To bathe or cleanse oneself in wild waters is a gift everyone should experience in their lifetime. It is not at all like a swim, a shower, or even a tub soak at home. A wild water bathing cleanse transports the naked to a transcendental state of mind. Here it is possible to commune with the spirit of the river and the betrothed land in which it penetrates. Here it is possible for the secrets of the land and the heart, that have long been locked up frozen, to flow freely.
Read MoreEvery piece of land holds innumerable stories. When we breathe deep and quiet our minds the language traverses into our bodies like gently moving mist. It’s delivered in a language only our bodies can speak. It is my desire for the knowing of such stories that leads me back into these misty mountains time and time again to the land that has cradled me since I was a babe.
Read MoreI wanted to capture the poetic and whimsical elegance of this late summer meadow in motion by mindfully crafting an ikebana flower arrangement.
Read MoreOn this harvest season festival I’m celebrating Lughnasa + Lammas with friends in the backyard for an indulgent summer picnic gathering. Join me as I share the pleasures of the season along with the history and symbolism accompanying Lammas and Lughnasa.
Read MoreI just spent the day working in the garden. It creates a certain sort of soreness in all the large and small muscles that is most gratifying. As I dust off my knees, hang up my tools for the day and rub my allergy itchy eyes, the only thing I want to do is take a long hot soak in the tub. It’s my favorite way to nurse my body after a hard day in the yard. So I turn to a few of my favorite floral plant allies to quickly craft up a nourishing and soothing blend of bath soak and body oil. As a bath soak and body oil blend, chamomile and rose is divinely aromatic and calming. As I soak the day away at golden hour and watch the buds of rose and chamomile swirl in the steaming waters around my knees and hair I dream of the flowers that will soon burst to life in my freshly prepped garden.
Read MoreThis year we found ourselves with loads of bits and scraps of paper from various learning activities + projects, and I was inspired by a pen pal to give paper making a go. For a little extra fun, we added wildflower seeds, so the paper can be returned to the earth and provide for our pollinator friends.
Read MoreSeasonal living supports us in many practical ways throughout daily life. Connecting to nature seasonally can also support us from a spiritual perspective. Rooted in ancient sacred paganism and the modern Wiccan tradition, The Wheel of the Year offers a sacred calendar and rituals that align with nature.
Read MoreOur approach to view the seasons is to break down the year into six seasons that correlate with the life cycle stages that all life endures. As gardeners and foragers that so often observe the rise and decline of life outdoors, we view the year from this six-season perspective. Here I’m sharing the annual year broken down by the 6 seasons plus ways to align with the season in order to experience a seasonal year.
Read MoreEmbarking on a journey of seasonal living has been one of the most nourishing and transformational experiences of my life. Although, it required experiencing an intense burnout and breakdown in order for me to realize how important living closer to nature was for my health and happiness.
Read MoreLearn from a zero-waste flower studio how to dry flowers to create sustainable flower arrangements for the holidays or any season.
Read MoreWith lockdown restrictions lifting I find myself more than eager to venture farther from my home. For the past 10 weeks I’ve been confined to working from the couch, socially distanced walks in the park, and backyard solo hangouts. The flowering of springtime and the rush of snowmelt has forest trails and gushing streams beckoning my earthy soul. My legs crave rugged terrain to navigate, my lungs are desperate for fresh mountain air, and my heart yearns for the freedom of the wild. I’m not accustomed to being restricted as much as we have been these last few months, so with these reasserted freedoms, exploration off the beaten path is my goal for the day. This too, just like so many things these days, feels like a privilege and a blessing.
Read MoreMy eyes opened softly and blinked away the sleep of another fitful night. I yawned and stretched leisurely as I looked out the window above my bed to greet the grey spring morning. There was nothing to do and nowhere to go so I welcomed the opportunity to linger in bed. It was our first day off in weeks. A welcomed rest, but gifted at the cost of being unemployed due to the national mandate to isolate and halt any non-essential business. As my husband and I lay in bed, propped up on our forearms with linen sheets tangled around our waists, we quietly gazed out the window searching for answers in our minds' eyes. As nice as it felt to finally be home while the panic about the coronavirus pandemic continued in the outside world, we couldn’t help but wonder how we’d survive the next few months financially. The uncertainty of sustaining our health and the health of our family members also muddled our quandering thoughts. So I did what I always do when my ends feel fried; I escaped into nature to calm my mind.
Read MoreSpringtime is an entire season dedicated to the celebration of new beginnings, fertility, the quickening of life, and the beautiful birthing and rebirthing process. In nature we watch new babies hatch, fuzzy wide-eyed animals emerge and take their first steps, and delicate blooms flower a fragrant performance. This season is intoxicatingly beautiful and always passes much too quickly. In my efforts to slow down and live more connected to nature, I’ve compiled a list of ways to live seasonally in spring.
Read MoreSeasonal living, and the artful practice of connecting nature, is tonic for the body and soul. It is all about taking care to notice the delicate transformations in our environment as they happen through the year and adjusting the way we live in response. It’s about being more in tune with each of the micro seasons that fall within a single year and the life cycles of the flora and fauna that inhibit our ecosystems. It’s about growing our awareness of the interconnectedness of all beings and engaging in communication with nature.
Read MoreThis time of year I always turn a bit reflective. The dark languid days between holidays seem to finally offer a bit of well needed respite. During this little gap on the calendar, time seems to slow to a crawl and we finally have time - time to rest, time to play, time to breathe, and time to dream. I find this time of year perfect for reflecting on the year gone by and setting intentions before launching myself into a new year, and in this case, a new decade.
Read MoreIn general, I’ve been keeping it simple this year; by “it” I mean the whole Christmas-holiday thing. All of the expected activity that accompanies this hallmark holiday feels unnatural to me and out of alignment with my seasonal needs. Much of the over-consumption that happens during this season only adds to the global waste epidemic, and I no longer want to be a participant in that cycle. In true form, I’ve decided to create my version of what I want the holiday season to be. As you could have guessed, I want this season to be slower, simpler, in alignment with my seasonal needs, and gentler on the environment. I want to spend this season embracing the stillness that accompanies the freshly fallen snow. Here’s how I’m creating a slow and sustainable Christmas. Plus I’m sharing my low waste gift wrap design that is easy to implement.
Read MoreIt’s that time of year again - one of the most beautiful seasons, yet also one of the most stressful for many people. If you are a highly sensitive person like me, perhaps you can relate to the sheer overwhelm this season induces. However, when the crazy gets crazier during the holiday season, I know it's time to press pause and turn to my plant allies to help ease the stress and anxiety. Here are my favorite ways to use herbs for stress and anxiety, plus a handful of common herbs that calm.
Read MoreBuilding a slow and sustainable wardrobe is all about curating quality outfits that express your personal style while also considering the environmental impact of each garment. I have always enjoyed expressing myself through my personal style, and in years passed, I’ve admittedly exhibited wasteful habits. Now, the majority of my wardrobe is dedicated to small independent brands that champion quality-made, sustainable, and ethical practices. Here are my top tips for how to slow down your wardrobe and make it sustainable.
Read MoreThe mountains, lusciously green with patchy arrangements of snow, beckoned me. I craved wildflower lined trails and a quiet atmosphere where I could hike, eat, and relax in a small mountain village. Sundance Mountain Resort was the perfect setting for my solo slow day-venture.
Read MoreForty five minutes from San Fransisco lies Green Gulch Farm, a Japanese Zen Buddhist Monastery, which is set in a forest of ancient redwoods. This was the setting for my two week zen meditation retreat; a transformative experience I will never forget. To give you a glimpse into this illuminating experience, I’ve shared some of my journal entries and many photos of the beautiful zen center.
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