The Art of Living According to Nature’s Healthy Rhythms!

In a world that moves faster with each passing day—where the lights never dim, the noise never fades, and the pressure to produce and perform is constant—we have drifted away from something essential: our own natural rhythm.

This article invites you on a journey back to something ancient, steady, and profoundly nourishing: the healthy rhythms of nature. When we reconnect with the cycles of the seasons and allow them to shape our inner and outer lives, we open the door to a more authentic way of living—one rooted in harmony, health, joy, and meaning.

Drawing from both shamanic wisdom and modern research, we explore how nature’s cycles—from the stillness of winter to the vibrant expansion of summer—mirror our deepest needs for rest, renewal, growth, and action. By aligning ourselves with these rhythms, we cultivate greater presence, balance, and vitality.

Welcome to the art of living in harmony with nature’s healthy rhythms—an art capable of transforming not only your well-being, but the way you experience life itself.

As a shaman and teacher, I have repeatedly witnessed that the true foundation of a meaningful life lies in our relationship with nature. In the embrace of Mother Earth’s healthy rhythms—her steadiness, her wisdom, her endless patience—we discover healing, clarity, joy, and a deeper understanding of who we truly are. This is no coincidence: we are inseparably woven into nature’s cycles. When this bond weakens, something essential within us weakens as well.

In this article, I share personal experiences and insights on how we can rediscover our innate ability to navigate life’s challenges. By listening to our inner compass while paying attention to nature’s subtle signs and guidance, we can once again access the timeless wisdom that has always been available to us.

This is far more than a philosophical idea. It is a practical, grounded, and transformative path toward greater clarity, inner peace, and genuine meaning—lived in harmony with the earth we all belong to.

Common to Us All

There is something we all share, no matter who we are or where we come from: We enter this world with nothing — and we leave it the same way. This simple truth reminds us how precious, fragile, and temporary life really is.

It naturally raises an important question: What is the meaning of the time in between?

Throughout my life, I’ve returned to this question many times, and the more I reflect on it, the clearer it becomes that true meaning is rarely found in what society tells us to chase.

It is unlikely that life’s purpose is wealth, status, recognition, or career success. None of that accompanies us when our time is up. And in my experience, the pursuit of these things alone often leads to a quiet sense of emptiness — a feeling that something important is missing no matter how much we achieve.

When we place our short lifetime against the vast backdrop of the universe, it becomes obvious that meaning must be found elsewhere.

For me, it shows up in the moments we often overlook:

the people we care about, the conversations that stay with us, the calm we find in nature, the courage we discover in difficult times, and the small steps we take toward understanding ourselves better.

These are the moments where life actually happens — not in the titles we earn, the things we collect, or the roles we play, but in the connections, insights, and experiences that touch us along the way.

The Longest Study on Happiness

In a survey conducted by Harvard University among millennials (born between 1980 and 1995), participants were asked about their most important life goals. The answers were eye-opening:

80% said they wanted to become wealthy, and 50% said they wanted to become famous.

These responses raised an important question for researchers:

Are these the things that actually make people happy?

Or do our assumptions about happiness differ from reality?

To find out, Harvard began a remarkable project in 1938: The Harvard Study of Adult Development (ref. 1, 2 og 3), one of the longest-running scientific studies in the world. Researchers have followed the same participants from the age of 19 and throughout their entire lives — gathering medical tests, blood samples, psychological evaluations, and personal interviews every two years.

After more than 80 years of data, the conclusions are surprisingly clear — and they contradict much of what modern society teaches us:

1. Wealth, career success, hard work, and fame do not lead to a happy or fulfilling life.
2. Warm, stable, and loving relationships with partners, family, and friends are the single most important factor for long-term happiness and good health.
3. Loneliness is deeply harmful — one of the strongest predictors of poor health, emotional struggles, and a sense of emptiness.

In other words:

Most of us spend enormous energy pursuing things that offer only short-term satisfaction, while neglecting what truly matters.

When we look at today’s rise in depression, anxiety, and chronic illness, it becomes easier to understand why. We live in a time where more and more people prioritize achievement, status, and material success — while genuine relationships, presence, and human connection are pushed aside.

The Path Back to Our True Nature

When we look at indigenous cultures that have lived without the influence of modern Western values, rules, and lifestyle, one thing quickly becomes strikingly clear:

Depression, anxiety, and chronic illness are incredibly rare.

Why?

Because these communities still live in alignment with the natural rhythms that shaped humans for thousands of years. Their lives move in a healthy balance between activity and rest.

They follow the seasons’ flow —

winter’s quiet and reflection, spring’s awakening, summer’s fullness, and autumn’s release and preparation.

And at the center of it all stands community. Not as a luxury, not as a hobby — but as the foundation of life itself. Family and tribal bonds provide security, belonging, and a deep sense of meaning.

They also maintain a profound respect for nature. Nature is their source of food, their teacher, their sanctuary, and their place of healing. This way of living contrasts sharply with our modern world.

Today, natural rhythms have faded into the background. We live in a culture that rarely pauses:

Day and night blend together, screens keep us awake, demands keep us running, and many people feel pressured to be available, productive, and “on” at all times.

We move at a speed that doesn’t match what our bodies or minds were designed for. And in this constant rush, we often lose connection with something essential — ourselves.

Finding our way back to who we truly are isn’t about copying indigenous lifestyles.

It’s about reclaiming what we’ve forgotten:

• A natural rhythm
• A sense of belonging
• Time for silence
• Meaning before achievement
• And a renewed connection with nature — the place we once called home

This path back is not nostalgic or idealistic.

It’s a return to the very foundations of human wellbeing.

Why We Are Here

Each of us arrives in this life carrying something far greater than bare chance: the journey of the soul.

In its true, limitless nature, the soul exists in a state beyond time and space — a realm without suffering, without conflict, and without the sensory experiences that shape our human lives. Even something as simple and beautiful as the taste of a strawberry cannot be known there.

To grow, to understand, and to truly experience, a part of the soul chooses to step into a human body — into a life shaped by boundaries.

Here we meet:

• time and impermanence
• the physical body
• relationships
• choices and consequences
• karma
• joy, loss, love, pain
• and the gift of free will

It is precisely through these limitations that the soul gains the opportunity to learn what it cannot learn in its free, expansive state.

When we look at the world around us — its challenges, contrasts, joys, and sorrows — we are witnessing the very landscape the soul enters to evolve.

But the soul does not incarnate to collect titles, wealth, or admiration. None of that holds meaning beyond this lifetime.

The soul is here to grow, to remember, and to express its unique purpose — the life mission it brings into each incarnation.

If you would like to explore these themes more deeply — why we come here, what happens between lifetimes, and the profound processes unfolding before, during, and after death — I invite you to read the article The Secrets Behind Death and Reincarnation – What Happens After Death? and to listen to the podcast The Journey to Self-Realization with Amina and me, where we go even further into this timeless wisdom (coming soon in English).

Our Inner Compass

From the moment we enter this world, each of us carries an inner compass — a quiet, intuitive guide meant to help us walk the life path our soul has chosen for this incarnation.

This compass has two essential aspects:

• The Heart’s Primary Emotions

• Your Inner Upa Guru — the inner teacher anchored in the sixth chakra, guiding you from darkness toward clarity

The more we listen to the true needs of the heart and allow ourselves to feel and express rich, authentic emotions, the stronger the alignment becomes between our soul’s deeper wisdom and our everyday actions. The heart’s primary emotions — joy, passion, love, courage, empathy, care, and compassion — act like guiding lights on this journey.

When we live from these emotions, we naturally treat ourselves and others with kindness, respect, and integrity. Life becomes clearer. Decisions feel more intuitive. Relationships flow more harmoniously. In these moments, we instinctively know what is right.

If you want to explore this topic more deeply, I recommend the articles “To Ignite the Spark of Life, We Need Hope and a Positive Life Perspective!” (coming soon) and “Learn How to Live a Happy and Meaningful Life in Your Current Situation.” (coming soon)

Upa Guru – Your Inner Teacher

The second aspect of the inner compass is your Upa Guru — a profound inner source of wisdom that speaks through silence, clarity, and intuitive insight. This inner teacher is always present, patiently waiting for you to open yourself to its guidance.

Two simple and powerful ways to establish a deeper connection with your Upa Guru are:

• daily meditation aimed at cultivating mental stillness
• forest bathing, where your senses open in nature’s quiet presence

When you give yourself time to sink into silence, even for a few minutes a day, the subtle voice of your Upa Guru gradually becomes clearer and more recognizable.

Living by Your Inner Compass

The more you allow your heart’s primary emotions and your inner Upa Guru to guide you, the more vividly you will experience your own inner compass — the natural, healthy rhythm that supports your well-being and growth. This compass becomes a trustworthy ally, helping you navigate life with greater wisdom, clarity, and authenticity.

In the Yggdrasil Shamanic School, following the Path of the Heart is a foundational principle. Beginning this journey on your own can be challenging because the ego instinctively resists change. For this reason, working with a qualified and experienced teacher can be invaluable, offering support, clarity, and guidance as you learn to trust your inner compass.

Our External Compass

Mother Earth and her timeless rhythms existed long before the first human drew breath — and will likely continue long after we are gone. Yet many of us forget that we, too, are expressions of nature’s evolution. Our bodies, our biology, our emotional landscapes — all of it is shaped by the same forces that govern the oceans, forests, and seasons.

This means that nature itself carries the blueprint for the rhythms, balances, and life principles we are meant to live by.

The more familiar we become with these rhythms — and the more we allow ourselves to be guided by them — the easier it becomes to live in harmony with our true selves. And it is precisely in this meeting point, where our inner needs align with nature’s outer wisdom, that we discover the foundation for a healthy, meaningful, and deeply satisfying life.

One of nature’s most essential teachings is the rhythm between activity, regeneration, and rest, a cycle perfectly mirrored in the movement of day and night and the changing of seasons.

Think of the birch tree:

It awakens and bursts into growth in spring, stands in full, vibrant expression through summer, quietly releases what it no longer needs in autumn, and sinks into deep restoration in winter — only to rise again when the time is right.

As humans, we have drifted far from this rhythm.

We try to bloom constantly — twelve months a year. Our days become an unbroken stream of work, family responsibilities, obligations, workouts, social expectations, and digital noise. With artificial light and modern technology, we no longer let nature dictate when we rest or slow down. And the effects are profound:

More people than ever struggle with sleep problems, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and chronic stress — simply because the autonomic nervous system never gets the rest and grounding it needs.

But when you allow your body and soul to sink back into nature’s tempo — even just for a long weekend away, without clocks, screens, artificial light, news or distractions — something remarkable happens.

Silence recalibrates you.

Darkness steadies your system.

Daylight wakes you naturally.

The forest softens your mind.

The mountains anchor your breath.

You rediscover a harmony that feels both ancient and completely natural — because it is.

The challenge, of course, is that this state rarely arrives on its own in the middle of a busy life. It requires intention. It requires small, conscious choices. But the reward is extraordinary:

You reconnect with the external compass that has always been available to you — nature’s own guidance, steady, patient, and endlessly wise.

The Healthy Rhythms of Seasons and Nature

For thousands of years, shamans have honored the great rhythms of nature through ceremonies marking the summer solstice, autumn equinox, winter solstice, and spring equinox. Their deep understanding of nature’s cyclical movement forms the foundation of the shamanic medicine wheel — a living map that moves through the seasons and elements to restore balance within humans, animals, and the natural world.

This perspective is also a central part of how I teach my students. The more we understand the rhythm of the seasons — and how they reflect the blueprint for our own inner, healthy life rhythms — the easier it becomes to align our lives with them. Nature becomes both inspiration and guide, teaching us how to move through life in a way that nurtures health, meaning, and inner harmony.

Below are a few examples of how the seasons mirror our inner processes:

Winter – Regeneration, Rest, and Insight

Winter is the season of stillness. Nature retreats into silence, conserving energy and rebuilding strength beneath the surface. This is also a time when we humans are meant to slow down, listen inward, and create space for reflection.

Winter invites us to look back on the year that has passed:

• What brought joy?
• What was difficult or draining?
• What do I want to bring with me into the next cycle?

In the calm of winter, clarity emerges. It becomes easier to see where we want to go, what aligns with us, and which goals or relationships need attention and care.

Spring – Growth, New Beginnings, and Rising Energy

With spring, everything awakens. The seeds prepared in the quiet of winter are ready to be planted and nurtured. Activity gradually increases, and energy rises with each passing week.

For some, this may mean beginning a new routine, setting intentions, or taking small but meaningful steps toward a healthier, more balanced life. Spring’s gift is renewal — the courage to start again, knowing even small beginnings can lead to profound transformation.

Summer – Blossoming, Strength, and Full Expression

Summer is nature in its full power. The sun burns brightest, growth is at its peak, and life expresses itself with vitality and abundance.

This is the season for action, creation, and building momentum toward your goals.

If you began simple daily walks in spring, you may now find your body stronger, more energized, and more resilient. What started slowly may evolve into invigorating hikes and deeper engagement with the world around you.

Summer teaches us to flourish — to step into our full strength.

Autumn – Harvest, Integration, and Release

As the trees release their leaves, we too are invited to let go of what no longer serves us. Autumn is a time of harvesting the lessons and results of the year, integrating what we’ve learned, and releasing what weighs us down:

• Old patterns
• Limiting beliefs
• Unhelpful habits
• Relationships that no longer support us
• Projects that drain rather than nourish

Letting go can be challenging, because the ego often resists change. This is why support from a trusted mentor, friend, or coach can be invaluable — someone who can help you see clearly when your own perspective becomes clouded by old conditioning.

Weekly Rhythm as a Miniature Seasonal Cycle

The same rhythms that shape the great turning of the seasons also unfold in smaller cycles throughout our daily lives. These patterns appear every day, every week, and every month. When we begin to recognize life through this lens, our routines naturally become more intuitive, balanced, and alive.

Night is winter — a time for rest, repair, and inner restoration.

Morning is spring — a gentle awakening where energy begins to rise, perhaps supported by a warm cup of Bulletproof coffee.

Day is summer — full of activity, engagement, and creative expression.

Evening is autumn — a moment to unwind, release the day’s tension, and turn inward before winter returns with the night.

In the same way, I shape my weekly rhythm according to the seasons:

Friday is my autumn.

This is when I slow down, make space, and consciously let go of whatever no longer serves me. I close the week with a sense of release and gratitude. In the evening, my wife, our two small greyhounds, and I celebrate “autumn” together — often with an organic pizza made from our favorite cauliflower-crust recipe.

The weekend is my winter.

These days are dedicated to rest, regeneration, and quiet reflection. I use this time to look back on the week and ask myself:

• What went well?
• What was challenging?
• What did I learn?
• What do I want to adjust for the coming week?

I spend weekends only with people who nourish me — those who bring calm, joy, and good energy. This is essential for restoring my inner balance.

Monday morning is spring.

A fresh start. A moment to set intentions and plant the “seeds of the week”:

What will I focus on?

Which goals will I nurture?

By lunchtime, summer has arrived again, and the week’s activity flows into full momentum.

Chronomedicine – When Modern Research Rediscovers Ancient Wisdom

One of the most exciting and rapidly expanding fields in modern Western medicine is chronomedicine, which includes chronobiology – the scientific study of biological rhythms in humans and other living organisms. In recent years, this field has gained remarkable attention because it highlights something deeply fundamental: our health is regulated by rhythms and cycles that operate with astonishing precision.

In 2017, a scientific breakthrough made global headlines when three researchers received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for uncovering the inner workings of our circadian rhythms – the body’s built-in clock that regulates sleep, hormones, digestion, immune function, emotional stability, and countless other biological processes. Their discoveries have profoundly reshaped how we understand the body’s continuous self-regulation throughout the day.

What makes this particularly fascinating – and perhaps a bit ironic – is that this “new” scientific insight has been known and practiced in shamanic traditions for thousands of years. For shamans, understanding the rhythms of the body and the rhythms of nature has always been essential for maintaining health, inner balance, and spiritual growth. Long before modern science gave names to these mechanisms, traditional healers understood that living in harmony with these natural cycles is key to human well-being.

If you’re interested in how to measure your own biological rhythms and assess the balance of your autonomic nervous system, I recommend the article “How to Measure Chronic Stress and Burnout in a Simple Way!” (coming soon)

90-Day Reset: Rediscover Your Inner and Outer Compass

To reconnect more deeply with your outer compass, I recommend embarking on a 90-day reset through daily forest bathing. Forest bathing is as simple as it sounds: walking in the woods with no agenda whatsoever.

No phone.

No music.

No planning.

No analyzing.

No conversations.

No workout goals.

Just you, the forest, and your senses.

For about 30 minutes a day, you simply move slowly and quietly through nature, allowing your mind to settle and your body to breathe. The intention is to restore inner peace, balance, and groundedness through pure presence — something our busy lives rarely offer us.

And the results can be extraordinary:

Every single one of my students and clients who has completed 90 days of daily forest bathing has experienced profound, life-changing shifts — reduced stress, better sleep, clearer thinking, deeper joy, more energy, and a renewed ability to take meaningful action.

In the article “Forest Bathing Is Our Most Important Medicine”, you’ll find a detailed introduction to the practice, how to do it properly, and a summary of the scientific research documenting its remarkable health benefits.

To strengthen your connection with your inner compass as well, I recommend:

• beginning your day with a brief meditation to cultivate inner stillness
• working regularly with forgiveness, self-regulation, and gratitude

This combination forms a simple, grounded, and highly effective path toward self-discovery — and toward living in harmony with the healthy, natural rhythms Mother Earth has placed beneath our feet.

Doctor vs. Shaman – Two Worlds That Complement Each Other

I have always found it fascinating how some doctors and medical specialists—often carrying impressive titles but sometimes an equally rigid and dismissive attitude—are quick to label shamanism as superstition or nonsense. It is equally striking how easily an entire tradition can be judged based on the behavior of a single shaman or group who may not practice with the clarity or integrity the role requires.

Just as one irresponsible doctor does not render the entire medical profession untrustworthy, the same principle applies to shamans.

Shamanism is not immune to criticism, and it shouldn’t be. But much of the skepticism stems from misconceptions, generalizations, or a lack of understanding of what shamanism truly is—the depth of its wisdom, its healing potential, and its long-standing tradition. Through my articles and teachings, I aim to shed light on what shamanism actually offers, and how profoundly it has enriched my own life. It is a resource for anyone, regardless of background.

Two Perspectives – One Shared Purpose

In my work, I integrate the strengths of three worlds:

• shamanism
• holistic and integrative medicine
• modern conventional medicine and psychology

I do not see these fields as opposites. They simply view reality through different lenses. These perspectives can complement each other beautifully, creating a more complete and effective path to healing.

I regularly collaborate with doctors, psychologists, and specialists who value a holistic viewpoint—professionals who are willing to think beyond the limitations of their own discipline, who ask questions, explore, and stay open to insights that fall outside traditional boundaries. The shared motivation is always the same: to help people in the best possible way.

Why Choose Between a Shaman and a Doctor—When You Can Benefit From Both?

A doctor can offer treatments that a shaman never could—such as stopping aggressive cancer with chemotherapy or radiation.

A shaman, on the other hand, can support the preventive, emotional, and energetic aspects:

• addressing psychosomatic roots of illness
• helping clients build healthier life rhythms
• supporting emotional regulation, balance, and inner strength
• guiding personal and spiritual development

When both worlds come together with skill and integrity, the client stands far stronger than with either approach alone.

The real challenge lies in finding qualified practitioners—both doctors and shamans.

Quality Matters More Than Titles

A title, a degree, a published book, or media visibility says nothing about the actual quality of the help someone provides. In both medicine and shamanism, I have met individuals whom I would never entrust with my health.

That is why one of the most important steps you can take is to evaluate the quality of the practitioners you rely on: your primary care doctor, psychologist, therapist, shaman, or any other guide.

References

Ref. 1: Harvard Study of Adult Development. https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/

Ref. 2: Harvard University: Good genes are nice, but joy is better https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/

Ref. 3: TED Talk: What makes a good live? Lessons from the longest study of happiness. https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness