In our culture, we often resist darkness and quiet. We glorify constant productivity, endless growth, and always being “on.” But in nature, winter is a time for retreat. Seeds rest underground. Trees stand bare, gathering energy for spring. The land itself pauses and regenerates. We, too, need seasons like this. The dark is not empty — it’s fertile. It’s where ideas, dreams, and healing take root.

There’s something deeply healing about letting go — the way a tree releases its leaves in the fall, or how a river carries away what no longer serves. Nature shows us again and again that release isn’t loss — it’s renewal. At Rock Creek ReTreet Center, Beneath the ancient cottonwood, along the sacred trail, or by the flowing creek, visitors often find themselves letting go of what’s been heavy — and rediscovering a sense of lightness they didn’t know they’d lost.

You don’t need acres of forest or a mountain view to connect with nature. Sometimes, the most powerful healing happens right outside your own door. Whether it’s a backyard corner, a patio, or even a park bench beneath a favorite tree, creating a personal sacred space outdoors allows you to pause, breathe, and reconnect with what truly matters.

So often we talk about nature as if it’s something “out there” — separate from us. But the truth is, we are  nature. Our breath mirrors the rhythm of the trees. Our bodies move in cycles, just like the seasons. The same earth that holds the roots of the cottonwood also holds us When we begin to live as if this is true, harmony becomes less of a goal and more of a way of being. We Are Nature When we stand beneath the sky, sit by a creek, or feel the wind on our skin, we’re no