I BELIEVE IN MAGIC The video below is an inspiring and magic piece by Letizia Stagno about the work I am doing in Wild Dialogs. Here on Skool I host classes on nature and animals with a goal of helping us (humans) come back into balance with and heal our relationship with the planet. On Substack, I collect and publish stories of all kinds related to nature and post interviews with and profile about people working to heal our relationship with Earth. You can learn more and get guidelines for submitting your own work here: https://whalesinmybackyard.substack.com/ If you would like your work or the work of our organization to be considered for publication or to be interviewed by Jena, she can be reached at [email protected]

I'm pleased to feature @Letizia Stagno 's "Horse Watching" community, which approaches horses in a new and intriguing way. So often, people see horses as instruments or tools for entertainment, transportation, and work. But Letizia asks what would happen if humans stepped back and let horses teach us? To quote Letizia, "In this group, you will observe horses in nature, interacting with other horses in their own environment. And I assure you it will be fantastic! Together we will explore aspects of their behavior and an ethical approach to these wonderful sentient beings. I look forward to seeing you there!!!" You can check out the Horse Watching group here: https://www.skool.com/equincontro-natura-6806

I couldn’t resist sharing a second Monday Menagerie. Who knew these seals were so vocal?! They live in Antarctica, can weigh up to 900 lbs. (450 kg), dive to depths of 600 meters, (2,000 feet) and stay underwater for up to 90 minutes. This guy looks like he is having a pretty intense dream! Wonder what it’s about. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EYD3xvMM9/

This is a juvenile Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens). Cute isn't it? But don't let its cuteness and size fool you. Even though it is less than 5 inches long, this amphibian is a poisonous carnivore with the ability to regenerate severed limbs! Eastern Newts begin their lives in ponds with dull-green skin, fin-like tails, and feathery gills. After a few months, they migrate from their breeding ponds to begin their terrestrial juvenile years, metamorphosing to an orange/red skin color with light spots/bumps outlined in black. At this stage, they develop a neurotoxin that can be secreted from these bumps, which is quite dangerous if ingested. After a few years in their juvenile form, they return to their breeding pond as adults, metamorphosing back to a dull green color and fin-like tail, though they retain their spots and some of the toxin. This serves as a warning to fish not to eat them. But what is most surprising about these newts is their ability to regenerate limbs, tails, jaws, spinal cords, eye lenses, and even heart tissue after injury. They are pretty tough little changelings. - Information provided by The Central New York Land Trust

Here’s another insightful (and true) quote from the “What the Old Ones Knew” series. What’s an example of something in the natural world that’s hitched to your own life?