For the LOVE of Winter
For the LOVE of Winter
Exploring the Winter Woods with Nick McMahan
Oh friends, I have been WAITING to tell you about this episode. It is the first of what I hope is many similarly-styled episodes that I am creating in collaboration with nature field recordist Nick McMahan. Together, Nick & I will share the sounds, stories and metaphors that are inspired by the natural world around us, starting with -
W I N T E R
Walking through the woods is perhaps my favorite activity of all, and there is no better experience (in my opinion) than walking through the woods in winter.
The space. The silence. The biting cold. All of it crackles with a kind of energy, a nudge towards contemplation and reflection.
Yet, in a recent conversation, I was reminded that winter can be very, very different depending on where you live. So, today, Nick and I discuss a few of the varied experiences of winter and how these experiences apply to our meditation practice and our inner landscape.
Nick is a nature field recordist from Washington State. He has worked closely with acclaimed acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton, Offspring Film, Audible Sleep Sound, and numerous independent collaborations. The Director of Quiet Trails for Quiet Parks International (QPI), Nick’s recording experience ranges internationally from extreme cold, tropical rainforests, mountains to deserts. Specializing in soundscape, ambiance, and unusual sound, leads Nick to become a better listener and observer of the world.
Together, we walk through the winter woods discussing
The transformative effects of wind
Lying on a frozen lake at night listening to owls hoot in the background
Cozying up to a campfire under the winter night sky
Expansion, contraction, fracturing, and growing
The power of taking in the whole rather than breaking everything up into pieces
At the end, we listen to a full journey through the woods inviting you to reflect on your own experience of winter and how that is reflected within your internal landscape.
This Week’s Mini Meditation
Nick created a 10-minute Winter Woods soundscape that takes us on a journey as we listen to the wind rushing through winter Pine trees. Then, we settle on a frozen lake, listening to the expansion of ice and the comforting calls of nearby owls. And finally, we settle in front of a campfire to warm our bones and quiet our minds. This experience is unguided so that you can listen fully. Enjoy.
All the soundscapes and images are created by Nick McMahan. Listen to more of his recordings here:
*all of the content shared in my podcasts, newsletters & meditations is written by me {Meryl Arnett} without the use of AI. If you catch a mistake or typo, I hope it makes you smile knowing a real person is behind every word published 💛