As a holistic psychologist and creative, I spend a lot of time in the therapy chair, immersed in art, or staring at a screen managing two businesses. However, recently, while listening to the incredible book “The Awakened Brain ” by Dr. Lisa Miller, something stirred within me. She spoke about how alpha brainwaves—those gentle, meditative frequencies—are found abundantly in nature. It reinforced what I have long understood – why we feel so restored after a walk in the bush, by the sea, or lying on the grass under the sky. Our brain is literally syncing with the Earth’s natural rhythm!
Dr. Miller references the Schumann Resonance, the Earth’s electromagnetic frequency that pulses at around 7.83 Hz—closely aligned with our brain’s alpha and theta waves. This resonance is thought to act like a tuning fork for our nervous system. When we spend time in nature, we don’t just calm down—we come home to a frequency our brain understands deeply.
Brainwave Basics: The Five Frequencies
To fully appreciate the power of nature on our mental state, let’s take a quick look at the brain’s frequency landscape:
- Beta (13–30 Hz): This is your problem-solving, decision-making, task-ticking brain. It’s useful, but when you’re constantly in high-beta—say 20–30 Hz—it becomes a marker of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm. Think of your brain on deadline. High-beta is linked to cortisol spikes, overthinking, and poor sleep quality.
- Alpha (8–12 Hz): The relaxed, creative, daydreamy state. You’re alert, but calm. This is the sweet spot for flow, intuitive insights, and connecting deeply with others and yourself. Nature reliably evokes alpha, and even a short time outdoors can support improved mood, focus, and creativity.
- Theta (4–8 Hz): Deeply meditative, introspective, and associated with REM sleep, hypnosis, and visionary experiences. You often dip into theta during deep meditation, rhythmic movement, or right before sleep. Theta supports memory consolidation, creativity, and emotional healing.
- Delta (0.5–4 Hz): The slowest wave, associated with deep, dreamless sleep and physical regeneration. It’s your body’s time for repair and cellular healing. Delta is crucial for immune function and hormone regulation.
- Gamma (30–100 Hz): High-frequency, high-performance brainwaves that are linked to bursts of insight, learning, and peak concentration. Gamma waves are often elevated during moments of spiritual connection and “aha” breakthroughs.
Most of us in modern life spend too much time in high-beta—and not enough in alpha or theta. We’re overstimulated and undernourished, neurologically speaking. Nature gently coaxes us back toward balance, helping our brain downshift from the stress-heavy states into frequencies that support creativity, connection, healing, and joy.
A Personal Invitation to Recalibrate
When I’m barefoot on the grass or sand, listening to the rustle of trees or the rhythm of the waves, I can feel my brain soften. It’s not just a break—it’s a recalibration. And it’s essential.
Here are some practices that can help you reset your brainwaves and reconnect:
🌀 Ground with Nature – Lie on the grass, walk barefoot on the earth, or sit against a tree. Let the Schumann frequency do its work.
🎶 Brainwave Tuning Playlist – Use soundscapes that promote alpha and theta waves. Try ambient nature tracks or binaural beats to entrain the brain into more balanced states. I have some EMDR tracks that you can try on my Youtube channel here. Be sure to subscribe and view other helpful videos.
🪷 Rhythmic Rituals – Gentle yoga, slow dancing, or meditative art can naturally downshift your brain from high-beta to alpha and theta. Rhythm helps regulate the nervous system.
📝 Gratitude Journal – Slowing down to reflect can reduce stress and shift brainwaves into a more heart-centred coherence. Journaling is linked to increased emotional intelligence and self-regulation.
🧠 Creative Flow Practices – Get lost in painting, music, or writing—activities that naturally invite alpha waves and help you access deeper insight.
In Sync with the Art of Wellness Toolkit
In the Art of Wellness Toolkit, I explore exactly these themes—how reconnecting with natural rhythms through movement, breath, sound, and creativity can transform our inner world. These brainwave states are not abstract concepts. They are real, felt, embodied experiences we can cultivate.
✨ Want a Brainwave Reset? The Art of Wellness Toolkit online course offers tools to help you shift your state—through breath, creative flow, grounding rituals, and more. Designed to support balance across mind, body, and spirit, it’s a beautiful way to reset your nervous system and rediscover your inner rhythm. Find out more about the Art of Wellness Toolkit here or jump straight to the course here.
📖 Inspired by The Awakened Brain by Dr. Lisa Miller.
💬 Do you notice a change in how your mind feels when you’re in nature? Have you experienced the magic of alpha or theta brain states through meditation or creativity? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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