2026 Events
Wisdom from the Wild
Where: Powhatan State Park, Powhatan, VA , Equestrian parking lot
When: Monthly, the first Sunday of the month (beginning in February), 10-11:30 am. *Note – The February and March sessions will be held at the Powhatan County Public Library, the SECOND Sunday of the month, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm.
Whether you’re a veteran outdoor type or only beginning to discover your connection to the natural world, Wisdom from the Wild will lead you on wonder-filled journey to recovering your sense of belonging and finding your truest self, rooted in the rhythms and raptures of nature. Through a variety of mindful observations and reflections synchronized with the seasons, we will examine the ecology of natural ecosystems, explore our own ecological body, and practice integrating nature’s wisdom into our daily life. The program series is free of charge, but parking fees apply.
Monthly Themes
February 8– (Powhatan County Public Library, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm) Cultivating Connection
Do you long to feel more connected to nature, to others, and to yourself? This month, we will explore ways we can cultivate a purposeful and intentional relationship with nature through activities that encourage deep listening and changing our perspective to guide us in tapping into nature’s wisdom.
March 8– (Powhatan County Public Library, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm) Seasonal Transitions
As we find ourselves “marching” ever closer to the spring equinox, we will explore the signs and significance of the seasonal transition to spring both in nature and in our lives.
April 5– Impermanence
On our wander this month, we will explore woodland, ephemeral wildflowers, a variety of small plants that carpet the forest floor with their colorful blooms early in spring. These sweet, short-lived forest beauties can teach us a lot about impermanence and the continual ebb and flow of life – joy, sadness, perturbation, resilience, grief, love, and loss.
May 3– Budding Energy
As we move closer to summer, the early signs of nature’s waking up, its potential energy, will soon become kinetic energy, the energy of active growth. In May, we will observe and reflect to identify where in your life you can plant your unique seeds of potential and expand your energy to encourage their growth.
June 7 – Resting in Movement
As we approach the summer solstice in June, the growing season is amping up and our own bodies are shifting from spring, a gentler season of slow waking up, to summer, a season of high energy and productivity. Today, we are going to observe movement in nature, tap into how that movement makes us feel, and reflect on how we can introduce periods of rest into the often-frantic movements of our own lives.
July 5 – Exploring Relationships
Everything in nature is interconnected and these ecological relationships are numerous and necessary in supporting the health of our planet. This month, we explore the following question: As an integral part of nature, how do we apply the wisdom we receive when observing the interconnected relationships in the natural world to our human condition and our unique relationships, both with nature and other humans?
August 2 – Discovering Beauty
This month we will discover beauty through two perspectives, recognizing and reflecting on beauty in nature and in ourselves both in the light and the shadow. Celebrating our beauty in our light and dark is soul work that connects us more deeply to our authentic self.
September 6 – Reach and Rest
Summer is a season of high productivity and growth. Nature is really reaching. As we move into September, we begin to see signs of nature slowing down – beginning to rest. As we notice the seesaw of reach and rest in nature, we will contemplate how we can nourish ourselves in times of both reach and rest.
October 4 – Place Tending
As we stand with both feet firmly planted in autumn, we see signs that nature is tending as she slows down, prepares for the season of rest, and releases what is longer serving growth. This month, we will reflect on the ways nature tends her landscapes and explore how we, as humans, can commit to our own place tending within ourselves, our relationships with others, and our community.
November 1 – Growing Gratitude
Gratitude is a feeling or emotion that roots us in our connection to our authentic selves and others, but when we are suffering, we may have to dig a little deeper to unearth our gratitude. This month, we practice connecting to gratitude and giving back from our grateful heart.
December 6– Embracing Darkness
As we move closer to the winter solstice, the days are growing darker, and nature moves move deeply into a season of rest and restoration. In following her rhythm, we should settle into a more restful period and reflect on the ideas or behaviors we would like to incubate, cultivate, nurture, and grow to fruition over the next few months of winter as we welcome the light back. To celebrate the winter solstice, we will create greenery bundles from the plants that celebrate the season.