See What Nature Is Saying: A Photography Walk for the Soul
Saturday, July 11, 2026 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Oldfield Oaks, Darien, IL
Some part of you has always been searching for G-d by any name.
Some part of you has always known Nature speaks to your soul.
Maybe you spent a lot of time sitting with trees and flowers as a child.
Maybe you gazed at trees and wildlife out the window and daydreamed about their lives.
Maybe you’ve longed for a deeper connection without any idea where to start.
No matter how, or if, you’ve experienced Nature in the past, something in you feels like the answers you’re seeking, the inner peace you’re craving, the connection you’ve been searching for can be found in the natural world… If only you knew how to access it.
✅ You’ve tried the whole forest bathing thing. It’s lovely in the moment, and leaves no lasting impression.
✅ You’ve tried “mindfully walking” through Nature trails. The time outside is lovely, and you don’t really feel connected to anything outside yourself.
✅ You’ve tried to sit and “just be” with Nature, and your mind and body are way too amped up and energized for that.
You need a way to actively “just be” so you can truly calm down and tune in.
You’re Not Alone
I’ve had those same experiences; felt the same disappointment you’re feeling. I had some beautiful Nature moments as a child - times when I felt I was in communion with a Higher Power - with the greater knowledge of the Universe.
It started with sitting inside a circular bush and also with joining bees in white clover.
But… finding those quiet moments and embracing them is easy when you’re 4 or 5 years old.
I desperately needed a way to connect with Nature in a similar way as an adult with all the noise and stress and expectations of adulting in an imbalanced society.
I Finally Did
I finally figured out how to find that connection - that sense of oneness with the Universe - when I discovered 2 things.
First, there’s a unifying map that connects all spiritual and religious traditions. This got me out of a human-made box and into a more flexible space. It also gave me guideposts to interpret Nature’s lessons. It’s called the Tree of Life.
Second, photography. I’d always been peripherally interested, but the math of it, and even framing seemed impossible. And then, I decided at 45 to try it. And OMG my whole world changed. With some great teachers who taught more than the “rule of thirds” and “exposure triangle” photography became both a method of self-expression and a way to connect in that deep way - the way where the rest of the world disappears and it’s just me and a Higher Power that has no name and doesn’t need one.
Basically, it looks like this:
Grab my camera (I’ve upgraded from my phone, but you don’t have to) and head to whatever trail is calling me.
Take a moment to breathe it in.
Walk at my normal pace and observe with my eyes, ears, heart, and soul.
Something will speak to me: a scene, a shape, a small detail - and that’s where I go.
Each time I set up the framing and exposure, each time I focus to ensure the details are saying in the photo what they say to me in my soul I go to a place where I’m both deeply connected to Earth, deeply grounded, and also not here at all. I’m in that Higher space.
With each click of the shutter, I do my best to ethically share this gift. And with every image I review later, I sense what the lessons are and where it fits into my journey on the Tree of Life.
You can experience this, too!
You’ll Walk Away With:
→ A new way of seeing Nature — and yourself — that goes anywhere you go
→ How the camera lens can help you understand Nature’s lessons and where you are on your spiritual journey using the Tree of Life framework
→ The seeds of a new way to personally connect with the Divine without the doctrine and dogma
→ A felt sense of what it actually means to be present
→ Images that mean something
This Walk is For You if:
✓ You're spiritually curious and done with dogma telling you how to connect
✓ You love Nature and want to go deeper than a Saturday stroll
✓ You've been feeling disconnected and can't quite name why
✓ You want to try photography but think you're "not creative enough"
✓ You’re ready to move from mindfulness to communion
This Walk is Not For You if:
✗ You want technical camera instruction
✗ You need high energy and a fast pace
✗ Slowing down sounds like punishment
Love from Previous Attendees
“I loved how when we pay attention, what calls to us is reflecting back our inner states.” - Tiffany
“I’d never thought of paying attention to what calls to us rather than what ‘makes a good image.’ It’s really interesting to see how that changes the photos.” - Heather
Your Guide: Sarah Woodard
I'm a Kabbalist and Certified Shamanic Practitioner who spent years mapping 40+ spiritual traditions onto the Tree of Life - demonstrating that they're all teaching the same navigation process in different languages.
At Wisdom Grove, I help people move past dogma and gatekeepers to find authentic connection with the Divine. Nature is our first teacher. The Tree is the map. Unity is the foundation.
I also take Nature photos, live with three cats and 70+ named plushies, and believe your spiritual path should fit YOUR life - not someone else's ideal.
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