Poems of Earth and Spirit: 70 Poems and 40 Practices to Deepen Your Connection With Nature

2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist

This book of poetry and practices shows how we can connect with the deep peace, simple joy, and healing power of nature anytime, anywhere. Through intimate original poems, we experience loving encounters with trees, the gratitude of thirsty plants quenched by rain, and cross-cultural communication with chickadees. We feel what it’s like to walk on padded paws, to take wing, to root ourselves in the Earth. We remember our kinship with all beings.

And through carefully crafted practices, we discover how connecting mindfully with nature, even in small ways in the midst of a city, calms our frazzled minds, lifts our weary spirits, and brings peace and balance into our lives. We learn to cultivate deeper bonds with wild places and more-than-human beings that restore and heal both us and the Earth.

Poems of Earth and Spirit invites us to approach the natural world not merely as a scenic backdrop or outdoor gym, but as a gathering of beloved friends, wise teachers, and powerful healers. And when we develop a loving and respectful relationship with nature, it awakens our reverence for all life and inspires us to protect what we love.

Good news for busy readers: Poems of Earth and Spirit can be enjoyed in very brief and yet meaningful encounters. In just a few moments, we can open to any page and be uplifted by a short poem, a simple practice, or a charming hand-drawn illustration.

In this high-stress, high-tech world in which so many of us hunger for more authentic connection, Poems of Earth and Spirit illuminates a direct and scenic path to greater joy, meaning, and belonging. This is a book that keeps on giving—and not just to its readers. Three percent of the proceeds are donated to the Amah Mutsun Land Trust, a Native-led, non-profit organization that promotes Indigenous stewardship, conservation and restoration, and research and education.

Kai Siedenburg is a nature connection guide, Ecotherapist, and poet who is passionate about helping people connect with the healing power of nature for the benefit of all beings. A pioneer in integrating nature awareness and mindfulness as a path to mind-body wellness, she offers individual sessions, group programs, and consulting services through Our Nature Connection.

Her approach is rooted in deep listening to nature and shaped by what activist Carolyn Casey calls "a willingness to collaborate with everything." It also is informed by 30-plus years of experience developing innovative educational programs, and by extensive practice in mindfulness, holistic healing, and creative expression. Kai's life and work are woven around four golden threads: love for people, love for the Earth, desire for deep connection, and a strong call to contribute.

She lives on the ancestral lands of the Awaswas people (now represented by the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band), where the mountains meet the sea in Santa Cruz, California. Kai loves to find herself out on the Earth, in her garden, in water, or on the dance floor, and aspires to touch the Earth with her hands or bare feet every day.

Poems of Earth and Spirit is Kai's first book. She is also the author of Space Between the Stones: Poetry and Practices for Connecting with Nature, Spirit, and Creativity.