Whispers From The Woods

Wealth of information on fifty trees, including their attributes, lore, powers, and seasonal correspondences. Book jacket.

A story about the relationship between a wise old tree and the young seedlings in the forest.

Whispers from the Woods: Embracing the Ancient Art of Shinrin-Yoku In the heart of Japan’s verdant forests, a secret beckons—the gentle invitation of nature herself, a call to ‘forest bathe’ in her embrace. This is shinrin-yoku, a serenade to the soul, the dance of dappled sunlight and the rustling of ancient leaves. Have you ever felt the world’s weight on your shoulders? Have you ever felt crushed and constrained by urban chaos and the technological chains that bind our modern souls? Discover the age-old Japanese art of forest bathing, a practice that mingles the Zen stillness of meditation with the organic symphony of the woods. From early Shogun warriors seeking solace to today’s frenzied souls, shinrin-yoku rejuvenates, calms, and reconnects us to the world. Why surrender to the woods? Beyond the poetic whispers of the wind and the gentle songs of the streams, forest bathing is a bridge to inner peace, a bolster to health, and a balm to the weary heart. The trees have stories, and in their shade, we rediscover stories of our own. Whispers from the Woods is your guide to the ‘how’, the ‘where’, and the ‘why’ of this sacred practice. Wander through its pages to find ideal locales for your shinrin-yoku retreat, tips on truly immersing yourself, and insights into the Zen meditation aspects that amplify the experience of forest bathing. Whether you’re nestled in the dense foliage of the Kyoto mountains or seeking sanctuary in a suburban park, the essence of forest bathing remains. So take off your shoes and let the earth massage your feet, the air cleanse your thoughts, and the forest spirits playfully soothe your heartstrings. Dive deep, breathe in, and let the whispers of the woods guide you home.

A middle grade debut that's a heartrending coming-of-age tale, perfect for fans of Bridge to Terabithia and Counting By 7s. Eleven-year-old Riley believes in the whispers, magical fairies that will grant you wishes if you leave them tributes. Riley has a lot of wishes. He wishes bullies at school would stop picking on him. He wishes Dylan, his 8th grade crush, liked him, and Riley wishes he would stop wetting the bed. But most of all, Riley wishes for his mom to come back home. She disappeared a few months ago, and Riley is determined to crack the case. He even meets with a detective, Frank, to go over his witness statement time and time again. Frustrated with the lack of progress in the investigation, Riley decides to take matters into his own hands. So he goes on a camping trip with his friend Gary to find the whispers and ask them to bring his mom back home. But Riley doesn't realize the trip will shake the foundation of everything that he believes in forever.

*This is the FULL COLOR version* "This marvelous little devotional book teaches us about God's principles for our lives through the stories of the outdoors and God's creatures. It is amazing how Stan Lake has taken the lessons of life expressed in and through animals, insects, and nature to show with scripture the truth of God's creation. I met Stan when he was a student with us at the Vision for Evangelism for the Next Generation weekend at the Billy Graham Library. His heart is truly that others might know the One who created all. Stan uses nature and the Creator 's words to share creative devotions to build His Kingdom." Tom Phillips Vice President, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Billy Graham Library "It is with great pleasure I highly recommend STAN LAKE's wonderful book, WHISPERS in the WOODS! He found me through social media, gave a 'whisper' in the dark, and as fate would have it, through his persistence and my time availability, I was able to read it. I was thoroughly expecting a very worthy but 'holier than thou' approach- boy was I ever wrong! Stan has captured the most wonderful Essence of Nature and the Great Spirit in a way that connects us too our roots and Mother Earth, while touching our hearts and spirits with kind and wise words that refresh, nourish and tickle all at the same time. That is no small accomplishment. I am sure Stan would say, he had a guiding hand! If you need something to fill a dark space in your life, this enjoyable and easy read is like a cool drink of fresh water in the desert. This book brought me great joy!" Mykel Hawke TV Host & Producer, Author, Designer, Black Belt and Family Counselor, Retired Special Forces Officer, Military & Contractor Combat Veteran "Stan Lake, clearly loves God and His marvelous creation. This is evident from the many great examples from nature that Stan uses to illustrate Kingdom principles and encourage all to follow Christ. I highly recommend "Whispers' in the Woods". John R. Berry (Rev) Herpetologist, author & speaker. "Stan has a great heart for God and His creation so it's awesome to see him combine his passions to write this fun and inspiring book! Read it by yourself or with your children- it will be a great way to grow closer to God and appreciate what He made!" Joe Wyrostek Apostolic ElderMetro Praise International Church Chicago, IL. "Stan Lake finds thoughts and messages from the creation he catches and releases those truths to his audience. All ages will enjoy reading the stories and experience personal growth as Stan finds the supernatural contained in the nature around us all." Mike Rakes Lead Pastor, winstonsalemfirstWinston Salem, NC "Nature is always a great teacher when you stop and study it. Stan Lake has shared his revelations from nature and God's word combining them to be truly thought provoking. Stan is a voice crying from and for the wilderness to help us make our ways straight with the Lord's help." Richard Norris DVM MBA Founder of Leading Men Only Perth, Scotland "Stan takes the everyday ignored aspects of creation and applies them to sound biblical teaching that we can all use to develop our walk with God. As someone who prefers to worship God in his creation I can draw a lot of parallels from Stan's teaching and appreciate the truth he reveals through the masters work.Whispers In The Woods will encourage you to pause, value and thank God for all he has done." Clinton Kirkpatrick. Believers Bushcraft County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Juniper Sawfeather seems to have a talent for finding mythological creatures. Or maybe the creatures are finding her. The mermaids she saved from the oil spill are long gone. There's no evidence of them, and she's been branded as a liar and a fake in the media and at school. Her environmental activist parents have moved on to a protest to save Old Growth trees from being chopped down. June isn't particularly concerned with this cause, but that changes when she falls asleep at the base of a giant tree and wakes to find herself 40 feet in the air on one of its branches! From this point on she becomes obsessed with the tree, and it appears the tree is becoming obsessed with her, too. Soon, she is trapped 170 feet above the ground, and the magical spirit that resides in the tree isn't interested in letting her go free or allowing anyone else to save her. Is the tree spirit good or evil? Will Juniper's feet ever touch the ground again?

Juniper Sawfeather seems to have a talent for finding mythological creatures. Or maybe the creatures are finding her. The mermaids she saved from the oil spill are long gone. There's no evidence of them, and she's been branded as a liar and a fake in the media and at school. Her environmental activist parents have moved on to a protest to save Old Growth trees from being chopped down. June isn't particularly concerned with this cause until after falling asleep at the base of a giant tree she wakes to find herself 40 feet in the air on one of its branches! From this point on she becomes obsessed with the tree, and it appears the tree is becoming obsessed with her too. Soon, she is trapped 170 feet above the ground, and the magical spirit that resides in the tree isn't interested in letting her go free or allowing anyone else to save her. Is the tree spirit good or evil? Will Juniper's feet ever touch the ground again?