Atlas of the Heart
"Researcher, academic and best-selling author Brene Brown has spent the last two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy. Her TEDx talk, "the power of vulnerability", is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world with more than 50 million views.In her sixth and newest book, Atlas of the Heart, she takes us on a journey through 87 of the emotions and experiences that ... posted on Dec 26 2021, 5,886 reads

When There Is No Language Speak Kindness
"Perhaps, you also grew up with this notion: that to be of value, it has to be big. And what if that notion is not true? What if it is the seemingly small actions that are in fact, of great value? What if these seemingly small actions are what connect us one to another and open the gateway to deeper understanding?" Kristin Pedemonti shares more.... posted on Dec 25 2021, 2,469 reads

Man on the Moon
A little girl enthusiastically observes the moon through a telescope. She spys an elderly man living there alone. With childlike exuberance she finds a way to let him know that he is not alone as they connect on a heart level, bridging the great distance that separates them. The song "Half the World Away" sung by Aurora Aksnes, adds to the magic of this celebration of the ability of hearts to conn... posted on Dec 24 2021, 2,251 reads

14 Fabulous & Contemporary Women Nature Writers
"Each of these women's words can make us reconsider or better appreciate our relationship to the natural world. So, go find an alfresco reading spot (or at least a place with a view of the great outdoors), and dig into literary fare from the following ladies." The following piece highlights the work of 14 wonderfully diverse women who are outstanding contemporary nature writers.... posted on Dec 23 2021, 4,059 reads

Rediscovering Gentleness
"At the end of Craig Foster's 2020 documentary film My Octopus Teacher, he shows his son the wonders of nature along the shore and in the sea. He says the most important thing to learn is a gentleness that thousands of hours in nature can teach a child. The word 'gentleness' suddenly stood out and could well be the best description of the film. It is a word rarely used today." Karachi-based artist... posted on Dec 22 2021, 5,034 reads

A Solstice Invitation
The solstice in December marks the first day of winter. In the Northern hemisphere it is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Ever since ancient times, this day has been celebrated across the world as a time of renewal, a kindling of hope in the depths of darkness. depended. From contemplative artist and dharma coyote Aura Glaser comes this poetic Solstice invitation. ... posted on Dec 21 2021, 6,907 reads

The Path of Reconciliation
"Opposites arise in the field -- good, bad, darkness, light, joy, sorrow. These qualities arise in concert, each a complement to the other. But the human brain struggles with opposites. We attach to one side of an equation and call it Reality. Our point of view is never the whole picture. Fortunately, the Universe is maintained by scientific/spiritual laws. We're familiar with laws of science. The... posted on Dec 20 2021, 5,445 reads

An Unbroken Grace
"When I first arrived at the home of Barry Lopez one November day in 2018, he pointed to a fresh Douglas fir stump and said, "We had to put down that tree." The Douglas fir was one of many old-growth trees surrounding Barry's home at Finn Rock, Oregon, along the McKenzie River. The tree had become diseased and Barry worried that it might fall on the house, so a few days before my visit, he and a n... posted on Dec 19 2021, 3,813 reads

What Defines You
Danielson Okeyo of Cape Town, South Africa, saw himself as something of a Superman because of his physical abilities. A series of injuries made him question who he was when he was no longer defined by what he could do. Okeyo takes us along on his journey to connect with the healing power of nature by befriending the ocean. In the process he realizes that nature accepts us as who we are. As he open... posted on Dec 18 2021, 2,498 reads

The Wide-Angle Legacy & Vision of bell hooks
"The news that bell hooks had died at 69 spread quickly across social media on Wednesday, prompting a flood of posts featuring favorite quotes about love, justice, men, women, community and healing, as well as testimonials about how this pioneering Black feminist writer had changed, or saved, lives. If the outpouring felt more intense than the usual tributes to departed scholars, admirers say that... posted on Dec 17 2021, 3,527 reads