09/29/2026
The Spirit of the Badlands
There are places in nature that make you stop, become quiet, and simply stand in awe. Badlands National Park is one of those places.
These extraordinary formations were shaped over millions of years by water, wind, and time. To think that this land was once underwater — and that alligators once lived here — is almost impossible to imagine while looking out across this otherworldly landscape today.
Nature has a way of putting things into perspective, reminding us just how small, young, and temporary we are.
This morning, as I watched the sun rise over the Badlands, I noticed a ring of light surrounding it. In an instant, I was transported back to India, high in the Himalayas near Mount Shiva, a deeply spiritual mountain.
When we photographed the peak of the mountain, a red ring appeared around it in our cameras. Everyone had captured the same thing, and we were told it was an aura of energy surrounding the mountain.
Seeing that ring again this morning brought me right back to that moment.
Was it simply the way the light was captured, or something more mysterious? I don’t know. But standing among these ancient formations, I couldn’t help but feel a connection — a deep sense of presence that is difficult to put into words.
And perhaps not everything needs to be explained.
Some places simply ask us to slow down, look up, and pay attention.
To stand in awe.
To remember how brief our time here really is.
And to remember that we are part of something much, much bigger than ourselves.
With love,
Suzi 🤍
