© 2026 Kevin Pennell – Toward A Better Life

Author: Kevin Pennell

  • Infusions and Decoctions

    Infusions and decoctions are methods for preparing herbal teas and formulations which can address specific conditions promoting overall wellness for an individual.  While they each may have a variety uses, they differ in the methods of preparation.  Depending on the parts used plants and herbs may need to be infused or decocted. Teas are a…

  • Seeing With Our Heart

    There was once a young man who lived his life simply without following the crowd by keeping up with the latest clothing styles, electronic gadgetry, and other external expressions until one day when things began to change.  It was a beautiful spring day.  The young man was struck by the beauty of the young woman…

  • Wholistic Living – Summer Foods Are Cool

        A major factor for optimum health is maintaining balance.  Part of balance depends on what we consume at certain times of the year.  This may also vary by where we live geographically.         In the heat of the summer, generally, we should focus on consuming cooler foods by their energy or…

  • Tales for the Journey – The Lazy Smile

             Smiles have enjoyed notoriety through many venues over the years.  A familiar statistic says that it takes 43 muscles to frown but only 17 muscles to smile, so we should just smile more.  It takes a lot less effort.  A man pointed out to me years ago that a spiritual person…

  • Wholistic Living – Listening to Our Bodies

            A dear friend of mine, who crossed over several years ago, used to say, “You should learn to listen to your body.  It’ll tell you what it needs.”  Then she explained how many have forgotten how to listen to our bodies.          Sweets (often called “empty sweets” because their nutritional…

  • Tales For The Journey – Planting Seeds

            Seeds and seedlings have been planted. Now comes the time of the caretaker, to cultivate, weed, protect against predators, and nourish so the seeds grow into plants. Those plants in turn will mature to produce the desired fruit, and so grows the garden. At the end of this cycle we harvest the…

  • Tales for the Journey – The Work Within

    The daffodils’ brilliant colors, the leaves sprout from their roots, and sleepy burdock wakes from its winter slumber to share and enjoy spring. These plants now begin to show their fruits of their unseen labors, their labors that began from within. Ever stop to consider all the work that went on behind the scenes, the…

  • Spirits of the Land

    “You know, I think if people stay somewhere long enough … the spirits will begin to speak to them. It’s the power of the spirits coming from the land. The spirits and the old powers aren’t lost, they just need people to be around long enough and the spirits will begin to influence them.”  Thus…

  • Benefits From Observing Nature

    We connect with spirit in many ways. Art expresses the inner self while music transports to realms of new insights and self-discovery. Observing nature also opens horizons of new perspectives as we progressively move through life. Nature can whisk us on to the very core of our spirit and soul. Connecting with nature through mindful…