New Name, Same Heart

Almost 10 years ago, when Magic Tree Sanctuary opened, it was just me, my dear friend Bob, a beautiful forest in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, and an occasional small group of guests. The land felt like a refuge, a spot where nature could work its healing magic on all of us. People came to walk the trails, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and feel the comfort the woods provided.

Over time, this work grew. I began guiding mindful forest bathing sessions on other properties, teaching students in new places, and connecting with people online and in person far beyond that little mountain forest. And yet, every time I said the name Magic Tree Sanctuary, it felt like I was pointing back to that one forest. In my heart, that name will always belong to the woods where it began—and it always will.

So, it’s time for a change.

From now on, my work (and website) will be called Heartwood. Heartwood Forest Medicine to be exact.

The name feels right for a couple of reasons. In a tree, the heartwood is the strong, central core, formed over years of resilience, adaptation, and deep growth. And when you split the word in two, it becomes Heart + Wood, or Heart + Nature. That’s exactly what this work is about—bringing the human heart and the living world back into connection, for the healing of both people and planet.

The name is new, but the work won’t change. It’s still about slowing down, listening, and letting the forest remind you of who you are. I will continue to offer forest bathing experiences at the Blue Ridge Mountain forest as well as in other locations. You’ll also be invited to retreats, rituals, and ceremonies. And there are some new and exciting offerings on the horizon, which I’ll be sharing when the time is right.

Thank you for your continued support and for being part of this journey with me. Whether we’ve shared time in the forest, sat in circle together, or simply stayed connected through these letters, your presence matters to me, and I’m grateful.

💚 Julie