Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees: A Conversation with Beth Norcross & Leah Rampy
Trees are everywhere in our lives – on our streets, in our backyards, in the forests we wander through. Yet often, we overlook their quiet presence, focusing only on their practical uses: shade, food, fuel, or timber. In a recent Sense-Making in a Changing World podcast episode, I sat down with Beth Norcross and Leah Rampy, authors of Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees, to explore how trees can also be our teachers, companions, and spiritual guides.
Beth and Leah bring unique perspectives. Beth’s background in forestry gave her a scientific lens, while Leah came with a deep love of trees that opened her to both wonder and spirituality. Together, they’ve woven science and spirit into a book that helps us see trees not only as ecological beings but as sacred ones.
What struck me most in our conversation was their idea of trees as teachers. They model resilience, patience, connection, and authenticity. Trees are never anything but themselves—they embody their true essence fully, offering us a living lesson in integrity. As Leah shared, “There’s no more patient teacher than a tree.”
We also spoke of loneliness. In many suburban landscapes, trees are planted in isolation, cut off from the underground networks that sustain them. Science confirms what we sense intuitively: trees thrive in relationship. Their wisdom reminds us that we, too, are not meant to be alone.
Beth and Leah invite us into simple yet transformative practices: sitting quietly with a tree, breathing with it, noticing with all five senses, or asking the question: “What’s it like to be you?” These practices open space for compassion and reciprocity, shifting us from seeing nature as something to use or save, to something to listen to, collaborate with, and learn from.
As the conversation unfolded, I couldn’t help but see the deep resonance with permaculture. Observation, attention, presence – these are foundational in both ecological design and spiritual practice. And just as a tree cracks open from an acorn to send its roots deep and reach for the light, so too can we find renewal and resilience by opening ourselves to connection with the living world.
Beth and Leah’s book launched on Earth Day (April 22, 2025), and I encourage you to find a copy – ideally through your local bookstore – and take it to sit under your favourite tree. Read slowly, breathe deeply, and let the trees remind you of who you are and what it means to belong in this living web.
MORE ABOUT LEAH AND BETH
Leah Rampy is writer, speaker, and retreat leader living in a co-housing community who weaves ecology, spirituality, personal stories, and practices to help others deepen their relationship to the natural world. She is the founder and leader of Church of the Wild Two Rivers, and co-founded Save Our Soil – a volunteer organisation promoting soil health, local food, native plants, and regenerative agriculture.
Beth Norcross is a passionate spiritual guide, author, naturalist, TEDx speaker, and founder of The Center for Spirituality in Nature. She offers nature’s wisdom for living with connection, resilience, joy, and hope, particularly in challenging and uncertain times.
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
The Sense-Making in a Changing World podcast is an initiative of the Permaculture Education Institute hosted by Morag Gamble. It is broadcast from a solar powered studio in the midst of a permaculture ecovillage food forest on beautiful Gubbi Gubbi country.
We explore ‘what now’ – what thinking do we need to navigate a positive and regenerative way forward; what does a thriving one-planet way of life look like; and where should we putting our energy.
ABOUT THE PERMACULTURE EDUCATION INSTITUTE
Morag Gamble, founder of the Permaculture Education Institute, is an award-winning permaculture teacher, humanitarian, writer, film-maker and designer who has led programs for 3 decades in over 22 countries. She is an international leader of the permaculture movement for change.
The Permaculture Education Institute works with people on six continents, teaching permaculture design and skills. how to be a permaculture teacher and community leader, and how to create a regenerative permaculture livelihood. You can start our courses today.
Visit our website to find out more.
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