to faraway places in your imagination, and give you time to meditate.  

This episode, our question comes from Freya:

Freya:  “What’s it like to be on the inside of a tree during a storm?”

Hmmm. That’s a lovely question. I’d imagine it feels nice and cozy, but what kinds of things would you feel? What would it make you think about? Let’s find out. 

So sit back, relax…and mello. 

Let’s start by getting our wiggles out. Go ahead and wiggle. 

That’s right–your toes and arms, your fingers and legs. Wiggle them up and down and all around. Now settle those wiggles into a snuggle. 

As you tuck into your cozy blanket, take a deep breath in, feeling your body fill with calm. As you exhale, whisper to yourself, “I am safe”. With your next inhale, feel your body fill with love. You exhale and whisper to yourself,  “I am loved.”

With your last deep breath, your imagination is now ready for our nighttime adventure. 

You’re standing in a meadow, watching dry grass bend in the breeze. Long, thin trees sway back and forth, whispering secrets in each other’s ears. 

In the distance, you see clouds approaching. They carry rain, yes, but something more. Something this dusty meadow is waiting for. 

The breeze brushes against your skin. You sense that the rain isn’t something to run from. It’s something to listen to, to feel…to understand. 

Take a deep breath in—feel the cool air filling your chest—and hold it for a moment. Now, slowly exhale through your mouth, letting go of any tension. Take another breath, slow and steady, matching the rhythm of the breeze around you.

(Breeze sounds). 

You walk along the forest path, trying to find the coziest spot so you can to wait out the storm.

Your wish is answered. An ancient oak tree stands before you. 

Its bark is brown and tough, stretching impossibly high toward the darkening sky. You stretch out too, ready for a nap. As you stretch, feel every muscle in your body: your legs, your chest, your shoulders, arms, neck. 

Lucky for you, there’s a wide gap into the truck of this mighty oak. You crawl inside. 

(rain)

And just in time.

(Rain)

It's surprisingly roomy. Above you, the tree is hollow. Below you, a soft bed of spongy moss looks inviting. You snuggle in. 

(Sound of rain. Slow at first, but gradually getting heavier. Should be roughly 8-10 seconds)

The soft, sprinkling rain begins to fall on each leaf, sending vibrations down the stem, to the trunk, allllll the way to your fingertips. It feels like the tree is humming.

How many drops of rain are there? Could you ever know? What if you could feel every single drop? What would it feel like, to absorb water like this? 

Let's do a quick body scan as if you are this tall mighty oak. Feel the tap tap tap of rain against your vibrant green leaves, soothing you. 

Take another breath in…and out, as you feel the drops flowing down your bark, through your grooves and crevices, traveling allll the way down, sinking into the rich soil. 

(Transition to underground, rain continues, but muted)

Underground, it’s peaceful. Your roots twist and turn like a secret labyrinth spreading in all directions. Some roots are big and strong, anchoring you into the earth. Others are small and sensitive, like tiny hairs absorbing the water around you. With every breath, feel the water seep into your root hairs, filling you with confidence. 

Your roots hold you steady…While your branches reach towards the sky.

(Transition to above ground again. Leaves shuddering)

Outside your cozy hideaway, the ground gratefully takes in the water, becoming darker, and softer to the touch. The trail, once hard and scratchy, is delightfully muddy. You can’t wait for the walk back, when you can hear the squishes of your boots in the wet ground.

Take another deep breath. Inhale slowly, IMagining the rain’s rhythm flowing through you. Hold it for a moment, feeling the calm settle in your body. Exhale as you think of all the other creatures in this forest. Squirrels curled up in hollowed-out spaces, raccoons nestled between sturdy roots, and birds fluffing up their feathers, perched high under the canopies. 

Around you it’s as if the trees are whispering, "Stay here with me—you’ll be safe.” 

Sometimes nature invites us to pause, reflect and feel its power. And we really pay attention, we can connect ourselves to a source so mysterious and beautiful, we can hardly describe it. But we can feel it.

For now, you're content listening to the rain and snuggling into the soft moss below you. Feel the hum of thee oak around you. Feel the rain’s rhythm—a reminder that, even in the storm, there is calm. You are safe, and you are growing. You feel a deep connection to the forest: the plants, the creatures, and the old oak tree that was kind enough to shelter you…as you fall asleep.