Posts by Lisa JohnsonTaylor

This blog is a bit late.  It was meant to be sent in February. 

Walking the woods during these times- it changed daily.   Some days ice, some days snow, some days hues of brown.  Nature was reflecting back the incongruence in the world.

Through this season, the world was feeling unsteady, unsettled, turbulent.  Maybe the reason this is getting out so late.  Urgency, distress, fear, worry, helping, loving, caring, taking action.   So much was happening, so much to attend to.  Families were in fear, families lost loved ones, and many hunkered down inside.  And so many out of connection and relationship with eachother.

Yet- I did see my neighbors in the woods.  A safe place for everyone to walk, to move, to be in communion. 

All our relations could be together in unity- feeling the connection with the trees, the earth, the snow, the ice, the winged ones, the four leggeds, the water, and two leggeds.

Can we inhabit space like the cacophony of these winged ones sharing the one open space of water- like the geese, swans, and ducks.  Sharing the same holding with- so many different voices- quacking, honking, and the horn of the trumpeter.  Not always sounding like an orchestra- often competing and chaotic. 

All the voices can be heard in nature.  Each one has a song to sing.  May we honor all our relations as we live in this chaotic world together.

December 1st, walking in the woods with the first real snow fall. Can you feel it? Can you feel the slowing down? Nature has been giving us layers of preparation to turn inward. The colors left the woods with a softening of quiet hues of brown. The temperatures have slowly been falling. A progressive decline in sunlight continues throughout the day. The volume of external stimulation has progressively been turned down(in the woods -that is). And now the white backdrop of snow! I personally welcome this quieting stillness as I stroll through the trees. Such a lovely entry into internal awareness. Listen to her calling- Nature invites us to step inside to ourselves. Take time to let the seed lie quietly inside. Luxuriate in a time of rest and restoration. Through the next few months – slow down, attune to yourself, create the bed for your inner growth. Given the right environment every living system will organically move towards healing and transformation. What will provide the right conditions for the seed inside of you?

We invite you to consider taking time in the woods over the next few months- especially through the holiday season. Let the woods lull you into restoration.

Are you and your spiritual journey worth it? We at Amidst the Trees believe this to be true! Come join us on January 23rd at Sacajawea Retreat Center in Apple Valley. We (in collaboration with nature) will support you in some much needed self attunement.

Orange, yellow, green, brown, gold and red with the blue back drop. So much abundance in the colors available to us this time of year. Amidst this time of change and challenge the colors aren’t lost, they still show up. The earth continues to produce her beauty, the season turns, daylight gets shorter, and the temperatures shift. Nature may alter and adjust but it is not stopped by the forces creating so much havoc on the current human experience. Could this not be taken away? Is this what our ancestors have always known? The ones that have lived in relationship with the earth, with the wind, the water, and fire and revered her. Did they have a knowing we all could benefit from. What if we could feel into her vibration, feel into her ancient knowing, and flow with nature? Would something in us settle? If we leaned into an awareness that we are not in charge, that nature is a force much greater than us, could we feel held by her? It doesn’t take away the need for right action and relationship with her and all of life. However, could her steadiness be an invitation to walk with her and let her guide us through the hard times? The rocks have witnessed so much over centuries(and beyond) yet many still stand -some unscathed and some scarred. If we listen, will they share their wisdom? Are there difficult times you lean into nature? What does she say to you?

Just returned from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area- my most favorite place to go. Why? No cell service, no emails, no texts, no social media, no electronics, and a reprieve from so much. And then bombarded with horrific events in the community when returning home. I feel the twinge in my heart to go back to the immersion of Nature. Slowing down, dropping in, connecting with the sacredness of the earth, the magic and beauty of above, below, all around and within. Reminded me of a Sankalpa from a Yoga Nidra class facilitated by Tara Cindy Sherman- “the power and beauty of nature lives within me, may I feel, know, and honor that always” These words played in my head and vibrated in my cells as I continually was touched by so much precious life renewing energy and experiences of the innocence and magnificence of this pristine wilderness. Witnessing the painted turtle laying eggs in camp, watching the squawking baby birds come running out from under the bush, hearing the beating of the wings of the hummingbird, sensing the message of the circling seagull, and listening to the repeated appearance of the turkey vultures. Feeling so held, guided, protected, restored by the communing with all that is always available My heart felt into the pure remembering and knowing of this place. A hint of sadness sneaks in with the return to computers, news, and vibration of turbulence of these times. Yet- I was nudged to recall that nature is in charge. Seeing the fallen trees from storms- the message was “Let Go- some trees fall, some flowers get trampled before they can bloom, pine trees go down, and a new shoot rises up from the trunk that lies on the ground….. in a whole different direction”. So – I step back into my life- savoring the lushness of the green, holding onto the images of wild flowers coming into bloom, sensing the kiss of the cool breeze against my face, recalling the heat of the rock softening the muscles in my back, remembering the glistening and cleansing of the cold water along with the warmth and crackling of the fire burning within. Feeling humility and openness to keep walking with Nature as the guide. May you also remember – Nature as a way to get back to yourself and all that is true in you and all life.

We are in between seasons- moving from the dormancy of winter into new beginnings. The trees are still holding the hues of brown as we await the coming of the buds. Perhaps you have been in a place of slumber, dreaming into the seeds that are laying inside. It’s not too late to take time to turn awareness inside to listen to what is wanting to unfold in you. Take some time to drop in, feel into the rootedness of the earth. Once you hook up to the vibration and blood of Mother Gaia, feel the natural flow that starts to wake up in you. What is calling you, what is your true nature? Lean a little deeper into the earth or the trees and listen to the sounds and vibration that is calling both from below and from the air, the sky, and the winged ones. Songs are getting a bit louder from the birds- what are they singing to you? Movement between the two is getting more potent- squirrels are chasing in the trees. Can you feel the momentum building? Listen….. it is always there to support you.

Darker days, cooler temperatures, the landscape turning to hues of gray and brown. What is nature inviting in us as we transition into winter? This is a time of year to turn inward, slow down, create space to begin to nurture dreams. This is an opportunity to expand consciousness and ponder what needs attending in us. What lies dormant and ready to be contacted? Some say it is a time to nurture the light within our own darkness.

We invite you to take time to meditate, dream, sit in stillness, walk in nature without an agenda. Listen for the whisper and calling of your healing and initiation.

Join us on January 24th at Sacajawea Retreat Center in Apple Valley as we collaborate with nature to explore your internal process with you.

What beauty do we overlook as we navigate through life? Do you notice the mushrooms, the moss, the tiny flowers as you visit the woods? Or do you only see that which is big and right in front of your face? Stop, look, take in the intricate detail of the minute structure, color, form of these beauties lying along the forest floor. So much goes into their existence – they breath, take in water, sunlight, grow, transform, decay, decompose, and begin again.

Can we also honor the unique organization of all living things…….. human, plant form, and animal? Whether we are seen or not seen- we each have a make up that deserves to be honored and recognized. We invite you to start seeing more magnificence in the world. The brilliance of nature has so much to teach us.

Will you listen to the messages with us? We would love to hold space for you to slow down, sit with yourself, and hear what the woods wants to communicate to you- join us for our September 27th Weekend Retreat or our October 11th workshop to explore your true nature. www.amidstthetrees.com

What does it even mean to connect with Nature? Being that we all have our own unique way we navigate the world and how we see the world, there is a plethora of ways to connect with nature.

Do you stop and watch the ant crawling on the sidewalk? stand in awe of the moon as it rises each night? feel the breeze touch your cheek on a windy day? listen to the crashing of the waves of lake superior?

So many ways to connect. For some it is laying on the earth and sensing into nourishment of the grounding energy. Or for others it is leaning against a tree and feeling into it’s cellular rhythm. Or do you like to find a big lava rock (like those in the boundary waters) and allow the whole weight of your body to give way to the support of it’s sturdiness? Perhaps you are very mindful of how you take in connection with nature. However, it is not necessary to sign up for a forest bathing class or work hard to get the benefits of nature. Did you know that (according to a study by the University of Essex) that just 5 minutes in nature can significantly start to reduce stress levels? Being in nature can have many health benefits like reducing anxiety, lowering blood pressure, enhancing immune system function, and boosting self esteem and mood.

So- take advantage of your lunch break, eat outside, step out to get the mail during the day, stand outside when you let the dog out, bring greenery into your office or home, move your workout outside, do yoga in the park. Let yourself explore and take in nature the way it works for you.

If you would like some guided immersion into the natural world- join us at one of our workshops. There will be plenty of opportunity to commune with nature. We would love to have you come out and play with us at Eastman Nature Center on June 7th. Hope to see you there!

Snow

Cool               White         Cleansing

Crisp           Quiet

Fresh             Silent             New

Delighting in the beauty of the magical shapes of the snowflake

Falling silently

Feeling into the freshness

Sensing into the bite of the crisp air

Basking in the clean slate of the whole earth being blanketed with white

Melting away everything and clearing the cells of the brain, the body

Dropping into the whiteness

Stillness

Refreshed

Love

Love

Love

Feeling so much gratitude for the gift nature shared with us this spring

Join us in June for our next Restorative Workshop- as we revel in the changing season and light of summer. Hope to see you at Eastman Nature Center on June 7th.

Can we follow the rhythm of nature? 

Listen to the earth, observe the barren trees?  Notice the brown leaves on the ground. Can you peacefully accept the letting go – of that which no longer serves you and your place in the world? Just as the natural world goes through a cycle of ending, death and dying- can you honor that which is ready to be shed from you? In order to grow we must release something.

As we move into the winter season, again notice the ice forming, the earth cooling, sense into the dormancy of the freeze.  Will you allow for the forced rest of winter?  Will you push past it?  Nature guides us into a time of necessary quiet.  Will you take the opportunity to pause and honor that which has come before this moment, reflect, and clear space?  The dark time can be a time to rest into the peacefulness of winter. 

Blessings to all of you as you transition into this time of hibernation.

If you would like to continue to explore the gifts of nature, join us on January 26^th at our restorative workshop as we deepen into internal reflection and ponder what dreams are stirring in the stillness.