I’ve always loved the outdoors. When I was a child, I dug up worms for fishing and collected caterpillars in jars. My dad took us camping to state parks, where we enjoyed the wilderness. When I was older, my mom took me birding and taught me to be quiet so the birds would come. As our presence blended in with nature, the birds began to land a few feet away, where we could observe. Enchanting moments like these drew me to nature again and again to experience the wonder.

Facing Death

I began taking nature photos in college. My grandmother proudly framed and hung my photo of scarlet ibises, which I took at the local zoo. My younger sister hung a photo in her room of two damselflies mating. I created books for my nephew. But despite my interest, the cost of photography equipment restricted my interest to a hobby. 

Then in 2007, my dad had a stroke. In my grief, I took a bike ride to the forest preserve to connect with nature. On the way, I had an accident.

When I hit the ground, which I don’t remember, I literally rose up out of my body and saw it lying on the ground.  “Am I dead?” I wondered. How could I be? I’m aware! Then my awareness turned up, away from my body, and I experienced pure love. 

I could feel the trees around me breathing. As I later learned, this is not an uncommon experience in shamanic cultures. And if you think about it, what’s often so relaxing about being in nature is how our breath entrains to the rhythm of nature. In point of fact, the Schumann Resonance, which is the earth’s electromagnetic frequency, is associated with relaxation, well-being, and healing. I was somehow tuned into this profound feeling and felt completely in sync with all of Mother Nature. If you’re interested, there is more to the experience, which I wrote about in one of my books, Golden Words.

I Can Walk Again!

It was nearly two years before I took an outdoor walk again. I was so happy, so grateful to be on my feet again, I cried and kissed the ground. If you love the outdoors as I do, you can imagine how healing it felt to be outside again. I began to spend as much time as possible in nature. We now know from science that nature communicates to us in many ways and helps us heal.

I began taking photos again. This time around I hoped to consciously connect with the love, wonder, healing energy, and inspiring beauty.

At times I focus on the sheer beauty of nature. At other times, I strive to communicate a message of conservation. Our Earth is a precious place and it’s at-risk. How can we help to save it?

I was thrilled when my photos won a few awards (Audubon’s Top 100, Chicago Botanic Garden’s Special Mention, and others) and people asked to buy my prints—they said they felt relaxing, healing energy when they looked at them. That’s how the name “nature’s healing images” was born along with this website and Facebook page.

“Kissing Bunnies”

Chicago Botanic Garden Special Mention

“Goldfinch in Sunflower—I Am a Petal“

photo taken at The Chicago Botanic Garden

Audubon Top 100