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Into the Equinox
In the wee hours of purple skies,
I dream of the moments when we were regal.
The times without question and the knowledge that I was forever.
I weaved my spiritual thoughts between the here and now.
Forest Medicine
Here we are in the last week of February, and I'm thrilled to see new snow falling in the mountains, adding to what has been a very meager snow pack for this season. Climate models are predicting this may be the new normal, with more winter precipitation falling as rain. While I do track climate trends closely, I try to stay aware of how this data can affect my emotional state, depending on how I take it in. Accepting that change is inevitable helps me to stay positive and do the work that I feel is necessary at this time.
February Reflections: Finding Hope in the Forest
Can you believe it's already nearing the end of February? Time seems to sprint forward, leaving us breathless in its wake. In this whirlwind, we often wonder when we can slow down enough to let the world catch up, to find peace in the quiet moments. There are some days I imagine how serene it would feel to slow down so much that mushrooms and moss might take root in my hair, a testament to a life lived in harmony with nature.
To Lay in A Meadow
I came to the land to lay in a meadow.
A place where I could lay my burdens down. I found my place in the tall grass and attempted to remember the time before inception.
The time when all that mattered was holding space in the grand scheme. Before chemical reactions influenced the outcomes, before knowledge, time, future, or past.
I came to the land to lay in a meadow.
To trace the journey of how !!
Art in the Hall: Love from the Deep, A SeaMonster Art Opening with Cultural Educator and Indigenous Storyteller Pamela SeaMonster
What a wonderful, fun and successful Art Opening event last Saturday with Pamela SeaMonster!
We had 80-some people come along and enjoy a day of art showing and storytelling, learning about Pamela's art and about Pamela herself. The afternoon included a free raffle and Pamela gave away a very generous 5 pieces of art. Everyone enjoyed the drinks, including cedar cider, (thank you Pamela), soup and salad, nibbles and sweet treats for Valentine's Day.
In The Deep Mid-Winter
Recently, I've been hearing the phrase, “It’s been a long year already,” and I felt that in my bones. And yet, February carries its own quiet magic and hope.
This is the season of Imbolc, an ancient Celtic time that honors growth in the darkness, the patience required when life is still unseen, and the grace of becoming amid uncertainty. The air may remain cold, but the Earth is already preparing to bear new life. If you look closely, you can see the signs everywhere: hellebore bursting into bloom, bulbs pressing upward through frozen soil, green tips daring their way toward the light. Nature reminds us that good things take time.
The Art of Awe and Wonder: Rehearsing Resilience
16 of us arrived to the Sanctuary, full of anticipation, and perhaps some trepidation too - what does a workshop around resilience, awe, wonder, movement, and the arts look like?
“Hey, I made that trail!” South Whidbey High School Ecology Club at the Whidbey Institute
In this month's issue of Forest Medicine, WI Forest Steward Larry Rohan talks to students from the South Whidbey High School.
Central to the mission of the Whidbey Institute is preserving and nurturing the healthy and sustaining nature of our grounds. As such, we take high value in serving as a resource toward educating our community, including and especially local youth, to become lifelong stewards of the land. One much respected partner in that pursuit is the Ecology Club of the South Whidbey High School (SWHS).
Staying Grounded in Adversity
In times of uncertainty and adversity, it is crucial to ask ourselves: How do we stay grounded when unsure of our footing? How do we manage when tasks seem unmanageable? It is an undeniable reality that some days can feel overwhelming, as we’re all juggling the vast challenges before us — globally, locally, personally, and professionally.
Dana Lyons - Concert in the Hall
Saturday's concert in Thomas Berry Hall was the kickoff to Dana's These Songs of Freedom tour. We feel so lucky, and so grateful, to have hosted Dana here for his first concert tour! What a beautiful, fun, uplifting and important afternoon of songs, music and of course, incredible storytelling from Dana, an environmental and political activist, and committed social justice musical warrior.
The Turning of the Year
January arrives quietly.
The rush of the holidays has passed, the days stretch longer by a breath at a time, and the land itself seems to exhale.
December: A Windswept Winter Greeting
At the time of writing this, Whidbey Island is in a full blackout from the winds. In the midst of regional flooding and storms, our little island in the Puget Sound sustained 71mph squalls that wreaked havoc on the trees, power lines and homes.
Forest Medicine
With this year coming to a close and Solstice upon us, I am reminded of the priceless gifts that are offered up daily by the natural world and the forest that encompasses and defines the Whidbey Institute.
Winter Solstice: Returning to the Light
At the turning of the season, when night stretches to its longest reach, we find ourselves in the heart of winter. The Solstice is the darkest day of the year—yet it is also the threshold. This is the moment when the light begins to return.
A guided forest walk in November
Larry Rohan, Whidbey Institute Forest Steward and our guide this day says “close your eyes, breathe deeply, listen.”
Forest Medicine
In my role as forest steward here at the Institute, I have the unique opportunity to spend many hours per day on the trails and sometimes deep in the forest. Over time I have come to know the forest in a much more intimate way, noting favorite trees, mossy nooks, and areas where raven and barred owl frequent.
November: Following Golden Leaves
Autumn drapes the forest in a golden glow, and shimmering leaves blanket the trails, creating a magical scene. The warm hues invite awe and inspiration. As I wander along the golden path, the crunch of leaves underfoot and the gentle spiraling of foliage from above fill my heart with gratitude.