This book of poetry and practices shows how we can connect with the deep peace, simple joy, and healing power of nature anytime, anywhere.
Through intimate original poems, we experience loving encounters with trees, the gratitude of thirsty plants quenched by rain, and cross-cultural communication with chickadees. We feel what it's like to walk on padded paws, to take wing, to root ourselves in the Earth. We remember our kinship with all beings.
And through carefully crafted practices, we discover how connecting mindfully with nature, even in small ways in the midst of a city, calms our frazzled minds, lifts our weary spirits, and brings peace and balance into our lives. We learn to cultivate deeper bonds with wild places and more-than-human beings that restore and heal both us and the Earth.
Poems of Earth and Spirit invites us to approach the natural world not merely as a scenic backdrop or outdoor gym, but as a gathering of beloved friends, wise teachers, and powerful healers. And when we develop a loving and respectful relationship with nature, it awakens our reverence for all life and inspires us to protect what we love.
Good news for busy readers: Poems of Earth and Spirit can be enjoyed in very brief and yet meaningful encounters. In just a few moments, we can open to any page and be uplifted by a short poem, a simple practice, or a charming hand-drawn illustration.
In this high-stress, high-tech world in which so many of us hunger for more authentic connection, Poems of Earth and Spirit illuminates a direct and scenic path to greater joy, meaning, and belonging. This is a book that keeps on giving-and not just to its readers. A portion of the sales are donated to TreeSisters, a grassroots network that plants over a million trees a year in the tropics.
2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist
Praise for Poems of Earth and Spirit: /p>
"Beautiful, heart-felt poems for connecting with the Earth."
-Joseph Bharat Cornell, author of Sharing Nature and Deep Nature Play
"Brimming with insight and imagination... To spend time with this collection is like sitting by a pure mountain stream; we are filled with peace, wonder, and delight. These inspiring poems and simple practices will help you deepen your connection with nature wherever you are."
-Mary Reynolds Thompson, author of Reclaiming the Wild Soul
"If you feel called to deepen your connection with nature and all life, this wonderful book is an inspiring guide. Especially in these times of climate emergency and social stress, we need a direct and open-hearted relationship with Earth and Spirit to sustain us as we move forward into an uncertain future."
-Linda Buzzell, co-editor, Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind
"What I want from poetry is what Kai gives me, to see anew and to feel deeply, to be reminded of who I am."
-Patrice Vecchione, author of Step into Nature: Nurturing Imagination & Spirit in Everyday Life.
"I've been sharing Kai's poems with my students and workshop participants for years. I love how they help people to see the natural world more clearly and appreciate it more profoundly... her poems invite us into a more intimate relationship with all of life."
-Ariana Candell, LMFT, R-DMT, Ecotherapist and Founder of The Earthbody Institute