Sacred Forest Bathing: The Healing Power of Ancient Trees and Wild Places

by Ellen Dee Davidson

• Presents receptivity techniques and forest bathing protocols to help you cultivate a sensitivity to nature

• Shares the author’s awakenings within an ancient redwood forest, including prescient dreams and telepathic tree communication

• Shows how forest bathing can calm, soothe, and heal our bodies, minds, and spirits

Advancing the practices of forest bathing and nature therapy to mystical levels, Ellen Dee Davidson explores the profound healing, heightened creativity, and intuitive states of consciousness available to us when we commune deeply with nature.

Weaving together environmental science, wilderness adventure, goddess mythology, and the sentience of old growth redwoods, the author shows how to cultivate a sensitivity to the forest and open a channel to its wisdom. She presents simple techniques of receptivity, some from her Buddhist mindfulness practice, along with forest bathing protocols to help you strengthen your bond with nature and learn to listen deeply to the denizens of the forest, especially trees. She examines the scientifically proven healing benefits of spending time in nature, showing how forest bathing can calm, soothe, and heal our bodies, minds, and spirits. She recounts her own remarkable healing after twenty years suffering from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

Revealing how ancient trees can help expand our consciousness, the author shares her awakenings within an ancient redwood forest, including prescient dreams and telepathic tree communication. She also explores deities, elementals, and spirits connected to forests and trees, including dryads, the Norse goddess Freyja, and Elen of the Ways, one of the earliest goddesses in Britain.

This book shows how, when humans listen deeply to nature and allow the living biosphere to be our guide, restoration of ourselves and our world is possible.

224 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2025

About the author

Ellen Dee Davidson is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators who studied at the University of Santa Cruz, the University of California at Berkeley, and the Institute of Children's Literature. Her experience as a teacher adds insight and empathy to her books for young adults.

Ellen currently gives "Transformational Writing" classes to adults, a technique which uses guided visualization to access deeper levels of imagination while writing. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and currently lives in Bayside, California, with her 13-year old daughter.

Reviews

[Marianne Pestana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sacred Forest Bathing is more than a book, it’s a portal into the healing intelligence of the natural world. Ellen Dee Davidson beautifully blends personal experience, environmental insight, and mystical awareness to create a guide that is both practical and deeply inspiring. Her stories of awakening among the ancient redwoods are as moving as they are profound, offering a glimpse into the sacred relationship we can cultivate with the living Earth. What sets this book apart is its unique fusion of mindfulness techniques, forest bathing protocols, and spiritual ecology. Whether she’s sharing prescient dreams, telepathic communication with trees, or her own healing journey through chronic illness, Davidson’s voice is authentic, grounded, and wise. This book gently teaches that when we slow down, listen, and open ourselves to the forest’s quiet magic, we not only heal ourselves, we become part of Earth’s healing, too. If you’ve ever longed to feel more connected to nature, or wondered how to tap into its restorative power, this book is a gift.

[Jennifer Comeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a certified forest bathing therapist (whose business is mindfulness walks in nature), I can attest that Ellen Dee Davidson got this book right. Not only does she write with true authority about humans' intricate connection with the rest of the natural world, but she she intersperses her own stories in the narrative. And she does so because she has lived the experience of listening to, tending, and learning from, her ancient redwood trees.
It's a marvel to read, and quite inspiring. Highly recommended.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a beautifully woven blend of science, spirituality, and personal healing. Ellen Dee Davidson shares how deep connection with ancient redwood forests can open pathways to intuition, creativity, and profound inner calm. Her forest-bathing techniques are simple yet powerful, and her own healing journey adds heartfelt authenticity. Whether you’re drawn to mindfulness, eco-spirituality, or nature’s restorative power, this book offers an inspiring reminder that listening to the natural world can transform both our well-being and our relationship with the planet.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sacred Forest Bathing takes the healing power of nature to a deeply spiritual level, blending science, mindfulness, and myth in a way that feels both magical and grounding. Ellen Dee Davidson’s experiences in the redwoods along with her journey of healing from chronic illness make this book inspiring, practical, and full of wonder. A perfect guide for anyone seeking peace, renewal, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

[Viviene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellen Dee Davidson beautifully shows how forest bathing can heal the mind, body, and spirit. Her experiences with ancient redwoods, mindfulness practices, and nature’s deeper wisdom make this book both soothing and eye-opening. A perfect read for anyone craving calm, clarity, and connection.

[Fred James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sacred Forest Bathing beautifully shows how reconnecting with ancient forests can restore clarity, creativity, and inner peace. Davidson’s blend of science, spirit, and personal healing makes this book both grounding and inspiring.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reveals how time spent among ancient trees can heal the mind and spark deeper intuition. Davidson’s experiences and gentle guidance make Sacred Forest Bathing a peaceful, meaningful companion for nature lovers.

[Frank C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring blend of personal transformation and ecological awareness. Through vivid storytelling and clear forest-bathing protocols, Davidson reveals how ancient trees can help us reconnect with ourselves, deepen intuition, and find true rest.

[Robert J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both practical and mystical, this book offers a complete pathway back to nature’s wisdom. From telepathic moments with redwoods to scientifically backed benefits of forest therapy, Davidson creates a compelling and accessible guide for inner peace.

[Rory Schreiber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully immersive look into the healing energy of ancient forests. Davidson combines mindfulness practices, mythological elements, and her own recovery journey to show how deeply nature can restore our physical and emotional well-being.

[Mable S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A richly insightful guide that blends science, spirituality, and personal healing. Davidson’s experiences in the redwoods paired with practical forest-bathing techniques make this book a powerful reminder of how nature can calm the mind, lift the spirit, and awaken intuition.