Friends of the Forest

11/16/2025

Day 16 — Kindness as Light

Offer one small act of kindness today — a note, a smile, a thoughtful word, or a gentle gesture.

Notice how this simple act can brighten your own spirit as well as someone else’s, spreading quiet light in the world.

11/16/2025

Story #22: The Smoke Between Worlds: A Tale of Juniper Berry

Along frost-silvered paths and at the edges of quiet woods, Juniper rises—slender, spiky, and watchful. Tiny blue berries hide among fragrant needles, waiting to be noticed by those who pay attention. Even in the cold of November, her scent drifts on the wind: sharp, cleansing, a promise of protection and guidance.

To the old women and wise folk of New England, Juniper was no ordinary shrub. Symbolically, she carried meanings of aid, sanctuary, love, and guardianship. Her berries and smoke were used to break curses, protect against theft, and bind intentions, while the tree itself was believed to hold the strength of longevity. Travelers, healers, and those walking shadowed paths might carry a sprig or burn her needles to keep danger and ill spirits at bay.

Smoke rising from crushed twigs would curl like silver ribbons into the high branches, carrying prayers to ancestors, stirring forest spirits, and scattering sparks across the winter stars—tiny flickers holding blessings, protection, and whispered wishes. Hanging juniper over a door was said to shield the home; witches approaching had to count the tiny leaves, a trick that would keep them outside until the charm’s power passed. Juniper was a sentinel, steady and sly, her magic quiet but unyielding.

Historically, her magic reached far beyond New England. Priests in Egypt used juniper in embalming, while her oil today appears in medicine, aromatherapy, and perfumery—an echo of the reverence carried through centuries. Across cultures, she was burned at funerals to honor the dead, hung to purify rooms where someone had passed, or tossed into Beltane fires to protect livestock and people alike. Even Mary, it was said, hid the infant Jesus beneath a juniper during the Flight into Egypt, earning the tree a blessing to deter evil.

There is a tale still told in the fog of November: of a wanderer lost when frost had silvered every path. She crushed a few berries, lit the needles, and breathed the smoke deep. It rose in spirals, carrying her whispered intentions through the canopy and beyond, guiding her home. She returned with a sprig tied to her pack, knowing the quiet guardian of the woods had watched over her.

Juniper teaches that protection is subtle, enduring, and clever. Her magic moves in smoke, scent, and shadow, and she reminds those who honor her that help can arrive unseen, paths can open, and boundaries can be kept without force.

So when you encounter Juniper in November, pause. Crush a berry, inhale her resinous fragrance, and feel her presence. The forest exhales around you—a hush of guidance and sanctuary, a reminder that even in darkness, you are watched over.

11/16/2025

For those following Freya’s journey, I wanted to share this beautiful post from Factum Equine, where she’s boarded.

From the guarded, unsure horse who first arrived, to this soft-eyed, engaged soul she is today—it’s been a privilege to witness her healing and growth. Every small step, every moment of trust, has been a quiet miracle, and seeing her embrace life so fully is nothing short of beautiful.

This afternoon, we hosted a small group of moms from Brian Dagle Foundation and Brian's Healing Hearts Center for Hope & Healing… three were return guests who hadn’t been out for over a year. It was so lovely for them to notice the difference in Freya during the time that they were away. At their last visit, Freya was shut down, disinterested in engaging with humans and generally wary of novel circumstances. Today, Freya was quietly bold. She marched right over to them bright eyed and ready to investigate. They identified the difference easily and we talked about what it took to get there.

There was no grand switch, no quick fix answer or checklist to complete. We (including Freya) showed up authentically on good days and hard ones. We went slowly. We asked for her participation and we let her say no. She learned that it was ok to outwardly express emotions and, perhaps most importantly she became versed in requesting (demanding) boobie scratchers.

Sometimes when you do something daily, it’s easy to lose sight of how far you come- we focus instead on how far there is left to go. Today we appreciated how far weve come.

It doesn’t just apply to horses, it turns out 💜

11/15/2025

Day 15 — A Quiet Corner

Find or create a small space today where you can sit undisturbed, even if just for a few minutes.

Fill it with something that brings you comfort — a blanket, a cup of tea, a favorite book — and allow yourself to simply be.

11/15/2025

My Quiet Corner— just sitting with Freya while she eats her hay. Nothing fancy, just calm, comfort, and the sound of slow chewing.

11/14/2025

Day 14 — Words That Warm

Today, read or share a line from a poem, book, or letter that brings comfort and warmth to your heart.

Let the words linger, letting their quiet power remind you of the gentle beauty that language can offer.

11/14/2025

I’ve been thinking a lot about the kind of spaces I want to create — places where women can slow down, reflect, and connect with meaningful practices — and what I rarely see on social media: nuance, depth, and thoughtful engagement.

Social media is loud. It’s immediate. It’s full of algorithms deciding what grabs attention, what trends, and what we “should” care about. There’s almost no space for nuance, no room for depth, and often no regard for accuracy. Not all the knowledge being shared here is rooted in historical evidence, and it’s easy to lose sight of the sources, the context, and the rigor that true understanding requires.

For many women, stepping away from the noise is necessary — but even when we leave, we still want ways to connect with meaningful ideas, practices, and community. That’s what our Patreon space offers. The content there is deeper, richer, rooted in history and tradition, and designed for reflection and engagement at your own pace.

Friends of the Forest has always been about connecting women with nature. True wellness arises when we live in harmony with the earth and ourselves — by deepening our connection to nature, nurturing physical and emotional well-being, and creating space for inner peace to grow. Patreon allows us to extend that vision beyond Connecticut, so women from across the country and the world can come together, learn, reflect, and build community in ways that suit their own rhythms.

Here, I can share more deeply — writing in series and parts, exploring the layers of history, spirituality, and lived experience in a way that simply isn’t possible on social media. This space is meant to be a safe container, a quieter corner of the web where women can gather, breathe, and engage with ideas and practices that take time to unfold. Patreon is my attempt to carve out that quiet corner — a space where we can linger, learn, and connect meaningfully.

Here, we can reclaim our attention, honor what matters, and hold space for depth, insight, and presence — qualities that aren’t measured by clicks or likes, but by the care we bring to ourselves, our learning, and each other.

And as the seasons turn, this community becomes like a living forest — ever-changing, deeply rooted, and quietly alive with shared intention. Together, we listen for what each season asks of us, for what the old stories still whisper, and for the ways we can live more gently, more attentively, and more connected — to the earth, to one another, and to ourselves.

I hope you’ll join us on Patreon, where this community is growing into something beautifully rooted and intentional.

Patreon.com/wildflowerwomen

11/13/2025

Day 13 — The Sky’s Subtle Shifts

Take a moment today to look up at the sky. Notice the colors, the clouds, the fading light of autumn afternoons.

Allow yourself to pause and witness the gentle changes above you, letting the subtle beauty of the sky ground and inspire you.

11/13/2025

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on a beautiful Japanese practice called Yoshuku (予祝) — a tradition that teaches us to celebrate in advance.

Long before the idea of “manifestation” or “visualization” became popular, Japanese farmers practiced yoshuku as part of their connection to nature and gratitude. Before planting season, they would gather to sing, dance, and thank the gods for a successful harvest — before a single seed had even been sown. It wasn’t wishful thinking; it was a declaration of faith, optimism, and harmony with the rhythm of life.

Yoshuku reminds us that celebration isn’t just something that happens after success — it can actually create it. When we feel genuine gratitude and joy for what we hope to experience, we align our mindset and actions with that vision. It shifts us from anxious striving to confident becoming.
In modern life, practicing yoshuku can be as simple as:
Writing a thank-you note to your future self.
Toasting to a dream as if it’s already come true.
Saying, “I’m so grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given,” even before it arrives.

It’s a gentle reminder that joy and gratitude are not rewards — they’re catalysts. When we learn to feel them now, life tends to meet us halfway.

So today, I’m practicing yoshuku — quietly celebrating the things I’m working toward, trusting that my appreciation will help them grow.

ART/Andrii Katernyiuk, “Evening Glow”

11/12/2025

Day 12 — Nourishment

Prepare or enjoy a meal today with intention. Notice the colors, textures, and aromas of your food.

Eat slowly, savor each bite, and offer gratitude for the hands, earth, and care that brought it to your table.

11/12/2025

The natural world is a quiet invitation to wonder — an endless conversation that begins when we stop rushing long enough to notice. Curiosity is what opens that door. It’s the impulse that makes us pause to watch how light shifts across the surface of water, or how a bird seems to know exactly when to lift with the wind. When we stay curious, we begin to see the world not as something to move through, but as something alive, intricate, and responsive.

Curiosity transforms a walk in the woods into a study of interconnection. The bark on a fallen tree becomes a record of years, each ring a chapter in its story. A patch of moss reveals an entire ecosystem thriving in miniature. Even the smallest detail — a droplet on a spider’s web, the scent after rain — becomes a reminder that there is far more happening than we can immediately perceive.

This world often rewards certainty and speed, curiosity asks us to slow down and listen. It invites humility, the recognition that we will never know everything, and that this not-knowing is not a failure but a form of reverence. Staying curious keeps us connected — to the land, to each other, and to the unfolding mystery of life itself.

ART/Karina Kino

11/11/2025

Take a quiet moment to hold an acorn in your hand. Feel its small weight, its smooth curves, the promise held within its tiny shell. As you hold it, whisper a word or phrase to yourself—a quality you wish to nurture this winter: patience, rest, courage, or clarity.

Place the acorn somewhere you’ll see it, a gentle reminder of your intention. Like a seed lying in the earth, it carries your promise quietly through the months ahead, waiting for the right season to bloom.

This simple act is a way to honor the rhythm of the year, connecting your inner growth to the cycles of nature.