Trees as Teachers: A Nature Walk for Spiritual Navigation
Contemplative walk where we learn from trees, practice grounding in Nature, and discover how the Tree of Life shows up in living forests.
Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Warrenville Grove, DuPage County, IL
(Meet up location provided upon registration)
What If Trees Could Teach You About Your Spiritual Journey?
They can. And they do.
Before any sacred text, before any temple, there was Nature. Our first teacher. The original scripture.
This is a slow, contemplative walk where we'll stop at four teaching points along the trail. You'll learn how the Tree of Life - the universal spiritual map I've spent years mapping across 40+ traditions - shows up in actual trees. How roots teach us about grounding. How branches teach us about reaching toward what we need. How forests teach us about genuine interdependence (not inclusion varnishing).
You'll leave with practical tools for navigating your own spiritual path. No dogma. No prescribed steps. You, the trees, and a map that works.
Who this is For
This walk is for you if you’re:
Spiritually Independent: You’ve left organized religion and still crave the Divine. You want depth and ritual without the dogma or "right way" guilt.
Nature-Rooted: You’ve always felt more at home in the woods than a pew. You’re ready to treat Nature as your primary scripture.
A Practical Navigator: You’re tired of spiritual theory. You want a map - like the Tree of Life - that you can actually use to navigate your real, messy life.
This walk is NOT for you if:
You're looking for a high-intensity fitness hike (we move at the pace of a slow conversation).
You want a lecture where you're told what to believe.
You’re uncomfortable with uneven trail terrain or being outdoors in the elements.
What You’ll Experience
Opening Circle (15 minutes)
We'll gather, set intentions, and ground ourselves. I'll share a land acknowledgment honoring the Indigenous peoples on whose ancestral lands we walk, and discuss how Nature and the Tree of Life work together as spiritual guides.
Contemplative Walk (60 minutes)
A slow-paced journey with four intentional teaching stops:
Roots & Foundation: Grounding in physical reality.
Strength & Flexibility: Balancing boundaries with loving-kindness.
Growth & Reaching: Discernment and following your inner light.
Community: Real interdependence vs. "inclusion varnishing."
Closing Circle (15 minutes)
We'll integrate what we've learned, connect it back to the Tree of Life framework, and close with gratitude.
What to Bring
Comfortable walking shoes
Weather-appropriate clothing (layers!)
Water bottle
Optional: Camera/phone for contemplative photography
Optional: Journal for personal reflections
Optional: A small portable stool or sit-pad if you prefer not to stand for the 10-minute teaching stops.
Rain or Shine: Nature doesn't stop teaching in the rain, and neither do we. We walk in all weather - please dress for the elements.
About Your Guide
Sarah Woodard
I have done something unprecedented in spiritual scholarship: I’ve mapped over 40 global spiritual traditions to the Kabbalah Tree of Life. What I discovered is a universal truth: while our cultural languages differ, we are all describing the same Unity principles. I don't teach the Tree of Life as a rigid, dusty structure, rather as a living navigation process.
My Philosophy:
You are the structure: The map exists to help you navigate your unique journey, not to tell you where to go.
Nature is the original scripture: Before temples or texts, there was Nature. It remains our most honest teacher.
No Gatekeepers: I help the spiritually homeless find their way back to the Divine on their own terms - without the guilt, dogma, or inclusion varnishing.
I’m a Kabbalist, Certified Shamanic Practitioner, and Nature photographer. I’ve spent my life creating proprietary Tree of Life frameworks and readings designed to help you find your way home.
This is A Gift Offering for the Community
This walk is part of Faith in Place's Faith in Action Week (April 18-23, 2026) - a multifaith movement for environmental justice and spiritual connection to the Earth.
I'm offering this walk as a gift to my community. No cost. No pressure.
An opportunity to learn from Nature, connect with others on similar paths, and discover practical spiritual tools.
At the end, I'll have information about my other offerings available if you're interested. Take what resonates. Leave what doesn't.
Registration Details
Capacity: Limited to 12 participants for an intimate, meaningful experience
Waitlist: Available if event fills up
Location: Exact trailhead and parking info sent upon registration
Cost: Free gift to the community for Faith in Action Week
When you register, you'll receive:
Confirmation email with event details
Packing list and weather guidelines
Reminder email 2 days before the walk with final logistics
Ready to Walk with the Trees
Frequently Asked Questions
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This is a rain-or-shine event. Nature teaches in all weather. Dress appropriately and bring rain gear if needed. I'll only cancel if conditions are dangerous (lightning, severe storms), and you'll be notified via email.
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Absolutely. No prior knowledge of the Tree of Life or Kabbalah is needed. I'll teach you what you need to know as we walk.
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Slow and contemplative. This is NOT a fitness hike. We'll stop frequently for teaching and reflection.
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This walk is designed for adults. Mature teens (16+) who are genuinely interested are welcome.
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No specific beliefs required. If you're curious about Nature as a spiritual teacher and you're open to exploring, you'll fit right in.
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This is my first public nature walk! If there's interest, I may offer quarterly walks. Join my newsletter to stay in the loop.
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Let me know you're interested in future walks. I'll keep you posted.
One Final Note
If you're reading this and thinking "This sounds amazing but I'm not sure if it's for me," let me be clear, if you:
ever felt spiritually homeless - like you don't fit in traditional religion anymore and you still hunger for connection to something bigger - you belong here.
ever looked at a tree and felt like it had something to teach you - you belong here.
feel tired of being told there's only one right path and you want permission to navigate your own way - you belong here.
The trees are waiting. So am I.