Call of the Rain

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that there isn’t any bad weather, just bad clothing?  

We at Fettle Fields definitely agree and would even go as far as saying that some of our favourite Mindful Pause sessions are those that take place in the rain.

There is something unique about being in a forest while it’s raining.

It could be that when we surrender to just being in the rain, instead of trying to escape it, we immediately open ourselves to a freedom, oftentimes a playful sense of joy that is increasingly tricky to harness as we get older. 

It could also be that rain falling onto dry soil stirs up negative ions that when breathed in are believed to boost energy levels and have a stress relieving effect.

These things in themselves are reason enough to pull on the wellies and get out into the rain, but it is more likely the science of the forest floor that is behind the unique feeling and intoxicating scent that has such a positive effect on us. 

There are endless amounts of bacteria resting in the soil of a healthy forest but there is one in particular that we want to shed light on- streptomyces.  This unique genus of bacteria produces spores as well as a molecule called geosmin and it is here with this geosmin that all the magic begins.

Geosmin has a distinct earthy scent that can be uncovered when digging in the soil. Its power has been compared to the bright colours a flower uses to attract bees, and like the bell of Pavlov, the scent of geosmin calls to microscopic critters to come feast and do their part to spread the bacteria.

Another aspect of geosmin, and the one most important to us at Fettle Fields, is how it engages in a dance with the falling rain. This union of geosmin and rain creates a scent so heavenly it has earned its own scientific name; petrichor.  Derived from petra (stone) and ichor (golden fluid running in the veins of the Gods) petrichor is known to evoke emotion and heighten memories.  

So whether it is the call of playful freedom, the chance to breathe in negative ions or the desire to experience the Petrichor Effect- the next time the rains come, slip on your rain gear and take a stroll through a local park, or better yet, join us in Wimbledon Common for a (rainy) Mindful Pause and see what memories you can conjure.