Hello beautiful ones, and welcome back to The Becoming Podcast.

Today on the show I am thrilled to introduce you to Ruth Allen. I have been following (and loving) Ruth's work for a number of years, and I've absolutely loved her two books, Grounded and Weathering. Her work and her writing has deeply shaped the way I think about the natural world and the way I move my body through it.

Let me formally introduce Ruth:

Ruth is a writer, embodied psychotherapist and facilitator working primarily outdoors in landscape, and online. Combining her background in geology, with innovative body-based and creative techniques drawing on a multitude of teachings and influences, she offers therapy, mentoring, workshops, classes and adventure retreats - all practical, slow magic - designed to help others connect with their bodies and the rest of nature through depth-full enquiry and practices that deepen our capacity to listen, for the greater whole-health of planet and people.

Some of the things Ruth and I talk about on the show are:

> The resourcing we can access through witnessing the natural cycles and seasons of the natural world – and also how that is being impacted by climate change.

> How to be in relationship with the earth as both a benevolent and even maternal entity – as well as one with the potential for destruction. We talk about the parallels between the concepts of the "ever-giving mother" and the "ever-giving planet," and how both ideologies seem to make those who nurture us vulnerable to exploitation.

> What we can learn from rocks as allies in times of change in our lives and in the collective. Ruth talks about the concept of weathering and erosion as being inevitable parts of the process of growth and rising, both for ourselves and our rock kin.

> The challenge of extending our ideas about animacy to the seemingly inanimate: rocks. Ruth beautifully hypothesizes that if we can see rock as kin and choose to be in a caring relationship with them, then we can see anyone as kin and care for them just the same.

> How Ruth engages in reciprocity with the natural world.

And truly, truly so much more! If you're curious about how you might be in deeper connection with the living world and perhaps how that connection might support you through times of weathering in your life, this episode is for you.