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The vibrant sounds of nature can be food for the soul. One example of the pleasure of spending time in nature is what the Japanese call shinrin-yokum, aka forest bathing. We feel grounded in nature. Its many sounds have the power to both calm and uplift us.
Think the soothing influence of the sound of running water, or the rousing dawn chorus of birdsong. In Canada, a walk in the park is even available on prescription. So the interest in Earth FM’s new listening menu of nature soundscapes should come as no surprise.
Earth FM feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s clearly tapping into the post-pandemic zeitgeist. It launched near the time when real tweets from over 50 endangered birds in the wild recorded on the album Songs of Disappearance, overtook pop chart staples like The Weekend and Abba to reach the top five albums in Australia’s ARIA music charts.
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Like spotify but for natural soundscapes
That’s the back-to-nature strapline of Earth FM! Most agree that the sounds of nature are music to our ears. Only a relatively short time has passed since many of us experienced something close to withdrawal symptoms during pandemic lockdowns, when easy access to natural environments was sometimes out of reach.
As Earth FM observes, research such as this study on stress recovery during exposure to nature sounds and environmental noise show that mindful listening to sounds of the outdoors boosts our wellbeing and positive feelings. So these natural sounds offer us a moment of calm attentiveness to enhance our health and tranquility.
This wellness bonus is something Verge emphasizes, for instance quoting a study on the health benefits of authentic nature sounds in national parks.
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A rainbow of natural sounds
Visit Earth FM to listen to nature sounds and fall in love with the Earth. Click on any of the hearts on the interactive world map to find calm and a sense of the spiritual in the varied global natural settings.
The Tuscan Countryside, Montenegro Wetlands, Gabon Jungle Sounds, Namibia Chromatic Rain, Indian Ocean - A Morning With The Albatross, and Philippines - Palawan Forest Ambience are just some of the soundscapes recorded for Earth FM by nature lovers worldwide. A new sound experience is added every three days and you can create a personalized playlist too.
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Recordings on a grassroots mission
Not surprisingly, Earth FM seeks to rebuild our relationship with nature, and is aware of the spiritual nuances of this endeavor. As its website explains: “Earth.fm seeks to help protect and regenerate natural ecosystems while reconnecting ourselves to the natural world. We are inspired by our passion for soundscape ecology and by the Earth Holder Community created by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.”
There’s a bigger goal behind the growing free repository of pure, immersive natural soundscapes that is Earth FM too. As its Instagram bio explains: “Listen to immersive natural soundscapes, support local charities who are taking care of the Earth”. So it is using these soundscapes to raise awareness and funds for local, grassroots charities that boost the restoration of our natural world.
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How does it do this? “As well as showcasing the work of outstanding soundscape ecologists all over the Earth, we’re also highlighting charities from the places you’re listening to, who are doing the hard work of preserving and taking care of our natural world,” the website details.
Earth FM addresses a reality seeing these soundscapes becoming more scarce as humans continue to destroy the natural environments which produce them. By sharing the sounds of nature, however, it is fostering a mindful deeper respect for and direct connection with the natural wonder around us.
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