AFAR Magazine Highlights Sarasota Vortex Tours

Myakka River State Park is a Winter Refuge for Travellers

Myakka River state Park was featured as 1 of 9 State Parks to Visit in Winter - to Hike Above the Trees! And Sarasota Vortex tours is mentioned as, "a new local outfitter that leads small groups through these same landscapes."

https://www.afar.com/magazine/best-state-parks-in-the-u-s-to-visit-this-winter

Vortex Tours: Exploring Nature's Energy

 Vortex tours have gained popularity among nature enthusiasts and spiritual seekers alike. These tours often take place in areas known for their unique geological formations and energetic qualities, such as Sedona, Arizona and Sarasota, Florida. Participants believe that these locations possess a special energy, or "vortex," that can enhance meditation, promote healing, and foster a deeper connection with the earth. During a vortex tour, guides typically lead groups to these energy-rich sites, where individuals can engage in various activities such as meditation, yoga, or simply soaking in the natural beauty. The experience is designed to help participants tap into the energy of the earth, encouraging personal reflection and spiritual growth.

Hiking: A Gateway to Adventure and Well-Being

 Hiking is one of the most accessible ways to explore the great outdoors, offering a myriad of physical and mental health benefits. Trails can vary from easy walks in local parks to challenging backcountry treks, catering to all levels of fitness and experience.

Physical Benefits

 - Cardiovascular Health: Hiking is an excellent aerobic exercise that increases heart rate and improves circulation. - Strength Building: Navigating varied terrains helps build muscle strength in the legs, core, and even the upper body if using trekking poles. - Weight Management: Regular hiking can aid in weight loss and maintenance, as it burns calories and boosts metabolism.

Mental Benefits

 - Stress Reduction: Spending time in nature has been shown to lower stress levels and promote relaxation. - Improved Mood: Physical activity releases endorphins, which can enhance mood and combat feelings of anxiety and depression. - Mental Clarity: The combination of physical exertion and natural surroundings can lead to improved focus and creativity.

Forest Bathing: Immersing in Nature

 Forest bathing, or "Shinrin-yoku," is a practice that originated in Japan and emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of spending time in forests. It involves immersing oneself in the forest atmosphere, engaging all the senses to promote relaxation and well-being.

Benefits of Forest Bathing

 - Enhanced Immune Function: Studies suggest that spending time in forests can boost the immune system, thanks to phytoncides, which are natural compounds released by trees. - Reduced Blood Pressure: The calming environment of a forest can lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormones in the body. - Mental Restoration: Exposure to natural settings has been linked to improved cognitive function, creativity, and emotional resilience.

Combining Vortex Tours, Hiking, and Forest Bathing

 Integrating vortex tours, hiking, and forest bathing can create a holistic outdoor experience. Participants can hike to vortex sites, engage in forest bathing practices, and benefit from the unique energy of these locations. This combination not only enhances physical health but also nurtures mental and spiritual well-being. In conclusion, whether you're drawn to the energetic allure of vortex tours, the invigorating challenge of hiking, or the soothing embrace of forest bathing, each experience offers valuable benefits. Embracing nature in these ways can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Lemon Bay Mangrove Walk. A UF/IFAS Extension ecowalk in Sarasota County

IFAS as a nature interpretation partner in biology

One of the best parts of developing this company is continuing my education. I was recently at Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center to learn about Mangroves. But first, let me expound on my love of learning and how I developed intuitive learning through nature. Anyone who has ever tried to learn about plants or animals knows that the information available is overwhelming. So it’s good to have trusted resources or partners in similar pursuit of education on the environment. For me, it feels similar to my study of Yoga, it’s so ancient that the vault of knowledge feels bottomless. I used to get disturbed by the thought I could never really know a subject. Until I found the one that I connected with, nature communication. 

Vortex Tour as intuitive Skills Building

Now I delight in the idea that I have access to instant wisdom directly through the plants and animals. On a Sarasota Vortex Tour, we teach how to listen to nature to answer your own questions. It’s a lifelong practice, so whether it’s your first time practicing these concepts or 50th, stepping into the vortex will open you up to new possibilities. At Lemon Bay, I was particularly drawn to the nurturing energy of the Mangroves. Primarily providing shade on a hot day!

Sea Grape trees roots exposed in Lemon Bay Park

Sea Grape trees rootsCabbage Palm tree roots exposed in Lemon Bay Park

Blanket Flower blooms in Lemon Bay Park

Whelk shell egg casings in Lemon Bay Park

UF/IFAS Extension offices in all 67 counties

And don’t worry about this tour being too ‘woo-woo,’ we also love science and include plenty of ecology and wildlife interpretation through the lens of classical biology. And that’s where IFAS comes in; the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (https://ifas.ufl.edu/) hosted by the University of Florida. They are one of my most used resources because they publish and host education that is hyperspecific to my Southwest region as well as the other Counties in Florida. Like a Vortex Tour, they put educators in natural settings like Lemon Bay Park.

Cliffs notes for nature interpretation

I often refer to their publications from researchers and science communicators. You can type in just about any plant or animal and get some solid primary source information. (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/) For example, Myakka River State Park has remarkable fields of Coreopsis blooming in May, it’s our State Wildflower.

Learning in motion

In addition to publication and helpful tips for home gardeners, IFAS also hosts ecowalks that are open to the public. It’s a great affordable option to explore the parks and natural resources of Sarasota County. Check out their calendar of events (https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/who-we-are/events-clubs-camps-training-and-more/) and ecowalks specifically (https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/ecowalks-236989). On May 13th I attended the ecowalk in Lemon Bay Park and Environment Center about Mangroves. I’ll tell you more about what I learned about the Mangrove forests in Lemon Bay Park.

Mangrove ecotour in Lemon Bay Park

Mangroves are a consistent presence in the South Florida coastline. Lemon Bay has all three of the species the live in Florida. That’s a fact I’ve always known from growing up in Florida. So imagine my surprise when I learned that there are 67 species found throughout the world. That’s way more than I imagined. The weird thing is, they aren’t all related in the same genus. Most plant or animal ‘species’ are grouped in the same genus and share genetic DNA or other traits. 

The Mangrove designation is more defined by the role and function the tree plays as a keystone species in estuarine ecosystems. Keystone means that it support several other animals by providing habitat and nursery for young animals. One does not even have Mangrove as part of it’s common name! They must be able to live in harsh conditions and tolerate both fresh and salt water. Some live partially submerged, some prefer a little dryer elevation, but all have unique ways to manage the inevitable salt. 

Types of Mangrove Trees in Lemon Bay

• Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), 

• Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), 

• White mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) and 

• Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus).

• https://myfwc.com/research/habitat/coastal-wetlands/mangroves/#:~:text=Florida's%20mangrove%20forests%20primarily%20consist,often%20growing%20in%20the%20water.

How to identify the Mangroves in Lemon Bay

Our tour guide on the free IFAS ecowalk had really cute ways to remember the different types and ID them in the wild.

• “Red red, pointy head” - The new leaves unfurl from a pointy spear at the terminal bud. It’s easier to recognize from how they grow and reproduce. They have the massive tangle of aerial roots that are half in air and half submerged in water unlike any other tree. And it produces the remarkable propagules, which are seed-like structures that look like a skinny cigar or torpedo. Check out this kid’s coloring sheet that shows the ecosystem supported by the red mangrove root structure. https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/sarasota/documents/pdf/econr/storymap/docs/pub_ColoringSheetLemonBay1.pdf

• “Black black, salty back” - That means, if you lick the backside of the leaf, it tastes very salty! Because the tree excretes salt through it’s leaves. Visually, the bark on the truck is ‘broken’ meaning there are grooves or veins and it’s not smooth. The leaf tip comes to a point.

• “White white, Frankenstein’s fright” - this one is probably the most difficult to ID because the signs are subtle. Near the base of leaf, where it connects to the branch, there are 2 nodules that look like the bolts on Frankenstein’s neck. Instead of salt, they are to hold or excrete excess sugar. The leaf is sounded with a notch on top.

Future growth plans for Sarasota Vortex Tours include salt water vortexes where we will connect energetically with the mangrove trees. Until then, I hope you have fun practicing on your own. Let me know what you learn in the comments!

Meandering in Myakka River State Park

Musings from the Mystical side of Myakka

One of the best parts of taking a mindful ecotour in Myakka River State Park is the long, slow drive to the North end of the park. The vortex energy is more potent on those trails, so I spend a lot of time there. The crowds stay in the front of the park. Wide, manicured trails next to the canopy walk handle strollers well, and the understory is open for lots of lines of sight to keep track of your children running ahead. But that is way too much noise and activity to be able to connect easily to the vortex. 

The road is clogged at people looking for gators at the first bridge. But when I got past the concessioniere, the traffic thins out and the animals feel safer to show themselves. That’s where I saw a massive gator in the middle of the road! And I’m talking like 10 feet, fully alert, ready to move gator. It was in eyesight of the lake, so not far from where it wants to be. In case you have any reservations about hiking in Myakka, we’ve never encountered a gator on a trail that is out of site of the river or lake.

Anyhow, today, the gator has a message… big feelings ahead. Keep reading to learn how it was delivered!

Book a tour to find your messages from nature.

Most Common Animal Totems seen on an Ecotour of Myakka

The next sentinel on my journey to the trail head was a kettle of vultures. I see them frequently in the park. A symbol of the circle of life. One of the only animals in nature that does not hunt or graze. They are masters of patience. Shamanically, they teach us to trust that the universe will provide. Not an easy task-I know. I am often compelled to do more and more and more, push harder, faster, better. But the American hustle culture celebrated on social media does not exist in nature. A tree is not disappointed when it doesn’t bloom in winter. The vulture doesn’t sulk and cry when there’s no food that day. It waits. It teaches us patience. 

For me that day, it signaled that I need to roll back my expectations and be open to what presents. In this very moment of today’s hike. You can’t always create the experience you want in the vortex; it gives you the experience you need. And if that sounds scary, take a guide! That’s what I’m here for. I want you to be able to let down your guard, open your heart to the messages of nature, and trust that you are being taken care of. I’m carrying the first aid kit, trained in wilderness survival, and mentally capable of holding space for any emotion that arises. It’s not always about fearing the wildlife or poisonous plants, but we fear what we will find inside ourselves. 

Nature Knows What You Need

There was one more significant totem on my hike. This one came from the plant kingdom, in the form of a Saw Palmetto bush. This is not a rare plant by any means. You can find Saw Palmetto in almost every park and tree line in Southwest Florida. Sarasota County is FULL of Saw Palmetto and we pass them on every ecotour in Myakka River State Park. It caught my eye today because this specific plant cast out a huge flower spike full of creamy white flowers. One of my favorite things to do is ask the flower what kind of medicine it shares. This is the first and only time that the flower shut me down and said, “I’m not for you!” How rude!?!? I thought. I’ve never received a message so cold and distant. It’s helpful to know a little bit of the science of plants and animals when shamanically interpreting their meaning. In this case, I know factually that Saw Palmettos create a berry that is used as real physical medicine for men’s health issues. So it made perfect sense that the plant knew it was not for me. In this case, it has a hyper specific role, and I am not it’s ideal consumer ;) 

The Maze of Myakka

Myakka River State Park has such extensive trails that you don’t ever have to take the same hike twice. I was exploring a section of the Myakka Trail, managed by the Florida Trail Association, and found a shady live oak grove that I’ve never seen before. So naturally, I stopped, laid out my blanket, took off my shoes, and settled into the connect to the vortex. People always ask me how big is the vortex, and how do you know where they are? It’s more of an art than a science. 

Messages from Above

Okay, so what happened in the vortex? What did all these sentinels and totems set me up to experience? I received a visit from a deceased relative. My great aunt Rita. I had received a text message from family earlier in the day that she had passed the night before. She was my Grandmother’s Sister and always had a special place in my heart because it showed me what my old age could be like with my sisters; fun and joy. Rest in Peace Rosemary and Rita. 

The mood was set before I arrived. I hiked slowly. I was alone. The trail was narrow and canopy thick. The perfect setup for a deep inward journey. And then there were crows. Great big shiny black birds. I didn’t see them at first. What made me look up was an eerie creaking sound. It came and went and I couldn't pin down a direction. Sometimes it was a buzzing, like a bee flying around your head, but there were no bees. Sometimes it was like tree branches rubbing against each other, but the trees were barely moving. Most of all, I just felt a presence. 

Crow: Friend or Foe?

It was from my sixth sense for hearing a call from the other side. It was almost like a radio frequency or static on a tv trying to come into focus. I had an ego response to quickly pack up and move on.  And then I thought of the black gator, the black vultures, and how they held space for me to travel here. And now the crows are delivering the message. Fear of nature is disconnection from nature. My brain knows that a crow can’t hurt me, but my heart was soft and tender and felt vulnerable. Whatever the sounds were, It brought my attention up to the tops of the trees and then I saw them. First one crow, then 2 and 3 and 4. Silent, sitting, practically over my head. Crows are a symbol of the underworld. Associated with carrying souls to the other side. When I tuned into the energy, I knew that it was my relative letting me know that she was hiking with me. Gentle encouragement to keep pursuing this business. Examples of what is possible in the vortex.

Communicating Across the Veil

In many spiritual traditions, working in the psychic realm and using our sixth senses is often described as ‘behind the veil.’ A person is known as a shaman when they have the ability to see or journey beyond the veil. And this is where we go on a vortex tour. The vortex is not material, it’s not visible. It’s metaphysical, it’s only seen in our mind’s eye. One pattern that is showing up on these tours is participants interacting with deceased loved ones. And that is a beautiful gift. I hope you get a chance to see beyond the veil and hear the whispers of nature calling you home. Join me for a mindful walking tour and journey into the wildside of Myakka.

Myakka River Vortex Tour

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