Mirrors in the Earth contains wisdom for healing oneself in the natural world. Filled with personal stories of how Asia Suler experienced transformation, renewal and healing among the rocks and trees of the forests, in the rivers and the mountains, as well as in her garden, she points us to nature to listen for and discover our own healing.
At the end of each chapter, there are questions and creative exercises for self-reflection.
I found myself nodding my head and resonating with the wisdom within these pages. Healing for ourselves, our families, and the planet starts with deepening our awareness and relationship with the rest of the natural world.
Highly recommended for introverts, plant and nature lovers, those interested in natural, holistic healing, and those in need of healing in general.
*Thanks to North Atlantic Books and NetGalley for the free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Mirrors in the Earth is gorgeously written and tells a story we all need right now. Not only does Asia Suler relate her personal journey so far, but she instructs readers on cultivating a meaningful relationship with the natural world. She creates a path through the wilderness, so readers can find their way through the grief of environmental collapse into healing and befriending the world around us, and recognizing our place in nature. Suler shares her personal sensitivities in such a way that readers are invited to accept our own personal frailties and see how they open us to growth and deeper connection. This book was compelling and joyful. I will return to it again and again for inspiration and fortitude.

Mirrors in the Earth is one of those books you return to again and again because each time you read her beautifully captivating words, it touches a different part of you, pausing to reflect each time.

Mirrors in the Earth describes the authors journey to finding herself and healing through the natural world. Each essay in this book covers a different theme. She takes on sometimes difficult topics like trauma and self compassion and addresses them through personal story. The author is clearly well read as she frames her content in philosophy and research. I found myself making notes of people and philosophies I wanted to learn more about while reading her book.

Each essay includes a thoughtful experiential component to further explore the theme. With these exercises, I found myself taking my time to really contemplate it and how I may apply it in my own life.

The biggest draw for me to this book is her relationship with the natural world. To me this is where it touched me deeply. If you have a deep love of earth and nature, her words will resonate and you’ll find yourself thinking “yes! I get that!” When we can see ourselves and our lives in the bigger, broader perspective of the natural world, then many lessons and perspectives open up that help us to embrace ourselves and life differently.

I recommend this book - it’s just so quietly captivating, filled with wisdom and I hope that every one who reads it finds themselves in these pages.

As a student of Asia’s Plant Intuition course, I had high expectations for this book, and I was not disappointed. Her writing is quietly captivating and infused with generosity and compassion for both self and the natural world. Each essay tackles a different theme, weaving personal stories with a broader exploration of the philosophical ideas that we all grapple with, such as trauma and resiliency. I felt at ease reading this book, which sounds strange, but there really is a relaxing a quality to the writing and a felt sense that all are welcome both in the book and in nature. Each essay is capped off with an exercise to explore the themes in a way that is both contemplative and practical.

I’m a long-time follower of the author, and was excited to get the opportunity to read her first book. My delight turned to dismay, however, as I started reading and realized her editors had let her down. There were dozens (hundreds?) of little goofs (tenant instead of tenet; “suspectable” for susceptible; three different spellings of naïveté; and on and on), but I’m hoping that’s normal for an “uncorrected proof.” I’m also hoping that someone came along and sorted the dangling modifiers, wonky punctuation, etc.

That aside, I really would’ve loved to see a more concise book. Asia has lovely, fresh and uplifting ideas about nature as teacher and companion, and she tells some interesting life stories (her honesty and vulnerability touched me deeply). What’s more, she’s a cornucopia of information on a wide range of topics (I learned a lot about how ecosystems recover, for example). But I found myself stumbling over similes at every turn, and slogging through too-wordy and sometimes repetitive passages that diluted or distracted me from the message. I also couldn’t help wondering if this should have been two books instead of one, as there was just so much crammed into it.

I’ll cross my fingers that a lot of refining happened between this draft and the final product, as it would be a real shame if this gem weren’t allowed to shine as brightly as it could.

Mirrors in the Earth by Asia Suler is a collection of 12 essays on how to find self-compassion and heal from the Earth around you. Suler uses her own life experiences to help guide you along to find the best version of yourself.
While 12 essays can sound a bit daunting, the book is divided into 3 parts:
The Glimmer, The Mirror and The Glow.
As Asia describes her life in Brooklyn, NYC, to living in the Appalachian mountains, to her yearly vacations to Florida wetlands, you feel as if you are alongside her travels and experiences.

Suler finds unique ways to parallel the ebb and flow of our human life to what happens in nature. She ties up each section with simple exercises that require you to take a moment to go outside and connect with what is around you.
From learning how to create healthy boundaries for yourself to just respecting your journey in life, there is something for everyone in this book.

Thank you to North Atlantic Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.


Thank you to North Atlantic Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.