A Love Letter to Self and the Earth

Love the Body You Are, Love the Earth You Belong To: 

In this month’s Love Letter, I introduce The Five Remembrances, a powerful Buddhist meditation on impermanence and interdependence.

The Five Remembrances

• I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.
• I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no way to escape having ill health.
• I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.
• All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.
• I inherit the result of my actions in body, speech and mind. My actions are the ground on which I stand.

Each morning when I get out of bed and my feet touch the floor, I recall this simple, prayerful meditation on life and death. I am reminded that the body, like the earth, changes through seasons, erosion, growth, and renewal. Nothing in nature remains fixed, and both the body and the earth are interdependent and interconnected.  

We Are the Earth:  Interconnection is Our Nature

The body is not separate from the earth.   We are not on the earth.  We are of it.   We are formed from the same elements and sustained by the same systems. Our bodies, our DNA, and ecosystems are part of one living web.  Our existence is supported by countless beings (hummingbirds, rainfall, sunlight, clouds). We are part of the earth’s nervous system.  Our grief is the earth expressing harm.  Our compassion and action are the earth’s self-healing.  The air that is breathed, the water that is taken in, and the ground that nourishes all life move through us continuously. When the earth is harmed, the body is not untouched. When the body is neglected, it reflects a deeper disconnection from the world it belongs to. All of life exists through complex interplay and interdependence. This, of course, is the counter-narrative to the dominant western notions of individualism and human exceptionalism, driving further alienation, isolation, and desensitization.

We live in an interconnected, ever changing ecology.  We live in relation to all life. At these trouble times, we are called not to grasp what is inherently unstable and uncertain, and demand things remain the same, but instead, to adapt to instability guided by understanding, love, and peace, without grasping.

How we live matters. The ways we act, speak, and think shape what follows, not only for ourselves, but for the earth we are part of.  We can call on our inner courage and emotional clarity.  We can release what no longer serves and let go of burdens that are no longer ours to carry.

To love the body and to love the earth is not an idea, but a practice expressed through compassionate action. It is something that is lived, moment by moment.

Join me for these upcoming events. 

Space is limited. Pilgrimage to Silence: A Nature-Based Retreat for Rest & Renewal Onsite at Hollyhock Retreat Center, Cortes Island, British Columbia Program begins May 17 at 6:30pm | Program ends May 22 at 1:30pm This silent, nature-based retreat offers a peaceful space to slow down, breathe, and restore. Surrounded by Hollyhock’s forests and ocean, you’ll step away from daily noise and reconnect through Plum Village mindfulness, Quaker practice, and Courage & Renewal principles. With noble silence, time in nature, and guided meditation, this retreat supports healing, clarity, and renewed alignment with what matters most. More details and register: https://valeriebrown.us/events/pilgrimage-to-silence-a-nature-based-retreat-for-rest-renewal/

Geography Of Change SOLD OUT AND WAITLISTED A Forest Retreat for Navigating Life Transitions with Valerie Brown On Campus | In Person May 29-31, 2026 Ben Lomond Quaker Retreat Center, Santa Cruz Mountains, Northern California Life transitions often ask us to slow down and listen more carefully to what is unfolding within us. Set among the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this in-person retreat invites you to pause, reconnect with what matters most, and meet change with greater presence and care. Through embodied, contemplative, and creative practices, we will explore how inner clarity and self-trust can guide meaningful action during times of uncertainty. More details and register: https://valeriebrown.us/events/geography-of-change/

THE WORLD WE KNOW IS POSSIBLE: A BIPOC Retreat (In Person 2026) with Wendy Dainin Lau, Ro Grace, and Valerie Brown Upaya Zen Center, Santa Fe NM August 14–16, 2026 This August, I am honored to co-facilitateThe World We Know Is Possible, an in-person retreat at Upaya Zen Center for self-identified Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Rooted in mindfulness meditation and connection to the natural world, this gathering offers a refuge of belonging, care, and joy while supporting collective healing, resilience, and courageous engagement in complex times. Through dharma teachings, guided meditation, mindful walking, nature-based practices, reflection, and shared dialogue, we will nurture love, creativity, and hope in community. No prior meditation experience is required.  More information and application details: https://valeriebrown.us/events/the-world-we-know-is-possible-a-bipoc-retreat-in-person-2026/

Portuguese Camino: Walk in Beauty Pilgrimage SOLD OUT AND WAITLISTED A pilgrimage for reflection, renewal, and meaningful transformation with Valerie Brown October 10–20, 2026 | Portugal to Spain Our kindest and gentlest Camino ever combines the stunning beauty of northern Portugal and Spain with spacious time for you to reflect with a caring, supportive community on your inner capacity to lead a more authentic, meaningful, and resilient life.Let us pamper you in this exclusive, small group, amenities-packed pilgrimage where you’ll savor breathtaking natural beauty of the legendary coast of Portugal and Spain, charming, three and four-star accommodations, and regional delicious cuisine, including gourmet picnic lunches. More information: https://valeriebrown.us/events/portuguese-camino-walk-in-beauty-pilgrimage-2026/

With an open heart and a peaceful mind. A retreat to renew oneself and engage socially Registration will open soon. Wednesday, October 28 – Sunday, November 1, 2026, Avalokita Meditation and Conscious Living Center, Castelli (TE), Italy This October, I invite you to join me for Open Heart, Peaceful Mind, a mindfulness retreat grounded in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. In a time that calls for deeper presence and connection, this retreat offers space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the values that guide compassionate action. Through sitting and walking meditation, mindful eating, gentle movement, and silent reflection, we will cultivate inner balance, renew our strength, and deepen our capacity to care for ourselves and the world.Accommodation is in shared rooms, and the participation fee is €280 including room and board. The course fee is offered as a donation, with financial support available upon request. More information: https://valeriebrown.us/events/with-an-open-heart-and-a-peaceful-mind/

Awakened Action What Blooms in the Ashes In Person & Online November 13–15, 2026 A gathering on Socially Engaged Buddhism exploring how beauty, mercy, and kinship can emerge amid brokenness, offered at Upaya Zen Center. Rooted in contemplative practice and shared inquiry, this gathering invites participants to reflect on how we meet suffering, injustice, and uncertainty with clarity, compassion, and care, and how our individual practice is shaped and sustained in community. Learn more and register: https://valeriebrown.us/events/awakened-action-what-blooms-in-the-ashes-in-person-2026/