Keeper of the Clearing

It began with a simple poster in my doctor’s office.

Are you an Owl, a Turtle, or a Tiger? it asked.

That question sparked something, a curiosity that grew into a story. With thirteen grandchildren, each walking their own path through childhood and becoming, I wanted to offer them a tale, a love story of discovery. A gentle invitation to reflect, connect, and remember what matters most.

As a mindfulness teacher, I have seen how the simplest practices can transform how we meet the world through awareness, presence, and compassion.

Keeper of the Clearing weaves these same teachings into a wilderness adventure, offering clear, practical ways to bring mindfulness into daily life.

Written for a time like this, when the world feels noisy, divided, and uncertain, it is a woodland fable about listening deeply, acting wisely, and finding courage in unlikely places.

In a forest unraveling from confusion and conflict, three unexpected travelers, Owl, Turtle, and Tiger, are chosen to search for a new way forward. What they discover is not a map, but something far more enduring: the strength that comes from walking together with kindness and care.

This is a story meant for the young and the not-so-young. A compass, not to lead you somewhere new, but to remind you that where you are, and who you are, is already enough.