In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores communicating with plants and developing a deeper relationship with the natural world.

Human beings, especially nowadays, tend to be unaware of and disconnected from our external environment. This is particularly true with plants, which do not move around very much and therefore are often considered less interesting by many people. It is important to remember, however, that plants are essential partners in life. They take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, while we take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Plants and animals are therefore working together, and it is a very good idea to be on good terms with plants.

I can honestly say that some of my best friends are trees whose friendship I have cultivated over a long period of time. I would encourage everyone to go out and communicate with trees. Remember that a tree, or any plant, is not going to understand human language. Plants do not have the same kind of organs that we do. But they do understand emotion. They understand intention, and they especially understand whether you are kindly interested in them, whether you have harmful intentions, or whether you simply have no interest in them at all.

If you want to experience what it is like to have a genuine relationship with a plant, you need to be able to move beyond your usual human perspective for a while and connect with the plant on the level of prana. If you can do that, go out and find a tree, preferably an older tree.

Speaking from my own experience, I have found that I have had more success communicating with deciduous trees than with evergreens. Evergreens have generally been more challenging for me when interacting with individual trees. Some of the older trees have been especially responsive, while younger trees can sometimes be more difficult. Even with oak trees, which I spend a lot of time around, I have found that younger oaks can often establish some kind of connection.

You can often tell when you and a tree are on the same wavelength. Because your prana and the tree’s prana become aligned, there will often be a very slight movement of the wind through the leaves. You can feel this in your own prana, as though there is a mutual movement of life force that is beneficial and desirable.

This does not have to be limited to trees. It is often easier with trees because they are larger, and after living for a long time they become elders. They are very worthy of approaching and receiving guidance from, provided that you are able to establish that alignment and receive what they offer.

You can communicate with other plants as well. My father’s main, and in fact only, hobby was gardening. He did not have a green thumb; he had ten green fingers. He could make almost anything grow. Part of the reason for this was that he always talked to his plants. Yes, he used human language, but that was only the outer expression of his sincere desire for the plant to express itself in the best possible way.

The plants responded because they recognized that someone was there who genuinely cared for them. They gave of themselves and expressed what they were capable of giving because they felt that care.

There are plants and trees waiting for you. Go out and meet them. You can hug a tree if you want to, but do not simply go there and mechanically hug it. Hug it with your prana, and the tree will certainly respond.