We’ve all learned a lot… it is just a natural part of growing up, moving out, traveling on and aging into and through the decades. Certain lessons we choose and others are handed to us in various subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Eventually, the concept of wisdom becomes a personal adventure and an opportunity to explore the mystery of life.

The beautiful nuance of our free will as spiritual beings having a human experience bestows the privilege of choice and the opportunity to experiment, sign up, research, discuss and integrate what is out there just past the limits of familiarity. Pushing beyond the comfortably known should be a rewarding, enlivening and enlightening step, with joyous wonder at the details and the expanse of an amazing world and what our bodies and ultimately, our spirits, are capable of.

Beginner’s Mind, a concept originating in Zen Buddhism, embodies an open and curious approach to studying and exploring. Preconceptions are dropped and new ideas or realms are taken on with an attitude of eagerness and intrigue; getting lost in the journey of discovery can be a paradigm-shifting gift as the ordinary suddenly becomes extraordinary and uncertainties dissolve into the joy of uniting with something larger.

Our August issue delves into an array of activity, instruction and experience that helpfully stimulates all generations, further illustrating how cultivating curiosity and engaging in a life of learning can bring forth joy, satisfaction and lasting change. If we take a moment to slow down and allow our five senses to be engaged, we perceive sights and sensations that in turn bring new awareness, new energy and ultimately, new understanding of our place in the bigger picture.

The grandest knowledge can be found in the simplest of practices which lead to discovering worlds within worlds. A walk in the woods provides a glimpse into nature’s plethora of interconnections that are symbolic of the sacredness of community and interdependence. Peek under a log and notice the colors and blending of landscapes while on a morning walk—or what you might hear in the distance or deep within when tuning out mental chatter. Even taking a moment to study the breath itself, a most basic concept, can be life-changing as we shift into awareness of the body’s intelligence and how transformative it can be to sink into the presence of our own company.

The journey is both individual and collective; we learn who we are through relationships with others and in exploring uncharted territory, asking questions and seeking those deepest truths. The willingness to take a look around, open the door that awaits and embark on what lies beyond is all that it takes.

Here’s to wandering down that next new path… travel well!

Jacqueline Mast and Kendra Campbell

Co-Publishers, Executive Editors