Tracie’s Story…

For much of my life I saw myself as someone who loved nature, who wanted to take care of the earth. I respected nature and felt a deep connection with the natural world. While it seemed like the right way to live at the time, I always felt like something was missing … like I needed to be doing something more…or differently.

My mountain friends...

After a life-changing experience with a mountain, I realized that it wasn’t enough to just love and care for nature. The mountain experience reminded me that people are as much nature as trees and animals and streams. After that experience I craved a deep, heart-opening relationship with the earth. I wanted to understand in my blood and bones what it meant to be nature. I needed to rediscover my own inherent wildness.

In that moment, I started a full-blown and not-so-secret love affair with the earth. I experienced what it truly meant to be at home; to be loving and loved, and to never feel lonely or isolated. I found a sense of grounding and peace; a deep calm and focus I hadn’t experienced before. I felt my creativity rise and touched a profound sense of purpose. And joy…so much incandescent joy…

At first, the temptation was to keep this affair secret. I wanted to disappear into the wilderness alone and savor the joy, belonging and peace.

My deep respect and passion for all life invited me to respond differently, though. The possibilities for earth and human healing are just too compelling. I can’t hoard the experience. Like many new lovers, I want everyone else to be in love, too.

Everyone can feel this much at home, this clear and grounded and supported. Everyone can feel the incandescent joy of a heart connection with their ecosystem.

The possibilities don’t stop with the benefits to individual people, either. The earth is a powerful living system. Aligning with the earth means we’ve got the power of an entire planet to work with.

And the dream seed is born…

Nature, as we so often witness, is a force. Since we are nature, we’re a force too. Some of us may be using our powers destructively now, but think about this. What if all 7 billion people on this planet remembered they were nature? What if everyone really did feel at home, grounded and supported, and a part of their ecosystem? We’d have 7 billion unique ways to make a difference for the Earth, our beloved and essential planetary home!