Alison Ritchie

The year before this adventure in the woods, my parents separated and it turned into a messy situation, and a few months after that a close loved one in the family unexpectedly passed away. I now know the connection between grief and the lungs, and how my little body was working so hard for me and expressed it as asthma. 🥺(Thank you body!)

There was an ever present theme of abandonment and being left behind in my life as a child. But I think on some level we all agree to our cardinal wounds; the training ground that helps us grow and develop true grit and resilience. Our job is to transmute these wounds and find the gems that lay deep within. ✨✨✨

Anyway, this was such a profound experience and it left such a mark in my psyche and heart. ((💗))

Learning as an adult about “Highly Sensitive People” was a game changer for me. HSP’s often move through the world with thinner filters… the “gates” of their nervous system are more open.

This can and does feel overwhelming in a culture that values speed, noise, and production at all costs. But in the context of earth-based wisdom, this sensitivity isn’t a weakness — it’s an absolute gift. It’s the ability to perceive subtle shifts, to notice what others miss, to attune to the intelligence of the living world.

When your sensory gates are open, you don’t just see nature — you *feel* her rhythm.

Your creativity, insight, and inner life expand. New pathways of expression open up because you’re no longer cut off from theses subtle worlds.

What a gift to be alive!
Friends, let’s keep in touch outside of IG! Grab a copy of my fr33 ebook *cyclical living in a linear world* and it’ll add you to my non spammy list. 😉
Have you had a mystical experience in nature? I would LOVE to hear about it below.

Imagine if this was the standard for postpartum care?
Traditional postpartum care is rooted in honouring the mother’s profound physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation after birth. It focuses on nourishing her body with warming, nutrient-dense foods, encouraging rest, and creating a supportive environment for recovery and bonding. These practices recognize that a mother’s well-being is the foundation of her family’s health, helping to prevent depletion, balance hormones, and support long-term vitality.
In a world that often rushes this sacred window, traditional postpartum care offers a return to what truly matters: slowing down, being nurtured, and allowing the body to heal naturally and fully.
There is a bit of grief when I see videos like this. It was far from what I personally experienced, but it did give me a lot of fire to want to change things for women in my own community.
What was your postpartum experience like? What would you do different? What did you love?
Video from SBS Dateline