The Mary Christopher Podcast

Oxygen, Oxygen, Oxygen … !!!

The boreal forest, also known as the Taiga, is the world’s largest land biome and is characterized by coniferous forests.  The boreal forest is an “old growth forest” in most areas.  It is dominated by coniferous trees like pines, spruces, and firs.  Some broadleaf species like poplar and birch also grow there. 

A biome is a large geographical area characterized by a specific climate and dominant plant and animal life.  This means that regions with similar environmental conditions, like temperature, precipitation, and soil type, will have similar ecosystems and communities of living organisms, like deserts, grasslands, rainforests, and tundras.  So, the Boreal Forest is the world’s largest Biome!

Canada's boreal forest covers approximately 1.2 billion acres (485 million hectares).  It is the world's largest intact forest ecosystem, stretching across northern Canada from the Yukon to Newfoundland and Labrador!  The entire boreal forest is found in the northern high-latitude regions, mostly between 50 degrees North and 65 degrees North.  It covers areas in Canada, China, Finland, Japan, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States.

According to available information, Canada's boreal forest processes an estimated 113 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, which is equivalent to the emissions from roughly 24 million passenger vehicles!

The boreal forest is dominated by coniferous trees that are well adapted to thin, nutrient-poor soils.  So, the coniferous do better than the deciduous trees with broad green leaves.  Because conifers are evolutionarily older than broad-leaved deciduous trees, they usually do better in these soils with fewer nutrients. 

Broad-leaved deciduous trees generally will out-compete conifers if they have more favorable soil and weather conditions.  So this relegates conifers to areas with sub-prime conditions like the north.  For some reason, conifers thrive in these challenging situations.  Because they don’t lose their leaves like deciduous trees, conifers, also known as evergreens, keep their leaves all year.  This increases the amount of time they have for photosynthesis!  

This means there is more time for photosynthesis!  So, more O2 (Oxygen) is released back into our atmosphere and more Carbon is removed from the atmosphere.  Removing Carbon from our atmosphere by breaking down carbon dioxide is essential for the continued health of our planet as well as All Human Beings and All Creatures Great and Small!

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, our cars, trucks, planes, factories, refineries, as well as small engine equipment like motorcycles, leaf blowers, lawnmowers, etc. have steadily increased the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere !!!  Before the Industrial Revolution got rolling, there were 275 parts per million (ppm) in the atmosphere.  Now there is approximately 415 ppm in our atmosphere!  That is 50% higher than the “pre-industrial” levels of Carbon Dioxide!

In addition to that, we have been chopping down trees and clearing land at an alarming rate!  Unfortunately, Canada has been cutting down its forests at an alarming rate which is one of the highest rates of forest destruction in the world.  Much of the wood from this priceless forest is getting turned into toilet paper and other paper products.  

Every year, Canada clear-cuts at least one million acres of boreal forest, the equivalent of seven NHL hockey rinks per minute. From 2001 to 2017, Canada lost nearly 40 million hectares of forest !!!  This released huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere which were equivalent to the annual emissions of nearly 321 million cars !!!

So, what can we do besides calling all our friends and relatives in Canada to make sure they are messaging their government?

We can protect all the trees in our neighborhoods and communities.  We can work with responsible and reliable Forestry Projects to plant more trees and make sure they survive to a ripe old age.  The Arbor Day Foundation is recognized as one of the most reliable and responsible organizations for planting Trees and making sure the Trees survive.  They have planted and continue to care for more than One Billion Trees worldwide!  Here is a link to their website Arbor Day Foundation .  

If you want to plant trees on your property, check with the Georgia Native Plant Society.  They are a great resource.  They are also all volunteers, so it may take a few days for them to get back to you.  But, they will … !!!  And, they are tremendously helpful !!!

Have a Wonderful Week and enjoy all the fresh air in your neighborhood.

Group Meditation at 7 pm PST, 8 pm MST, 9 pm CST and 10 pm EST 

Happy Holidays ~ This week, Thursday, December 12, is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Her day is celebrated throughout the Americas and wherever there are people with Hispanic family roots.

On Tuesday, December 17, Sufis and Mystics around the world celebrate the passing of Rumi, into Heaven.  Jalal al-Din Rumi is considered the greatest Sufi poet and scholar.  In many places around the world, this is a very solemn as well as joyful celebration.  In Konya, Turkey, the Whirling Dervishes celebrate Rumi's passing with their amazing whirling dance.

This year the Winter Solstice occurs December 21 at 3:19 am.  Happy Solstice !!!

Christmas is on December 25. 

Hanukkah also begins on December 25 this year.

And, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 through January 1, 2025 !

More Good News ... Creation is working just fine !!!  The Sun is coming up every morning.  The Moon is still in her orbit.  Photosynthesis continues to work, so we all have fresh air to breathe.  We still have Bees and all the other Pollinators !!!

Humanity is still trying to figure out the common rules of engagement with each other.  We are also still rolling the dice on the health and well-being of the Earth, all the People, as well as All Creatures Great and Small.

Thank you for showing up and for all you are doing for our Planet Home.

Have a Wonderful Week,

And, Remember to Breathe ...

Mary Christopher

This morning, as I was waking up, I "heard", "Seeds of Compassion".  I did my best to stay as quiet as possible and listen.  It was very clear to me this was a reminder that we need to be "Sowing Seeds of Compassion" even as humanity (that's us) is going through difficult times.

As we go through this unsettling period, we need to be doing things that are constructive and helpful.  No matter how crazy our immediate world is we can build at the same time.  We can still do many things that will create a better future. Human Beings are Creators, Builders, and Makers.  We thrive when we are creative and work together.  When we are fussing and fighting and causing chaos, not much gets done that supports life on Planet Earth.  

So, being such sensible people, those of us who pay attention to Creation can keep building a "Better Future" for Everyone!  Regardless of which political party is "in power", we still need clean air to breathe and healthy water to drink.  We still need herbs for cooking and healing, as well as all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and grains.  All these foods need pollination by Pollinators or by wind.  Most fruits and vegetables need "direct pollination", by our Insect Pollinators.

When I was living in Texas, I had 2 peach trees.  I had planted them and nursed them along.  In the Spring after the buds appeared, I would check every morning to see if they had opened into blossoms.  Once the blossom appeared, I would watch to see how many bees, butterflies, wasps, and any similar creatures were pollinating "my" peaches.  Fortunately, in my neighborhood, we had plenty of Pollinators, so I had plenty of lovely peaches!

In our "modern" culture, we take so much for granted.  We can walk into almost any grocery store and buy fruits and vegetables or foods from all over the world. Generally, we can purchase and walk out with as much food as we want without depriving other people.  That is not the case in many parts of the world.

This is an excellent opportunity for us to start a small garden, at least a Pollinator Garden.  Regardless of all the political posturing, Creation is doing its best to keep Nature functioning, all day and all night.  When we work with Creation and support Mother Nature, we are creating a better future for our children and grandchildren and their children!  When we plant Trees, we are making an investment in Oxygen production and Carbon capture for years to come.  We are investing our time and energy in a Better Future for Humans and for all Creatures Great and Small !

In the midst of all this "noise and turmoil", we can also look for a few more opportunities for Kindness and Compassion.  Most everyone I know is kind, thoughtful, and caring.  The difficulty comes when there is too much social unrest and uncertainty.  Then we may be so stressed that we miss opportunities for sharing or for compassion.  We may walk right by someone who could use a little acknowledgment.  Or, pass by someone who needs help getting their groceries in their car.

As we move into 2025, take good care of yourself.  If you wake up worrying in the middle of the night, remember that Creation is working just fine.  The Stars are shining,  The Moon is still in her orbit and I am willing to bet the Sun will be up in the morning.  If you can, remind yourself of all the good people in your life, and all the small, but important Blessings you experience every day.

Thank You for all your Good Work, for your Courageous Heart, and your Thoughtfulness.

And, remember to Breathe ... Mary Christopher

Inner Peace Guided Meditation with the ArchAngels!

Welcome to the Holidays!  Suggestions for Building Emotional Resilience

November was certainly a challenging month regardless of which side of the fence you were on.  One of the most disturbing parts for me was the increase in negativity and blaming.  We have seen this kind of political behavior in the past and it is usually tragic.  I have friends who are very good people, who have become very cynical and in some cases are now "hating" people that they don't agree with.

We know what "hating" does to us.  When we make a practice of judging or hating or becoming more and more cynical, we damage ourselves with these negative emotions.  When we generate any negative emotion, our body immediately generates Cortisol and other stress hormones that throw us into "flight, or fight, or freeze". 

These chemicals are useful if we are physically or emotionally threatened in any way.  But, if these chemicals are generated due to our personal fears, anger, or frustration, then they are damaging to our whole system.  When we choose these negative feelings day are day, we are primarily hurting ourselves!

So, what can we do?  At the very least, we can practice Respect.  We may not agree with someone, but we can respect their right to their perspective.  If they want to fight about it, we can always walk away!  And, we can choose to be aware of our thoughts and where we are putting our attention.  Being aware of our thoughts and feelings is like catching a train just as it starts down a track going to a dead-end destination.  We can always switch tracks!

What else can we do?  We can carefully choose where we focus our attention.  And, we can always ask for help from the Universe.  During the Holidays, in my meditation classes, we do a special ArchAngel meditation.  One of the reasons I like doing these meditations is that the belief in ArchAngels is shared by the Christian and Jewish traditions as well as Islam!  So, it is a unifying spiritual practice!

This particular meditation turns up in the Celtic tradition and is also found in mystical Judaism.  I read both in the podcast.  These are wonderful evening or bedtime meditations, asking for Divine Protection.

Have a Wonderful Week and Thank You for everything you are doing to make this world a better place for Everyone!

And Remember to Breathe ...

Mary Christopher

We are so deeply blessed and cared for by Creation every day in so many ways.  And we are often so busy or so preoccupied that we don't notice.  For instance, if we step outside as the Sun is rising and soak up a few minutes of golden Sunlight, our brain will produce serotonin which helps us wake up!  Serotonin is a neurotransmitter signaling our bodies that it is daytime.

This early morning Sunlight triggers specialized cells in our retina which causes serotonin production.  Sufficient serotonin levels help us to wake up, and stay awake during the day.  Serotonin is also linked to improved mood as well as having a sense of well-being.

Then, at night when the Sun goes down, our brain can use serotonin to produce melatonin.  Melatonin is the neurotransmitter that signals the brain, saying it is time for us to go to sleep.  We now live with so much “artificial light”, not only from light fixtures, but also from all our high-tech screens, that our brain gets confused and doesn’t trigger the process of changing serotonin to melatonin.  This is why many people take a melatonin supplement to go to sleep at night!

These patterns of waking up with the Sun and going to sleep sometime after Sunset developed over thousands and thousands of years.  We have had candles and oil lamps for centuries, but these could not produce the very bright lights that we live with now.  If you want to be more awake during the day and begin to feel drowsy at night, try welcoming the Sun as it comes up in the morning.  In the evening, lower the level of indoor lighting and turn off those screens at a reasonable hour. 

You may find you are sleeping deeper and waking up feeling more rested!  You may also feel more alert during the day!  Remember, changing our waking and sleeping patterns will not happen instantly.  It may take at least a week or more.  But stay with it and you may find you are sleeping better and are more awake during the day!

Chlorophyll is another great blessing that we rarely, if ever, think about.  In photosynthesis, chlorophyll is the green pigment in plants that absorbs light energy from the Sun.  This energy triggers the chemical process in leaves that converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose (sugar) and oxygen.  This works in all green plants, including grass.

Chlorophyll is the primary molecule responsible for capturing the sunlight that triggers this chemical reaction we call photosynthesis!  Chlorophyll and human blood are similar in their chemistry.  Chlorophyll has magnesium(Mg) at its center, while hemoglobin in human blood has an iron (Fe) molecule!  In plants, the chlorophyll absorbs Sunlight.  In humans, the Iron in red blood cells carries oxygen (O2) from our Heart to cells throughout our body!  All this happens in our bodies and in leaves without any effort or even a single thought on our part!  Amazing !!!

So, the next time you see the Sun rise, or walk on the green grass past trees with thousands of leaves, remember how blessed we are.  Creation is working all the time to sustain our lovely little gem of a planet for Humans and all Creatures, Great and Small!

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving, remembering all our Blessings in Creation …

Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, 

breathing practices, and building personal resilience.  

Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.

Welcome to a New Week! This is Thanksgiving week in the United States and the beginning of the holidays.  As usual the "holiday shopping experience" has already begun.  And, it seems to be gearing up earlier and earlier every year !!!

I recorded this podcast in the "Urban Wilderness" on Turkey Mountain, on the west side of Tulsa.  It is known as an Urban Wilderness because it is close to the city and very accessible to hikers, bikers, and people with their dogs (on leases of course).  It is also a very busy place, open 7 days a week for walking, hiking, and biking on 45 miles of trails!

This is the perfect kind of place for "forest bathing", much like similar places in Germany, Japan, Norway, and other locations in the U.S.  It is easy to see the almost universal effect of "forest bathing" for hikers and bikers.  Everyone is Friendly and at least somewhat Relaxed!  At first, I didn't notice, but after passing a few people, including family groups, I realized how courteous and friendly people were.  I felt like I was walking near a village with "neighbors" coming and going.

We have excellent research documenting the effects of "forest bathing" or "forest camping".  For instance, we know that walking in the forest generates Endorphins in the Human body.  Endorphins are peptides, or small proteins, that act as neurotransmitters in the body. They are produced in the brain's pituitary gland and hypothalamus and generate a feeling of well-being.  This means our stress levels are going down!  We are becoming more relaxed and at ease with ourselves.

We all know that life on Earth can be very challenging and stressful.  If we think about it, we also understand that maintaining our health and general sanity is directly related to our ability to manage "stress".  So, what could be better than a walk in the woods with Sunshine coming through the trees, breathing fresh air, and finding that wonderful sense of freedom as we move along the trail ???

Thank You so much for everything you are doing every day to make our World a bit better for Everyone.  Have a great week and,

Remember to Breathe ... in the Woods if possible!

Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, 

breathing practices, and building personal resilience.  

Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.

Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, 

breathing practices, and building personal resilience.  

Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities. 

Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, 

breathing practices, and building personal resilience.  

Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities. 

An Old Growth or Ancient Forest is a forest that has developed over time with very little disturbance.  They usually have old trees, sometimes more than 200, 300, or even more than 500 years old!  They often have very tall trees such as the redwood forests on the west coast.

These forests also have a complex structure.  They will often have a variety of trees and plant life that support diverse wildlife.  They will have trees in different stages of growth from very old to less than a few years old.

Most of these forests have deep layers of organic material such as leaves, twigs, and tree bark.  As these layers disintegrate, the nutrients from plant material build the soil and nurture all the plant life underneath.

Often these forests are populated by plant and animal species that are native..  This helps protect native species and encourage their growth!  Native plants also help support insects that thrive there.  This, in turn, helps support the native plants.  So, it is a very beneficial and economical system.

Ancient Forests also sequester or “trap” large amounts of Carbon Dioxide (CO2).  This is a great benefit for our planet because of all the “carbon emissions” we have produced since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

All trees and green plants absorb CO2 through their leaves.  Using photosynthesis, the CO2 is broken down into Carbon and Oxygen (O2).  The O2 is released back into the atmosphere while the Carbon is used to make sugars to feed the tree or built into the tree itself.

This process goes on in all green leaves primarily during the day because photosynthesis is triggered by Sunlight!  So, if you want to breathe really “fresh air”, go sit with a Tree for a while.  You will be amazed at how much better you will feel just from breathing Fresh Air!

Many people take the time to hike in the woods or sit by a lake that is part of an ancient forest.  Lakes and forests, just about anywhere in Nature, remind us of Creation.  Most of us who live in “civilization” often feel tired or rundown.  We may get to the end of the week feeling generally frustrated and wondering why.

One reason may be that we are spending most of our time outside of the Natural World.  For centuries we have lived in or near forests, lakes, or oceans, immersed in the cycle of seasons related to farming, gardening, or fishing.  Now we live in towns or cities, rarely putting our feet on the Earth or seeing stars at night.  In some places, it is even difficult to see a beautiful Sunrise or a glorious Sunset!  We may be depressed because we are deprived!

If you are inspired to step back into Nature, then look for a park with trees or an Ancient Forest.  In the United States, we have the Old Growth Forest Network.  There are 39 states with 271 protected forests registered in this network.  These are wonderful areas to hike or spend the day in a quiet spot.  In some countries, spending time in the woods is known as “forest bathing” and is highly recommended for reducing stress!  Scientific studies of Human Beings who spend time in the forest have shown there are specific benefits.

Georgia has 17 Old Growth Forests.  Twelve of these forests are in DeKalb County, one is in Gwinnett and one is the Fernbank Forest.  Another is in the Chattahoochee National Forest.  If you are anywhere in or around the counties that make up the Atlanta metroplex, you have plenty of opportunities for Forest Bathing!  Oklahoma has 2 Old Growth Forests, Keystone and Turkey Mountain.  Keystone is east of Tulsa and the Turkey Mountain Forest is in west Tulsa.

California has 24 Old Growth forests.  Florida has 10 and Texas has 2. 

Have a Wonderful Week and remember, if you want to understand more about the Creator, try spending more time in Creation!  Find out what Creation can do for You.  You may be amazed and delighted … !!!