rooted.zine

ROOTED. MAGAZINE

Developing a deeper connection with nature & Mother Earth

Utilizing our full body voices and stepping into our grounded truths

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Introductory Love Letter Contributions

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Welcome, Rooted is a space of connectivity: to connect with all of life around and within us.

This zine was inspired to activate our fullbody voices, engaging all our senses while bringing in the voice of Mother Earth. I couldn’t believe the talent brought together from across America and even one person abroad. Each of these contributors believes in the impact of healing, expression, creativity, and the power of nature. We weaved this zine by each nurturing our writing and using sensory inspiration to immerse us in the creative process.

I invite you to slow down and read the pages aloud. You might not always understand what’s written on an intellectual level, but I guarantee there are words that you will feel in your body and/or soul.

Connecting with our creativity and Mother Earth is vital as we recover from systems that have profoundly disconnected us. Together we created pathways with words and stories to bring us closer to nature and our true nature.

Heart-led and Earth-honoring living is the way forward.

I hope these open you up and lead you with love.

All of my love, Alexis Mills

HOOF

Ailsa Marina Forlenza

SHALLOW TOES, DISCONNECTED TO THE LAND. LACED BOOTS GLIDE OVER PAVEMENT, SENDING SOUND WAVES TO TRAPPED ANCIENT GRASSES. WE DO NOT KNOW THE GROUND, BUT THE GROUND KNOWS US. IT SPEAKS: FIRE. RISE UP.

FOR THE NEW EARTH GRID TO SEAL, OUR SHADOW MUST END. THE PACKS OF OUR DEEPEST MEMORY COME FORTH: NOW'S THE TIME. RANK FALLS, AND LITTLE BIRDS CALL. NOW’S THE TIME. WHO WILL YOU BE WHEN THE GAVEL DROPS? WHERE WILL YOUR FEET LAND?

Falling Hills Will Listen Rebecca Spitaleri

This is where my voice roams and joins the other birds This pleasing breath reminds me what was here first and readily allows my song to finish

The bluebird, comforted by the meadowland hears a mouthful of memories that replenish my soul and now the bluebird waits, and he listens for more he is hoping to distinguish my song from the other birds.

I would tell you where I’ve been. I would lead you with seed and thistle to a sheltered place where the bristled grass bends softly to ease our resting there. It all circles my mind as a murmuration of starlings in a skyline pirouette. If only each swooping body so light on their wings of bone and feather could be that guide and streak through these trees as a winged North Star to guide me home.

But instead it all passes like phantom mist between these larch trees; between these aspens when the last of their stained leaves falter and fall. My thoughts pass phantom-like not because they are opaque and unable to cling or claw their way from my mind but because when I am a traveler through that wood I become as enveloped in those iced droplets of mist as the rooted residents there. My thoughts and Iswirling and shifting as unknowably as sea mist in the birches.

Perhaps to set a straight trail is an uncomely practice in these wild places. Perhaps there is no way to lead a visitor through that place, as a crow flies, when we are locked to this earth with no wings. We are but humans in a land of beasts. And I pity the beasts in their lost world of wonder.

Shall we follow that trail?

The one that disappears from view, the one that requires the beasts to follow their hooves and their paws when light fades and fog envelopes the eddies that their keener sight may usually find. Perhaps when I am moss and I climb in time with the ages I will see the trails of fauna and verdure as my own.

For now let me rest here. As a foreign visitor learning the paths home. Let me rest here as a child of this place. Let me rest here.

Until I remember my way is always leading me here.

Jette Kemper

Moss Leven Beeuwsaert

I read that moss means maternal love... as if its growth is eternal as if its moisture spreads to new heights; unhinged, never repressed it grows soft beds for our stiff bodies like eyes on the underside of our bellies we sleep She is forever in movement.

I dreamt the world fashioned her in white cloaked and in motion her heavenly hem set sparks upon the land and all the barren places took up the mineral of their own bone ashes to ashes caverns made whole by the gust of the spirit her body allows I dreamt God placed her softly on a hilltop and she did not need to surrender both her knees because everyone is there and we are dancing! the fledgling is now covered in soft leaves and song; seeds kicked up and set merry on their way I dreamt that inconvenient prophets were loved

in their hometowns

while still breathing

Noël Ruth

Cicada Cypress Spring Heather Miller

Somewhere between a cycle, a Cicada and a Cypress tree, a cold spring sits and so do you.

Here you are. Between and all together.

Between root and feather. Soil and sunshine, root and reach.

Songs to sing to each other, rhythms to sync too.

The peak of the heat, when Cicada bugs sing.

Looking up through dappled light, branches swaying in wind. Forming a somewhat symmetrical shape in the sky. A face looking down. Green and smiling.

Old. An Elder. A Grandmother or Father. Sunshine and soil. Back on the dirt. And also somewhere else.

And a warm-warm feeling… of ‘I love you’ radiating from the sky and trees.

Telling me I’m connected.

Loved.

No matter what.

A direct embodiment of the tree of life.

Above and below, river water flows.

Cold as ice and hot as sun.

Dappling light, shining ones.

You and Earth.

Here and Now.

Here

you

are.

Between and all together.

Diagram EarthSkyDna Energetics | Heather Miller

Songs EARTH OF

THE

Aubriahn Baez Sometimes the light can be blinding I watch as the Sun and the Moon compete for the Sky A battle I can’t pick a side in I remember driving east down the five, Leaving the Sunset behind me Along with a life where I was not alive As my travels concluded Breath filled my lungs for the first time My past, eluded

I planted my feet in the Ground But it took real time for the roots to grow And in my waiting the songs of the Earth became my favorite sound Seeing the Moon and the Stars with a fresh pair of eyes Marvel at the way they shine How profound that all these blessings are mine And the way the Trees swing and sway The sweetest samba, On a breezy Summer’s day

But the Sea, Oh, how she holds me Picks me up when I’m feeling weak Her salty kisses free me And her Water feeds my roots The rhythm of her waves rocks me to sleep In my rebirth I brought the Earth with me And within me she will stay Serenaded by her symphony Her colors fill my soul And with a green heart She warms me even in the cold

When you live inside the clouds Your bound to have your world Fall down It’s been hard for me to reflect like the mirror broken Had to keep pushin through the storm Only thing that changed was my form I started breaking down how I felt Bottled up emotions were my hell Don't know where I’m going Which ever way the wind is blowing

Somedays I turn grey But pretend I feel golden

All I ever needed Was to Heal.

Jake Mills

the Moon and the Sky Warda Raza I wonder what the moon whispers.

To the sky, as it turns pale Is it poetry, is it passion or is it wild?

I wonder if the stars overhear The overflowing love of the moon And they blush, controlling their giggle The moon must be a passionate soul Who longs for love, and deserved it too The moon yearns for the sky And celebrates its union By borrowing the sun's light Then pass it on to the stars So the moon and stars Can entertain the sky And the beauty of the sky Is welcomed by the shining moon and twinkling stars.

As the moon gets absorbed into the sky The moon confesses its love before goodbye.

Then the sky blushes, almost faint The moon takes leave Promising to meet once again

inner light Katharyn Suzanne Healing isn't about learning; it's about unlearning.

Entering this incarnation, you were perfectly encoded for success in every facet of life.

Like an acorn is encoded with the power of the oak tree, so were you thrust into this physical dimension equipped with the internal blueprint for brilliance.

Last week, I spoke with a new client on a private call. She said something that hasn't left my mind. "I just have to find

conditioning that have kept you from shining with

confidence," she said with exhaustion.

the authenticity of your heart. It's about deconstructing the dam of trauma and pain,

This mindset is a fundamental

blocking the free-flowing waters of your essence.

misunderstanding of healing.

What you want, what you're looking for, doesn't Saying "I have to find (xyz emotional

need to be found; it needs to be unblocked.

experience)" implies that you don't have it.

It assumes that someone can give it to you

Your natural essence is peace. Your natural

and keeps you looking to the world for

condition is confidence. Your natural expression is

direction instead of turning within. It's an

love. Your spiritual DNA is perfectly programmed

illusion of the mind that keeps you stuck in

for outrageous enjoyment and copious success.

the experience of lack that you're trying to escape.

As you venture down the path of your Divine Curriculum, remember that you're not creating

The truth is, healing isn't about finding a

something new; you're rediscovering the Inner

"new you" and figuring out how to be that

Light you were born with. With each layer of

person; it's about dismantling the walls of

conditioning you shed, the brighter you shine and

internalized societal, familial, and religious

the better the world is for it.

You are light. You are love. You are the healing salve this world needs to bring us all back to wholeness.

Your Essence is medicine to this planet.

Take the blankets off.

Turn the light on.

We're ready for you.

Katharyn Suzanne

I see all of God’s faces Pouring in and out of subway trains A perfect mirror His wrinkle my wrinkle Her scar my scar Their blind eye my blind eye Hands, wrists, thighs, bones All the same And pain flows Through us As does love In the left nostril And out the right We’re meant to grow As tall as the stars And feel as deep As the core Coming together A unified force The oneness inside For all to know

PASSENGER Ailsa Marina Forlenza

Dear Butterfly, Give me your wings.

Do you hear the sound of the river?

Walk a little further, until the trees cover the sky, where only ghostly remnants of the sun cut through the leaves.

Do you hear it now?

Her tears make this river, it never stops flowing, for somewhere she sits, inconsolable, in those mountains behind you rolling.

A fairy, born without wings.

Forced to watch the butterflies break from their cocoons every spring.

Watching from the ground as the birds carry their songs through the wood.

She would carry it with them if she could.

Knowing that she would never flutter with the fairies or sing with the birds, her life faded in her Mind.

She wandered.

Tried to forget.

Sang songs and searched for relief from her pain.

Until her legs gave out she wandered, and her wandering brought her there; to the rolling mountains, as high and as close to the sky as she would ever get.

Without having ever grieved her desired wings, she cried.

She sang into the wind her heart's brokenness.

And if you listen long enough, the winds still carry her sad request: “Dear butterfly, give me your wings.”

Victoria Hodges

Wild Love PT Tomov Love is wild; Love cannot be tamed.

Love is like a river, ever flowing always changing its course yet remaining the same.

Love always finds its way.

Love is magic - white magic - a casted spell upon me and you.

Love unites and bonds our hearts and souls like an extra ordinary glue.

Love cannot be stolen, captured, or destroyed 'cause it's true.

Love is wild; just ask the mystic sage.

A liberated man's heart will seldom love in tamed ways. A pliant man will hardly beam his Love with wild rays.

True Love cannot be taught, nor can it be translated. It can never fade away, nor can it become jaded.

Love is a miracle, just like this breath you take. Love is constant, authentic, and it is never faked.

Be aware with Love, don't just simply fall for it. Be awake to Love in your core, don't ignore it.

My darling, allow Love in your heart and invite Love in your home. Participate in the magic, and you'll never feel alone.

Let Love be wild; let Love set you free.

Me and you - forever connected - Love is rooted in our ever-growing tree. ..a poem in the making

Love is truth, and truth is love.

nature loves you

(the journey is love)

When you think of nature, do you think of your heart?

Do you think of the love that revolves within it as the same love that the sunlight offers at dusk to the dark?

When you think of nature, do you think she and you are one?

Did you think you were separate from the ocean, the trees in the forest, and the grain of sand on the beach all along?

Do you think that your spirit is different or independent of God? Whoever she is, I assure you you’re more like her than you are not.

Take a deep look within and you’ll see the essence of nature right under your skin. Only then you will know that the nature of man is to love not to sin.

I would like to remind you that our earth gave us birds so the birds can embellish the sky... I know that same earth gave us you, so leap, make the jump, be as bold as you can, and let your essence fly high!

And before you soar off to be a free winded spirit. I’ve got one lesson from nature and I’d like you to hear it.

Take a breath and inhale all the love you’re given. Love is in the air. Mother earth never asks us for much in return, she just wants you united with her while you keep livin’ and be reminded that you and your life are a miracle. You are one with this planet, and I hope that your spirit knows.

Nature loves you. So, you should love yourself too. Reconnect with the cosmos within; let the forces of nature take over and guide you.

On this journey before you; I hope you rediscover your truth. I hope that you find your best voice and turn old pain into sweet loving fruit.

I keep sharing lessons, but this one I know that you know... the journey is love and love makes the journey more whole. ..a poem in the making

PT Tomov

respite.

Sacred container of holding.

Ashely Dunn

I come to her when my mind is unsettled with worry, when my heart forgets how to hold joy with grief, when my body needs healing, when my feet are unsure how to take the next step, when my soul needs to be held. when I simply don't have the answers.

“Come here sweet child and sit a while," she whispers, "rest in my being and know it is enough."

Sometimes I leave her with tokens - an offering of gratitude collected on my walk.

Sometimes I read her words of love and devotion - poetry of Mary Oliver.

Sometimes I offer praise - my body dancing in delight.

Sometimes I walk with my heart full - of thankfulness, bewilderment, and bliss.

Sometimes I lay with arms outstretched - offering tears of joy for the gifts she provides.

She offers an invitation to find holy here and reminds me of never ending, unfailing love.

Mother Earth is the tactile connection to God. And I offer reverence to the great unfolding.

Ashely Dunn

rything Nature is eve and breath Our food, water, h life It provides us wit

Our medicine, healer, and mirror It shows us the answers Our spirit, grounding, and body It connects us to this world To connect with Nature is Is to connect with all that is Uniting with the life force of the planet

It’s as simple h nature As connecting wit truly are u o y o h w r e b m e To rem le as one of the who Alexis Mills

incorporate nature into every part of life

Alexis Mills

May we realize that the Earth is a living being.

That the laws of nature have all the answers and solutions to create paradise on Earth for all of the millions of species that call it home.

TUNE MORE INTO MOTHER EARTH THAN

MOTHER CULTURE

Photo credit Camila Castro

A Solo Safari Birthday Camila Castro

I lived out all my Circle of Life fantasies as the giant, red sun rose over the African savanna. A soft orange glow caressesed every corner of the grassy plains spreading out before us, endless and vast.

I sat in silence with Stanley, my safari guide, as this majestic display held us in utter awe.

Stanley might have been keeping silent for my benefit, but when Mother Nature shows off like that, it's an unspoken fact that you stop and pay attention.

I had come to Tanzania – a wildlife-abundant destination – as a birthday treat. A solo safari in Serengeti National Park,

Tanzania's most renowned and home of the world-famous Great Migration, was definitely in the cards. August, my birthday month, happens to be the best time of year to see the peak of this wildlife spectacle. Within the first few hours, we saw two upclose crossings as thousands of wildebeest frantically scrambled to safety across the Mara River.

I spent the next five days fully immersed in the wild rhythms of East Africa’s wilderness, commonly referred to as the bush. On hours-long game drives – wildlife viewing adventures in a 4x4 safari vehicle with an experienced Ranger guiding – we bumped along over the crude tracks crisscrossing the savage, untouched beauty of the

savanna. I was often lulled into a pleasant meditative state. These were interspersed with the absolute thrill of sudden wildlife sightings, the joy of stopping for morning tea in the bush, and the nerves of pee breaks squatting behind a Land Rover for a modicum of privacy.

Being on safari was a prime lesson in slowing down and going at nature's pace. We relaxed by the gentle river, watching the hippos lazily sunbathe on the sandy banks, and blissfully waited for a good half-hour for a grumpy bull elephant to clear the road so we could pass. We spent an entire day happily searching for the elusive leopard. Spoiler alert: we never found him. We went with the flow, letting Mother Nature surprise and delight us as and when she would.

Back at Camp, after a hot shower and a delicious dinner in the evenings, I would join the other guests and the jovial staff for some "bush TV." We gathered around a campfire to listen to the many sounds of the African bush at night when it comes alive under a blanket of glittering stars unfettered by light pollution. Returning to my safari tent afterward, I would fall asleep to the sound of zebras munching just beyond the flaps of my tent and lions roaring in the distance.

Photo credit Camila Castro

I spent my birthday on a glorious day-long game drive – picnicking in the bush with Stanley, enthralled by a cheetah that was trying to climb down from a tree, getting to witness the rare sight of lions mating – only to return to Camp in the evening to a surprise birthday celebration with cake and an impromptu song-and-dance party.

Photo credit Camila Castro

As far as birthdays go, this one, though spent alone and far from home, filled my heart beyond expectation. Surrounded by the marvels of the African bush and so warmly celebrated by its local people, I couldn’t imagine a more extraordinary gift. It filled me with a powerful sense of presence and an awareness of what you can witness and experience when you slow down in Mother Nature.

As we return to nature we connect to our true nature

Alexis Mills

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