Walking the Threshold with Mother Earth

Written By Gretchen Martens

By Gretchen Martens, Retreat House Covenant Partner
Wild Spirituality Co-Organizer and Wild Guide | Author, Teacher, and Soul Doula

© 2026 Gretchen Martens

(Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico, Journeying)

 

Find a place in nature where you can walk. You can also do this in your backyard, or indoors if you have mobility issues. As you walk, gather small stones and fallen leaves, acorns, or twigs. Please do not pick foliage from living trees or bushes. If you are doing this inside, you will need to have these things, or substitutes, on hand.

 

As you pick up fallen items—leaves, acorns, or twigs—name the things that you want to release. Ask the leaf, twig, or acorn to hold this intention and to let its power over you release as the object from nature decays. “Leaf, will you hold my intention to release my anger, letting it melt into the healing soil of this forest as you return to soil?” Replace the object on the forest floor. You are leaving what you no longer want to carry with the supportive elements of Mother Earth. Continue until you have released everything you are ready to release on this day. You can always return to this threshold practice when the next things feel ready to release.

 

Now that you have cleared space, releasing what you no longer wish to carry, you are ready to honor what you wish to keep and to invite new things into your life. As you find a stone, whisper to the stone what you are keeping or what you want to invite in. “Dear stone, will you help me keep my sense of Self? Dear stone, will you hold my intention to invite in abundance?” Place each stone in your pocket. Continue until you feel you have named everything that is important to name on this day. You can always return to this threshold practice as you move into new phases in your becoming.

 

As you prepare to return home, place the stones in a circle, blessing the circle of intention consistent with your own faith tradition. If this commitment feels fragile, you can ask the stones for permission to bring them home and create an altar as a symbol of your commitment to your becoming. Promise to return them to the land when your commitment feels stronger, or is fulfilled.

 

Complete this wander by reflecting and journaling, if you wish.

  • What feels lighter or freer? Where does this spaciousness live in your body?

  • What feels more aligned or rooted? Where does this grounding live in your body?

  • Was it harder to release the old or invite in the new?

  • How does the practice of creating spaciousness expand your possibilities in the future?

 

 

Gretchen Martens