Maria Rodale

On Letting Nature Heal Itself

by Sophia Ellis Kreider

What is the most significant message nature is trying to share with us?

The overarching message, which has been reinforced since I wrote the book, is that nature wants to feel free to do whatever it needs to do to heal things. The more we try to control nature, the more frustrated it gets. The same is true for people; the freer we feel, the happier and more productive we are. All efforts to control, whether it’s controlling human behavior or landscapers trying to control the landscape, are not helpful in any way. If we want to solve the climate crisis or the environmental crisis, we need to allow nature to be free and do its job.

What role does courage play in exploring what plants, insects and animals have to teach us?

Many of us are afraid of having new experiences or have anxiety about things we don’t understand. When this happens, we can choose to stay in the fear or encourage ourselves through it. When we choose courage and curiosity, we often learn a new skill or power. For example, when I was journeying and getting to know mosquitos and ticks, I felt afraid but chose to keep going. While I didn’t come to love the mosquitos and ticks, I developed compassion and respect for them.

Bestselling author, activist and gardener Maria Rodale is a board member of Rodale Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to growing the regenerative organic agriculture movement through research, farmer training and education. She is the former CEO of Rodale Inc., the global health and wellness media company that published notable books and magazines, including Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth Her own books include Organic Manifesto: How Organic Food Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe, as well as Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious. In her latest work, Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden, Rodale leads readers through her relationship with the plants, animals and insects that inhabit her garden and shares the life lessons these often misunderstood creatures taught her.

Why did you write this book?

It was a combination of sensing that “spirit” wouldn’t allow me not to and the recognition that I could write the book in my own way, with humor and irreverence. It’s been my experience that once we begin following the path that s pirit provides for us, things become easy. As someone on the older side of life, I’ve also noticed that when I don’t listen to that guidance, I tend to really mess things up, so even when I don’t understand the path, I have to follow it.

To understand what nature is communicating to us, we need to get curious and unlearn what our parents and culture taught us about how our garden should look or how we should interact with it. We can ask ourselves, “What am I afraid of? Where did the fear come from?” and listen for the answer.

What role does personal trauma play in healing our planet?

Trauma is the root of everything—crime, abuse and all the things that make us unhappy and destructive, both towards each other and nature. That’s one of the reasons I was excited to share the parents’ creed in the milkweed chapter. The creed teaches that in order to stop trauma, we must raise kids well from the start. The challenge is that our culture doesn’t provide the information we need to minimize our mistakes or prevent trauma in the first place. Openness to learning about ourselves is key to healing trauma. When we heal our traumas, we are less likely to project trauma onto other living beings, including nature.

If people respond to life with curiosity instead of fear, and love instead of control, we can evolve amazingly fast and have fun doing it. This is the wonderful work we can accomplish together with nature— envisioning and building new systems and ways of being on this beautiful Earth.

Calendar Of Events

Email Publisher@NaturalMKE.com for guidelines and to submit entries. We advise confirming in advance directly with the business or organization.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 5

Deer District Market – 10am3pm. Free admission. Fiserv Forum, 1111 Vel R Phillips Ave, Milwaukee. MilwaukeeMakersMarket.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10

Midwest Women’s Herbal: Free Virtual Community Conversation – 6:30pm. With psilocybin researcher and author, Katherine MacLean. We will discuss her newly released memoir, Midnight Water, and her upcoming appearance at Mycelium Mysteries: Women’s Mushroom Conference (Sept 22-24). Register: HerbWomenClassroom.podia.com

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13

Milwaukee Makers Market – 10am-4pm. End of Summer Sale. Support local artisans, makers, creators and community. Free admission. Discovery World Museum, 500 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee. MilwaukeeMakersMarket.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 21

Save The Date

Kids’ Camp: Dancing Jaguar’s Summer Camp – Aug 21-25. 9am-3pm. Ages 6-12. This metaphysical summer camp teaches children how to nurture their inner world with a holistic approach to integrating mind, body and spirit. $275. Knickerbocker on the Lake, 1028 E Juneau Ave, Milwaukee. 207-680-6942. Tinyurl.com/JagKidsCamp

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27

Holding Space for Community and Nature – Sundays, Aug 27-Sept 17. 10-11:30am. A balance of guidance, reflection, quiet time and sharing as community as we experience the pace of nature and its energies. This is intended to be done in a 4-part series based on the work of Joanna Macy, eco-philosopher, activist and Buddhist practitioner. $120/series. Estabrook Park, 4400 N Estabrook Dr, Shorewood 262-586-9779. WatersEdgeTS.com.

Milwaukee Makers Market – 10am-4pm. Pop-Up Market. Support local artisans, makers, creators and community. Free admission. The Starling, 102 N Water St, Milwaukee. MilwaukeeMakersMarket.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31

Summer Full Moon Celebration with Soul Meets Body – 4-10pm. Includes a garden-to-table dinner by a gourmet chef, mediumship readings, sound healing with reiki, guided meditation, Pisces full moon astrology forecast, Full Moon Fire Ceremony and more. Reserve a seat early; space limited. $487.64. 11516 N Spring Ave, Mequon. SoulMeetsBody.co/events-1

Plan Ahead

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Self-Healing & Awakening – Sept 2-3. 10am-5:30pm. Join International teacher, Yogi Ashokananda, in this workshop where he will focus on practices, techniques, and experiential learning to lead you towards greater self-awareness and healing. Expand your sense of who and what you are with the teachings of Yogi Ashokananda by applying the yoga and meditation disciplines he has developed. Lodging options available. GoldenLightHealing.net

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Deer District Market – 10am-3pm. Free admission. Fiserv Forum, 1111 Vel R Phillips Ave, Milwaukee. MilwaukeeMakersMarket.com

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7

Fall Retreat for HCPs at Red Clover Ranch – Sept 7-10. Four-day group retreat for healthcare providers to learn more about and experience ketamine assisted therapy and psychedelic integration breathwork in a supportive container. $2,959/shared cabin; $3,379/ single. Red Clover Ranch, 44727 Co Rd X Soldiers Grove. 563-272-0858. Driftless IntegrativePsychiatry.com/FallRetreat

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

7th Annual Women’s Mycelium Mysteries Conference – Sept 22-24. Hosted by Midwest Women’s Herbal focusing on all things in the mushroom world. Workshops offered at the beginner through advanced levels on topics such as wild mushroom skills, fungal ecology, fungi and human health, and ethnomycology. Keynote speakers are Katherine MacLean, PhD, Cornelia Cho, MD, and Anne Pringle, PhD. Almond, WI. Tickets & to register: MidwestWomensHerbal.com sure let our advertisers know you found them in

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024

Ancient Celtic Irish Shamanism – Mar 23-25. Join international teacher and author, Amantha Murphy from Ireland, as she shares these ancient traditions. The Irish Shamanic tradition goes back over many thousands of years. This way allows a person to walk between the worlds, recognizing the interconnectedness between all living forces both seen and unseen. Lodging options available. GoldenLightHealing.net

THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2024

Seidr Norse Shamanism –Apr 4-7. Join UK international author and teacher, Imelda Almqvist, for Seidr/Fornsed & Norse Shamanism. This 4-day introduction course covers a large field of spiritual and mystical traditions where we will explore the indigenous ancestral pathways and spiritual wisdom teachings of Northern Europe. Lodging options available. GoldenLightHealing.net

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024

Peruvian Shamanism Training – May 16-19, July 11-14, Sept 12-15, Nov 7-10, 2024. Join Peruvian native and international teacher, Jose Luis Herrera, for this powerful training on Peruvian Shamanism. This 4-part series is comprised of 4 long weekends in which you will develop a medicine bundle, or mesa, that becomes your animistic map of transformation and healing across the medicine path. Lodging options available. GoldenLightHealing.net

Ongoing Monthly

Receive Ongoing Healings – Thru July 31. 12pm. 4th Sun-Sat. Receive Divine Blessings each month. Be in tune with the energy cycles of 2023 so that you can prepare, upgrade and be a source of blessing for yourself, family and community. Free. Virtual. ShantiLleone.com

Weekly

WEEKLY IRON LOTUS at Camp Serenity

Sunday: Sand & Land Yoga, 8:30am

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Paddle Board Yoga, 6am

Tuesday: Yin Yoga, 5:30pm

Thursday: Yin Yoga, 5:30pm

Friday: Sand & Land Yoga, 10am

Saturday: Sand & Land Yoga, 8:30 am and Brunch, 11:30am. Private lessons and retreats available by appointment. All classes are $20/session. Come for 5 sessions, get the 6th free with your loyalty card. Camp Serenity, S76W18582 Kingston Dr, Muskego. 262-903-8774. CampSerenity.wordpress.com.

Sunday

A.C.I.M. Study Group – A Course in Miracles study group, following Fellowship. Love offering accepted. Fireside Room, Unity Center in Milwaukee, 1717 N 73rd St, Wauwatosa. Joann Baumann: 414-745-7377. UnityCenterInMilwaukee.com

Sunday Celebrations at Unity Center in Milwaukee – 10am. Onsite (observing COVID-19 recommendations for face masks, social distancing and taking temperatures). Unity Center in Milwaukee, 1717 N 73rd St, Wauwatosa. 414-475-0105. Streaming live: UnityCenterInMilwaukee.com

Group Breathwork – 11am-12pm. 1st & 3rd Sun. Join us for a small group class to experience breathwork for the first time or as a tune-up for experienced breathers. Experience a shift and alignment of body, mind and spirit. $44. Blue Sky Breath, 4650 N Port Washington Rd, Ste 330, Glendale. 414-420-0102. BlueSkyBreath.com.

Monday

Hatha Yoga – 8-9am. We make getting on your yoga mat as easy as possible with multiple ways to practice. Specials for news students and referrals. In-studio or virtually via Livestream. Everyday Bliss, 1930 W Bluemound Rd, Waukesha. 262-781-8102. Everyday-Bliss.com

Vinyasa Flow – 12-1pm. Focus on the dynamic sequence of flowing yoga postures built around the Sun Salutations with continued attention to technique and alignment. All levels. Invivo Wellness, 2060 N Humboldt Ave, Ste 300, Milwaukee. 414-265-5606. InvivoWellness.com

Life Journey Group – 6:15-8pm. 2nd & 4th Mon. Come with an open mind and kind heart to support others and self in spiritual growth through daily living. Love offering. Unity Center in Milwaukee, 1717 N 73rd St, Wauwatosa. 414-475-0105. UnityCenterInMilwaukee.com

Tuesday

Cultivating Guts Podcast: New Episode Release – 9am. Tiffany Hinton’s podcast where we discuss gardening, homesteading, gut health, following our intuition, herbalism and functional medicine to create a life of joy and beauty. Listen on Spotify, YouTube and iTunes. Free. Tinyurl.com/CultivatingG

DNA Hemp at Thiensville Farmers Market – Thru Oct 10. 9am-2pm. Every other Tues. High Vibe Tribe offers sungrown, hand-cultivated, premium DNA Hemp Product Line. Free samples. Black DNA Hemp Tent, 251 Elm St, Thiensville. 414-531-8129. dnahempllc.com

VIBE Fitness: HIIT Class – 6-6:45pm. Class will focus on keeping your heart rate up while still focusing on resistance training. VIBE Yoga Health Fitness, 180 Kossow Rd, Waukesha. 262-788-9147. Register: VibeMKE.com or using the MINDBODY app.

Wednesday

VIBE Virtual 30-Min Yoga Flow – 12pm. Class is created with the intention to connect with breath, move the body and clear the mind. Great for doing when time is limited, but when a break is needed to flow and breathe. Zoom. Register: VibeMKE.com or using the MINDBODY app.

DNA Hemp at Menomonee Falls Farmers Market – Thru Oct 4. 2-6pm. Every other Wed. High Vibe Tribe offers sun-grown, hand-cultivated, premium DNA Hemp Product Line. Free samples. Black DNA Hemp Tent, N87W16749 Garfield Dr, Menonomee Falls. 414-531-8129. dnahempllc.com

Drumming Circle – Thru Nov 15. 5:306:30pm. 3rd Wed. Join us for this monthly evening of drumming and discover inner strength and encouragement by those sharing the experience. Bring own drum or use one of ours. No experience necessary. All welcome. $10. A Place to Be Spirituality Center, 166 W Dekora St, Saukville. APlaceToBeSC.org

East Side Pilates: Booty Camp – 6pm. This challenging circuit format utilizes cardio intervals on the jump board with strength and core-conditioning segments on the low chair and CoreAlign. A perfect way to build strength, sculpt and tone your body. East Side Pilates, 2445 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee. 414-915-7100. EastSidePilates.com

Thursday

VIBE Sunrise Yoga Flow-45 – 6-6:45am. Virtual & In-Person Options. Connect with breath, move the body and clear the mind. All levels welcome. For the VIRTUAL class option, the ZOOM link will be emailed to you prior to the start of class. VIBE Yoga Health Fitness, 180 Kossow Rd, Waukesha. 262788-9147. Register: VibeMKE.com or using the MINDBODY app.

East Side Pilates: Mixed Equipment Pilates Class – 9:30am. This open-level class will challenge you in surprising and new ways. Experience the reformer, tower, yoga wall, mat, CoreAlign and/or chair. Increase core and full body strength, balance body/mind/spirit. East Side Pilates, 2445 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee. 414-915-7100. EastSidePilates.com

Friday

VIBE Fitness-SHRED – 6-6:45am. Class is all about building lean muscle through resistance training. Weight training-based movements that will help boost that metabolism to get you feeling stronger and leaner than ever. VIBE Yoga Health Fitness, 180 Kossow Rd, Waukesha. 262-788-9147. Register: VibeMKE.com or use the MINDBODY app.

East Side Pilates: Reformer/Tower Pilates Class – 7:30am. This open-level class is one of ESP signature classes. Attendees are guided through a dynamic Mat warm up then dive into flowing sequences on the Tower utilizing spring-based exercises. A perfect way to build strength, sculpt and tone your body. East Side Pilates, 2445 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee. 414-915-7100. EastSidePilates.com

Adaptive Yoga – 2-3pm. With Dawn Stacey. A slow alignment-based class with options to build poses throughout the class and a guided meditation at the end. $12. A Place to Be Spirituality Center, 166 W Dekora St, Saukville. APlaceToBeSC.org

Saturday

DNA Hemp at West Bend Farmers Market – Thru Oct 21. 7:30-11am. Every other Tues.High Vibe Tribe offers sun-grown, hand-cultivated, premium DNA Hemp Product Line. Free samples. Black DNA Hemp Tent, 320 5th Ave, West Bend. 414-531-8129. dnahempllc.com

Saturday Brunches at Camp Serenity Yoga and Retreat Center – 11:30am. Includes a 60-min Iron Lotus class, followed by homemade bakery, roasted vegetables, quinoa, coffee and Mimosa. Available for 3-5 people. $45/session. Camp Serenity, S76W18582 Kingston Dr, Muskego. 262-903-8774. CampSerenity.wordpress.com

Yoga Basics: Free Community Class –11:30am-12:30pm. Come to learn, play and move in a supportive, welcoming environment. We focus on developing clear and safe alignment in foundational yoga pose. Invivo Wellness, 2060 N Humboldt Ave, Ste 300, Milwaukee. 414-265-5606. InvivoWellness.com