Tuesdays 7:15 – 7:45 pm / Free

Starting April 21, 2020 Ends August, 2020

What better way during challenging times to place our attention in the present moment than to connect with nature, letting our senses come alive? We can receive gifts in brief moments sensing the coolness of grass beneath our bare feet or the smooth or bubbly sensation of water across our palm as we trail our hand in a flowing stream. Our breath slows down, our hearts and minds relax, and the strong grip of stress/anxiety on our nervous system loosens. Simply focusing on one aspect of nature, we can train our minds to settle. We might experience the interconnectedness of all life by merely opening  ourselves to be in relationship with one thing in nature: Think tree- whisperer… snail-whisperer… flower-whisperer!

Lizabeth tells of a recent nature meditation experience: “I had chosen to connect with an unopened yellow lily bud. As I sat for several minutes engaging with this plant, I saw that despite some browning and peeling edges that reminded me of its impermanence,  it also seemed to display a complete and utter confidence and acceptance of itself, despite its marks of aging. Eventually, my mind wandered and I noticed boredom arising, but I brought my attention back, noticing this plant in greater and greater detail. When the meditation was over, I briefly turned away from the plant. Looking back at it about 5 minutes later, I saw that the bud had fully opened! 

“For a moment, I thought I must be looking at the wrong plant, but I recognized its features so well, I knew it was the same flower I had just been attending to. I gazed for a moment to my left, and in that very instant, the bud on a neighboring plant suddenly burst open, too! I felt such gratitude to have been able to witness the blossoming of a flower, and such tenderness and care for these lilies in my backyard that I had barely noticed before my meditation. Had I not been paying attention and made a connection with nature, I would never have witnessed that simple, yet profound moment.”

Each live, online session with Lizabeth will include a 15-20 minute nature-based, mindfulness meditation, followed by 10 minutes of optional sharing in community.  While you will ideally be able to sit outdoors in your yard or on your lanai, you can also do this practice indoors, perhaps sitting with a potted plant or pets, fish, or any object from nature, such as a stone, feather, etc. In truth, EVERYTHING is part of nature – even our cell-phones and computers came from the earth in the broadest sense! 

Lizabeth Kashinsky

Lizabeth has been passionately protecting Hawaiiʻs unique species and ecosystems throughout her 25 year career. She believes that cultivating loving kindness towards ourselves and the earth is one way to do this. Through guided meditations, yoga classes, and nature based workshops and retreats, she incorporates ways to deepen our connections to and love for the natural world. 

Lizabeth has most recently led the Ecosattva training at Still & Moving Center with Krista Hiser. Lizabeth has also worked in the field of conservation in Hawaii since 1994. She began practicing hatha yoga and mindfulness meditation in 2000. She discovered that these practices helped to still her active mind and recover from health challenges.  Lizabeth completed a 200 hour yoga teacher training in Honolulu in 2009 and has been teaching yoga ever since. She completed a mastersʻs degree in Ecopsychology in 2012 at Naropa University. An avid horse-woman, ocean lover, and hiker, Lizabeth feels most at home outdoors!