MZD - Episode 32 Winter Animals (Part 3)

Welcome to the mountain!

How are your New Year’s goals and resolutions holding up?

No cause for guilt or shame.  No need to feel bad.  On the journey toward wholeness, every day is Day 1.  A fresh start.  Every day offers an opportunity to learn and grow and begin again.

Abraham Maslow, (you know - the hierarch of needs guy), observed,

“What one can be one must be”.

You and I were created for a purpose.  And deep within each of us is the desire to grow and fulfill that purpose.  We become restless, (or something even worse), when that purpose is ignored or stuffed down.  This is the root of unhappiness and all sorts of sorrows, struggles, and addictions.

As we step into the new year we have yet another opportunity to be grateful for the chance to align with nature and to GROW.  To grow and purposefully evolve into the person you know you were meant to be and to live the life you were meant to live.  To connect with Nature for mindfulness and personal growth.  That’s what Mountain Zen Den is all about.

Why Nature?

Because…

“The history of humankind is inseparably intertwined with the natural world.”

Because “in the movement and stirrings of the seasons, in the silence and stillness found in Nature we are invited into an inward journey where, if we listen we can hear the gentle whisper calling us to reunite with our deepest selves, that part of us that we have inadvertently lost along the way.”  That voice ultimately shows the way to the weary wanderer.

Why inward journey?

Because, as Rick Rubin reminds us,

“Our inner world is every bit as interesting, beautiful, and inspiring as nature itself.  It is, after all, born of nature.”

Probably like me, you have felt the change and downward pull of the world over the past few years.  If you can relate I have some good news! 

My good friend Erik Stensland and I have collaborated in creating a 30-Day Nature Reset.

This 30-Day Nature Reset offers beautiful and inspiring videos of meditative reflections on Nature and the “inward journey”.  

Each of these 2 to 5-minute nature videos features chapters from Erik’s award-winning book, (now an audiobook as well), Whispers in the Wilderness, have been designed to help keep you on track with your new year’s goals and resolutions.  They will guide you on an inward journey through deep and contemplative reflections on Nature through the spoken word, accompanied by thoughtful music and the rich sounds of the natural world. 

Erik is one of the most gifted and accomplished nature photographers in the world.  

His books and stunning mountain and desert images are breathtaking, reaching deep into the heart and paralleling the human soul, tying Nature in with our humanity.  They have won several national awards, including Best Travel Book of the Year, Best Nature and Environment Book of the Year, and Best Inspirational Book of the Year.

He has spent nearly twenty years celebrating the beauty of the natural world through photography and encouraging all of us to listen to the whisper within that calls us to a deeper life.

Along with his Images of the Desert Gallery in New Mexico, he owns Images of RMNP based right here in Estes Park, Colorado at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Erik has become a very dear friend and is one of the kindest, humble, and thoughtful people on the planet.  And now I am proud to be introducing him to you.

Together we hope you decide to join the movement, connecting with Nature for mindfulness, well-being, and personal transformation.

If you are listening on the podcast and would like to watch the YouTube video as well, go to the show notes and open the podcast link on the Mountain Zen Den website. There, you can watch the video i n the show notes

Today we begin with Day 1 Introduction. So take a deep breath, straighten your shoulders, soften your forehead, smile, and enjoy!

 

Photos by Erik Stensland

Whispers in the Wilderness by Erik Stensland - https://www.rockytrailpress.com/

Images of RMNP - https://www.imagesofrmnp.com/

Erik Stensland - https://www.erikstensland.com/

Welcome to the Mountain!

The end of winter and the onset of summer has brought a beautiful lush, green world to us here on the eastern slope of the Colorado Rockies.  With more rain than usual, followed by cool mornings and incredible sunny days in between, Nature has given the gift of Paradise for us to embrace, explore and enjoy! 

I recently had the privilege of narrating and producing an audiobook for my friend Erik Stensland, a well-known and loved, highly respected nature photographer and author, who owns a gallery here in Estes Park, Colorado, as well as one in Abiquiu, New Mexico, north of Santa Fe.

He has spent the last twenty plus years celebrating the beauty of the natural world through his photography and books, encouraging all of us to listen to the whisper within that calls us to a deeper life.  A gentle soul, and deep spiritual thinker, Erik has written several books, including "Whispers in the Wilderness".  As a nature-lover and mountain addict, it’s one of my all-time favorite books.  

In it, he explores the longing we have for the wilderness, suggesting that it is the trailhead for a journey to wholeness.  Erik does a superb job of offering short, daily reflections on the natural world paired with his gorgeous photos from Rocky Mountain National Park, where he encourages us to go deeper within ourselves and discover the healing that nature offers.

Today, I’d like to share the first chapter called “Wild Embrace” from his audiobook of “Whispers in the Wilderness”.  I invite you to find a comfortable setting where you can relax and close your eyes and absorb the sounds of nature, peaceful music and Erik’s words of wisdom and comfort.

Chapter 1 – “Wild Embrace”

 

“Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life.” 

~ John Muir

I invite you to go and find the door and the new life to which it leads you.

I want to thank Erik for being such a humble and observant vessel, both in his words and nature photography, and especially for allowing us to offer it to you here today.  If you enjoyed today’s show, and the message you heard, you can find out more about Erik and his incredibly inspiring books and photography at RockyTrailPress.com.  Also, if you are ever in Estes Park, you will definitely want to visit his gallery there — Images of Rocky Mountain National Park.  It is featured as one of the top things to do in Estes Park by Trip Advisor and others.  Who knows, we may see you there!

Be well my friends.  Remember, Life is a gift.  Nature’s a gift.  And YOU are a gift back to the world.  We’ll see you back here again soon!

SHOW NOTES:

RockyTrailPress.com

ImagesofRMNP.com

Erikstensland.com

“Whispers in the Wilderness”

"Whispers in the Wilderness" Book Trailer on SkyDance Mountain Audiobooks

It’s been awhile.  Glad to see you back here.  Today is a new day.  A fresh start to a new you.  A great time to ask the question,

“Am I awake to this moment?  To the here and now?  To this moment?”

Henry David Thoreau reminds us that the vast majority of civilization leads quiet lives of desperation.  Or maybe if he were around today, he would say “noisy lives of desperation” Lives spent trying to be anywhere but here, now.

Today I would like to invite you to remember that all we have is this moment.  Yesterday is gone, a thing of the past, and tomorrow is no guarantee, a thing of the future.  Everything that has ever happened has occurred in this moment.  This moment is where the adventure begins, so why try to live anywhere else?

Here at Mountain Zen Den we are all about connecting with Nature for Mindfulness and Personal Growth.  By letting go of stress and finding joy in the moment.  And happiness in the simple gifts of Nature.  And the way we do that is by waking up and becoming Aware.  By getting out of our insulated, isolated shells, and immersing ourselves in Nature.

We begin by asking ourselves, “Am I connected and aware of this time and place in the natural world?” 

Here is one way you can tell how aware and connected you really are.  Answer these simple questions.

“What is currently happening in the natural world around me?”

“What is the Season?”  “What is the weather doing?  How about the temperature?  Are there clouds?  What kind of clouds?  Is there a breeze?  What about the moon?  What phase is it in?  Is it waxing or waning?  Where are Venus, Jupiter and Mars?  And the stars… Could I point to Polaris, the North Star in the night sky and identify and name 5 other constellations from where I am standing?”

These are simple and telling questions to help get us started to get an idea of how awake and connected we really are. To creation.

Here are a few more.

“How about the plants and wildlife around me?  What is in bloom right now?  What birds are currently ‘in season’”?

How often do we take the time to notice the natural world all around us?  The “Real World” as I like to remind myself.

We are probably very aware of the current state of the political world in society and culture – the latest news, politics, economic financial markets of growth and recession, of gas and grocery prices, and even sports and celebrity status.  But how awake and are we to the physical planet we live on?

How about our internal world?  Our personal state of being?  Our self-awareness and consciousness of our connection not only to ourselves and our immediate family and relationships, but to every other thing in the Universe… the stars, rocks, plants, trees, and wildlife, down to even the unseen – molecules, atoms and subatomic particles?

Why is all this important?

Because disconnection with the world leads to disconnection with ourselves.

And disconnection from self leads to depression, mental illness, and a host of diseases…

The Native Americans had a word for this connection — “Hunkapi”.  Meaning, “I am one with everything”.

I was so inspired by this concept that I named our mustang Hunkapi.  (Or “Huni for short).

It is humbling, and alternatively comforting and reassuring to step back and become aware of the fact that we are truly one with everything.

Buddhism teaches “non-duality” — that flowers and garbage are both organic in nature.  As Thich Nhat Hanh says,

 

“Looking deeply into the nature of a flower, you can see the presence of the compost and the garbage; but don’t be afraid!  You are a gardener, and you have in your hands the power to transform garbage into flowers, into fruit, into vegetables.”

But you can only do this if you are awake.

Christianity teaches that God the Creator spoke the Universe into existence, and by doing so created everything — EVERYTHING — and then called us into co-creation with Him to “be fruitful and multiply”, and to “have dominion over the Earth”.  Not in a self-serving sense, exploiting Nature as a resource for personal gain, but as benevolent care-takers, lovingly, and wisely nurturing and caring for each and every one of its members.

But none of this matters or means anything if we are not awake to “The Call”, and mindful of our place in the Universe.

M.H. Clark says it well in the priceless little book, “Outside/In: Questions, Quotes, and Activities to Connect You to Nature” –

 

“You know the feeling.  You get it when you are standing on the shore, or staring at the sky, or when the storm is passing over, or the season is changing, or the flower you have been watching is finally bursting into bloom.

It’s the feeling of touching something that is huge and real and true.  It’s the feeling of experiencing the wildest, most beautiful parts of the world, and at the same time, experiencing the wildest, most beautiful parts of you.

Because to connect to nature is to connect to yourself.  And every time you do, you connect to your mind, your creativity, your senses, your well-being, your health.

…open the door, in all kinds of ways, and let the outside in.”

[“Awake” by Peter Mayer]

If you were with us back in the fall of 2022, this isn’t the first time you’ve heard this song.  We had singer songwriter Peter Mayer with us in Episode 127 talking about living an awakened life on planet Earth.  As we were bouncing ideas around Peter and I discussed the possibility of holding a Mindfulness in Nature Retreat for the purpose of going deeper within to connect with ourselves, each other and the natural world around us.  Well my friends, I am pleased to tell you that this idea has come to fruition.

We are scheduled to do this very thing this October 13 through 15 here in Estes Park, Colorado.  You are invited to pend 3 days in the Rocky Mountains with special guest Peter Mayer exploring his songs as vehicles for discussion and contemplation, and celebrating our kinship with Nature.

Presented by Mountain Zen Den, this retreat is all about exploring the art of being fully present and connecting with Nature.

The goal is to introduce and facilitate a Return to Mindfulness in Nature Awareness whereby, when we return home, we do so more deeply connected to our truest selves, more richly satisfied with our lives, more energized, confident and purposeful in our living, more creative and productive, and happier human beings (the by-product).

We want to do this by placing ourselves in an environment that lends itself to our ability to slow down, get silent, be fully present, and Listen. 

We’ll be sharing more on this in the next couple of weeks, but if this sounds like something you would be interested in please reach out and let me know, and we will send you more information as it becomes available.

It would be so good to see you there, and connect with each other for a whole weekend in the beauty of the Colorado Rocky Mountains!  Stay tuned for more info!

As we wrap up today’s show I’d like to share a thought from the late writer and poet, Max Ehrmann.

He beautifully reminds us,

“You are a child of the Universe, no less than the trees and the stars.”

Thanks so much for being here today!  I look forward to seeing you again next time and invite you to remember,

Life is a gift.  Nature’s a gift.  And you are a gift back to the world! Go live a beautiful life my friend…

Can you hear "The Call" to a Great Adventure in your life? Something you know you were meant to do?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in a setting where it was just you and Nature for an extended period of time?

Imagine yourself as a woman, alone on a horse, 500 miles from home…

At age 54, Lisa Stewart did just that.  She set out to regain the fearless girl she once had been, riding her horse, Chief, 500 miles home.  Hot, homeless, and horseback, she snapped back into every original cell.

On an extraordinary homegoing from Kansas City to Bates and Vernon Counties in Missouri, Lisa exhausted herself, faced her past, trusted strangers, and stayed in the middle of her frightened horse to document modern rural America, the people, animals, and land. The result was a compelling and uplifting memoir, The Big Quiet—One Woman’s Horseback Ride Home.

Today we visit with Lisa Stewart, author, adventurer, horsewoman, as she shares some of the details of her journey, and experiences of connecting with the Creator through Nature.

You are in for a special adventure today!

Come on in…

Far too often we pay attention to the loud and brash, which tend to have little meaning, while overlooking the important things that are taking place so quietly and humbly just outside the corner of our eye. ~ Erik Stensland “Whispers in the Wind”

 

At different points in our lives, the Christmas holiday season is marked by stress and anxiety, overwhelm, overindulgence, undernourishment and sadness and depression.  For many, it is a hollow season of unmet expectations, disappointment and despair. 

Instead of Joy we’re met with sorrow.

Instead of Hope we carry anguish, self-blame, loss and regret… “If only I had done this…If only I had this… If only…”

Why does this time of year, meant to be a celebration of Joy to the world and Peace on Earth, goodwill toward mankind, seem to bring the exact opposite?  How is it that we have created self-inflicted traditions that make us manic and weary, ultimately losing all sense of the true meaning of Christmas?

In the frenetic hustle and bustle of the holiday parties, frantic last-minute shopping, holiday meal-planning, cooking, baking, overeating, under-sleeping, short tempers and long-distance guilt-tripping, is it even it even possible to find, return to, or better yet, create a world that is Calm and Bright?

What does that even look like?

And how do we get there?

The external world begins with the internal world.

It doesn’t happen by accident.  That’s for sure.  Nowadays, more than ever, there can be found an enormous Resistance in the form of distractions and side trails of every kind, be it cell phone, television, bombarding advertisements, bad news, divisive politics, threats to health, Social Media and beyond.  You know what I’m talking about.  There is no escaping the fact that this Resistance looms over and challenges each and every one of us day to day, moment by moment, until we either bend and break under its pressure, or we strengthen and grow like an athlete purposely training with weights and calisthenics.

Sadly, for the average person, it is “unnatural” to slow down.  It is outside of the norm to find, and create for oneself that deep inner peace and calm which generates Hope for a bright today, (let alone the possibility of a better tomorrow).  Before we attain it, we have to believe it exists.  We have to desire and pursue it.  We have to resist the Resistance and seek it like a man whose hair is on fire seeks a lake.  We have to be intensely focused and intentional in our pursuit of it.  This means being brave enough to say “No” to much of what society calls tradition.  It means being perpetually mindful and awake.  It means being brutally honest with ourselves, asking hard questions like, “Is there a better, more meaningful way to celebrate the holidays?”  Something that will bring more peace and calm and treasured memories for years to come?”  “Is there a better way to look at gift giving?” “Why did I choose to give this gift for this person?  Is it something they even want?”  And, “What is the most important, meaningful, loving and caring thing I could do for someone else this holiday?”  Remember, there are other gifts beyond just the ones you can wrap and put under the tree.

Paradoxically, creating deep inner calm requires fighting for peace.  Not necessarily in the traditional sense of the word, but in the single-minded focus and intention of marshaling our inner forces to combat the resistance to this calm we seek.

It takes fierce inner conviction and confidence to go against the flow and create new “traditions”.  It takes indefatigable intention and resolve to carve out an inner world of serenity and tranquility; to go against the crowd to live in a state of repose.

Why is this important, and how do we go about achieving it? 

Once again we return to Nature for the answers.  In his remarkable, soul-penetrating book “Whispers in the Wilderness”, nature photographer Erik Stensland provides a beautiful picture of true Calm and Bright in an encounter with a Silent Sunrise.

“The rising sun makes no noise.  If you were not paying attention and looking in the right direction, you could easily miss it.  Yet its silent arrival does not make it any less important.  Our very lives and every living thing on this planet depend on that sunrise. Though the sun has important work to do, it does not call attention to itself.  Most days it goes about its work completely unrecognized by us.

Far too often we pay attention to the loud and brash, which tend to have little meaning, while overlooking the important things that are taking place so quietly and humbly just outside the corner of our eye.  Somehow we need to retune our senses and learn to turn away from the noise to focus on what is important.

In much the same way, we miss the still, small voice that ever so quietly whispers our name.  It patiently waits for us to pay attention to the stillness.  In the quiet and unseen place it is there to meet with us and lead us down the forgotten path, the rarely traveled trail that leads to life as we never knew it could be.”

This life is diametrically opposed to the world outside of Nature.

This is the message of the season.

Where there is fear, courage.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is strife, peace.

And where there is darkness, light.

A Light that can never be extinguished.  The Light of a Baby in a manger… Calm and bright.

 

Erik Stenlsand – Images of RMNP

“Whispers in the Wind”

“Nature is hungry to interact with us. It wants connection…if you take one step, the world rushes in to meet you.” ~ Asia Suler

One of my favorite aphorisms is “Affirm Truth wherever you find it.” It’s a philosophy I have more recently come to hold dear and try to live by every day that I’m alive, because I’m finding that as I seek Truth, capital “T”, on my own “Hero’s Journey” as Joseph Campbell would put it, I am stretched a little out of my comfort zone.

There was a time in my younger days where I felt like I really understood it all, and pretty much knew what Life and the Universe was all about. But I began grow stagnant, dull and unteachable, putting God the Creator in a box, and not allowing for any more wisdom, ways of looking at the world, or growth to take place. Black and white leaving no room for mystery or deeper scientific revelations.

I’ll be honest, the old self would have been a bit threatened by today’s conversation. Probably because I wasn’t secure enough in my own beliefs and relationship with myself or my Creator. I no longer feel that way, but trust that as I listen to that still, small voice, I can hear the call of wisdom, and courage and love, and hopefully impart it with diligence to those in my sphere of influence.

I am very pleased to share today’s guest with you. She is a writer, herbalist, earth intuitive, and the guide behind One Willow Apothecaries— an online hub for learning, healing and connecting with the living world. Combining science with spirituality, she teaches how connecting with the Earth can change everything.

In the last decade, she has worked with over 20,000 students, and shares that if she has learned anything, it is that we are at a turning point in this world, and empaths and sensitives are here to midwife that change.

Asia Suler is a kind, wise and beautiful soul, and I believe you will really be blessed by today’s conversation with her.

So without any further ado, let’s welcome Asia Suler to Mountain Zen Den. Come on in…

Today, is the day before Thanksgiving, and as I intentionally stop and breathe and just Be, one word comes to mind. Thankful.

This past year has been a year of Growth and Gratitude for us. We just want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for choosing to be on this journey of Mindfulness in Nature at Mountain Zen Den, and we pray for your continued growth and well-being.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year because everything hinges on Gratitude.

Without it, life would ultimately be an empty series of drab days coming and going with no meaning or purpose. Without it, we are unable to see or appreciate the beauty and wonder found in the Natural World that surrounds us. And it is everywhere...

In the haunting call of the geese overhead as their wings beat the chill fall air. In the warmth and scent of pine needles, hot chocolate, cinnamon and the crackling fire radiating from the wood stove. And in the light shining in the eyes of the ones you love who are gathered around the table. We are invited to live in the moment, receive and be grateful.

This Thanksgiving as you contemplate all the blessings the past year has brought, may you find Joy in the simple things — Tranquility in your heart — and Love in the family and friends who surround you.  

It’s a great day to be alive, and it’s a great time to slow down a bit and practice presence and awareness.

Today, we’re going to do something we’ve never done before here at Mountain Zen Den. We’re going to revisit an early episode and meditation called “Cultivating Gratitude. I rarely go back and listen to these podcast episodes, but I thought this one was unusually pertinent seeing that we just celebrated veteran’s day and tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Sort of a no brainer… So now as we dig into the evergreen archives I invite you to sit back and receive the goodness and benefits of the gift of Gratitude.

Enjoy!

"With Thanksgiving only a couple weeks away, I think it’s appropriate that we revisit the concept of Gratefulness and Appreciation; that we practice cultivating Gratitude. When we slow down enough to get out of autopilot, and actually stop and look around – while there are probably lots of things we would like to change in the world and especially in our lives - there is way more to be grateful for than to complain about. It’s all where you put your focus.

Having just celebrated Veteran’s Day here in America, I think of these incredible war heroes who come back from serving their country with only half the body parts they left with, and their attitude and focus is on gratitude for being given the opportunity to serve. They’ve decided to concentrate their energies on what they can do vs. what they can’t. Their focus and determination, and especially appreciation for all the wonderful, and truly important things in life are so inspiring.

These are my heroes. The ones who give their all…and I mean ALL so that we can have a safer, more humane world.

I never really thought of it before, but I find it very appropriate that we celebrate Veteran’s Day just before we celebrate Thanksgiving.

If you are vet, and happen to be listening to this today, I want to say, “Thank you”! From the bottom of my heart I am grateful and inspired by your sacrifice and giving spirit. You make this world a better place and we truly appreciate it.

Gratitude isn’t just a state of mind or of being, it is a Gift. The spirit of Gratitude comes with its own blessings. The more we appreciate, the more we are able to receive. Gratitude opens our hearts for an abundant harvest of goodness in all areas of our lives.

The Universe naturally flows towards a grateful heart because that heart is open and receptive to receiving more.

So, with that in mind, what are you grateful for today?

Don’t worry if nothing immediately comes to mind. Gratitude, like any other discipline requires practice and focused energy. When we ask a question, it sets the brain into motion to try and find the answer. So ask yourself often and sincerely, “What am I grateful for?”

For your health? For a chance to draw another breath? How about your senses; the gifts of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch? What about a place to live? The simple pleasures and comforts of life that we daily take for granted, things like shelter and warmth and running water, HOT running water, and food, pets, books, and education.

Do others in your life know how much you love and appreciate them? These are just a few thoughts to help get you started as you search your heart for what you are grateful for. Like hitting oil or digging for treasure, the deeper you dig, the more you will find.

It seems counterintuitive, but as I mentioned Gratitude, like any other quality or state of being requires practice.

So let’s practice..."

What does it mean to be a “Freethinker”?

Today, we meet with one who calls himself  “The Friendly Freethinker” — Chris Highland.

A skilled presenter, Chris Highland has given public presentations, taught classes and led retreats for congregations, business groups, high schools, universities, social service workers and youth leaders.  He has taught in Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Pagan, Unitarian, secular and other settings.  His educational style is engaging and inspiring, drawing students or audiences into an active participation in the subject.

He is a deep and thoughtful Nature-lover and author of two dozen plus books inspired by writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and naturalist John Muir.

In this episode Chris shares the concept of the “Forest of Faith” and “The Landscape of Belief” inspired by the Wild World of Nature all around us.  He also discusses the importance of being present with animals and people alike, and encourages us to truly listen, not just with our ears but with our hearts.

Finally, I believe you will love how Chris beautifully reminds us through the writings of Emerson, Muir and Thoreau, that because we are Nature, no one can ever be completely disconnected from Nature.

 C’mon in…