Our Mindful Nature {Formerly The Mindful Minute}

Meryl Arnett

This podcast explores the deep connection between the land and Self through nature-based meditations and contemplative experiences that invite us back into belonging - to each other, our ancestors, the earth, and all beings that make up this universe. Our Mindful Nature is the new name of The Mindful Minute podcast. I {Meryl} have been sharing meditation classes on this podcast for more than 8 years, and as of 2024, I felt it was time to update the name to more accurately reflect the content I share. You can continue to expect inspirational talks, guided meditations and occasional interviews. You can continue to expect classes centered on accessible, equitable, communal well-being primarily through nature-based meditations created through the lens of Tantric meditation and Spiritual Ecology. Now, let’s grab a cup of tea, a comfy seat and settle in for today’s practice. read less

Our Editor's Take

The Mindful Minute is a meditation podcast that focuses on proper breathing techniques. Host Meryl Arnett guides listeners through the practice of mindfulness. In each episode, they'll learn about developing a peaceful mindset for serenity.

Meryl has been offering meditation classes for more than a decade. She emphasizes making the practice enjoyable as well as practical. Meryl believes magic becomes part of daily life through breathwork and meditation. With The Mindful Minute, she wants to make meditation easy and accessible for everyone. It's now one of the premier mindfulness podcasts available to listeners.

Themes include self-nourishment, 15-minute meditations, and responding to fear with creativity. In a three-part series on fear, Meryl states that freedom comes from confronting the feeling. People must get familiar with fear and then develop self-compassion and understanding.

The podcast's "Mini Meditations" are for daily practice at home. These Monday episodes offer listeners guided breathing along with mantras or affirmations. Meryl begins by advising listeners to find a comfortable seat. Its serene background music invites one to close one's eyes and release a sigh. Through this practice, one may begin to center oneself and feel at peace. In one, Meryl reminds meditators to connect with loving kindness. Listeners may come out of each meditation with a new sense of ease.

Select episodes of The Mindful Minute provide longer lessons in meditation. On many of these, Meryl invites guests to join her. These include Chanti Tacoronte Perez and Johana Olivas. Chanti is a ritualist, writer, and creatrix. She specializes in the realm of the symbolic and translates what is unseen. With her help, one may learn to trust more in the dream life and imagination. In another episode, Shawn J. Moore discusses sound therapy. She and Meryl share what's so compelling about surrendering to the sonic. Shawn then provides a quick sound bath at the end of the episode.

The Mindful Minute may be an excellent podcast for those focusing on their daily well-being. Meryl offers meaningful discussions and meditation sessions. With them, she may help others live with joy and peace. New episodes arrive weekly.

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Health & FitnessHealth & Fitness

Episodes

Winter Sleep Meditation: Held in the Womb of the Earth
Dec 12 2024
Winter Sleep Meditation: Held in the Womb of the Earth
A winter sleep meditation for you today, dear listeners!As we slip into the darker, colder, and yet somehow busier part of the year I thought we would dedicate some class time to the richness of rest. This episode is an invitation to get cozy, to set aside your to-do list for a few moments, and rest.You can utilize this guided meditation forNaptime or a mid-day resetGentle guidance into evening sleepSupport for falling back asleep if you wake in the middle of the nightAnd listeners, I have to tell you today’s episode has my FAVORITE soundscape of the year. A soothing combination of singing bowls and elemental sounds of the natural world - I highly recommend headphones for the full listening experience. The soundscape and video for this episode are from nature field recordist Nick McMahan.So grab a blanket and a cup of tea, pop-in your headphones, and join me for today’s winter-time sleep meditation.Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations each week, creative musings, and more.Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s video, nature field recordings, video and 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/brianna_podcastpro/Watch on YouTube, Make a donation, or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.cominstagram.com/merylarnettyoutube.com/@ourmindfulnature
Night Under the Stars {Winter Edition}; A Story from Glacier National Park
Dec 5 2024
Night Under the Stars {Winter Edition}; A Story from Glacier National Park
There is something magical about the night sky and the winter woods; a place of dreams and possibility; a place of rest and restoration.In today’s episode of Our Mindful Nature, nature field recordist Nick McMahan shares a dreamscape from Glacier National Park. Not quite a guided meditation, not quite a sleep-story, but rather a meditative experience. A connection to both land and self. Perfect for relaxing before bed, taking a mid-day break, or adding some wintery vibes to your day. You will hear cool wind blowing from the north towards the Eastern Rocky Mountains; the first snow dusting its peaks. Nick weaves a story of dream-images and real-life exploration of this landscape: “Silently, I watch the dense night sky as a calm breeze washes over me, cresting like a wave through the nearby aspens. On a clear night in a remote corner of the Rockies, deep in grizzly country, I see a countless sea of stars overhead, shimmering as brightly as I’ve ever seen. Reaching into my pocket, I grab my small pair of backpacking binoculars for a closer look.”Grab your headphones, a cup of something warm, and settle in by the fire. Rest your feet.Rest your mind.Rest your heart.Join us for a night under the stars in Glacier National Park.The nature sounds in this episode were recorded in the Eastern Rocky Mountains near the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The Blackfeet people have lived in the Rocky Mountain region for over 10,000 years and were the first people to hear the sounds of the winter wind blowing in from the north in this region.Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations each week, creative musings, and more.Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s episode including narration, nature field recordings, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:nickmcmahan.cominstagram.com/brianna_podcastproWatch on YouTube, Make a donation, or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.cominstagram.com/merylarnettyoutube.com/@ourmindfulnature
A Quiet Corner Within Ourselves: Poetry, Presence and Practice with James Crews
Nov 21 2024
A Quiet Corner Within Ourselves: Poetry, Presence and Practice with James Crews
Friends, grab a cup of tea, your coziest blanket and join me as we welcome back poet James Crews. James has been a guest on Our Mindful Nature multiple times and his thoughtful presence has become something I look forward to each year. James and I sat down to chat about his new book 'Unlocking the Heart: Writings for Mindfulness, Courage, and Self-Compassion’ right before the November election in the U.S. Together, we reflect on life's challenging moments, the role of poetry in providing solace, and the importance of pausing and mindfulness. James shares insights into his daily practices of writing and meditation, the significance of noticing everyday wonders, and offers a poem to encourage listeners to find their own moments of wonder and peace.If you only buy one more book this year, I hope it is this one. I have picked it up daily since the election and it continues to be the balm I most need for comfort, for heartfulness, for grief, and for presence. Learn more about James and his new book here: https://www.jamescrews.net/Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations each week, creative musings, and more.Thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find her at:instagram.com/brianna_podcastproWatch on YouTube, Make a donation, or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.cominstagram.com/merylarnettyoutube.com/@ourmindfulnature
The Middle Way: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Chaos  | Guided Meditation
Oct 31 2024
The Middle Way: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Chaos | Guided Meditation
“If one sees two women sitting at a crossroads, facing one another, they are engaged in witchcraft.” - TalmudFrom our witch meditation series, we know that the witch archetype is truly about people who are reclaiming their personal power. And from the quote above, I love the significance of this sense of power being found in the crossroads; the intersections. It reminds me of one of my favorite teachings in Buddhist psychology - known as The Middle Way. In the teachings of The Middle Way, we learn to embrace tension and paradox. Rather than waiting for the resolution, we become skillful at residing in the middle of it all…“Of course we can always imagine more perfect conditions, how it should be ideally, how everyone else should behave. But it’s not our task to create an ideal. It’s our task to see how it is, and to learn from the world as it is. For the awakening of the heart, conditions are always good enough.” - Ajahn SumedoJoin me for today’s discussion and guided meditation centered on the power we find while resting in the middle.Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations each week, creative musings, and more.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:nickmcmahan.cominstagram.com/brianna_podcastproWatch on YouTube, Make a donation, or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.cominstagram.com/merylarnettyoutube.com/@ourmindfulnature
Grounding Techniques from the Forest: A Green Witch's Approach to Stress Relief
Oct 10 2024
Grounding Techniques from the Forest: A Green Witch's Approach to Stress Relief
“You are the sister to the wolf and friend to the hawk. You know in your heart the language of the plants and the songs of the wind. You have an innate connection to the wild edges. You know the beauty of the bee in flight, and hear the call of freedom on the horizon. And yet, as you go through your day today, it may be easy to miss the drum call of the Earth.”  – Wild WomanThe Green Witch is one who sources her sense of power and nourishment from the Earth itself. She is one who might feel deeply connected to plants and animals and finds balance with time outside. The Green Witch likely spends more time than most contemplating the understanding that we are nature. In our exploration of the earth and forest archetype, we look at reciprocal relationships with the earth as a source of power and grounding. Join me for today’s talk and Green Witch-inspired meditation.Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations each week, creative musings, and more.Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s custom-crafted soundscape, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:nickmcmahan.cominstagram.com/brianna_podcastproWatch on YouTube, Make a donation, or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.cominstagram.com/merylarnettyoutube.com/@ourmindfulnature
Brewing Inner Strength: Exploring the Kitchen Witch Archetype Through Meditation
Oct 3 2024
Brewing Inner Strength: Exploring the Kitchen Witch Archetype Through Meditation
Welcome, Witches.This all new meditation series is devoted to the archetype of the witch. Why, you ask? Well for starters, it is spooky season, but perhaps more importantly, because the witch archetype is especially potent for those of us grappling with reclaiming our personal power. There are so many ‘types’ of witches: the kitchen witch, the green witch, the water witch, etc. And,all of these sub-types refer to the place or activity where we source the majority of our power. Today’s episode is devoted to the Kitchen Witch:In ancient Greece the word for “cook”, “butcher” and “priest” was the same -‘mageiros’- and the word shares an etymological root with the word magic.– Michael PollanThe Kitchen Witch is one who finds her power in the kitchen. She is deeply committed to nourishment - with a cauldron bubbling and tea brewing She is drawn to family recipes connecting her to ancestorsHer ingredients connect her to the earth elementAnd perhaps most importantly, cooking on stove or hearth-fire, connects her to the alchemical power of fire. Fire resides in the belly. It is the heat of action, of purpose, intention and passion. It is also the fire that burns the ghosts that haunt us.This fire is directly tied to the heart space, the home of air/breath/spirit, this is where our caring, compassion and love originate. For the kitchen witch, these two domains are intimately linked - our fire transforming our love - making love manifest.Join me for today’s episode devoted to the alchemy of the kitchen witch complete with a 20-minute guided kitchen witch meditation and a custom-made kitchen witch soundscape from Nick McMahan. Enjoy!Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations each week, creative musings, and more.Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s custom-crafted soundscape, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:nickmcmahan.cominstagram.com/brianna_podcastproWatch on YouTube, Make a donation, or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.cominstagram.com/merylarnettyoutube.com/@ourmindfulnature
Beyond Mindfulness: Andrew Holecek on Advancing Your Meditation Practice
Sep 26 2024
Beyond Mindfulness: Andrew Holecek on Advancing Your Meditation Practice
More often than I can count, I have conversations with students asking me what’s next in their meditation practice, how to go deeper, or how to feel better in the toughest of times… and today, I am delighted to share a powerful conversation offering a few answers to these tough questions.Andrew Holecek is a returning guest to the podcast, as well as a renowned author and humanitarian who teaches internationally on spirituality, meditation, lucid dreaming, and the art of dying. His many books include Reverse Meditation and Dream Yoga. And now, he has a new book out - I’m Mindful, Now What? Moving Beyond Mindfulness to Meet the Modern World. This book, and our discussion today, reveals how the form of mindfulness many of us know is merely one thread in a much older, greater tapestry of contemplative practice. For anyone who has sensed the potential for something much deeper and more profound - this conversation is for YOU.Andrew and I talk about: Brining meditation off the cushion and into our day-to-day experiencesPractices that move beyond simply “calming down” The near enemies of practice, which include spiritual bypassing, spiritual materialism and the tricky distinction between tranquility and liberation. Waking up vs. growing upFive nocturnal meditation practices, the value of the dream state, and the magic of liminality.Lastly and most importantly, we talk about why these practices matter when the world is on fire. At the end, Andrew shares a guided meditation that he does every morning to start off his day. Join me for this inspiring conversation and practice. And listeners, I need to know - should I have Andrew come back to tell us more about these dream practices?!?There is so much richness in this practice, here is a breakout of some of the key moments:01:32 The Five-Year Retreat Experience04:42 Beyond Mindfulness: Deeper Practices06:54 Shamatha and Vipashyana Explained12:18 The Importance of Waking Down15:48 Therapeutic and Somatic Support18:32 Traps on the Meditative Path24:16 Waking Up vs. Growing Up26:48 Nocturnal Meditations27:16 The Importance of Dreams27:34 Polyphasic vs. Monophasic Cultures28:16 Ego and Altered States of Consciousness29:06 The Three-Dimensional View of Reality31:00 The Five Nocturnal Practices32:51 Exploring Liminal Dreaming34:14 The Science Behind Liminal Dreaming35:23 Observational Intent and Thought Image Amalgamation36:37 Deconstructing the Sense of Self42:56 The Collective Mind and Quantum Entanglement48:44 Guided Meditation PracticeLearn more about Andrew Holecek and find his new book here: https://www.andrewholecek.com/Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations each week, creative musings, and more.Thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find her at:instagram.com/brianna_podcastproWatch on YouTube, Make a donation, or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.cominstagram.com/merylarnettyoutube.com/@ourmindfulnature
Beyond the Noise: Finding Mindfulness in Oregon's Quietest Ecosystem
Sep 19 2024
Beyond the Noise: Finding Mindfulness in Oregon's Quietest Ecosystem
Today’s episode is an invitation to settle into the deepest listening and to celebrate what we find when we move beyond the noise of humans. Today, we embark on a meditative listening experience crafted by nature field recordist Nick McMahan. Earlier this year, Nick spent several days seeking out the quietest spot in Oregon. Exploring nature’s whispers and finding serenity in the sagebrush are what inspired today’s guided audio experience - a recording of Nick’s exploration.Together, we will listen to the symphony that arises within Oregon’s quietest ecosystem.What does it mean to listen to such quiet? What can we learn in the absence of human-made noise?Grab your headphones, close your eyes, and join Nick on a journey through the Basque Hills of Oregon:High and dry. There is hardly anything here. No water, no trees, just a small two-track (dirt road where people have driven enough times to form a road, but the ground has never been graded), and a distant horizon. The terrain appears endlessly flat, but after some time walking, I cannot see my car anymore. No towns, people, highways, or aircraft. A strange silence seems to be suspended in the still air. I sit down in the sagebrush and the wind calms. Looking closer I see various small wildflowers growing in clumps, thoughtfully placed near roots and sage. I lay down. It doesn’t feel dirty here. The dusty soil is cool, almost soothing. Eyes close, it is not long before a whir of wings pass not far overhead. Quickly followed by another and a hushed chirp. Something imperceptible has shifted. There is another soft chirp. Another whir, over to the left. Then a trill. Gradually building, a mesmerizing chorus of Brewer’s sparrows and a steady drumbeat of a common poorwill in the distance weave the song of this quiet sage land.These sounds were recorded on the ancestral land of the Northern Paiute people.Today’s episode was written, recorded and edited by Nick McMahan. Nick is a nature sound recordist and photographer, seeking projects to promote a more conscious world. Learn more and check out his sound libraries by visiting: nickmcmahan.comSign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations each week, creative musings, and more.Thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production, editing and social media support: instagram.com/brianna_podcastproWatch on YouTube, Make a donation, or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.cominstagram.com/merylarnettyoutube.com/@ourmindfulnature
The Art of Listening: Unraveling Nature's Voice at Canaveral National Seashore
Sep 12 2024
The Art of Listening: Unraveling Nature's Voice at Canaveral National Seashore
Soundscape Alchemy.Friends, what an episode I have for you today! Months ago, I took an impromptu trip to Canaveral National Seashore to visit acoustic artists Perri Lynch Howard and Gordon Hempton.Frequent collaborators on the podcast, I was ecstatic to spend a weekend practicing the art of listening with them both. We walked mangroves, explored shorelines, and discussed the interplay of human voice, aerospace traffic, and birdsong.The creative collaboration of Gordon and Perri resulted in a stunning piece of environmental art titled, “Hear Me Out.” Join me today for a discussion of what it means to listen with honesty, to weave ourselves into the natural world we inhabit, and to move “in close proximity to lifelong love.”In this episode, Perri and Gordon delve into their experiences during their artist residency at Canaveral National Seashore through the Soundscape Field Station Artist Residency Program. The conversation highlights their collaborative project 'Hear Me Out', which investigates the changing soundscapes and their artistic interpretations influenced by the environment. They share their journey of recording, the emotional challenges faced, and how Doris Leeper's legacy inspired their work. The discussion also touches on the significance of natural sound preservation and future projects related to soundscapes and environmental art.At the end, pop in your headphones, close your eyes, and listen to “Hear Me Out.”Gordon HemptonAcoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton has circled the globe three times in pursuit of the Earth’s rarest sounds. His sound portraits which record quickly vanishing natural soundscapes have been featured in People magazine and a national PBS television documentary, Vanishing Dawn Chorus, which earned him an Emmy. Hempton provides professional audio services to mediaproducers, including Microsoft, Smithsonian, National Geographic and Discovery Channel. Recipient of awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Rolex Awards for Enterprise he is co-author of One Square Inch of Silence: One Man’s Quest to Preserve Quiet (Free Press/Simon & Schuster, 2010) and Founding Partner of Quiet Parks International.https://soundtracker.com/Perri Lynch HowardPerri Lynch Howard is a multi-disciplinary artist working in painting, drawing, installation, and sound. Her visual work and sound installations convey the passage of light, sound, and signal through landscapes on the front lines of climate change - a phenomenology of place. Howard received her BA from The Evergreen State College, BFA from the University of Washington, and MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Her art has a global reach through projects completed in Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Canada, the Arctic Circle, and in South India as a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar.https://www.perrilynchhoward.com/Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s sound design and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:nickmcmahan.cominstagram.com/brianna_podcastproLastly, thank you to Atlantic Center for the Arts and the ACA Soundscape Field Station for making this collaboration possible.https://atlanticcenterforthearts.org/home/soundscape-field-station/Watch on YouTube, Make a donation, or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.cominstagram.com/merylarnettyoutube.com/@ourmindfulnature