If nature is a mirror or a messenger, what is it showing us? And what can we turn to that is steadier than the circumstances of our lives?
These inquiries lie at the heart of River Time: Mindful Reflections from the Upper Hudson - a blend of nature writing, mindfulness, and original photography.
Through 56 original stories and poems accompanied by the author's color photographs, River Time offers a contemplative journey along the Upper Hudson River. Drawing from nearly two decades of riverside living and four decades of meditation practice, Susan Meyer explores how presence, gratitude, and compassion can transform our relationship with nature, and with ourselves.
A perfect gift for nature lovers and for anyone seeking greater peace, steadiness, and sanctuary in daily life, each reflection encourages readers to slow down, awaken the senses, and reconnect with the present moment. Whether recounting a yearlong river sunrise photography practice, an evolving relationship with fast boats, or a missed opportunity that became a lesson in impermanence, these stories reveal the grounding and restorative power of mindful awareness in nature.
Organized into four thematic sections -The More Than Human World, The Human World, Rhythms of the River, and The Inner River - the book traces a gentle path from the outer landscape to the inner one. Richly illustrated and deeply reflective, River Time offers a quiet invitation to rediscover the wisdom, beauty, and steadiness that flow through both the natural world and our own lives.
Susan Meyer (SusanTaraMeyer.com) is a meditation teacher, photographer, and contemplative creative based in upstate New York. For nearly two decades, she has lived beside the Hudson River, where she photographs the water's moods, wildlife, and changing light in all seasons. Her work explores the intersection of mindfulness and the natural world, blending poetic insight with visual storytelling.She has been meditating for nearly forty years and trained with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield, completing both their Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program and Mindfulness Mentor Training. She is an aspirant for ordination in the Tiep Hien Order (Order of Interbeing), founded by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.Susan teaches both meditation and nature photography, offers mindfulness mentoring, and is a teacher on the Insight Timer app. She created a self-paced online course, Resource Your Life with the Magic of Mindfulness, and two inspirational card decks that pair her photography with contemplative insights. Her nature images have won multiple awards in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor photo contest, and several are featured on kiosks along the Empire State Trail in Schuylerville, New York.Her approach to creative work is shaped by decades of personal practice, deep attention to the rhythms of nature, and a lifelong interest in spiritual development. She holds an M.A. in Education from Goddard College, a B.A. in Psychology from Ithaca College, and a Certificate in Spiritual Studies from the former Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (now Sofia University).
