Nature, Unfiltered: The Turtle at Rest
While visiting Lake Shrine, a turtle rests on a sun-warmed rock, unmoved by the gentle activity around it. Koi glide past, birds gather nearby, and visitors come and go. The turtle remains. A Nature, Unfiltered reflection on calm that doesn’t require retreat.
Nature, Unfiltered: The Bird of Paradise
Along the pathway to the cabin, Bird of Paradise flowers bloom with quiet confidence. Upright and deliberate, they don’t soften the landscape so much as mark it, inviting a slower pace and clearer attention. A Nature, Unfiltered reflection on presence that doesn’t need to blend in.
Nature, Unfiltered: The Pocket Gopher
A brief encounter with a Botta’s pocket gopher reveals a quieter rhythm of life. Rarely seen above ground, the gopher moves with efficiency and restraint, reminding us that much of what matters happens beneath the surface, away from view.
Nature, Unfiltered: The Snail’s Pace
On a rainy morning, I noticed a snail crossing the path, its body extended fully, moving forward without hesitation.
Stillness in the Canyon: A Meditative Hike Along the Backbone Trail
I recently hiked the Backbone Trail in Topanga, one of my favorite trails for its long, winding beauty and hidden corners of peace. Midway through, I paused at a rock overlook above a small gorge—where a trickling stream forms pools full of dragonflies and frogs. I meditated by the water, imagining what it might be like to be a cave yogi tucked away in silence. This journal entry captures the magic of that day: the quiet, the reflections, and the grounding energy of the land.
Planting Seeds: A Garden, A Practice, A Path
Spring has arrived, bringing new life to the retreat center. As Katy and I planted a garden, we saw reflections of the spiritual path in the process—loosening the soil like moving qi, tending to seeds like tending to meditation. Growth, whether in a garden or within, takes patience and care. Read on for reflections on gardening, mindfulness, and the lessons nature teaches.
Why Nature Is the Ultimate Meditation Teacher
Nature has long been a source of spiritual insight, offering silent yet profound lessons in presence, patience, and change. Unlike structured meditation, it teaches through direct experience—through the stillness of landscapes, the movement of water, and the rhythms of weather. This post explores how the natural world can become your greatest meditation teacher.