Have you ever felt a sense of worry, fear, or anger when you think about climate change and the state of our planet? If so, you may be experiencing what's called "eco-anxiety." As plant lovers who are so connected to nature through our gardens and houseplants, it makes total sense that eco-anxiety could affect us. We care deeply about the Earth because we are part of it. So, let us spend some time with my dearest friend and resident green witch, Rachael Cohen, to better understand this concept.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:33] What is eco-anxiety?
• [07:14] Rachael’s personal story of identifying/managing eco-anxiety
• [09:45] Coping with eco-anxiety
• [11:21] How perspective affects happiness
• [12:16] What is the environmental impact of our actions, and how does it relate to our well-being?
• [15:21] Fill your homes with the most ethereal sounds with the new Wind River Eclipse Collection (use code GROWINGJOY)
• [17:26] Discover gardening tips, kitchen tricks, and family activities to reduce waste and save money with ‘Simple Country Living’ by Annette Thurmon
• [18:39] What is Rachael's book, Self-Care for Eco-Anxiety, all about?
• [20:01] Is corporate responsibility being misdirected, with consumers unfairly blamed?
• [22:30] How to shift from fight/flight to parasympathetic rest and digest mode
• [24:18] Somatic practices to release severe negative feelings associated with eco-anxiety
• [29:01] Finding neutrality and managing anxiety
• [30:10] What is the concept of “the mother tree” in Rachael’s book?
• [32:25] What is the mycelium network?
• [36:42] What are some ways we can give back to Mother Nature?
• [41:37] Rachael’s favorite strategy for bringing oneself back from an eco-anxiety spiral
• [43:23] How is the book constructed?
• [46:55] Where can you get the book?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest, book by Suzanne Simard
• The Overstory: A Novel, book by Richard Powers
• Growing Joy Ep 229: Why You Should Care About the Spring Equinox
• Self-care for Eco-Anxiety: 52 Weekly Practices for Positive, Personal Change Through the Power of Nature, book by Rachael Cohen
• Growing Joy Ep 223: Cultivating Intuition with Nature with Rachael of Our Infinite Nature
• Growing Joy Episode 209: Plant Magic: How to Be a Green Witch with Rachael from Infinite Succulent

For a list of simple ways that you can give back to Mother Nature,

check out the full show notes and blogs here!

Follow Rachael:

Website

Instagram

TikTok

Facebook

YouTube

Thank you to our episode sponsors:Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all engraveable wind chimes.

Quarto: Simple Country Living by Annette Thurmon

Grab Simple Country Living: Techniques, Recipes, and Wisdom for the Garden, Kitchen, and Beyond by Annette Thurmon at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble or amazon.com.

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