Time has a way of bending, blurring and twisting, just enough to soften the edges of unforeseen circumstances, bringing a simultaneous sense of racing forward while somehow standing still. In moments of uncertainty and when life’s pace is confused, nature is a constant we can turn to, for reassurance and grounding to quiet the mind.

This month’s issue offers various examples of the ways the natural world supports us and permeates our lives with stability. Vitality shines through in delectable recipes foraged from unexpected places, in organic methods to boost immunity for children, through the wisdom of biological dentistry and in the soothing balm of water’s enduring capacity to heal.

In childhood, I found a perch on a big flat rock in the middle of a familiar stream, observing water skiers, crayfish, and minnows, along with bees, butterflies and birds. Looking back, I see my times on the rock as seeds to a meditation practice. Spending time in nature, while sitting, walking or hiking, and observing the sights, sounds and smells has remained a constant through a half century of life. The sensation of the earth under my feet or a tree at my back, hearing the babble of a brook or the steady rhythm of waves and seeing the sky reliably overhead, provides a sense of security and of being held by something larger than myself.

In Gisele Rinaldi Siebold’s piece on page 40, we are reminded of this expansiveness in the outside world as nature is revealed as “compass, healer, provider and teacher.” She quotes Samantha Curran,“We…tend to forget just to let things be,” suggesting that nature provides an example of how to move with the ebb and flow of life with greater ease.

This rhythm that balances our very being is found in the flow of the ocean waves and ripples on a lake. Water possesses in its many forms and degrees of gentleness and power, a nourishment of life, literally springing from the earth, and flowing gently forth. In “Healing Waters,” page 25, Marlaina Donato notes “water is a balm for the modern spirit bogged down by information overload and world events.” A peaceful rain, rambling stream, rolling ocean, are all comforts – symbolically and practically possessing the capacity to leave us refreshed and renewed.

We invite you to seek out these cleansing moments by finding a spot near a stream or beneath a shade tree to settle down with our pages, take in some goodness and find nourishment for your soul.

Kendra and Jacqueline