Weathering: Earth wisdom for hopeful living

Rocks and mountains have withstood aeons of life on our planet – gradually eroding, shifting, solidifying, and weathering. We might spend a little less time on earth, but humans are also weathering: evolving and changing as we’re transformed by the shifting climates of our lives and experiences. So, what might these ancient natural forms have to teach us about resilience and change?

In a stunning exploration of our own connection to these enduring forms, outdoor psychotherapist and geologist Ruth Allen takes us on a journey through deep time and ancient landscapes, showing how geology – which has formed the bedrock of her own adult life and approach to therapy – can offer us a new way of thinking about our own grief, change and boundaries.

In a world shaken by physical, political, and medical disasters, Weathering argues for a deeper understanding of the ground beneath our feet to better serve ourselves and the world we live in.

It’s not hyperbole to say Weathering changed my life. In Weathering, Allen has produced a revelatory book that reshaped my relationship, not only with landscape but with my own body, allowing me to finally explore its true potential. ― Ali Millar

This beautiful book so lyrically connects the weathering of our internal life with the erosion of deep-time. I felt anchored by Ruth’s words ― Raynor Winn

A beautiful and nourishing meditation on how our exterior and interior landscapes shape and are shaped by the different weathers of our lives ― Stuart Maconie

A fascinating exploration of the literal ground of our being, and a wise and profound reflection on what rock can teach us about what it is to be human. ― Sharon Blackie