Listening to the Nehalem River

Whether exploring out in the world, or returning home, one of the most powerful ways I’ve found to land in both place and body, is by listening. Last weekend I had the honor of teaching a retreat at North Fork 53, a sweet tea farm nestled along the Nahalem River in Coastal Oregon. Once my bags were put away and before students arrived, that’s what I did – I listened.

When we allow sounds to meet awareness we in turn allow ourselves to more easily ground into present moment. Whether the sounds we meet are mechanical, or stem from nature, deep listening allows us to abide in both inner and outer presence – to know a place while knowing ourselves.

As nature is restorative, we opened the retreat by listening to the natural flow of the Nehalem River. Wherever our heads may be, listening to water can often help us to calm and center. Sounds of creeks, rivers and oceans gently invite the mind and nervous system to soothe and rebalance.

I’ve included a 3-minute soundscape of  water flowing through and along the property. I invite you to take a few moments to settle into a comfortable seat, soften your eyes and enjoy listening to the Nehalem River.