“Nature is not outside of us. It is within us, sustaining us, guiding us, and reminding us who we are.” – LoriAnn Bird

Welcome to The Zen Den, a space where we explore how to find real inner peace in the middle of life’s chaos.

In this episode, I talk with my dear friend LoriAnn Bird, an educator, author, and plant wisdom guide, about the sacred reciprocity between humans and the natural world. LoriAnn shares her story of reclaiming ancestral teachings, her deep passion for native and medicinal plants, and how our relationship with nature impacts not only our physical health, but also our sense of peace, purpose, and belonging.

Together, we explore how caring for plants restores balance in our lives, how nature heals our nervous systems, and why cultivating reciprocity with the Earth may be the key to finding our inner Zen.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How practicing reciprocity with plants brings peace, purpose, and a sense of legacy
• The role of native and medicinal plants in supporting ecosystems and human wellness
• The calming and restorative effects of birdsong, trees, and plant frequencies on the nervous system
• Simple daily rituals that connect us to nature: walking barefoot, touching trees, and tending plants
• How to build meaningful relationships with the plants in your home
• Why respect, reverence, and reciprocity are essential teachings for modern life
• The hidden benefits of “weeds” like dandelion, chickweed, and purslane
• How forests model collaboration, generosity, and kindness for humans

Timestamps:

00:00 - Episode Snippet

03:04 - Witnessing the loss of birds and habitat

05:30 - Emotional impact of diminished plant life

07:17 - Nature heals us

09:08 - Reciprocity with plants

12:25 - How to find inner peace through nature and stillness

15:03 - How nature activates all our senses

20:07 - Reclaiming cultural foods and medicinal plants

23:18 - Plants as teachers of mental, physical, and spiritual wellness

27:24 - Closing meditation: Gratitude for plant life and Earth

About LoriAnn Bird:

LoriAnn Bird is an Indigenous Métis herbalist and educator who shares the wisdom of wild, medicinal, and edible plants in our everyday spaces. Her work invites us to reconnect with the living world, restoring relationships with Indigenous plants, reclaiming true local foods and medicines, and fostering ecological healing.

Connect with Laurieanne Bird:

Website: https://loriannbird.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthandcompany/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Revered-Roots-Ancestral-Teachings-Medicinal/dp/0760393257

About Maggie Calder:

Maggie Calder is a former Buddhist nun and spiritual guide who has traveled the world with Eckhart Tolle and led a healing retreat center in Chicago. She helps listeners find their Zen state, a place of calm and presence, by sharing her wisdom on mindfulness and inner peace.

Connect with me:

Email: thezenden.world@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiecalder

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