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There is something about the mountains, they have been there forever it seems. Some invite you to climb, others dare you to try. You can get majestic views from the top, and when you explore inside the mountain the views are just as majestic. Whether snow covered or tree lined they define the horizon and remind you that nature has been here for longer than we have and will continue after we are gone. They remind us that although they look solid and immovable they are actually the result of movement itself and have shifted throughout their existence either by pressure building up or erosion tearing down. Time does not matter to them, they are not in rush, don’t complain about the weather, and stand tall in their existence. They host streams, lakes, animals, avalanches, landslides, birds, and sometimes even people with the same solid presence. They are a mass of beauty.

Where in your life are you a mountain, holding both the beauty inside and out? Where are you immovable and yet shifting? Where do you hold both growth and destruction? Stand tall in your mountain beauty.

Summer is upon us

The promise of abundant sunlight, no school for kids, and some adults, brings the promise of carefree days with no structure, dreams of catching up on our summer reading or campfires with s’mores all swirl around in our thoughts. There is a template in our nervous system if we grew up with summer vacations and time off of school. When the first week of June rolls around and school lets up there is often a uptick of excitement and energy as our bodies remember the potential freedom of a whole summer. Playing outside until dark with fireflies dancing in the moonlight and then waking to the birdsongs just hours later means it is summer. The longest days of the year are enjoyed in the northern hemisphere and in areas where the winters are harsh, summer is sacred; and over in the blink of an eye. So cherish your summer this year, make some memories and reinforce the resourcing of your nervous system with time spent outside, connecting with friends, slowing down and going outside of your routine and just being. Nature is in full bloom and we invite you to bloom also.

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.

Spring is a time of birth and rebirth after the winter. In April, we held our Spring workshop at Eastman Nature center. It was a beautiful day with plenty of time spent in nature. One aspect of Earth we worked with was muck. A combination of mud and water with the consistency to suck your boots off if you step in it. We think of getting stuck in the muck, mired muck and most people don’t want their feet to touch the muck bottom of a lake while swimming. There is a negative connotation to muck. But muck is also fertile. Cattails which are nature’s purification system grow in muck. The lotus flower grows out of the muck and is a symbol of beauty, rebirth, overcoming adversity and enlightenment. In Minnesota, we have the water lily emerging from the muck in our lakes- a symbol of rebirth. So next time you feel covered in muck or stuck in the muck consider turning your attention to what is trying to grow, is something trying to be birthed in your life? What is the adversity you are needing to overcome and heal in order to bloom? How is the adversity feeding your rebirth?

You are invited to join us at a future workshop to explore your internal process in the natural rhythm of nature. We would love to see you there.

Spring is the season of new beginnings. The season typically starts with snow on the ground and perhaps, one last snowstorm. By the end of Spring everything is green, flowers are blooming, baby animals have arrived and the sunlight is noticeably increased and stronger. It seems spring takes forever to arrive and there is a chaos to it’s entrance as it establishes itself. New beginnings in our lives are often a bit chaotic just like spring. There is a need to regulate our emotions and nervous system and it takes more skills to do so, analogous to most people during an April snowstorm. The temperatures vary from mitten weather to short weather and our ability to be prepared and adapt is at times tested. Just like the new beginnings in our lives, vacillating from looking back to the familiarity of those mittens and looking forward to the freedom of wearing shorts all of the time. Spring is full of surprises, just like the new beginnings in our lives. Newly planted plants and ideas begin to grow and sometimes get nipped by the frost. Within all of the chaos there is order, the hardy plants thrive, the effective ideas begin to take form, and a path starts to emerge and we follow feeling a little more in alignment with what is starting to manifest. We can start to see the order, the organization and our nervous systems follow suit and settle. The sun does come up tomorrow, the moon cycles with it’s waxing and waning, the new growth becomes stable and blooms and we have survived another new beginning and perhaps learned something about ourselves in the process.

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.

As you are drawn into the stillness and depth of December notice the quiet nature brings. This invitation to slow down even in the hustle and bustle of holidays, time with family and friends can be a present! Go ahead and be with the trees, the cold air, the breeze and the sound of your feet on the snow or slushy ground. Take some time to walk with the stillness of earth and nature among the trees, maybe find a forest, a meadow, or a park to take a stroll. Take time to sit by a fire and absorb the smell of the wood, the sound of the crackling embers, and the glow of the fire. We invite you to notice your breathe as you exhale, let the cold chill warm your heart and touch your soul.

Some invitations to connect with yourslef and the natural world:

Allow yourself to take a moment and gaze out the window and be with all that you see in nature and be ‘with’ and part of the natural world.

Grab a friend take a walk, giggle, sing and maybe just listen to the sounds of the time of quiet, stillness, and low light.

Notice the barren ground and trees without leaves be with the stillness and while you notice remember there is not nothing going on—the trees and earth may be resting yet transfomation is always occurring. Be with the mystical in the natural world.

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.