I’ll be honest: I was tired when I wrote last week’s Message from Nature.

I didn’t do it justice because I didn’t share the story behind it, and it’s actually a pretty amazing one.

A couple of weeks ago, I spent five days in Boston taking a class called Touching the Brain: Stimulating Self-Correction through the Glial Interface. (Still with me or did I lose you already?)

I signed up for this class years ago, but life and illness got in the way. I wasn’t sure I’d ever have the energy to do it. 

I felt intimidated and awed at the same time. It's neuroanatomy, about teeny tiny cells that I couldn’t see or touch in the ordinary way, like a leg or a liver.  

And yet, something drew me in. I had to know more about these mysterious invisible helpers in our heads.

Our instructor was great – she introduced these cells as though we were going to a party. There are the rock stars–neurons; the consummate hosts tending to everyone’s needs–astrocytes;  the cleanup crew–microglia; etc., etc.

It didn’t help.

I took in so much information and deep practice working with the glia, it truly blew my mind while healing my brain, all at the same time. 

Because something wild happened: my head started to feel clearer, lighter. My fellow students' faces were softer and their eyes more luminescent. And when I got home, I noticed something surprising: my French came back.

For years, those words had been hiding in a fog, but suddenly, they started popping up again, naturally. And when I ran into a French neighbor, I actually spoke without hesitation. My accent was right on!

It sounds small, but it felt like a miracle.
And then another miracle happened!

Since I had Covid last year, my sense of smell has been off. I could hold a bottle of essential oil right under my nose and smell absolutely nothing. For months, I couldn’t even catch the familiar scent of my plant friend, Mugwort.

At first, I thought something was wrong with the plant - not me!

But my sense of smell is returning. And today, I crushed a leaf of Mugwort and held it close, and there it was - magic. The most beautiful, complex, earthy aroma filled my senses. I was so happy, offering a sniff to Benny and dancing with joy!

All in all, this deep dive into the world of glia has reminded me that, regardless of what we’ve been taught, there’s always incredible potential for renewal, repair, and reconnection woven into our bodies.

Even when we can’t see it, that quiet intelligence within us is always tending, restoring, and bringing us back to wholeness.

Here’s a 3-minute tiny but mighty practice to share some clear energy with your brain:

• Sit comfortably and let your awareness softly rest inside your head — not thinking, just feeling the space there. Imagine a gentle, luminous waterfall flowing through your brain, like sunlight drifting through mist.

• With each exhale, let that light clear away any mental fog or tension. With each inhale, feel your glial helpers awakening — bright, busy, and quietly cooperative — tending to every part of you.

• Rest in the feeling of clarity and connection, as if every cell is in quiet conversation with life itself. Because it is!

Tending to Your Inner Garden

Take a few minutes to close your eyes and imagine your mind and body as a garden. 

🌿 Visualize the neurons and glial cells as flowers and gardeners working together in harmony.

🌿 Notice any areas of tension or stress, and imagine the glial cells gently tending to those areas, pruning away worries and nourishing the soil of your mind.

🌿 As you breathe in, imagine fresh energy and calmness flowing into your garden. As you breathe out, imagine any stress or anxiety flowing out, making space for growth and renewal.

🌿 Allow yourself to rest in this sense of inner peace and cooperation, knowing that your brain and body are working together to support your well-being.

Letter to Your Brain

Take a few minutes to write a letter to your brain, expressing gratitude for its efforts to keep you going, and acknowledging the often-overlooked work of your glial cells.

You could start with something like:

"Dear Brain,

Thank you for keeping me going all these years...

Or:

"Dear Glial Cells,

I didn't know how much you did until now…

Let your thoughts flow, and see what emerges. You might be surprised at what you discover!

Want to learn more about your Glial cells and how cooperation is the key to surviving and thriving? Check out last week's blog!