Regular readers of my emails and retreat descriptions know that I’ve written about the healing properties of forests before. But I thought the topic was worth a revisit—especially as we heal and recover from the events of the past year. Trees release polyphenols to...

In my last blog, I explained the difference between mazes and labyrinths, and the power of labyrinths to allow us to safely “get lost” in our thoughts or meditations. Walking a labyrinth can help calm your mind or help you solve problems. As you follow the...

Have you ever done a corn maze in the fall? These complicated trails have “dead ends,” blind turns created by the tall stalks, and can even trigger feelings of claustrophobia in some people. Have you felt like the past year was one long maze like when buying toilet...

Now that the days are getting longer (finally!) and the sun is out for longer stretches every day, throw open those window shades and blinds. It’s good for you—literally! That’s because sunlight increases the level serotonin in our bodies. Serotonin is the hormone...

As we prepare to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, this is a good time to reflect on our purchasing habits. It turns out that conspicuous consumption doesn’t just hurt the planet, it may also hurt our mental well-being. A study by the University of Arizona found that...

As we reach the one-year mark since the onset of the Covid pandemic, it has caused me to reflect on how life has changed during the last 12 months. I’ll be the first to admit that when we went into lockdown, I was a mess. I went right into full fear mode: imagining...