by Amy Smalley

For my soul walk I knew I needed to go somewhere further from my home so that I could really work on being mindful, and practice what I have been learning without feeling rushed into the daily rituals of my life. I took an overnight trip to enjoy the Quinault Rainforest, a place I had never been, but have always wanted to visit. I wanted to enjoy and experience all that this forest had in store for me, and use my senses to wonder, and connect with the forest.

by Sophie Benfield

For my Growth Rings project, I knew I wanted to do something visual, preferably with watercolors because it’s been years since I’ve played around with them. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to come up with the perfect idea that I became a bit paralyzed. I decided to just start with a simple inkblot watercolor each week, using colors I was extra drawn to in Nature that week.

by Monserrat Pizarro

Leaves are dropping,

constantly

So many colors

Some end up in wind tornadoes

Looking like a fire

Oranges, Reds, Yellows

by Bethany Parnell

I am beginning to encounter trees as living beings more than before. The big tree in my sit spot catches my attention and I think “I don’t even know it’s name”. I began to think about our human naming process for trees and then wondered “what does the tree call itself?”

by Kelly Gauthier

Reflections of Growth is the Growth Rings project created by Kelly Gauthier, FTS Certified Forest Therapy Guide, May 2023 cohort.

by Jean Eis

The Tootsie Roll Trail

Winding, rocky, rooted path

Walk gently on you.

by Ruth Smith

I share with you several treats of nature I photographed during my four hour Soul Walk. During this time with nature, I felt a range of emotions flow through my body. I’ve never spent this amount of time with nature, slowing down enough to respect my feelings and body, and allowing my feet to step tenderly, one step at a time.

by Rachel Malpasso

I’m waiting for the birds to join me at their feeder.

I’m trying to be patient,

Quiet,

Relatively still.

by Sarah Alvestad

My growth ring project is finished and like much in life, it turned out differently than I had originally planned.

by Nicole Kaye

Apart from the woods

I had lost myself,

Entangled, and mind-bound

by Suzanne VanOver

During my soul walk, this mother tree revealed a parent embracing a child and that with consciousness, there is safety.

by Johanna Bowen

I awake to the alarm

Of a cricket

by Whitney Wallace

I’ve always been attracted to the stones.

To the rocks.

I would collect them in my pockets and my mother,

much to her dismay,

would find them rattling around,

forgotten,

in the washing machine.

by Marion Kastner

When we slow down and take time to notice, we experience so much more.

by Laura Transue

sometimes it feels like

jumping off a cliff

being more than human

being blessed with worthiness

by Shawn Ramsey

I struggle to relax as I enter the forest

Fidgety and anxious

Unsure about this assignment

Featured article in the January/February 2023 edition of Forest Landowner’s magazine

by Glenna Lee

I came to the forest to watch a leaf fall.

Last year, I watched leaves land,

Altogether a different miracle.

by Mary Judd-Pechie

Many years ago, Tree lived alone in the Forest. Tree stood tall and proud, reaching up to Sky, Sun, Clouds, Moon, and Stars. Tree was content.

Then one day Lichen came along. “Tree”, said Lichen, “Are you lonely here, reaching up to Sky, Sun, Clouds, Moon, and Stars?” “No”, said Tree, “I am content- are you lonely, Lichen?”