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.
