Soulscapes

Why the Name Soulscapes™?

Soulscapes™ form the heart of my work, the meeting place for the soul and nature – the merging of inner and outer wilderness.

They go beyond an aesthetic or scientific understanding of the natural world, to include a mystical and soulful appreciation of what it means to be part of the earth community, connected to all living things. 

Archetypal in nature, these Soulscapes™ are readily identifiable and recognizable as parts of the human soul, and the wisdom lessons in each have been tested and refined through workshops, keynotes, and sessions with individual clients.

The following is a short tour of the Soulscapes™. I hope it will give you a glimpse of how the terrain of earth and soul are perfect reflections of each other. When entered into in depth, they can change the landscapes of how you live, work, and dream.


1. Deserts

In the deserts of the heart
Let the healing fountain start.
—W.H. Auden

Just as the vast and spacious deserts of the world cover about twenty percent of the land, so the desert Soulscape™ represents a significant, though infrequently visited, landscape within us. We come to the desert to transform. Here, winds named Khamsin, Sirocco, and Simoom make and remake the land unrecognizable, surprising. And here, too, death and disappointment reshape our inner landscape, inviting something new to be born within. Entering the desert Soulscape™, we also confront a world hell-bent on noise pollution, overpopulation, excess, and denial of death or suffering. As we make our pilgrimage to this holy place, we find wisdom and strength to lay bare the bones of our souls and to live more simply on the Earth.


2. Rivers and Oceans

"There is a River, a Holy River,
that flows inside my heart."
—Yogic Chant

Water covers an astonishing seventy percent of the earth's surface and comprises the same percentage of our bodies. We arose from an ancient sea of amniotic fluid and were birthed in the watery womb. We had fins before we had fingers. We breathed water before we sucked air. Just as the waters of the world shape the topography of our landscape, so the flow of our longings gives depth and direction to our lives. And yet, failing to recognize how we dam, pollute and despoil our oceans and rivers, we can also be blinded to how our own longings are despoiled. In this Soulscape, we learn how to clean up our desires and let our natural longings flow once more. We discover the source of our true joy and aliveness. When we do this, our planet's water flows more cleanly and freely too.


3. Forests

Today I have grown taller from walking with the trees.
—Karle Wilson Baker

Enter the forest and you enter an unstructured environment, one that hasn't been shaped by the regular lines of Euclidean thought. The beauty of the forest lies, in part, in its absence of order. While it thrives on a delicate ecological balance, its burgeoning presence gives the impression of the deep unknowable. In the forest, we return to the natural shape of our souls—the spirals and swirls that form the heart of our being and our galaxies. But too much forest has been cut down; too much sacredness has been felled, too much diversity destroyed. This Soulscape explores how we can protect our ancient trees and ancient wisdom and how, by restoring the diverse heart of our own creative souls, we can stand tall like the trees we need to save.


4. Mountains

One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began...
—Mary Oliver, the Journey

We live in times that require us to face the truth of who we are, and to what we are committed. As you journey through the mountains, you'll learn how to take a stand and create your own weather—one that won't cause global climate change. You'll discover how a life without healthy risk can manifest as destructive behavior. You'll trek the ranges of Mt. Media, Mt. Corporation, Mt. Religion –and look at the shadows they cast. You'll explore the devastating practice of mining, and see how you too have been mined for what's of value. In the process, you'll discover the granite and grandeur that resides at the center of your being.


5. Meadows

Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
than the breathing respect that you carry
—William Stafford

In the meadows, herds of antelope and other creatures gather to drink from the river, homesteaders declare their long journey over and put down roots, and the mountain river slows to a steady stream. A wide expanse of meadow is like an invitation settle down and rest awhile, create community, celebrate, and offer thanks. In a world that loves only one season—the growing season—learning to rest and be grateful can do much to redress the problems of over consumption, overwork, and unchecked growth. In putting down roots and cherishing our place in the world, we learn to build relationship with all our neighbors—and not just the human variety.


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