Mountain Zen Den Podcast

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/ [https://www.rockytrailpress.com/] Images of RMNP - https://www.imagesofrmnp.com/ [https://www.imagesofrmnp.com/] Erik Stensland - https://www.erikstensland.com/ [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 [https://www.rockytrailpress.com/product/publications/] ImagesofRMNP.com [http://ImagesofRMNP.com] Erikstensland.com [http://Erikstensland.com] “Whispers in the Wilderness” [https://www.rockytrailpress.com/product/publications/] "Whispers in the Wilderness" Book Trailer on SkyDance Mountain Audiobooks [https://skydancemountainaudiobooks.com/book-trailers/]

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…

*   No Comments [https://www.mountainzenden.com/mountain-zen-den-episode-133-nature-immersion-through-art-therapy-with-sherri-phibbs/#respond] MZD Podcast – Ep. 133 – Nature Immersion Through Art Therapy Since 2009, facilitator, author, and artist Sherri Phibbs has been gaining a wealth of experience in Nature immersion, and to date, has written three books which, among other things, teach the hungry and willing student how to connect with Nature through art and deep sensory Nature immersion. You don’t have to be an artist to enjoy and appreciate the lessons she shares.  In fact, Sherri emphasizes that you need absolutely no art experience previously in order to create.  All of us could benefit from the wisdom and insights offered in today’s show.     I found it fascinating when she also shared her experiences with, and discovery that, according to Dr. Michael Cohen, we have over 50 verifiable senses besides the 5 that we are all familiar with.  Having gone through some very difficult struggles and life challenges as a single mom, Sherri now uses Art Therapy as a tool for “de-coding” her spiritual experiences. She teaches guided workshops for stress relief and living a balanced life with purpose and clarity. If you are looking for confirmation in the healing and deep personal and spiritual insights that can be found through connecting with Nature, as well as Art Therapy, I believe you are going to really enjoy today’s show.  Come on in…

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…