How do we meet beauty at the precise moment it appears and practice releasing it just as gently? In this second episode of the three-part "Chasing the Ephemeral" series, meditation teacher Meryl Arnett guides us beneath April's Pink Moon for a practice in experiencing awe without attachment. Just like the creeping phlox that suddenly carpets the ground in pink before fading away, this meditation teaches us to honor what blooms in our lives right now.

Set against the continuing spring rainstorm in Washington's Cascade Mountains, this lunar meditation explores the many names for April's moon and invites you to expand beyond individual self into universal connection.

What You'll Experience

A guided lunar meditation that directs awareness upward to connect with the moon's presence, visible or not

The story of many cultural names for April's moon: Seed Moon, Pink Moon, Awakening Moon, Frog Moon, Fish Moon, Planter's Moon, and many others

Practice in expansion and release - breathing beyond body boundaries to melt into the universal

About the Continuing Soundscape

This meditation continues the spring rain recording from Part 1, captured by acoustic ecologist Nick McMahon in the deep western valleys of the Cascade Mountains on the ancestral land of the Stillaguamish People. The ongoing rainstorm provides continuity as we deepen our exploration of ephemeral beauty and the practice of meeting each moment with awe.

Recording credit: Nick McMahon, Acoustic Ecologist

The photos you see throughout this meditation are also from Nick McMahan.

Your Practice This Week

Become a guardian of your own solitude. Protect a few quiet minutes daily to listen to your breath, the changing season, and the subtle feelings that rise and fall within you. Notice what is blooming in your life right now and honor it before it shifts into something new.

Coming Up in This Series

Part 3 releases next Thursday, continuing to follow the rain as it gathers and transforms, exploring salamander wisdom and completing our journey into ephemeral spring magic.

Sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/jjPrV2 to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.

In 2026, Our Mindful Nature will release seasonal series rather than weekly episodes, allowing for richer, more in-depth explorations of meditation and mental health topics.

Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/.

Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:

https://www.nickcmcmahan.com/

https://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsen

This podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

What if the most meaningful experiences are the ones we can only meet in the moment? This first episode in a three-part spring series explores the concept of "ephemeral"—those fleeting wildflowers, temporary woodland pools, and brief moments of wonder that can only be caught when we're fully present. Join meditation teacher Meryl Arnett for a journey into spring's hush, where we learn to practice awe and find renewal in life's most transient moments.

Set against the backdrop of a mountain rain shower in Washington's Cascade Mountains (real sounds, no AI), this episode teaches the AWE technique—a simple practice for cultivating wonder in everyday life, even when spring feels chaotic and overwhelming.

What You'll Discover

The meaning of "ephemeral" and why spring offers unique lessons about impermanence, presence, and renewal

The AWE technique - a simple 30-second micro-practice using Attention, Wait, and Exhale to cultivate wonder anywhere

How to find stability in spring's chaos by learning to "linger on the edge of now" rather than rushing toward summer

A 20-minute guided meditation with spring rain sounds to practice cultivating awe and presence

About the Spring Rain Soundscape

This meditation features the authentic sounds of a spring rain shower recorded by acoustic ecologist Nick McMahon in the deep western valleys of the Cascade Mountains, on the ancestral land of the Stillaguamish People. The saturated valley floor, soft and spotted with marshes, old-growth groves, rivers, and streams, provides pristine solitude during early spring months. As the days grow longer, these recordings capture the transition from night to day, allowing us to listen to the movement of time through nature's expression.

This recording also captures Nick's first recording of a Barred Owl, discovered during the editing process, adding an extra layer of ephemeral magic to the soundscape.

Recording credit: Nick McMahon, Acoustic Ecologist

Your Weekly Practice

Choose one ephemeral moment each day and pause for it. Use the AWE technique: pay attention, wait, and exhale. Notice how this practice of reverential wonder softens the boundaries of self and connects you to something larger.

Coming Up in This Series

Part 2 releases Wednesday (one day early) with April's Full Pink Moon, continuing this spring rain meditation and deepening our exploration of the ephemeral

Part 3 completes the series as we follow the full journey of spring's renewal and impermanence

The photos you see throughout this meditation are also from Nick McMahan.

Sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/jjPrV2 to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.

In 2026, Our Mindful Nature will release seasonal series rather than weekly episodes, allowing for richer, more in-depth explorations of meditation and mental health topics.

Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/.

Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:

https://www.nickcmcmahan.com/

https://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsen

This podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.

Before the world wakes, the frozen forest comes alive. This unique 30-minute listening experience invites you into the pristine winter dawn of Washington State's Sinlahekin Valley, where winter birds greet the morning with bold, communal song that cuts through the cold and offers deep reassurance.

Unlike traditional guided meditations, this is pure, unfiltered nature—no narration, no instructions, just you and the authentic sounds of winter's dawn chorus. Perfect for when you need grounding, presence, or a reminder that you're never truly alone.

What You'll Experience

30 minutes of authentic winter birdsong recorded in real-time in Washington's frozen evergreen forest

Pure nature soundscape with no AI enhancements, additions, or artificial sounds—this is a real place, real presence

Unguided listening meditation that allows you to settle at your own pace without instructions to follow

Dawn chorus of winter birds whose clear, insistent calls offer comfort after the long stillness of night

Flexibility to listen for as long or short as works for you—use the full 30 minutes or take snippets throughout your day

About the Recording Location

This soundscape was captured by acoustic ecologist Nick McMahan in the Sinlahekin Valley of Washington State, on the traditional lands of Indigenous peoples now known as the Colville Confederated Tribes. Located deep in the isolated wilderness on the northeast edge of the Cascade Mountain Range, this frozen evergreen valley transforms during winter's dawn as the forest awakens with enthusiastic birdsong. The loud, joyful calls feel especially reassuring after long, chilly nights in this remote valley, where winter's silence gives way to nature's morning symphony.

The photos you see throughout this meditation are also from Nick McMahan.

Sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/jjPrV2 to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.

In 2026, Our Mindful Nature will release seasonal series rather than weekly episodes, allowing for richer, more in-depth explorations of meditation and mental health topics.

Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/.

Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:

https://www.nickcmcmahan.com/

https://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsen

This podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.