Nature As Beloved, Nature As Self

Beauty & Bread - The Life & Spirituality of John Muir

John Muir, a wilderness Christian mystic himself, once famously said: "Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places where people can play in and pray in, where nature may give strength to body and soul alike."
This is just one of the many lasting insights left behind by Muir. More than just a mountaineer, naturalist, or preservationist, Muir was a mystic of mountains and alpenglow. 
His writings reveal a person whose faith was shaped not by dogma, but by the ecstatic beauty of the natural world. In this conversation, we explore why Muir still matters—how his exuberance, reverence for nature, and visionary conservation ethic continue to speak powerfully today.
The episode traces Muir’s spiritual awakening and his unique contribution to Wilderness Christian Mysticism. Drawing from his journals and personal reflections, we discuss how beauty, joy, and awe can be sources of divine knowledge and renewal. 
For Muir, the sacred was never distant—it shimmered in granite, waterfalls, and wind. His way of seeing reminds us that the divine is not confined to temples or texts, but revealed in the living world all around us.
Carried by the Spirit, his words echo today. No matter how difficult life may seem at times, we still need beauty and bread. For such nourishment keeps us rooted in what is true, good, and enduring.
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Bonus: Guided Wilderness Insight Meditation

This bonus episode offers a guided Christian Insight Meditation designed to support contemplative practice. Listeners are invited to settle into a space of inner stillness and spacious awareness, using breath, imagery, and sacred story to cultivate presence and wonder.
The meditation includes:
Breath-based grounding and visualization of a spacious landscape
Reflection on divine spaciousness as a symbol of God’s loving Presence
A mythic framework that imagines God’s unspoken Word echoing within each thought
The use of the phrase “echo, echo” to gently label thoughts and return to stillness
A spacious, imaginative approach to encountering the divine through awareness
This contemplative practice is intended as a quiet space for deep listening, spiritual reflection, and awakening to the sacred mystery at the heart of everyday experience.
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Musings - Wilderness Insight Meditation

This mini-episode offers an introduction to Christian Insight Meditation, a contemplative practice grounded in awe and wonder. Drawing from the Christian mystical tradition, we explore how inner spaciousness mirrors the vastness of creation and how thoughts can be seen as echoes of a divine Word never spoken. This episode concludes with practical guidance for engaging in Insight Meditation, inviting a deepened awareness of thoughts, presence, and the divine within.
Follow along on Facebook or Instagram @natureasbeloved. Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback: natureasbeloved@gmail.com.

Bonus: Guided Wilderness Contemplative Prayer

In this short bonus episode, listeners are guided through a practice of Wilderness Contemplative Prayer. This guided prayer and meditation invites you to step into a quiet, sacred space—a space where you can breathe, be still, and gently return to yourself and the Presence that holds all things. Whether you're beginning your day, in the midst of a busy season, or simply need a pause, let this be your gentle return to your center.
Practice Suggestions:
Find a quiet space and comfortable posture. 
Begin by taking a few deep breaths before pressing play
Let your thoughts come and go without judgment.
Use this meditation as a morning ritual, midday pause, or evening reflection
If something rises in you—emotion, clarity, resistance—greet it kindly and without judgement. 
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Musings - Wilderness Contemplative Prayer

In this special episode of Nature as Beloved, Nature as Self, we explore how Wilderness Contemplative Prayer as a path into divine intimacy—where silence becomes the language of God, and the soul sinks into a deep, sacred stillness.
Further, we explore:
The mystical imagery of the “abyss of God” found in Christian contemplative tradition—from Angela of Foligno to Meister Eckhart, Hadewijch, and John Ruusbroec.
How to engage in Wilderness Christian Contemplative Prayer using sacred landscapes and images to foster a deeper sense of awe, surrender, and belonging.
From the Grand Canyon to the mystics’ visions of the abyss of God, this episode invites you to open inwardly and downward—toward the Divine Depth that lies within all things.
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Seeds of the SBNR Tradition

In this episode, we explore the deep roots and evolving expressions of what it means to be "Spiritual But Not Religious" (SBNR), especially through the lens of Christian mysticism and contemplative history. We ask: What does it truly mean to be SBNR? Where did these spiritual instincts come from? And can we trace a meaningful lineage that validates the SBNR experience as more than just a modern reaction, but part of a legitimate spiritual path?The conversation journeys through the lives and legacies of figures like Emerson, Thoreau, John Muir, and the Quakers—spiritual seekers who shaped an evolving Christian spirituality that was less institutional and more experiential. We touch on the influence of Calvinist Puritanism, the rise of Transcendentalism, and the period that became known as The Jesus Movement. Ultimately, this episode invites listeners to consider how the SBNR impulse—often seen as post-religious—is in fact deeply rooted in the Christian mystical and contemplative tradition. It's not about rejecting religion entirely, but about seeking a more integrated, soulful, and embodied way of being. Whether you're inside, outside, or somewhere in between institutional religion, this is a conversation for anyone on a spiritual path.Stay connected! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @natureasbeloved. Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback: natureasbeloved@gmail.com.

Musings - Why Would a SBNR Person Want to Embrace Anything Christian?

We're starting a new mini-series! In these shorter episodes, Stephen will be sharing his musings and reflections, speaking about the ways Wilderness Christian Mysticism connects with what's going on in our world. 
For this first "musing," Stephen shares his reflections about the current state of affairs, while responding to the question: Why would a Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR) person want to embrace anything Christian?
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Where The True Self Resides

In this inspiring episode of Nature as Beloved, Nature as Self, we delve into an intricate exploration of the "True Self." Within the framework of Wilderness Christian Mysticism, this conversation seeks to illuminate the place where the True Self resides. Drawing from Christian, psychological, and interspiritual perspectives, we explore the profound differences between the false, superficial self—shaped by societal expectations—and the beautiful, interconnected essence of the True Self that yearns to be expressed. Vivid metaphors like the canyon, abyss, spark, and sphere help illuminate this journey, offering fresh ways to visualize and engage with our inner landscape. Through personal reflections and mystical insights, this episode provides practical insights for connecting with the place where the True Self resides. Tune in for an enriching discussion that empowers you to live with greater integrity and authenticity. Stay connected! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @natureasbeloved. Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback: natureasbeloved@gmail.com.