What Foraging Taught Me About Creativity and Life.

Foraging as the approach I use to achieve deep flow when overstimulated or drained.

Foraging cantarelli. September 2024. Photo by Alexandra Mateus.

I stood in the supermarket aisle, staring at a plastic container of blueberries like they were an alien life form. They were round, with a shiny surface and a uniform look that made people suspicious. 

These berries just seemed to be living their best plastic-wrapped life. Something about them didn’t feel right. 

I thought of the wild blueberries I used to pick. Those tiny, squishy gems are more full of life than grocery shopping. Who knew blueberries could look so... well, bland in comparison?

I recall how far we have drifted from nature's rhythms. We once lived and thrived in connection with the land. We picked seasonal fruit and enjoyed its unique flaws and richness. Now, I am standing here wondering if I can trust a berry in a plastic box.

Before blueberries reach the shelves, they have been on a long journey. This often takes away their flavour and nutrition. They appear to have aged at a rapid pace. They arrive with much less vibrancy than their freshly picked peers.

Let's not forget the extras that sometimes come along, like pesticides, herbicides, and preservatives. It might change their taste and cause health issues. 

In contrast, I can pick their wild cousins for free in the forest. They grow in abundance.Foraging requires some exercise and it’s a rewarding alternative. We then rediscover the ancient practice.

This practice supports our health and strengthens our bond with nature. It also makes our supply chain more sustainable. One example, FoodUnfolded, backed by the EU for food sustainability and innovation, says we can thrive by following nature's cycles. We can forage, cook together, and share stories. It focuses on food sustainability and innovation.

I can just walk into the woods and pick wild blueberries for free, for example. No plastic containers, no price tags, no weird aftertaste from sitting in storage for who knows how long. Just me, the trees, and as many berries as I can fit in my hands. They grow everywhere, tucked between leaves, waiting to be found. You just have to know where to look.

The taste? Nothing like the bland, watery ones from the store. Wild blueberries hit different—sweeter, tangier, like a little burst of sunshine and earth at the same time. They’re smaller, too, and actually juicy, staining your fingers purple the second you pick them. No pesticides, no chemicals. Just how nature made them.

How Humanity Lost the Plot. 

There was a time when we lived in tune with the seasons. Wandering through forests to forage, cooking wholesome meals, and gathering around the fire to share stories under the stars. Life flowed naturally, guided by intuition, connection, and genuine nourishment.

Today, however, things are quite different. Processed, out-of-season foods have replaced nature’s bounty, and our screens often receive more attention than our meals. It’s no wonder that many of us feel drained, overstimulated, and disconnected from ourselves, our purpose, and the world around us. The volume of daily decisions and responsibilities drains our clarity. We are overtaken by worry or random thoughts, taking us away from the present moment.

If you’ve ever felt like something essential is missing, you’re not alone. The good part is we don’t have to continue down this course. A slower, more nourishing, and connected way of living is still within reach. We can choose to reclaim it, not by rejecting progress, but by redefining what living well means. 

The world is constantly changing. There is always something new to notice. It can be helpful to create space in our minds and allow solutions to appear. 

It’s up to us to pay attention. This is possible through awareness. It is helpful to step away and reconnect, finding joy in stillness, presence, and simplicity.

The study in Frontiers in Psychology looks at the flow state. This is a deep focus and immersion in an activity. It is often connected to better creativity and well-being.

Foraging for wild berries can create a flow state and connect us to our surroundings. It needs focused attention and sensory awareness. 

Picking berries engages the mind. It creates a meditative experience that removes distractions. This helps you to be more present in the moment. These are all essential parts of the flow. 

Foraging, like art or sports, helps us connect with nature. It boosts mindfulness and improves our well-being. Practising this ancient technique can bring mental clarity, reduce stress, and stimulate creativity. This matches the cognitive benefits noted in the Frontiers in Psychology study.

The Reconnection

As Rick Rubin notes in The Creative Act: A Way of Being, the outdoors is always full of awe and inspiration.

There is never a shortage of awe and inspiration to be found outdoors. If we dedicated our lives solely to noticing changes in natural light and shadow as the hours pass, we would constantly discover something new.

- Rick Rubin

Nature goes beyond labels, reducing and limiting our experience. This way, we live in the moment, not in the past or the future. We engage our five senses while we inhale data from the present.

Nature thrives on abundance, diversity, cooperation, and interaction. Reconnecting doesn’t mean leaving modern life and running off into the woods. Though, some days it sounds tempting, it simply means stepping away from the noise. Remembering how to be present. Each moment is intentional. Each action brings you back to yourself.By spending a day away, I find clarity and strength in my intuition. I rediscover the joy of simply being in the moment. It’s about moving forward with more awareness, more balance, and a deeper sense of connection.

The quiet of the forest, the seasons combined with the simple pleasure of foraging, preparing food with care. The warmth of a shared fire. All it is waiting for is our return.

Because when I reconnect with nature, I reset. And from that place, everything else starts to fall into place.

I take this chance whenever I feel overstimulated, drained, or off track. I step away from the noise and return to stillness. I gather what the forest has to offer. It's a deep flow state process that reminds me to move with awareness and create with focus and intention. 

Connecting with nature improves my emotional well-being and creativity. Slowing down helps me reset my mind, improves my intuition, sparks new ideas, and increases my confidence. It teaches me to act intentionally, trust natural cycles, and build resilience.

I'm working on a half-day summer retreat for six participants in a Swedish forest. It's a deep, immersive experience to achieve a creative breakthrough. 

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