The ANFT approach to forest therapy weaves together three major strands. One is Japanese Shinrin-Yoku, the practice of Forest Bathing developed in Japan in the 1980’s that has since become an important element of Japanese approaches to wellness. A second strand is the emerging field of ecotherapy, specifically vision fasts. In this strand we see Carl Jung’s depth psychology as a major source of the theory that is the basis for ANFT’s Standard Sequence.
The third strand is the core premise at the beginning of this book. ANFT was founded as a response to global warming and environmental catastrophe. The aim was from the beginning to ignite and re-ignite love for the more-than-human world. Embedded in this approach to forest therapy is the hope that people will experience nature as alive, sentient, and sacred. This is an approach that releases grief, kindles hope and makes possible bright moments of joy. It may provide our species with its last, best hope.