Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie isn’t just a book – it’s a way of tuning in, of walking more slowly and noticing more deeply. Whether you’re sitting under a budding tree or watching cloud shadows cross a field, nature journaling can become a soulful, grounding companion for the season ahead.
More Than Just Drawing
At first glance, this might seem like a simple book about drawing leaves, birds, and cloud formations. But look closer, and you’ll find something far more profound. Leslie’s work sits at the intersection of mindfulness, observation, and creativity. She teaches us not just how to sketch a fern or identify bird calls, but how to see -really see- what’s around us, and in doing so, come home to ourselves.
An Intimate Glimpse Into a Lived Practice
The book is filled with examples from Leslie’s own journals- sketches of squirrels in motion, notes about changing seasons, observations of animal tracks in snow. It’s an eclectic, inspiring collection of entries that demonstrates the range and depth possible in a nature journal: sometimes scientific, sometimes poetic, always personal. This visual element gives the book an intimacy that’s hard to replicate, making it feel like you’re sitting beside a wise friend who’s eager to show you their notebook and whisper, “Look closer.”
No Perfection Required
One of the book’s great strengths is its accessibility. You don’t have to be an artist or a naturalist to begin. Leslie offers encouragement for the hesitant beginner, including advice on materials, drawing techniques, and how to overcome the fear of the blank page. The point isn’t perfection—it’s presence. A wobbly line drawn with attention carries more meaning than a polished sketch made with indifference. This emphasis on presence over performance aligns beautifully with deeper values of soulful living.
Living in Sync with the Seasons
Leslie also touches on how nature journaling can enrich our relationship with time. As we track the changes in a single tree, observe the daily path of the sun, or mark the first frost, we begin to live in sync with natural rhythms rather than the mechanical pulse of the modern world. There’s a quiet subversiveness to this practice- it gently resists the fast-paced, disembodied existence that many of us have grown used to.
A Practice of Purpose and Presence
For those of us exploring life purpose, journaling in nature becomes more than a pastime—it becomes a practice of alignment. It reminds us that meaning isn’t always found in the grand gesture or the five-year plan. Sometimes it’s in the detail of a curled leaf or the way a robin cocks its head. In that sense, Keeping a Nature Journal echoes themes from Lorraine Besser’s The Art of the Interesting. Where Besser philosophically explores what makes life meaningful and engaging, Leslie gives us the tools to begin living that out in a practical, grounded way.
The Inner Landscape
I found myself especially moved by the sections that invite journalers to reflect – not just on what they see, but on how they feel and respond to the natural world. Leslie encourages us to record emotions alongside observations, to note when a certain tree brings comfort or a walk helps clear our mind. This blending of inner and outer landscapes feels deeply aligned with a soulful approach to self-discovery. The journal becomes a space where meaning is slowly uncovered, not imposed.
A Gentle Invitation
If you’re looking to enrich your connection to place, restore a sense of wonder, or build a regular contemplative habit, Keeping a Nature Journal is a companion worth spending time with. It’s a gentle guide for both beginning and experienced journalers, and a powerful reminder that we are not separate from nature—we are part of it. And when we learn to see the world more closely, we often begin to see ourselves more clearly, too.
Begin Where You Are
Whether you sit by your garden wall, walk daily in a park, or dream of reconnecting with your wilder self, this book is a beautiful place to start. It doesn’t demand that you create masterpieces. It simply asks you to show up, look, and listen. And in a time when we are often overwhelmed by complexity, there’s something quietly radical in that simplicity.
Seasonal Next Steps
Want to explore more ways to align with the energy of the season?
Spring is the perfect time to begin a nature journaling practice — but it’s also a powerful moment to reconnect with your deeper sense of purpose. Read our post on How to Embrace the Energies of Spring for soulful ideas to ground your intentions and step into the season with clarity and inspiration.