At some point this past year, I realized that I was waiting for permission to create and tend my own spiritual practice. Like I’d have to join some sort of extremist group, or sign up for a sweaty yoga retreat on a remote island to become the sort of person with a spiritual practice. Even those words (ugh) don’t feel exactly right to describe it.
And while I did actually do some of those things (mainly joining (non-extremist) groups of like-minded herbalists, not the yoga-island bit), it wasn’t until I started walking the the lands I inhabit, and taking all those group teachings into wild places, that I really started to develop my own practice.
Because here’s the thing: Religion is not a prerequisite for spirituality.
And you don’t need a church, a leader, or even permission (except from yourself) to begin. All you really need is an earnest desire for connection to something greater than yourself.
You can be spiritually aligned with the places you live, the gardens you tend, or even the plants that grow near your home1. You can lean into that feeling of the unknown, rather than shrinking away from it. You can talk to trees, conjure magical circles of healing, or even just sit quietly in an open field and align yourself with the vibrations around you.
“Because here's something else that's weird but true: in the day-to day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships.The only choice we get is what to worship.”
-David Foster Wallace
Our spirituality is only what we make of it. And no matter where you are on that journey, there’s always more to take in and learn.
Here are a few of my favorite reads from the past year. These are the books that have most helped me when it comes to sinking into a deeper connection with the land2 where I am rooting in.
The Enchanted Life: Unlocking the Magic of the Everyday
Where to start with this amazing book? I actually began by listening to the audio recording of this book, which is narrated by Fiona Reid—whose voice I came to relish on my daily forest walks with the dogs. Then I went out and purchased the paperback because I knew I needed a copy. (Yes, it’s that’s good.)
Filled with insights and journaling prompts, this book is one that will inspire your land connection, no matter how deep (or new) it is.
Root & Ritual: Timeless Ways to Communicate to Land, Lineage, Community, and the Self
One of the best things about this book is how beginner-friendly it is. Whether you’re a long-time believer in the magic of the natural world, or a left-brained skeptic, this book will challenge your perceptions of the land around you and provide helpful tips and insights for building a deeper connection.
While the writing is definitely for adults, the illustrations remind me of a children’s book (in the best possible way), making it a real treat to open, hold in your hands, and devour.
The Witch's Herbal Apothecary: Rituals & Recipes for a Year of Earth Magick and Sacred Medicine Making
Since this is the book that first convinced me to join Marysia’s amazing months-long apprenticeship—I’m obviously a little biased. But it’s also one of the first books that really showed me what it could mean to be in spiritual connection with plants and the seasonality of the land— and for that, I’ll be forever grateful.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Another delicious read, this book takes us through the many learnings and life lessons of the indigenous scholar and scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer. The chapters read like vignettes, making the book easy to read in tandem with whatever else might be on your TBR list.
But every vignette is deeply profound— both in the writing style and subject matter. I especially appreciated the way she makes dense scientific topics accessible for those (like me) who’s science background consists of nearly failing both chemistry and biology.
The Smell of Rain on Dust: Grief and Praise
Oh this book is so good, and it’s also an incredibly short and succinct read. Martín Prechtel doesn’t waste any time in jumping straight to the heart of what it means to grieve, and how the natural world (and our community) can support us in that process.
This book is life-changing in so many ways, and offers a more embodied approach to grieving and loss that’s based in Maya shamanic tradition. Read it now, before you need it.
Other books on my TBR list…
So many books, too little time. Here are the ones I plan on diving into next:
If Women Rose Rooted, by Sharon Blackie- Stories of the female archetype. Blackie’s work in this book has been compared to the classic of its genre, Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés’.
Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine, by Rosalee de la Forêt- My first impression of this book was that it seemed to be some kind of printed spiritual guide for gaining entry into the world of foraging— which was more than enough to make my list.
The Holy Wild: A Heathen Bible for the Untamed Woman, by Danielle Dulsky- If the content of this book is as on-point as the title, I think we’re all in for a real treat.
The Garden Awakening: Designs to Nurture Our Land and Ourselves, by Mary Reynolds- Gardening was one of my original connections to the land, so naturally I had to have a book that claimed to show you how to create intuitive, connected garden designs that are more than just aesthetically pleasing. Stay tuned.
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Cover photo by Tetiana Padurets.
Plant drawing: Yarrow, one of my plant allies.
The writer lives on Ute land, today known as Durango, CO.