Soft Fascination

Recently while I was researching information for “The Wonder Trail” podcast episode entitled “Why Does Nature Calm Us?” I came across an interesting concept. It’s the idea of Soft Fascination.

What this term refers to is the state of reverie many people experience when they behold a campfire, sunset, waves on the ocean or something of gentle beauty like a flower. When I was a kid, my mom would often instruct us to look at clouds and imagine what shapes they resembled. Still to this day, I enjoy looking at clouds, watching them slowly change shape as they drift through the air.

The thing I find especially interesting about Soft Fascination is that people who are easily bored, such as myself, can stare at scenes and objects that inspire this reverie for a long time. Instead of feeling bored, it induces a calming effect. One might even say a transcendent state. When a person is lost in Soft Fascination, the world around them seems to recede and fade from the forefront of their thoughts. The beholder enters into a trance-like state that makes them more receptive to higher thoughts and high vibration emotions.

Woman in gray sweater gazing through a rain-streaked window at a forest

For me, the first transcendent thought/emotion that soft fascination induces is usually gratitude, although at the time I’m not thinking “I’m grateful” it’s more that I’m just feeling thankful for the experience on a deeper level than thought. It seems to arise from the heart level, the core of my being. This is perhaps why I’ve always loved photography. It feels like a wonderful gift to be able to capture fleeting moments of inspirational beauty in a way that preserves the moment for posterity. This preservation allows it to be shared with others who were not present, and I can revisit the moment later and relive the feeling of reverie.

For me, and I imagine for others also, most moments of Soft Fascination occur in nature or looking at pictures/video of something natural. Examples include sunsets or sunrises, waves rolling in, trees gently swaying in the wind, waterfalls, the stars at night, sunlight sparkling on water, the delicate beauty of flowers and much more. These things all open our hearts to feelings of gratitude, wonder, appreciation, peacefulness, joy etc. These are the higher vibration emotions that connect us to Source.

Is it any wonder then that the human soul needs to be replenished after spending hours and hours in unnatural environments such as those found in our modern world? Contemporary thought often promotes the idea that humans are separate from nature. The truth is, we are a product of nature. Is it any wonder then that nature renews us and sustains us? Chief Luther Standing Bear of the Lakota Nation, Oglala Tribe wrote: “A man’s heart away from nature becomes hard. A lack of respect for growing, living things soon leads to lack of respect for humans, too”.

Open illustrated book resting on moss beside a sunlit forest pond

Another quote that’s always been a favorite of mine is “A thing of beauty is a joy to behold”. I’d like to encourage you to make time for Soft Fascination in your life. Make room in your life for joy by taking the time to behold the beautiful things all around you. Allow yourself to be immersed in the high vibration reverie that can connect you with Source. In these trying times, it will allow you to release the tension that comes with contemporary life. Even if you live in a large metropolitan city, find a place that whispers to you and renews your soul. Life will be so much richer if you do.

Here’s Holly Daniels singing “Soft Fascination” from the latest Skyborne Ranch album which is currently in development.