This book is your invitation to experience the life-energizing process of reclaiming your spiritual roots through nature—be it your backyard or the wilds of the forest.
Nancy Barrett Chickerneo, PhD
Foreword by Eileen Fisher
Paperback
8 x 8, 224 pp | w/ b/w nature drawings | 978-1-59473-250-8
Dare to Take Ownership of the Wildness and Wonder of Your Truest Self
“Nature is there for you, waiting to reflect your deepest self back to you and to teach you the Creator’s wisdom. A step into nature’s embrace is always a step into a richer, fuller life. The door is wide open; come on out!”
—from “Beginning”
This book is your invitation to experience the life-energizing process of reclaiming your spiritual roots through nature—be it your backyard or the wilds of the forest.
Nancy Barrett Chickerneo, a twenty-year veteran leading women’s retreats, guides you on a journey into nature to reconnect with your senses—what you see, hear, touch, taste and smell—in order to reactivate your ability for personal discovery. Combining creativity, playfulness and spiritual depth, she poses eight life-changing questions that help you explore ways to awaken, transform and nurture your spirit. Practical exercises for individual or group use encourage you to let go of self-judgment and seek balance in your everyday life, empowering you to find your own path to spiritual growth.
Whether you have picked up this book out of curiosity, longing—even skepticism—you will be inspired to get out there into nature to reclaim the person you were created to be.
“The healing power of the Divine in nature comes through clearly.”
—Christian Feminism Today
“Individuals who appreciate nature will feel immediately at home.... Recommended for libraries, retreat planners, and as a gift for those who thrive on nature’s benefits for body and spirit.”
—Congregational Libraries Today
“Chickerneo has found many thought-provoking quotations about the bounties of the natural world and their salutary effects on women.... [Provides] ways to come alive to your senses and to use journaling and other creative tools to express what you have experienced.”
—Spirituality & Practice
“Beautiful and playful, simple yet revelatory, here’s an invitation to change your life. Gently entices us into the natural world, where we find the deepest parts of our own selves reflected back with love and meaning.”
—Margaret D. McGee, author, Sacred Attention: A Spiritual Practice for Finding God in the Moment
“A beautifully spiritual book, with great depth and lessons for all who seek meaning.”
—Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar, author, The Bridge to Forgiveness: Stories and Prayers for Finding God and Restoring Wholeness
“An extraordinary guide on the journey into wholeness…. Bridges the natural world to the realm of the imagination. It’s a wonderful treat for the soul!”
—Jan Phillips, author, Divining the Body: Reclaim the Holiness of Your Physical Self and The Art of Original Thinking
“Passionate, compassionate, beautifully written … this is more than a book for women; it’s a book for everyone and anyone searching for a deeper relationship with God than they’ve been able to find in a more civilized setting.”
—John Lionberger, author, Renewal in the Wilderness: A Spiritual Guide to Connecting with God in the Natural World
“Good luck sitting still as you read this book! A creative and inspiring resource, it’s a beautiful synthesis of healing wisdom, reverence for creation, art, personal stories, and proven practices for deepening your spiritual journey.”
—The Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen, Episcopal Bishop of Maine
