What does it mean to be human? Years ago, I watched an episode of Black Mirror (a science fiction show) that made me sit with this question in a new way. The episode is called San Junipero. Here’s the premise: 🌊 San Junipero is a town on the beach, where people play, dance, meet with friends & lovers, and live their best lives. The only catch? San Junipero doesn’t actually exist in the physical world. It’s a simulated, digital reality. The people who hang out in San Junipero are: living...
17 days ago • 3 min read
A couple newsletters ago, I mentioned that I recently moved to Oregon. (You can read that newsletter here if you missed it!) Since then, I’ve been observing & connecting with the nature around me - which is the land of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla; Clackamas; Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde; and Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. (Which I learned through this helpful & important website.) A few things catch my attention when I meander through the forest in my backyard. 🦋 the...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Recently, I brought my newly adopted dogs, Toto and Didi, to their first vet appointment. Since they’re anxious beings, still adjusting to the rhythms of our home, I wanted to find a vet that would treat them with the care & patience that they need. That’s how I ended up at a “fear-free” vet clinic, which emphasizes “stress-free visits that put your pet at ease.” The way the vet interacted with our dogs reminded me what it means to take care of the nervous system - whether animal or human....
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Dear all, I’m excited to share that – after years of living in Colorado and a season of travel/nomadism – I have moved into a new home in Oregon. My nervous system is loving the moisture, the greenery, and the ancient trees of the Pacific Northwest. 🌿 Nature is a huge part of how I resource myself and take care of my body/mind/spirit. I can’t wait to share more about the medicine of the nature here as I settle into my new home & build community here. Me & my dogs hanging out in the beautiful...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Last weekend, I attended a Brainspotting & Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy training in Portland, Oregon. I gathered with a group of lovely therapists to explore the integration of low-dose ketamine (a consciousness-shifting medicine) with Brainspotting (a brain-body therapy). The training - led by my dear friend Mari at Awaken Consulting & hosted at the beautiful sanctuary of Empathy Grove - covered important topics like: safety considerations (because ketamine-assisted psychotherapy - KAP -...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Lately, my favorite way to take care of my nervous system has been through daily walks in nature. My nervous system enjoys the visual stimulation (soft lighting and vibrant colors), as well as the auditory input (birds chirping, the creek flowing, and a deep sense of quiet). On a psychological level, being in nature helps me slow down - which I welcome, as my mind can spin pretty quickly sometimes. 🌊 Sitting next to a creek, my body naturally releases tension, and starts to breathe more...
3 months ago • 2 min read
I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers a month ago. It was every color of the rainbow - so vibrant and bright, I literally squealed with delight when I saw it. 💐 Every week since then, I’ve watched the flowers transform - from a state of blooming & expansion, to eventual shrinking & contraction as they completed their cycle of life on earth. The change of color, texture, and size of the flowers was fascinating to observe. Every few days, I would enjoy trimming the flowers, adjusting the...
4 months ago • 2 min read
This weekend marked the solstice - a transition across seasons, the longest day of light in the northern hemisphere & the longest night in the southern hemisphere. 🕯️ To me, these types of transitions feel important to celebrate & acknowledge – whether through the simple lighting of a candle, a moment of connection with nature, or a gathering with loved ones. This time of year reminds me of other types of transitions as well - endings, new beginnings, goodbyes, and hellos. Several years ago,...
4 months ago • 2 min read
While on a hike recently, I came across a sign that said: 🚫 If you see a bear, don’t make eye contact (which the bear may perceive as a sign of aggression) Which was right next to another sign: 👀 If you see a mountain lion, DO make eye contact (which shows the lion that you are aware of its presence & not afraid) These signs made me feel a bit spooked, reminding me of the possibility of encountering these creatures. (Though, to my relief, a third sign in the vicinity stated that the last...
5 months ago • 2 min read