What do we do when the world is too much?
Without judgment, nature helps us handle overwhelm
My wildling friend,
Thank you for being here. ✨
Our Journey Starts Now
This first edition of The Whispering Wilds newsletter marks the beginning of something I’ve dreamed of sharing - a space where we can all reconnect with nature’s quiet wisdom and find inspiration for mind, body, and spirit wellness.
Your choice to pause, reflect, and explore nature’s teachings with me is special, and I am truly honored.
Together, we’ll uncover simple yet transformative ways to draw strength and peace from the wild world, weaving its lessons into our daily lives.
I plan to publish as regularly as possible (likely weekly with additional paid content) and will introduce accompanying podcast episodes along the way. This rhythm, like nature’s own, will flow and settle over time. I hope each installment feels like a deep, cleansing breath - a pause for yourself amidst life’s noise.
Here’s to this new beginning. 🌿
Now, let's jump in. No wading - we're going straight into the deep end. We’ll let nature carry us gently to calmer waters.
We Walk Through Fire
As we watched the devastating wildfires in California, I heard many people echo the same words: “The world is on fire.”
Being a human on planet Earth is an experience that often demands more than we can give. Events like these stir a deep unease, a stress that grips our minds, bodies, and spirits.
Stress activates our sympathetic nervous system, pushing us into constant "fight or flight." It’s as though we’re braced against a threat we can’t quite escape, caught in a loop of anxious energy that feeds on itself.
Over time, this cycle becomes exhausting, leaving us frayed and disconnected. And for many, witnessing such suffering creates spiritual anguish - a longing to help, to make things better, to find peace amidst the chaos.
Are you feeling stressed?
It’s a natural response to unnatural times.
We Set Our Boundary Walls
I've felt the tension today rising sharply through my shoulders and neck. I will have some work to do tonight to untangle my muscles.
I'm writing this as I wait to pick up my son from school - today is his 13th birthday. A milestone birthday for him, one he's been excited about since he declared himself "officially a preteen" when he turned 11! But every passing year comes with mounting challenges.
Growing up is a process of learning lessons the hard way, as much as finding joy in each new season of our lives.
The pressure of harder academics, shifting social dynamics, and the storm of teenage emotions can be too much to handle. These days, I'm working hard to teach him how to navigate our turbulent times by setting clear and respectful boundaries.
I’ve been teaching my son something simple but powerful.
I'm teaching him to say, “This is too much for me. I need a break.”
This practice isn’t just for him. It’s for me, too. When I feel chaos creeping in, I remember my own advice and admit, “This is too much. I need a break.”
And then I step outside into nature. 🌿
We Hold Space and Cradle Hope
Here’s the truth: while these fires devastate landscapes, nature is incredibly resilient.
Most forests can heal themselves after fire sweeps through. It may take many years, but seeds sprout through the ash. New growth emerges from scorched earth. The forest is not the same as it was before the fire. But it is still there.
The wild is a master of recovery and renewal. We humans, too, have learned to adapt, rebuild, and find hope after disaster.
There is always hope.
The loss is unimaginable right now. The stories are unfathomably sad. Those of us who aren't directly affected would do well to hold space while others grieve, just as nature holds space for us all.
When everything is too much, I find a tree to hug. Yep… I hug a tree. And more often than not, that simple act makes me cry and brings relief. Trees are incredible listeners. They stand tall, unbothered by our tears, offering a space of non-judgment where we can just be.
That’s the beauty of nature. It reminds us we belong, even when we feel lost or fractured. Even when everything feels broken beyond repair.
There is always hope!
We Work Together
Together, we can process the challenges of our times by leaning into our community - the people around us and the wild world we’re all part of. Comfort and wisdom wait in nature for every single one of us, every single day. 🌿
I'm lucky to live in a place where natural landscapes are abundant. But, I know not everyone can find a tree to hug when they need one. The Whispering Wilds method brings nature to you, wherever you are, through biomimicry.
“Biomimicry” is a fancy way of saying "copying nature" - a natural design or how a part of nature works - to solve a problem.
When stepping outside isn’t an option, you can still invite nature into your life - right from the computer or phone you're using to read this.
I often do this through Pinterest. I’ve created boards filled with nature’s beauty, offering me chances to pause and reflect. These images spark inspiration for using biomimicry to ease areas of my life that feel overwhelming.
While scrolling through pinned photos of ancient forests on a cold winter night, I created the "Rooted Reflections” technique, a cornerstone of therapeutic journaling in the Whispering Wilds method. Rooted Reflections draw on the lifecycle and structure of trees for deep levels of self-discovery. (I can’t wait to share Rooted Reflections exercises with you soon!)
I’ve created a Pinterest board with information about biomimicry, biophilia and related ideas, and real-world examples of biomimicry in action. Explore it and follow for new pins!
Nature never lets me down, whether I'm immersed in the outdoors or unwinding at my desk. It's a perfect partner in my pursuit of well-being.
Remember, you’re not alone. You’re part of a larger system - the wild, where everything has its place and everything belongs. You belong.
Even in natural disasters - especially during natural disasters - the wild is our home. It's where we experience unconditional empathy most, and where we can freely express the empathy that wells within us, too.
When the world is too much, nature is always there for you. 🌿
“In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
It’s been a true joy sharing my thoughts with you today, and I hope something here has sparked inspiration for your journey.
I look forward to exploring the wonders of our wild world with you. From forests to canyons, rivers to oceans, tundras to deserts, plains to mountains - and everywhere in between - awe and insight await in every landscape and living thing.
Including us.
If you enjoy The Whispering Wilds and feel moved to help, tips are always appreciated and keep this space thriving. ✨
Until we meet again, take gentle care. I’ll see you soon. 🌿
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Please Note...
The Whispering Wilds method is not a replacement for medical and mental health care. Alternative health and wellness shines when it complements modern medicine, just as I believe modern medicine is at its best when accompanied by a holistic perspective. If you have a heart, lung, or circulatory condition, or suspect you do, or if you have a mental health disorder, or suspect you do, please ask your doctor or therapist before beginning any wellness practice.
Breathwork, meditation, journaling, movement, and other practices in The Whispering Wilds aren't suitable for everyone. The good news is that if your doctor or therapist advises you against a particular practice, the Whispering Wilds method will likely present alternatives to explore. Always ask your medical or mental health professionals first because we are all complex, unique individuals, and no true wellness approach is one-size-fits-all.