Sometimes a simple choice takes you down a road you never expected.
Ten years ago this month, Nature Your Soul was born—though I didn’t know it yet. It started with a single idea, sparked by something a dear client said.
She had survived not one but two cancer diagnoses, spent two years on her back with severe Lyme disease, and was living with stage 4 cancer that left fractures in her spine. And yet, there she was, turning 70 and pondering the meaning of life.
In one of our weekly mentoring sessions, she said, “You know, I was raised Catholic, and went to Catholic school, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt God.”
And before I knew it, these words popped out: “Well, I need to take you out in the woods!”
Because the closest I have ever felt to God is in Nature.
What happened that day–the willows, the wandering, the earth beneath us–surprised us both and became the seed of everything I offer now.
I created a special day for MK at the Blandy State Arboretum. I would teach her how to connect with the natural world in a different way, make her a nourishing lunch, and then we would simply lie down on the earth together for an afternoon nap.
Nothing spectacular. Just a nice, nurturing time in Nature.
Nature provided us with perfect weather. We opened with a prayer of gratitude, drawn from the tradition of the Onondaga Nation, feeling our feet on the ground, opening our hearts, taking turns to acknowledge the birds, the trees and grasses, the animals of the earth, the insects, and the clouds. We added all the visible and invisible forms of Nature, and their part in our beautiful day and miraculous existence.
Then I taught her something I came to call wandering: walking not with your eyes leading and your mind creating an agenda, but by letting your body guide you. Listening in, feeling the pull, and following the quiet invitation, moment by moment.
We drifted through trees and open areas, noticing a bird here, a wildflower there, the texture of bark, the smoothness of a stone. It was such a lovely, unhurried, dare I say, organic way of moving.
Ultimately, MK’s body led her to a very special spot.
A quiet pond with wild yellow irises blooming and two ancient, battered willow trees. Their old, wizened trunks were sending up new branches, full of green leaves, fluttering in the breeze.
She was deeply moved. In her heart, she felt the message: even though the willows had taken a beating, they had endured … and new growth was happening now.
After enjoying some time basking in the beauty of the revelation, we strolled back for lunch.
I’d made a simple but nourishing spread: local lettuces, wilted and savory, with balsamic-marinated strawberries and pine nuts, some cheese, and hard-boiled blue eggs — not dyed for Easter, but the real thing, from a local farmer whose chickens actually lay blue eggs. And to finish: rich, fudgy, gluten-free brownies that all agree are better than regular.
Then we found a grassy spot beneath some trees that seemed to be quietly calling to us. I laid out blankets and pillows, and, making ourselves comfortable, we lay down.
I had no idea what would happen. I simply guided her to let go, to surrender to Mother Earth, and let everything drop away.
The sun dappled through the leaves. A soft breeze floated around us. We both slipped into something dreamy and still. I don’t know how long we were “gone,” maybe half an hour.
We gently resurfaced at the same moment. We both sat up, blinking, and looked at each other.
My very first thought was: This was amazing! THIS is what I want to do for the rest of my life!
MK said she had no pain in her body.
Two simple things. Both profound.
Looking back, I can see that afternoon was the seed of all the healing work I do in partnership with Nature.
Among other things, I learned:
Nature wants us to feel well. Nature wants us to be happy.
And it can be entirely effortless.
Magical, even.
A few years later came the invitation from Mikao Usui to develop Second Nature Reiki - a practice where the hierarchy of teacher and student dissolves and intentionally resting in Nature becomes a profound form of healing.
Every Reiki class, Mini-Retreat, Message from Nature, and Nature Your Soul private retreat (based on the very first one!) carries some form of that day in it.
Surrendering to Mother Earth is just that powerful.
Here’s a 3-minute Tiny but Mighty Practice to Nature Your Soul:
Step outside. Breathe. Feel your feet on the ground and the air on your skin. Let your weight drop down, as if Mother Earth is gently receiving you. Let yourself be held. That’s it!
Three minutes is enough. You don’t need a plan. Nature will meet you.
Here’s the update on MK: she just turned 80. She had a knee replacement and walked 6,000 steps a few days later. She still has an indomitable spirit. We still have our weekly sessions. She walks 10,000 steps most days.
She makes the hour drive to the arboretum almost every week now, and for her recent birthday, several members of her family made $80 donations (get it?) to the State Arboretum of Virginia Foundation in her honor. Isn’t that sweet?
Sometimes a simple choice—a spontaneous “Let’s go to the woods!”—takes you somewhere you could never have imagined. You can’t always see where the path is leading. But Nature knows, and she’ll meet you there.
There’s one question I still haven’t asked MK: Do you feel like you’ve felt God in Nature?
Maybe when she reads this, she’ll let me know.
