Mountain Zen Den Podcast

 "Plant seeds of happiness, hope, success and love; it will come back to you in abundance. This is the law of nature." ~ Steve Maraboli   Welcome to Day 12! At times, the world can seem like a dark and hopeless place. Long, black nights, and seemingly endless winters can challenge our faith. Droughts crack the earth and wither our hearts. Storms can dampen our spirits, lightning strikes, and harsh...

Day 11 ~ Just Breathe "Breathe in and tell yourself that a new day has been offered to you, and you have to be here to live it." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh Welcome to Day 11! For the past week and a half on this 21-Day Nature Challenge, it may have felt like you've asked to do a lot, think a lot, make a lot of observations, and then write them all down in your journal. Who has time to do all this? I know,...

"Teach us to number our days…" ~ Psalm 90:12 Welcome to Day 10! Here's something for you to think about. What did you have for breakfast yesterday? Where did you go? What did you see? Who did you spend time with? Does any of what you did really matter? In his inspiring book, "Go Outside and Come Back Better", author Ron Lizzi proposes the concept that many good days make up a good life. He invites...

Welcome to Day 9 of the 21-Day Nature Challenge! Do ever feel like there's just not enough time to get everything done? Guess what? There isn't. It is a sad fact that here in the age of high-tech convenience where we can have pretty much anything we want on demand, the feeling that life is supposed to constantly be busy and rush by in a blur is a normal thing; not healthy, just standard living the...

"In wildness is the preservation of the world ." ~ Henry David Thoreau Welcome to Week 2, and Day 8! You are learning how Nature helps you become a better person, in every area of your life – body, mind, and soul. Before we continue, take a moment and think about what first drew you to the idea of doing a 21-Day Nature Challenge? What did you hope to accomplish, receive or benefit from it as a res...

"No matter how sophisticated you may be, a large granite mountain cannot be denied – it speaks in silence to the very core of your being" ~ Ansel Adams "Be still and know that He is God." ~ Steven Curtis Chapman Welcome to Day 7! You have made it through the first week of the 21-Day Nature Challenge! There's something magical that happens to a person after having spent considerable time in Nature....

"I arise today through the strength of heaven; Light of sun, radiance of moon, splendor of fire, speed of lightning, swiftness of wind, depth of sea, stability of earth, firmness of rock. ~ Saint Patrick Your deepest roots are in nature.  No matter who you are, or what kind of life you lead, you remain irrevocably linked with the rest of creation. ~ Charles Cook Welcome to Day 6! Putting It All To...

Day 5 ~ TASTE & SEE! "One must ask children and birds how cherries and strawberries taste." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Hey there {{ subscriber.first_name }} So how are you doing on the 21-Day Nature Challenge?  Are you finding it difficult staying on track and doing this challenge every day?  If so, don't be discouraged. Life gets in the way, as they say.  It's a normal thing.  And the whole poi...

"Forget not that the Earth delights to feel your bare feet, and the winds long to play with your hair." ~ Kahlil Gibran "Earth's crammed with heaven... But only he who sees, takes off his shoes." ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning Welcome to Day 4! You are on a roll… Way to go! By now you are probably aware that you are generally most comfortable in using only one or two of your five senses. This can be...

"Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature." ~ Gerard De Nerval Welcome to day 3! Our intention for the day is to follow our noses. Or at least pay attention to the gift of smell. The practical purpose of our proboscis', (that is our noses), is one of the most overlooked , (pardon the pun), powers we have been bestowed with. While animals have a much greater ability to use their noses for tracki...

"The word 'LISTEN' contains the same letters as the word 'SILENT'". ~ Alfred Brendel "Listening is about being present, not just about being quiet." ~ Krista Tippett Welcome back! We are learning to be more appreciative and grateful for all of the natural goodness in our life.  It's about intentionally noticing the simple things everywhere around us. Today we are going to use another of our God-gi...

"There's so much beauty around us for just two eyes to see, and everywhere I go I'm looking…" ~Rich Mullins Welcome to the is special edition of Mountain Zen Den - The 21-Day Nature Challenge Day 1! - Beginner's Eyes - Learning to see as if for the first time... Welcome to Day 1! We'll begin with this thoughtful and active meditation for the day. Today you begin your journey to a new life in a new...

"Every day is an opportunity to find ways big and small to transform our lives and to grow spiritually." ~ Bobby Williams   There is a Norwegian concept known as "Friluftsliv" . Hard to pronounce, but a great philosophy to live by. Basically it's about being outside as much as possible. It's come to embody Norway's cultural love affair with Nature. First introduced in 1859, Friluftsliv refers to u...

"What the false self fears more than anything else is change." ~ Father Richard Rohr We all have different and varying opinions on the definition of success, but I think it's say to say that we'd all agree that - Success in life is becoming what you want to be. The path you take ton get there is up to you, but the fact is - Nature is a major catalyst in helping us get there faster! Here's how: Eve...

"Productivity is less about what you do with your time.  And more about how you run your mind." ~ Robin S. Sharma Here at Mountain Zen Den it's not just about spending time in nature for the sake of being more mindful, or even about being mindful for it's own sake. We're here to help you create and design a lifestyle , a way of living and of Being that brings you the life you've always wanted, one...

"You must learn a new way to think before you can master a new way to be." ~ Marianne Williamson "Perhaps the Earth can teach us, as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive." ~ Pablo Neruda Do you ever feel stuck? Like a rodent caught in the rat race or the proverbial hamster wheel? We all get stuck from time to time and need a little shaking up to get out of the rut. We sometimes...

Ever find yourself feeling stressed and anxious and not even really knowing why? You know that feeling that your mind is racing back and forth just trying to find something to worry about?  I know there are plenty of things, real problems and issues that cause stress, but at the same time, there is this constant hum or buzz of anxiety that just continues like static in the background of our minds,...

"Mindfulness isn't difficult, we just need to remember to do it. ~ Sharon Salzberg Every sunrise is an opportunity to show up for your own life.  Every sunset does the same.  All the moments in between these two events are opportunities to just open up and enjoy the wonders of the world, and this miracle we call life.  If we don't respond by showing up mentally and emotionally, it's like watching...

There is something so wholesome and alluring about seeking the simplicity found in Nature, and escaping the craziness and cacophony of the man-made, synthetic world. Simplicity comes in many forms, but every one of these forms involves one thing – "Presence". When there is worry and clutter and unresolved details in your inner and outer world, it's easy to begin to lose a sense of presence, and be...

"Where focus goes, energy flows." ~ Tony Robbins Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed, overloaded with more than you can possibly handle or accomplish, and weighted down by a lack of motivation or energy to get it all done? Are you struggling with falling asleep at night and waking up in the morning? Do you wish you had more energy, just to enjoy life and be there, fully present for your family and f...

"Not all who wander are lost..." ~ Gandalf Do you ever feel like you're caught on a merry-go-round, seeing the same old places, taking the same route to school or work, eating the same food, watching the same shows, thinking the same thoughts…rarely finding the element of joy or surprise in your life? There's a saying that true happiness is when you can be on a detour and enjoy the scenery. In a w...

From time out of mind, we as human beings were a part of the natural world, living off the land, connecting with nature on a day-to-day basis, sometimes fighting against it for survival, but always depending on it for sustenance.  Without it we wouldn't have been able to survive. And neither can we now. We just don't realize it.  That's because we have fallen asleep. Over the past few hundred year...

Meditation has hit the mainstream big time as a primary way to deal with all the pressures, stress and anxiety that comes with life. It is also a great tool for achieving and enhancing relaxation, focus and even productivity. It helps optimize the brain and gives it a state of restful alertness.  But I believe the best thing about meditation is it's ability to help us be present and in the moment....

There have been so many recent findings and much scientific research on the topic of nature and our overall health and well-being.  Scientists are studying everything from how noise levels in our workplace and communities affect us, to what colors are the most effective psychologically for calming our spirits, and creating a sense of wellness in our lives. There have also been studies on the benef...

"Nature is not a place to visit. It is home." ~ Gary Snyder There is a place you can always go deep inside your heart and mind.  A beautiful place you are cultivating deep within your being.  And the more time you spend there putting in good thoughts and gratitude and images of nature and health and well-being, the more beautiful and helpful this inner retreat center becomes. Like a beautiful, tra...