I’m sitting here listening to water rushing, singing, gurgling ~ a stream passing through my town. And I have the audacity for a moment to think, “water, your essential nature is so inherent, so relentless, so clear ~ perhaps mine can be as well?”

But as soon as I say that, I laughingly realize that I am far more complex than water. This little body of mine is an entire ecosystem ~ I am not only the water flowing through, but also the stone and silt underneath, the roots reaching into, the minnows swimming through, the eaves hanging over, the grass clinging to the bank, the creatures that come for a drink…

And like an ecosystem, I am always changing ~ depending on the weather of my hormones, my relationships, the seasons of light and dark…

What am “I” but the ever-changing nature of life? Of course some would say there is an “I” that never changes, awareness perhaps. But in this moment, I find it more interesting to immerse myself into the complexity, to allow the bounds between my skin and this world to dissolve, to consider that I am also the leaves and the soil and the restless wind blowing…

Right now, I am a smattering of evening clouds, drifting almost imperceptibly slowly across the sky, twinkling stars coming and going as they pass… My air is soft, laden with the scent of green and blossoms. And then a mosquito comes humming by. I stand up fast and laugh. Time to walk home, I guess!

I have been listening to the land for many years now, learning to love her, simply learning her, and sometimes when I’m lucky, even learning from her. I am no expert in her ways, just a devotee, but I would love to invite you to join me.

Coming soon: Boulder-based Land Listening Circles. Once a month or so, we’ll gather on a plot of land where we will take time to sit and be with the earth, and simply hear what we hear. Beginning and ending in circle, we may weave songs, stories, prayers... But we’ll also take plenty of time to be quiet, to drop in deeper to the pace of nature. (For are we not nature too?)

In a world gone mad, sometimes the most difficult and yet important thing we can do is sit still, come home, remember home.

Care to join me?

💚

p.s. These circles are inspired by my friend and mentor Alexis Slutzky in Santa Barbara, who holds them there. She has an extra special Solstice one on Saturday if you are out her way!

p.p.s. If you’re not in the Boulder or in Santa Barbara areas, the Pachamama Alliance also offers free training materials for their similar Earth Listening Circles. Perhaps you’re drawn to hosting one in your community?