Below is a list of some of the articles I have written for my column Nature Wisdom for The Healthy Planet…
Clicking a title will take you to the article on the page.

Nature Wisdom
by Pat Tuholske
July 2004

Elemental Earthcamp

At Elemental Earthcamp, crossing the creek is a transitional point between city stresses left behind and entering the realm of Nature. This 500 acre sanctuary in the Ozark foothills is total immersion in nature... no electricity, cell phones or plumbing. It is a doorway into a place in your heart where memories awaken, strengths are revealed and qualities show true.

People come to learn basic shamanic skills; to study wild plant medicine and survival skills; to share in vision quests, drumming circles and clay body masques. Kids of all ages love swimming in the creek, hiking the trails, swinging in the hammocks, eating ripe blackberries, sighting deer, tending the campfire, listening for coyotes' call and much more.

Base camp is The Barn, a magical structure built in 1904 lit by oil lamps and candles... a rustic, homey place with wood-burning cook stove, loft overlooking the meadow, sacred spiral path and organic garden.

As part of an Earth-honoring clan, tasks become meditation as you consciously participate in helping the community run smoothly. The kitchen becomes a place to practice the art of conversation while contributing to meal preparation. People gather around the wood-burning stove stirring the soup pot, brewing tea or sizzling vegetables. Somehow, the combination of good ingredients, love and great people make for fabulous meals!

A strong spiritual presence is felt by most who enter this sanctuary... the early pioneers, the wanderers in the mist, the Cherokee forced upon the Trail of Tears. These spirits are respected and honored during ceremonies with prayers and gifts. People often come to breakfast saying they heard singing, drumming or flute playing during the night. An adventure on this land can be a profound life changing experience.

I have known this land for half my life and it has healed me on many levels. During a solitary camp out twenty years ago, a deep sense of peace washed over me while I tended the fire on a star filled night. As I slept under the wide sky, my peace was so complete that a whip-poor-will landed on me and sang. It was then that I knew I must offer the land to those who wished to heal.

Elemental Earthcamp can open your being to the power of air, splendor of water, magic of earth and wonder of fire. Come heal your spirit and remember who you are.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom — July 05
by Pat Tuholske

The Herbs of Essiac

Essiac is a blend of four native herbs that is the most effective alternative cancer treatment I have seen. In the seventeen years I have offered it, Essiac has helped cancer of the liver, breast, lymph system, lung, colon and prostate. Essiac also aids conditions such as hepatitis C, diabetes, glaucoma, arthritis and HIV. These powerful herbs build the immune system, remove toxins and strengthen the body to heal itself.

The recipe was given to Rene Caisse, a Canadian nurse, in 1920 by a Chippewa Indian medicine man. Rene used the tea to help thousands of cancer patients.

As an herbalist, I am privileged to have these beneficial plants growing abundantly wild on our 500 acre sanctuary. Each spring or fall I gather the four healers: Burdock Root, Sheep Sorrel, Slippery Elm Bark and Rhubarb Root.

Burdock Root works profoundly on the lungs, kidneys, stomach and joints. It is a nutritive tonic rejuvenating the immune system and detoxifying the blood and liver.

Sheep Sorrel checks tissue degeneration and reduces swelling and inflammation. It shrinks tumors and helps the blood purify the body. It alleviates vomiting and improves the appetite.

Slippery Elm Bark soothes and strengthens tissues, organs and mucous membranes. Being highly nutritious it prevents wasting away.

Rhubarb Root is a simple, safe purgative helping the intestines absorb nutrition and achieve healthy elimination.

One cup of the dried herbs is brewed in two gallons of purified water. A one cup package will last one to two months. Buy your herbs from a reputable herbalist to ensure fresh, unaltered, organic ingredients.

Those who are consistent and committed to taking the correct dosage find themselves feeling stronger, vital and energetic.

This information is based on plant use throughout history and current herbal research. However, do not use it as a substitute when you need to see your physician. Educate yourself and celebrate the making of your own medicine if you choose to try Essiac. It is a powerful step in your healing process.

For ordering information for Essiac go to my Willow Rain website.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom
Pat Tuholske
May 2002

The Green Man

I know the Green Man. Upon entering any forest, I call to this guardian, to walk along with this forgotten mythic being. Being sensitive to the spirits of nature, I seek them out to acknowledge their presence and show respect. The Green Man is a most important spirit as he is the legendary keeper of all wild green places.

Archetypically, he is the male fertility principle of the Earth Mother, bringing the greening of spring and fruitfulness to the soil This god of the woodlands is so old, his origin is unknown. Stories of the Green Man appear down through history in various cultures under many disguises. Whatever his name, be it Cernunnos, the Oak King or Pan, he presides over nature, symbolizing fertility, male mysteries and masculine power.

The most widely recognized image of the Green Man portray a face with features formed of leaves and vines. Look for his leaf entwined face in the summer foliage of forested woodlands, remote untended areas of parks and the wild weed trees of abandoned city blocks.

You may sense the presence of the Green Man in an earthy smell, a touch of a breeze, a flickering sunbeam, a feeling of being observed, the music of pipes, a face glimpsed in leaves. He gifts you with awareness of the pure innocence of your inner soul and a sense of the rightness of life. With his greening of the world, he reflects personal growth and exuberance for life. He can awaken your own wild nature and help you know your inner Green Man. His wild haunts may be diminished but his foliate face shines within our hearts.

I call forth my inner Green Man, when I see my country neighbors destroying trees with bulldozers. I feel a helpless failure to protect this Precious Earth as my words fall on deaf hearts. Then I remember the many prayers I have witnessed being offered to the Green Man during ceremonies... prayers for his well being and the safe keeping of Nature. At these moments I realize this old god is alive and well and thriving. We are his army of Green Men tending the Earth, being the salvation of Nature in these modern times. An army planting trees, growing gardens and teaching our children respect for the Earth.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom — May – July 2003
by Pat Tuholske

The Shamanic Journey

During the last two decades, there has been renewed interest in the ancient practice of shamanism. The old ways of the shaman are being adapted to life in today's world to enrich our knowledge of the human experience on Earth. Our views of reality are thus expanded as we enter a world totally alive and sentient populated with healing and helping spirits. We understand that all things are connected. We know we are part of nature, not separate. All our questions can be answered… when we practice the shamanic journey and trust what we see.

The journey is the essential part which is the difference between shamanism and other spiritual practices. The journey is undertaken to the lower world, middle world or upper world to the monotonous tone of a drum, rattle or chant. The soul traveler seeks advice and teachings from spiritual allies. These protective allies are usually power animals but can also be spirits of trees, water, stones, ancestors, saints or other deities. The information that is given is brought back into this reality and used for healing, renewal and transformation.

All shamanic cultures know the geography of the Otherworld… lower (underworld), middle (earth) and upper (sky). The shamans of the Cherokee, Kahuna, Huichol, Laplander, Tibetan, Zulu and Celt travel these same three worlds in similar ways, regardless of where or when the tribe dwells. Consciously passing through the portals into these other realities teaches there is more to the universe than what our human minds can possibly perceive in our everyday world.

Initiation into shamanism can occur by life threatening illness, dreams, animal attack, ancestors, another shaman, life-altering experience or strong inner calling. People of all religions practice shamanism. I have journeyed with Jews, Hindus, Christians, Pagans, Spiritualists, Unitarians. People from all career paths practice shamanism. I have drummed for nurses, landscapers, engineers, nuns, therapists, carpenters, office managers, artists, corporate presidents.

One who regularly practices shamanism as their spiritual path is a shamanist. The shamanist who journeys on behalf of another to help in healing is a shaman. A shamanist is not always a shaman. A shaman is always a shamanist.

The shamanist goes beyond the normal territories of life and death… consciously entering into terrain that others sense only in dreams, tuning into powers greater than the self, touching the sacred wildness. Shamanism goes beyond cultural prejudice and religious boundaries. As shamanic skills progress, trusting and traveling deeper into the universe, one touches on the love, peace and harmony that is truly at the core. Perhaps this is why there is a shamanic revival occurring… we need to know there is more…

The Shaman's Call

Shamanism is the oldest spiritual practice of humankind. The shaman is one who endeavors to develop his or her shamanic skills to help individuals and the community to heal. By practicing the ways and means of spirit journeying, shamans are dedicated to gaining knowledge and accessing power for the good of others. They are disciplined and persistent… mastering activities in both nonordinary and ordinary reality. Shamans are productive, stable, and intelligent member of their communities, not simply tolerated psychotics.

Traditionally shamans undergo a long training period, passing rigorous and often ruthless tests before becoming a shaman in their own right. Living at the edges, the shaman is a bridge between ordinary and nonordinary reality… shifting levels of consciousness at will, traveling successfully between the dimensions. Having a foot in both worlds, the shaman is just as comfortable with ecstatic states of consciousness as with everyday mundane consciousness. "One who successfully masters his actions in both realms is a master shaman." The Way of the Shaman, Michael Harner

The shaman intentionally journeys to the Otherworld in order to contact power animals and spiritual allies to access vital survival information for the people, community and planet. Fully in control of this journey and being conscious of everything that transpires, the shaman returns to this dimension with wisdom and puts it to practical use. Relying strongly upon personal relationship with power animals, skills are developed in medicinal plants, weather working, prophesying, soul retrieval, removing spiritual intrusions, aiding the dying, tracking the lost.

Shamans usually work in some other profession as an integrated part of the community at large. Master shamans never call themselves a shaman though others may refer to them as such. They never call themselves a healer, knowing that the healing power comes from the helping spirits. The shaman is there to guide the soul, bargain with the spirits and support the healing process.

Being the first naturalists, shamans strive to keep balance in the natural world through ceremony, prayer and ritual. They understand that the spirits of nature must be paid due respect for maintaining harmony and health on Earth. Nature is the life giver and the source of all activity. Modern shamans are helping not only individuals but working together to help heal Mother Earth. As leaders, teachers and visionaries of a people living on a polluted planet, they persevere from their place in the universal web of light.

Shamanic Healings

Throughout my years of helping people with shamanism, I have seen many souls heal deep and desperate wounds. When one struggles with depression, loneliness, addictions or failed relationships, weariness can overwhelm. The burden and pain can be eased with the help of compassionate spirits. When you are ready to enter the next phase of your life with power and dignity, animal allies step forward to travel the road with you.

Helping spirits are ready and willing to assist you, if you just ask. A key element of shamanism is intention. You ask for help, you are given advise to follow, you do it. Simple as that. This builds a powerful relationship with your animal allies because they see you are serious in your intention. When you act upon the advice they give you, no matter how simple or silly it seems, your life can transform.

Shamanic healings can take many forms:

· Soul Retrieval — a method of returning fragmented parts of the self that have disassociated because of trauma from abuse, sickness, accident or relationship to restore one's personal power.

· Extraction — the removal of spiritual intrusions blocking the health of the body, emotions, mind and spirit.

· Power Animal Retrieval — the returning of beneficial spirits to help access inner wisdom, truth and healing.

· Dismemberment — the tearing away of the self and all attachments to reveal the divine immortal light of the soul.

· Shapeshifting — a transformation to experience the essence of an animal, element, plant, stone to achieve understanding of change, energy flow and oneness.

Personal power is basic to health. Shamanic healing restores power to one's spirit, bringing the ability to make the changes necessary to live a life expanded and wise. Being present in your body allows you to truly walk the path you choose. You realize you are never alone and all things are possible. You can recognize the blessings of the natural world and show gratefulness by living fully within it.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom — Nov 2005
by Pat Tuholske

Mending the Spirit with Soul Retrieval

A pair of large innocent eyes stares from the darkness of the cave. Reaching out to the child, I take her hand to lead her home. With a nod to the guardian grandmother tending the fire, I leave the Cave of Lost Children once more.

I am flying upward into the starlit void, calling out the name of the soul I seek. Calling, calling, I travel deeper into the void until a floating, lifeless spirit is discovered. Choosing life, he lifts his hand to me. I bring his soul back home as I blow into his heart space.

Soul Retrieval is the ancient shamanic practice of returning lost soul pieces to those seeking wholeness and health. We disassociate from ourselves in times of trauma, illness, abuse and loss. This splitting away leaves us feeling an empty longing. Long-term soul loss can leave a once confident person unsure, confused and anxious. Soul loss may even lead to chronic illness as the spirit wanders untended and lost.

My role is that of a spirit tracker. In the Otherworld, with the aid of my power animals, I follow the disassociated soul from the point last seen to the place of refuge. The point last seen is the event which took place to cause the soul to split away. The place of refuge may be the arms of a loving ancestor; a safe place from a childhood fantasy like a castle or a tree house; or a symbolic dreamlike world - alone atop a solitary mountain, desperately fighting river rapids, floating lifeless in the void or sleeping in the den of a power animal.

Soul Retrieval brings a stronger sense of personal power and security in life's purpose. Forgotten memories may surface, emotions lighten and the mind becomes clear. Health issues may ease, problems at work smooth out, relationships heal and life is renewed.

I have conducted over 700 Soul Retrievals and have seen how the process can help a person take giant strides toward healing issues and illness. Clients claim responsibility for their lives, take better care of themselves and begin to use the gifts received from returning soul parts. They no longer feel so alone as they discover new spiritual allies in power animals and the fragmented self is made whole.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom
Pat Tuholske
July 2000

Animal Allies

I am in a large field watching the setting sun with a group of people. Suddenly, at the end of the field an enormous orange snake pops his head up out of a spring and searches the field with his eyes. He spies me. With incredible speed, he leaps out of the spring and flies straight at me.

I am terrified. All the people disappear and I am alone being chased by an enormous orange snake. He's coming for me. I begin to run clumsily, praying for speed. He overtakes me in a flash. I duck as he whizzes over my head. I run the other way. I dodge him again as he flies over me, closer this time.

I see no way out. Why me? What do I do? I stop running. I stand still. I surrender to the attack of the enormous orange snake. He halts in front of me, coils at my feet. What is it? What do you want? He has something for me. He sinks his teeth into my foot. I wake up breathing fast, heart pumping, foot throbbing.

In my shamanic tradition, I know that a new animal ally has just entered my life. I have just survived an attack by an animal in the dream time. The fear and wonder of it stay with me for days. What did he give to me? I spend the next few weeks interpreting my dream and receiving the gift of the enormous orange snake.

Animal allies are spiritual companions who give counsel on life's lessons revealing knowledge hidden away in the inner depths of your soul. In the worldwide practice of shamanism, power animals are a source of wisdom. They walk beside you as a soul friend...guiding, protecting, instructing.

You become aware of animal allies in several ways. They meet you in dreams, physical encounters and inner journeywork. A beloved pet can also be an ally. Power animals give daily guidance on a spiritual level. They clarify life's challenges, reveal sources of fear, give safe passageway in travels, tend to sickness in body, heart and soul.

Open yourself to receive the gifts they offer. You and your power animal can develop a unique relationship where you learn from each other. Listen closely, pay attention, act upon the advice they give and your connection will deepen. They walk the path with you and you realize you are never alone.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom
Pat Tuholske
July 2002

The Circle of the Drum

I was pulled into the drum as a child. My parents enrolled me in a drill team in fourth grade and I spent the next six years marching to the beat of the drum. I remember feeling the surge of energy pulsing through my being as our feet pounded the earth. Entranced by the drummers, weaving the patterns of the drill, we moved as one to the beat. I carry that beat within me still. At that young age I learned to listen, focus and meditate on my own inner drumbeat. I sensed the power of unison and my contribution to the whole.

When my feet no longer kept time with the team, I moved on. Listening to the drummers in nature...the whip-poor-will, cicada, woodpecker, bullfrog, rabbit...I performed my solitary march in the woods behind our house. I felt the rhythm of the flowing creek, the seasons, the sunset, my own heartbeat.

Drumming is part of my spiritual practice. Putting my prayers into the drum, I ride it to the Otherworld to feel the realm of spirit. Humans and the divine intersect within the drum. At this crossroads lives harmony, strength and healing. The drumbeat calls you home to fully inhabit your body and be in tune with the rhythm of your soul.

Drums are worldwide... a spiritual tool that is part of the human psyche. All cultures have drums... Hopi, Irish, Egyptians, Africans... and use the beat to ease a variety of human ailments and to build a sense of community. In other cultures rhythm is used from birth to death. Modern Americans have been cut off from the healing power of drumming. However, we are beginning to recover the communal power of the drum circle.

In the last two decades, drum circles have become popular places to gather, meet kindred spirits, pray together and reclaim a sense of community. Within the drumming circle, a togetherness is created as we interact with each other in non-verbal communication. Drumming is a universal language. We share the sound, we listen to the person next to us and communicate rhythmically. When we drum, we are transformed.

We each have our own inner drumbeat. We are constantly percussing. Humans are essentially rhythm machines, moving through time to the pulsing of hearts, lungs and blood. Listen to your own unique rhythm, honor your internal timing and respect each other. Seek out a drum circle or create one of your own. No musical talent is required, just a willingness to keep the beat and feel your spirit.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom — June 2001:Part 1
by Pat Tuholske

The Shaman Hunts the Plant

The shaman healer stalks the forest, searching for a plant remedy. A person of the tribe has asked for treatment of aches in the joints, sadness of heart and disconnected confusion. The people have relied on the healing plants of this forest for thousands of years. The shaman's feet have walked these woods for many seasons, seeking the wisdom of the wild healing plants. During her medicine walk, she calls out to the spirits who tend the plants that one may give of its power to the sick person.

With her green vision, the shaman sees one plant flutters without wind. The plant glows in the shadows and whispers a song. Plant spirit has spoken. The wise woman identifies the plant as one first learned as a child from a grandmother long ago on a herbal teaching walk. This plant is one of the many used by the forest shaman, this one's unique healing power will soothe the sickness.

An offering is made, thanks is given and the plant is tenderly harvested. Prayers of gratitude are made to the spirits of the land for showing the way to help the soul of the sick one. The plant is prepared with care and administered to the tribal member. The sickness that began first in the soul and is now reflected in the body is comforted.

This was the path of our shamanic ancestors. They listened to the plants for healing advise. Herbal knowledge was passed on from generation to generation. We owe our current wealth of herbal knowledge to their application of what they heard from the plants themselves. And this is still the practice of some present day indigenous healers. When I first started studying herbalism, I read books cover to cover, searched through indexes, worked correspondence courses, experimented on friends and relatives. With piles of herb books beside my bed, I'd even dream of herbs. Hours were spent in the woods and fields with identification guides. Falling in love with the plant, in my early twenties I received my degree in horticulture. Immersing myself in the plant world, I'd found my passion.

One day I closed the books. Feeling I was relying too much on the written words of someone else, I announced to the plants that I wanted to learn directly from them. I wanted them to be my teachers. At that moment, I felt a deeper connection and the spirits of the plants began to talk to me.

I respect the knowledge and medicinal herb research assembled over 50,000 years by indigenous shamanic healers. We cannot dismiss this valuable wisdom that has been collected in cultures all over the world. These healers kept the human race alive by applying the knowledge they received from the plants.

Go to the wild native plants of the forest and field when you feel bad. Quiet your thoughts and critical thinking. One will choose to speak to you if you choose to listen. Learn about your plant and how you can use it. Respect its power. Plants are great teachers and healers. They treat more than our symptoms. They heal our soul.

"Watching gardeners label their plants, I vow with all beings to practice the old horticulture and let the plants identify me" Robert Aitkin.

Nature Wisdom — July 01:Part 2
by Pat Tuholske

Weeds at the Door

I hunt weeds. Searching the ground around house and barn, I track the weeds that have become perennial old friends… Plantain, Yellow Dock, Sheep Sorrel. Seeking fresh plant partnerships, I greet the newcomers that have found their way to me this year… Violets, Red Clover, Mullein.

I eat weeds. I add Chickweed to salads, lambsquarters to soups, Violet Flowers to eggs, Nettles to stews. My body is hungry for the nutrition in weeds. My cells recognize and utilize every part of this wild food. Maximum nutrition is absorbed. Vital energy is ignited. My body is nutured, my spirit filled. I have the power to live the life I love.

I heal with weeds. The weeds at my door are my rememdies. Yellow Dock cleanses my liver. Burdock keeps my blood and skin healthy. Black Walnut sharpens my brain function. Dandelion plays with my joyous child. With Mugwort, I dream.

A "weed" is merely a plant growing where it is not wanted. As an herbalist, I work around my weeds. Some I encourage to come back year after year, while others may thrive for only one summer. My gardens are fairly full of "weeds" that are powerful medicinal native plants and nutritional natural food. I love the wildness and the adventure of watching which green weed friend will grow with me.

The weeds growing at your doorstep have come to help your spirit. Disease is often a symptom of soul sickness. Looking outside your own door, you will find nature offers the cure. The weeds at your door are a reflection of what you need to heal in yourself. Make friends with them, identify them, ask about their healing qualites.

We have disconnected from the weed world. We irradicate them with poisons, battle them with diggers, smother them with mulch. We have done the same with our own essence, our true heart. We don't listen to our bodies. We shut out our inner longings. Often we make the mistake of fighting the weeds at the door that can help us find our center.

Weeds are the footprints of the helping spirits in nature. Learn to interpret the language of the weed before you kill a potential plant ally. Those with an alert eye and a willing heart can follow their path to a happy heart and sound soul.

Nature Wisdom — August 2001:Part 3
by Pat Tuholske

Wild Plant Medicine

The wild plants in our natural environment can make us strong and healthy. We share with them the wind, sun, seasonal changes and earth energy. In our global society, we often turn to Chinese herbs or East Indian herbs growing on the other side of the planet. Nevertheless, the weed at your own door may be the best healing herb for your condition. I believe in the power of our native wild plants.

The current revival of "Essiac" is proof of the medicine in native weeds. Essiac is a blend of burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm bark and rhubarb root. The formula was given to a Canadian nurse in 1920 by a Chippewa medicine man. The nurse's name was Rene Caisse. Essiac is her last name spell backwards. Rene helped hundreds of cancer patients with these humble plants. The Essiac herbs grow wild in our own Midwest fields and forests.

Herbs maintain the balance of body, mind, heart and spirit. Using herbs over a period of time brings health and well being. Be committed and consistent, taking the appropriate herb one month for every year the condition has been present. A symptom is not suppressed as with the use of prescription drugs. Herbs support the body to heal itself deeply and at its own pace.

Consult a qualified healer before attempting self diagnosis. Herbs can harm if taken too long, too strong or combined incorrectly. Herbs can sometimes interact with prescription drugs. Some herbs may have unwanted side affects. Work with a knowledgeable herbalist. Educate yourself to the proper dosage and right plant that will remedy you. Each of us is unique and an herb that helps one may not help the other. Know your body and which herbs are your allies.

Herbs are very effective and deserve our respect. Don't take them for granted just because they are found on every store shelf today. Twenty eight years ago when I first started in the business of herbs, I had to explain what an herb was. Never did I think I'd see the day when medicinal herbs could be purchased at Walgreens, Schnucks or Walmart.

Buy herbs from a store that circulates the herbs quickly. Medicinal herbs loose their potency after one year. If you buy your herbs from a busy healthy food store or a reputable herb company, chances are better that they will be fresh and potent. Best yet, grow or gather your own.

Buy only organic or ethically wildcrafted plants. Imported herbs are fumigated at the shipping docks as they enter our country. The pesticides that have been banned here in the US, we ship to other countries and they come right back to us on our food, herbs and coffees. Never consume an herb that has been gathered from a roadside or near a railroad track. These areas have a high concentration of chemical pollution. Know where your herbs come from.

Many local herbs have been overgathered by enthusiastic wildcrafters. There are plant hunters who are in it only for the buck and sell to the buyer at the local feed store. Echinacea, St. John's Wort and Sheep Sorrel are stolen from roadsides. Ginseng and Goldenseal are poached from woodlands. Plants are harvested at the wrong time of year, reducing medicinal potency. All the plants are removed, leaving none to reseed the plant community. An ethical wildcrafter takes only what is needed at the proper time of year and leaves the patch to easily recover. I always encourage students to leave an offering of thanks and to never harvest the oldest plants.

There are hundreds of wild native medicinal herbs and it can seem overwhelming. Start your studies with a few… five or so. Learn the medicinal properties, the botanical names, how they look and smell, where they grow, which part is used (leaf, flower, bark, root), the time of year they should be harvested and how your body responds. You will find yourself developing an intuitive relationship with your plant allies and feeling a stronger connection to the blessings of the earth you walk upon.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom — Oct 07
by Pat Tuholske

Echo of the Ancestors

Autumn is in full glory now. Nights grow longer, frost graces surfaces, yards are strewn with fallen leaves. In ancient cultures this is the time of death — gardens are bare, trees stripped of leaves, animals slaughtered for winter food. As the veil between this world and the Other is thinned — the spirits of the ancestors join in celebrations and feasting. This is the season to remember those who have gone on before us.

Your personal identity is woven together with the lineage of men and women who have lived before you. They dwell here in the present in your skin, DNA, breath and bones. Your ancestors are the reason you are here. You exist because of them and embody a lineage that continues to live through you.

The ancestral mind is a deep resource for solutions to problems, healing of wounds, life guidance. Contemplate the endless branching into the past as you breathe into your ancestral soul. Feel your cells awakening to your ancestors trying to communicate with you. See the doorway of the past open to you — what were their lives like, what where their unique gifts, what landscape did they wander?

I can feel my ancestors walking the trails beside me guiding me in important decisions. They are a living influence in my life as their knowledge spirals up from the past into the present. Making their wisdom known just when it is needed most, all I have to do is pay attention.

From deep in time, insights and impressions echo from the old ones. All of us have a healer, teacher, earthtender, mystic, hillwalker, poet, wise one in our bloodline who can transmit knowledge and become a living reality. This wealth of teachings guides us into contact with the divine as we reclaim our ancestral history. Keeping the flow of traditions alive may be what saves us from the toxins and chaos of our "civilized" industrial time.

As you contemplate honoring your ancestors, consider their diversity. You have physical ancestors whose blood flows within your veins. You have spiritual ancestors whose dreams and visions inspire you. You have heroic ancestors who have struggled courageously for freedom and peace in history or myth. Tap into this deep well of wisdom to help, heal and influence the present.

Make an ancestor altar with photographs, mementos, heirlooms and the customary food and drink. Tend ancestor's graves with flowers, refreshment, poems, candles. Draw your family tree and honor the wisdom of the ages.

The ancestors are dynamic and real. They offer love and support and want a better world for us all. Their relationship to the world was sacred. May it be so for us as we become the next generation of ancestors.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom
May 2005
By Pat Tuholske

The Fianna

Over the years, I have been hunting stories of the Fianna and their leader, Finn Mac Cumhail, the legendary Irish hero. Tales of the Fianna protecting the land and the people from chaotic invading forces were widely documented in the 3rd century A.D.

The Fianna lived on the edge of society as shamans, poets and trackers, and could be called upon in times of need to defend the land and her people. Roaming the greenwood in bands of nine, they lived off the bounty of the forest during summer and the generosity of villagers during the winter.

Membership into the Fianna for a man or woman was rigorous. A candidate had to memorize twelve volumes of poetry. He or she then stood in a waist-deep hole armed with a shield while nine warriors threw spears. Next, the hair would be braided, and the initiate was pursued through the forest breaking no branch underfoot or disturbing no hair. The final tests involved leaping over a stick held at eye level and running full speed under a stick held at knee level and pulling a thorn from the foot without slowing down.

The Fianna believed no activity could be effective unless it had an element of spirit. Their favorite haunt was the borderland between human culture and the Otherworld --- the wild, trackless and enchanted forest. Their freedom of movement was not confined to the actual land. They passed with ease from the natural world to the supernatural realm of the shaman, aiding the good gods against the gods of chaos, greed, corruption and destruction.

It was said that in the fields of daring, courage and skill the Fianna were unequaled and that no man could hope to be better in healing, poetry or wisdom than Finn Mac Cumhail. From the Salmon of Wisdom he acquired universal knowledge and understanding. Water drunk from Finn's hands had the power of healing.

Legends say the Fianna are not dead but sleeping, ready to come to the aid of the land and all beings. I feel they are now awakening during this tumultuous time. They are initiating those who answer their call to defend the Good Green Earth in this hour of her greatest need.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom — August 06
by Pat Tuholske

Wild Weather - Part 1

Severe weather fills my senses with awe, worry, respect, wonder and fear. Being a country dweller, I have witnessed the raw energy of black roiling clouds blasting over the Ozark hills, the roar of an oncoming hailstorm, the flash flooding creek shooting giant trees through the gauntlet.

In our loft bedroom in the Barn, awakened by a sense of urgency in the strong wind, I fumble in the dark putting on shoes. The Barn suddenly and sharply inhales, holds its breath, then exhales. A tornadic wind has just passed over us. The next morning walking up the ridge trail behind the Barn, I find a 100 year-old oak that took the fall for us. I feel the tree protected us from the fierce windstorm. I say a humble thank you.

The earth's weather is changing. Scientists and record keepers have documented this. The long anticipated Earth Changes are upon us. There is no more denying it. We must take responsibility for our part in this shift. We dump our toxic waste into the ocean contaminating marine life. We drive gas guzzling SUVs for frivolous errands around town and make the air hazardous. We are too busy to bother with recycling as we use up the natural resources. We have so narrowed our comfort zones that we spend vast amounts of energy maintaining that zone. We are stressed, frustrated and angry.

Life is out of balance. We are shamelessly disconnected from this Living Planet Earth. How long will she take our abuse? Humans are on a path of destructive disharmony and the elements are acting in an extreme and violent fashion. Is our own disharmony and violence being mirrored back to us? Do we collectively affect the weather with our thoughts and actions? If we would respect Nature more, not abuse or manipulate her, an authentic connection to the spirit of Nature can prevail and the wounds of separation would heal. Within Nature's fierceness we are given the opportunity to show love and compassion. When a person is in harmony, magic and beauty happen. It all begins in the human heart.

A freak hurricane-force windstorm, assaulted St. Louis last night claiming trees, roofs and electricity. The temperature is simmering towards 102. This storm is bringing individuals out of isolation and making neighbors watch over each other in this killer heat. This wicked wind is actually bringing a sense of harmony as we all work together in community. The magic and beauty of the human heart can blossom.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom — Sept 2006
by Pat Tuholske

Wild Weather - Part 2

Life seems to be back to normal now after last month's big storm. Lights are glowing, refrigerators are cooling and air conditioners are buzzing. As leaves turn to autumn colors, we will soon forget the fear of sizzling temperatures, the stress of rotting food and the turmoil of roofs collapsing under trees. As with all trauma, it becomes a blurred and buried memory.

Consider the possibility that the chaos of this storm was just a dress rehearsal for a bigger event. As global warming takes effect, we will experience more mega storms, freak winds, flood and drought. Weather affects the complexities of the infrastructure and economics in addition to the course of our daily lives.

Remember what you learned from this storm. Don't be caught unprepared for the next one. Be ready to take care of yourself. You may have to survive for 5–7 days without any help. Be ready with water, canned and dried foods, first aid, batteries, medications, pet food and an evacuation plan. Don't put it off. Think about how to live "off the grid" without utilities. Practice simplifying your life.

Prepare and educate yourself and your family so that you may respond with courage and strength in a chaotic weather event. Know what you are going to do. Use common sense. This is one thing you CAN control.

We certainly cannot control the weather. Often we are aggravated by it, curse it and fear it. Only if it's within our comfort zone, do we love and enjoy it. We attempt to de-personalize and de-spirit weather but it personally influences our spirit and health every day.

Create a new relationship and embrace all the faces of weather. Engage it, welcome it and appreciate it. The ancient Druids believed that to keep the world in balance humans must honor the elements of the weather and be in harmony with them. Bless the wild power in the spirit of the clouds, rain, wind and fire with gratitude and respect.

The highest calling of the spiritually aware person is to help maintain and restore balance and harmony. Working with weather spirits is a calling to a deeper kind of communication with the elements that comes from a state of rapport and cooperation and not from an arrogant attempt at control. Weather working is not egocentric manipulation but a co-creative partnership.

Large groups of people focusing their intention have brought rain, turned a wildfire, and diffused tornadic winds. As community comes together, more than weather working happens — it is the sacred energy of fellowship in prayerful ritual. Rain is not "made" but rather the disharmony creating the drought is driven away. Let go of the results because if you ask for the highest good for all life, your prayers are answered — and sometimes in unexpected ways.

The forces of weather are spiritually alive and sentient. If the spirits see that we respect them, they may open to partnering with us. We must seek ways to honor their wild power, for they are part of this marvelous Universe in which we live and deserving of honor and respect.

back to the top

NATURE WISDOM
By Pat Tuholske, naturalist
March 2008

The Allure of Tent Camping

As a kid, I used to build tents out of blankets and big safety pins. I'd make them anywhere my mom permitted &emdash; kitchen table, side porch or backyard fence &emdash; and claim the space for my own. I'd crawl in and conjure a world within and beyond the blanket. Transforming my creation into a bear cave, knight's castle, Indian teepee, wolf den or witch's cottage, I felt a freedom, an enchantment, an excitement. Maybe it was being out of mom's sight for a moment. Or, maybe, sitting in my tent fortress, I first felt my own wildness and independence. Even now when I'm cruising a campground for the perfect spot, I feel a sense of rugged freedom.

In my childhood campsites, I was responding to the basic human instinct to wander off and claim my own place to dwell. Looking at the world through a tent door can give us some of the most valuable vistas of our life. Camping is much more than bug bites and lumpy beds. Camping is an opportunity to build self-confidence, assert independence and take responsibility. Facing its risks and challenges will breed a deep peace and contentment.

Tent camping is simple, basic and economical. All you need is a tent, sleeping bag and minimal supplies. Kids especially love the adventure of tent camping and to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors without the distraction of modern conveniences. There's no better way to truly get back to nature. A tent puts you in the arms of nature in all her glory.

If you are new to tent camping, follow these tips before leaving for your grand outdoor adventure. A little attention to detail will make your experience more enjoyable and hassle free.

When buying a tent make certain it is waterproof and the rain fly covers the entire tent. Nothing spoils a camping trip like a downpour dripping onto your gear. Know how to set up your new tent before you go camping. Put it up in the yard or living room before you go. Know what the rain fly is and how to use it!

When you arrive at the campground, select a campsite with a good, flat area to pitch your tent. Make sure your flat spot won't become a puddle in the rain. Look up and be sure your shade tree doesn't have a dead limb that may fall.

Place a tarp under your tent to protect it. Tuck the tarp under the edge of the tent or it will funnel rain under the tent making the floor soggy.

Keep the tent floor clean with another tarp inside and a rug for dirty shoes outside. Make sure no gear is touching the walls of the tent. This acts like a sponge soaking up dampness through the tent wall.

Place your sleeping bag on a thick foam pad or an air mattress. This will improve your sleep by keeping you warm and comfortable.

Make sure your tent is absolutely positively dry before you pack it away.

Don't bring too much stuff! Just the basics will give you a great experience&helipp; a good tent, sleeping bag, pad, rain gear, water, simple food, a good book. You'll be surprised what you can do without and the feel of freedom it gives you!

Camping in a tent is a fun memorable experience for families. While spending quality time with those you love, conversations blossom without the interference of ipods, computers, tv and cell phones. Kids need direct experiences in nature before reaching adulthood. As adults, we need to reconnect with our wonder child and rediscover the joy, excitement and mystery in the world. We need to awaken to awe and curiosity and look at nature again through the eyes of a child.

Our society seems to be learning about the natural world from television and the internet. There is no substitute for a real experience in nature. Tent camping is full of sights, sounds, and smells. Nothing can match the experience &emdash; the fun, the excitement and exhilaration, the cooperation, the shared purpose, the feeling of being close to the elements.

Nature restores all our senses. Let yourself touch the majestic trees, taste the tender breezes, smell the wood smoke of your campfire, see the vastness of the stars. Nestled in your comfy cocoon, you can fall asleep to a frog chorus and dream of running wild and free.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom
By Pat Tuholske
May 2007

Observing Kids in the Wild

Most kids today would rather play inside because that's where all the electrical outlets are. They are plugged into iPods, video games, computers and television. These devices consume their senses causing them to be alienated from the natural world surrounding them. They may watch nature programs and know a few facts about whales, the rain forest or climate change. But can they identify the call of the spring peeper, catch a fish or smell the black locust? These are all things they can do in their backyard, a nearby park or on a trip to the countryside.

The best gift you could give any child is time in nature. You know how it feels to take a moment, step outside your door and look at the clouds, listen to birdsong or smell fresh cut grass. Share this moment with a child and watch them open up to the world around them.

My early life was full of fishing trips, chasing fireflies and running the woods. What we experience in our early life becomes part of us. Nature is part of me. I would not be the same person without it. As a child I was allowed to run free all day long. We lived in one of the first subdivisions built in the early 50's in South County. Woods and farmer's fields surrounded our tract of houses. Looking back on old photos, my brother and I are deeply tanned. We spent all summer being kissed by the sun on the edge of our little wilderness.

We need transcendent childhood experiences in nature. I felt the great mystery in early evening. Playing out after supper as the day ended, I listened to hear the first call of the whip-por-wil. One last run with the fireflies as the stars came out would fill me with a hint of ecstasy, delight, and rapture. On summer nights I would sleep with windows open even after air conditioning was installed in our house. I couldn't bear to be closed in. I needed to hear the crickets, to breathe the shadowy air and to feel the spirit of night soothe my soul as I drifted to sleep.

This isn't the same world I roamed in the 50's. We stay huddled in our houses out of fear of crime, disease and nameless dread. But nature is still there waiting to embrace us. Nature fills the senses and awakens a feeling of kinship with the world. Get kids away from electricity for a while and they discover imagination. Put a child in the green world and you see more creative forms of play - more fantasy, more make-believe, a greater sense of wonder and exploration. Find a place where you can see the multitude of stars and kids may contemplate infinity and eternity. Let them experience the very elements of human evolution - earth, air, fire and water - and they more fully understand themselves and the world.

Give a child first hand experiences in nature and you'll see a natural intelligence begin to develop. Natural intelligence is shown by keen sensory skills, awareness of surroundings, close attention to details and a deep love of the outdoors, animals and plants. A child living with nature displays an internal calm, common sense and a confidence not seen in peers.

Teaching children about nature is one of the most important missions of my work as a naturalist. Nature is a portal to the wider world... the sublime, the harsh and the beautiful. As kids encounter our land and its insects, reptiles and birds they become self-assured. Identifying useful wild plants, they feel clever. Building and feeding the campfire, they are in awe and learn respect. Walking alone under the star filled sky, they feel brave.

Children are the future. We must give them wild places to learn who they are. As Thoreau said: "In wildness is the preservation of the world".

back to the top

Nature Wisdom
by Pat Tuholske
September 2004

Survival Skills

Learning to use a few basic tools in a wilderness survival situation is not only smart insurance but also a good way of getting in touch with the natural world. As you develop your ability to survive in the wild, your nature observation skills will sharpen.

Practice basic survival skills and they will become second nature to you. Always hike with at least a quart of water. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. As you walk a trail enjoying bird song and wildflowers, ask yourself "What if I get lost here? Where would I build shelter? What plants can I eat? Is there water I could drink?"

Use all your senses and be aware of the elements of your surroundings. Remember the direction you are traveling; note the vegetation and topography; be alert to weather changes. Stay on the trail. It's the safest way to not get lost.

If you should become lost, STOP! Stop, Think, Observe, Plan! Don't panic. You will survive! Conserve your energy and stay put. If you are near a clearing, set up a temporary camp and use anything bright or reflective to draw attention to yourself. Yell, blow a whistle, make noise, and then listen.

The most important tool is your brain. Use your creativity and common sense. Focus your mind. Stay safe. Stay dry. Stay put. Make it easy for others to find you. Don't travel at night. Shelter is a basic necessity. Find or make a temporary shelter. A rock overhang, a fallen tree, the bottom branches of an evergreen all are excellent places to get out of the elements.

Carry one or two large brightly colored garbage bags in your pocket. They make a very effective, inexpensive and compact personal emergency shelter and poncho. Tear a hole along the bottom crease eight inches from a corner and put it over your head using the corner as a hood. Don't cover your mouth and nose. Step into the second bag and pull it up. Stuff with dry leaves for added insulation. The bags can be used as sun shelter or laid flat in a clearing to attract attention from aircraft.

If you'd like to receive a pamphlet on "How to avoid becoming lost… What to do if it happens", send a #10 SASE to Pat Tuholske, POB 5, Grubville MO 63041. Be prepared for the unexpected. Empower yourself with basic survival skills.

Reprinted from the Healthy Planet.

back to the top

Nature Wisdom
by Pat Tuholske
February 2002

Dependence on Trees

We have need of trees. Ponder the paper you hold, the home you inhabit, the junk in your mail, the furniture you buy. We consume trees.

Humankind cannot survive as a species for long without the tree. Our living earth depends upon vast numbers of trees to control water cycles and temperature, regulate oxygen-carbon dioxide ratios, purify the air, produce and protect topsoil, shelter land-dwelling animals.

Large trees are essential to the well-being of the Earth. As long as life on our planet depends upon water, nothing is more vital than the great forests. They are the "skin" of the Earth, covering and protecting. Great forests must be allowed to flourish. No other creature can perform their function. Not even humans with all their modern technology.

We can learn much by befriending trees. During this age of hurry and speed, they offer us the gift of patience and serenity. Mature trees are needed in every neighborhood for the peace and stability they provide. Their strength brings a sense of groundedness and upliftment to all who enter their aura. Protect a tree, plant a tree, tend a tree. Go and be with a tree. Sit with your back against its bark for a while and listen to the tree. Be patient. Quiet your mind. Slow down to tree speed. Rejuvenate yourself with a walk in the forest. Feed your eyes, fill your ears, awaken your nose, feel your spirit.

Radiating wholeness, trees are secure in their purpose. They fully inhabit their space, living out their destiny. Unselfish are the park dwelling elms carved with vandals' initials. Cleaning the air along the interstate, pines express supreme devotion. Brave tiny oak sprouts break up abandoned sidewalks. Releasing fluttering seed pods to the summer wind, maples bring the promise of continuity. Ancient sequoias, two thousand years old, give us a glimpse of the immortal.

Great benefits come from tree awareness. This fall, at our retreat sanctuary, in memory of a loved one we placed a plaque upon a big oak that shelters campers and witnesses vision quests. The words on the plaque embody the qualities of a good human being reflected in the life of the tree&heillip; "Faith, Courage, Hope, Vision, Commitment."

May your life be blessed with trees, the guardians of the Earth.

back to the top