The September equinox or the autumnal equinox—arrives on Saturday, September 23, and marks the day that we transition from summer into fall. As temperatures drop, plant life begins to slow down and so do we. This is a period of change and transition and our nature-based mindfulness practices are a perfect way to bring the heart, mind, and body into harmony with the one constant in life – change.
Mindfulness in Nature
Awareness, Wisdom & Love
Through Nature-based Meditation
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Our mission is to inspire all people worldwide to connect with the earth through mindfulness-based practice and meditation as a support for awakening, and deepening love and care for the earth and all species.
What We Do
Awake in the Wild exists to bring people together to develop awareness and love for the earth and all species through nature-based meditation practice. Teachings are offered online and via in-person nature meditation classes, courses, and retreats that are open to everyone. Our programs are led by Mark Coleman and Awake in the Wild certified teachers.
Awake in the Wild is committed to helping you:
- Deepen your mindfulness-based meditation practice
- Connect to community, no matter where you are
- Bring deeper insight and compassion into how we relate to the earth and all beings.
- Draw on Buddhist, indigenous, and wisdom traditions that inspire greater awareness, kindness and understanding.
AitW Teacher Training
The Awake in the Wild Teacher Training is an in-person, nature meditation, teacher training inspired by contemporary mindfulness practice, traditional Buddhist wisdom, and by Mark Coleman’s 2006 book Awake in the Wild. Mark has been leading wilderness retreats for mindful nature enthusiasts across the Americas since 2003 and has trained and inspired 65+ AitW teachers from around the world.
Daily Nature Meditation
An Online Community
Sit with our community of nature-loving meditators for our nature-based meditation sessions. These 45-minute meditation sits are led Monday – Friday, and now on Sunday evening, by AitW founder Mark Coleman or by a rotation of AitW-trained guest teachers from around the world. Whether you are a nature lover with no meditation experience, or you are a past AitW retreatant looking to stay connected, you are warmly invited to join us.
A Field Guide to Nature Meditation
52 Mindfulness Practices for Joy, Wisdom, and Wonder
NEW RELEASE! Through 52 engaging practices, you will learn to meditate in a variety of settings, in different landscapes, and in all kinds of weather with confidence and clarity. The book is divided into sections, each of which orient you to different kinds of meditations. There are practices that you can do sitting in stillness, those that involve walking and movement, and meditations that allow for an intimate, direct connection with the rich facets of the natural world.
The Nature Journal – Recent Posts
Accepting Changing Vistas
By: Christine Lustik – I lived with wildfire, mostly the smoke from far away wildfires, before moving to Montana. But when I moved to Missoula in 2012, wildfires became…
For the Love of Nature
By: Mark Coleman – This talk explores the relationship between love and nature, and how the natural world is a beautiful and profound doorway to love (metta), compassion and joy.…
The Best Parts
By: Jackie Gay – When I first moved to Vancouver Island I would wake in the night knowing the whales were nearby. I could feel them. ‘The whales live here!’…
Mutual Generosity
We honor the Buddhist principle of dana, or mutual generosity. Our teachers generously offer their teachings to our community. In return, our community is invited to generously donate to help support the teachers and Awake in the Wild to continue their offerings.
Community & Inclusion
Awake in the Wild exists to serve everyone by creating a supportive environment in which to explore meditation and nature. We welcome everyone: all ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, abilities, cultures, and religions.