Our Mindful Nature: Meditation Inspired by Nature to Soothe the Overwhelmed Mind and Ease Anxiety

Are you using meditation to manage anxiety, but still feel disconnected or overwhelmed?This conversation with artist and ritualist Day Shildkret explores how meditation alone may not be enough to meet the intensity of our mental health needs — especially during major life transitions. Learn how ritual, connection to nature, and intentional rest can support emotional resilience in ways meditation can’t always reach.You’ll discover:- Why ritual is often the missing link in a meditation practice that's failing to soothe anxiety.- How to create nature-inspired rituals that help you slow down and reconnect with your inner self.- The real reason we struggle with transitions and how to build meaningful containers for healing.Listen now to uncover a grounded, nature-connected approach to managing anxiety with more clarity, compassion, and resilience.Day Schildkret, the artist and author behind the international Morning Altars movement, believes that what we need is ritual. Rituals are our most trusted guide during times of change. They give us a sense of stability in the face of uncertainty and remind us that there's always something we can do, say, or make to conjure awe, courage and gratitude. Rituals offer us a tangible and time tested way to acknowledge that as life changes, we too must change.Learn more about Day here: https://www.morningaltars.com/Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/. Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:https://www.nickcmcmahan.comhttps://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsenThis podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

Just the meditationThe Summer Solstice is a stillpoint - a moment that begs you to pause, to feel your feet on the earth, and restablish where you are going.When anxiety floods your mind and the pressure to “keep going” feels overwhelming, stillness might feel like the last thing you need—but it’s exactly what this nature-inspired meditation practice offers. In this reflective and grounding episode, Meryl guides you through a mossy metaphor that gently invites you to stop, listen, and reconnect with your body’s inner wisdom.Take a breath, settle onto a soft patch of moss (real or metaphorical), and listen now to reconnect with your calm center.The nature soundscape you hear in today's episode invites us to journey from ocean, to jungle, to forest. You will hear:Chimes and bowl recordings of Opal Hopkins Ocean Surf: MauiJungle Frogs: Borneo Indonesia (Kalimantan) - Iban TerritoryJungle bird at night (common pootoo): Amazon Basin Ecuador - Cofan TerritoryWind and creek: Pacific NorthwestSign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/. Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:https://www.nickcmcmahan.comhttps://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsenThis podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

Are you constantly searching for clarity in the middle of emotional chaos?When anxiety floods your mind and the pressure to “keep going” feels overwhelming, stillness might feel like the last thing you need—but it’s exactly what this nature-inspired meditation practice offers. In this reflective and grounding episode, Meryl guides you through a mossy metaphor that gently invites you to stop, listen, and reconnect with your body’s inner wisdom.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why pausing—rather than pushing—can be the most resilient choice when you feel lostHow nature offers powerful parallels for managing anxiety and reconnecting with selfA simple but profound meditation technique to ground yourself when overwhelmedTake a breath, find your moss, and listen now to reconnect with your calm center.Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/. Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:https://www.nickcmcmahan.comhttps://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsenThis podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

Feel like the world is unraveling right now?There are moments when sitting down for a 20-minute meditation might not feel possible... When images from Gaza burn behind our eyes, when cruel immigration policies threaten dignity and humanity, when protest becomes our last resort—and even that feels like it's not enough. When our nervous system is too disregulated to be still.In this episode, we offer a lifeline.The SOS Calm meditation is one of the most immediate ways to return to yourself amidst the chaos. It’s not about tuning out the heartbreak, but about remembering how to breathe inside it. How to stay grounded so that we can keep showing up.This practice is brief, tangible, and here exactly for these kinds of moments. You’ll learn how to:- Regulate anxiety with a powerful exhale-focused breath technique.- Use physical sensation to reconnect with your body and reduce overwhelm.- Create a resilient, calm space—anywhere, anytime.May it offer a breath of safety, a thread of calm, and the reminder that you are not alone.Take five minutes for yourself—your mental health deserves it.Listen now and feel the shift.Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/. Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:https://www.nickcmcmahan.comhttps://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsenThis podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

What if simply gazing at the moon could help you calm your anxiety?In this gentle yet grounding meditation aligned with June’s Strawberry Moon, you'll be guided to connect with the natural world around you and slow your breath—helping you release mental overwhelm and foster inner resilience.Through this full moon practice, you’ll discover:- How to create a calming ritual that supports your mental health- Techniques to release anxiety using breath, sound, and scent awareness- A powerful sense of connection—to yourself, to nature, and to human historyPress play and give yourself space to soften your edges, breathe with intention, and realign with peace.Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/. Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:https://www.nickcmcmahan.comhttps://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsenThis podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

Just The Meditation!This episode offers a guided meditation inviting you to reconnect with nature’s rhythms — from moss lines to constellations — to ground your nervous system and deepen your meditation practice.Whether you’ve felt swallowed by the news cycle, emotionally flooded, or just spiritually adrift, you’ll discover how to locate your inner compass through timeless, tangible waypoints.You’ll learn:- A meditation technique inspired by ancient wayfinding and seasonal awareness.- How natural cues (like wind and stars) can quiet anxiety and restore presence.- Why trusting your inner compass starts with subtle, external observation.Today's wayfinding soundscape was created by nature field recordist Nick McMahan and includes a variety of locations including: - Ocean Surf: Maui- Jungle Frogs: Borneo Indonesia (Kalimantan) - Iban Territory- Jungle bird at night (common pootoo): Amazon Basin Ecuador - Cofan Territory- Wind and creek: Pacific NorthwestListen now to rediscover peace in the overwhelm — and your own power to navigate it.Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/. Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:https://www.nickcmcmahan.comhttps://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsenThis podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

What if the solution to your overwhelm has been outside all along?When anxiety surges and modern tools fall short, your body and breath might not be the only things guiding you. This episode explores how reconnecting with nature’s rhythms — from moss lines to constellations — can ground your nervous system and deepen your meditation practice.Whether you’ve felt swallowed by the news cycle, emotionally flooded, or just spiritually adrift, you’ll discover how to locate your inner compass through timeless, tangible waypoints.You’ll learn:- A meditation technique inspired by ancient wayfinding and seasonal awareness.- How natural cues (like wind and stars) can quiet anxiety and restore presence.- Why trusting your inner compass starts with subtle, external observation.Today's wayfinding soundscape was created by nature field recordist Nick McMahan and includes a variety of locations including: - Ocean Surf: Maui- Jungle Frogs: Borneo Indonesia (Kalimantan) - Iban Territory- Jungle bird at night (common pootoo): Amazon Basin Ecuador - Cofan Territory- Wind and creek: Pacific NorthwestListen now to rediscover peace in the overwhelm — and your own power to navigate it.Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/. Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:https://www.nickcmcmahan.comhttps://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsenThis podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

✨ Just The Meditation ✨Today's meditation practice is a call to deepen your relationship with meditation—not by escaping your overwhelmed state, but by connecting with the wild, chaotic earth, by connecting to Spirit as your source of grounding. Using a gentle yet powerful breathing mantra and a perspective rooted in ancient wisdom, this practice helps reframe what it means to feel instead of think your way through inner chaos.15 minute guided meditation -Let this episode help you ground your spirit and ease anxiety—press play now to reconnect with yourself and the world around you.This meditation features a rainy spring dawn in the Pacific Northwest as recorded by Nick McMahan. Snowmelt from the Cascade mountains and frequent cloud cover causes streams and rivulets to pop up along mountainside. This particular valley, like many in the western cascade range, has many small marshy areas surrounded by tall evergreen trees. In spring, the nights are filled with sounds of the Cascades Frog and a persistent white noise from nearby flowing water. A dawn chorus starts early and quiets down as a rain shower approaches. This region of Washington is the ancestral lands of the Stillaguamish People.Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/. Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:https://www.nickcmcmahan.comhttps://www.instagram.com/briannanielsen_marketingThis podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

Feeling emotionally fried or frozen by anxiety?Modern life constantly pulls us between panic and paralysis—but what if your meditation practice could bridge that gap?This episode is a call to deepen your relationship with meditation—not by escaping your overwhelmed state, but by connecting with the wild, chaotic earth, by connecting to Spirit as your source of grounding. Using a gentle yet powerful breathing mantra and a perspective rooted in ancient wisdom, this practice helps reframe what it means to feel instead of think your way through inner chaos.Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:How to connect to Spirit using nature-based meditation to regulate overwhelm and emotional extremesWhy “So Hum” breathing restores calm when anxiety spikesA mindset shift to embrace chaos as connection—not something to escapeLet this episode help you ground your spirit and ease anxiety—press play now to reconnect with yourself and the world around you.This meditation features a rainy spring dawn in the Pacific Northwest as recorded by Nick McMahan. Snowmelt from the Cascade mountains and frequent cloud cover causes streams and rivulets to pop up along mountainside. This particular valley, like many in the western cascade range, has many small marshy areas surrounded by tall evergreen trees. In spring, the nights are filled with sounds of the Cascades Frog and a persistent white noise from nearby flowing water. A dawn chorus starts early and quiets down as a rain shower approaches. This region of Washington is the ancestral lands of the Stillaguamish People.Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/. Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:https://www.nickcmcmahan.comhttps://www.instagram.com/briannanielsen_marketingThis podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

✨ Just the MeditationJoin Forest Therapy Guide Eve Payor for a 5 minute Forest Bathing Experience you can do anywhere. If you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or disconnected—despite your meditation practice - this practice is for you!Ready to ease anxiety and feel less overwhelmed? Grab your headphones and journal, and then press play to discover a healing form of meditation grounded in nature.Learn more about our upcoming Fall Forest Bathing & Meditation Retreat in North Georgia here: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/X9HPR1qFvQCifO867toVjQSign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.Check out Eve Payor and Singing Pines Forest Bathing here: https://www.singingpines.co/New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/. Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s editing and nature soundscape; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:https://www.nickcmcmahan.comhttps://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsen/This podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.