Connection to Nature

Connection to the Earth Soul

By Tuula Pere

January 26^th, 2026

Look, Smell, Listen, Touch, and Feel

I have always had a deep connection with nature. It's a very personal bond, and I often feel that individual elements of nature communicate directly with me. I also strongly sense the change of seasons, which affects my entire being and thoughts.

Personal Bond

During my childhood, I spent a meaningful decade in the heart of the beautiful Finnish lake district. Since then, the vivid images of everything I have seen and experienced have been etched into the depths of my soul.

I can still visit my favorite places in my imagination whenever I want. I picture myself wandering through a blooming meadow near my home. From there, I collected over a hundred plants for school biology classes, dried them carefully, and labeled them in a folder.

Close-up of a cluster of tiny white yarrow flowers with yellow centers, with purple bellflowers and a yellow buttercup in the background.

Hugging the Trees

Trees are one of my greatest joys in nature. I love their diversity and the shelter they give to nesting birds with their branches. This is important to me because I am also a fan of birds and birdsong! Maybe that's why I've written so many children's books about the lives of birds in the wild.

I don't climb trees like I used to as a child anymore, but I remember that feeling well. It's incredible to sit high in a tree and feel connected to nature all around.

Snow-covered pine tree viewed from below against a pale sky. Branches covered in snow reach out in all directions. Other bare trees are visible in the background.

Birches - the chameleons of the forest and our yards

Birch trees are very important to us Finns. They also hold great symbolic value because of their delicate nature. This remarkable tree changes with the seasons, transforming from a bare, stripped winter silhouette to a lush, vibrant green in summer. My favorite is the spring birch, which just begins to hint at summer’s arrival by pushing out tiny, light green buds.