If nature is a mirror or a messenger, what is it showing us? And what can we turn to that is steadier than the circumstances of our lives?
These inquiries lie at the heart of River Time: Mindful Reflections from the Upper Hudson - a blend of nature writing, mindfulness, and original photography.
Through 56 original stories and poems accompanied by the author's color photographs, River Time offers a contemplative journey along the Upper Hudson River. Drawing from nearly two decades of riverside living and four decades of meditation practice, Susan Meyer explores how presence, gratitude, and compassion can transform our relationship with nature, and with ourselves.
A perfect gift for nature lovers and for anyone seeking greater peace, steadiness, and sanctuary in daily life, each reflection encourages readers to slow down, awaken the senses, and reconnect with the present moment. Whether recounting a yearlong river sunrise photography practice, an evolving relationship with fast boats, or a missed opportunity that became a lesson in impermanence, these stories reveal the grounding and restorative power of mindful awareness in nature.
Organized into four thematic sections -The More Than Human World, The Human World, Rhythms of the River, and The Inner River - the book traces a gentle path from the outer landscape to the inner one. Richly illustrated and deeply reflective, River Time offers a quiet invitation to rediscover the wisdom, beauty, and steadiness that flow through both the natural world and our own lives.
About the Author :
Susan Meyer (SusanTaraMeyer.com) is a meditation teacher, photographer, and contemplative creative based in upstate New York. For nearly two decades, she has lived beside the Hudson River, where she photographs the water's moods, wildlife, and changing light in all seasons. Her work explores the intersection of mindfulness and the natural world, blending poetic insight with visual storytelling.She has been meditating for nearly forty years and trained with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield, completing both their Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program and Mindfulness Mentor Training. She is an aspirant for ordination in the Tiep Hien Order (Order of Interbeing), founded by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.Susan teaches both meditation and nature photography, offers mindfulness mentoring, and is a teacher on the Insight Timer app. She created a self-paced online course, Resource Your Life with the Magic of Mindfulness, and two inspirational card decks that pair her photography with contemplative insights. Her nature images have won multiple awards in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor photo contest, and several are featured on kiosks along the Empire State Trail in Schuylerville, New York.Her approach to creative work is shaped by decades of personal practice, deep attention to the rhythms of nature, and a lifelong interest in spiritual development. She holds an M.A. in Education from Goddard College, a B.A. in Psychology from Ithaca College, and a Certificate in Spiritual Studies from the former Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (now Sofia University). Susan Meyer (SusanTaraMeyer.com) is a meditation teacher, photographer, and contemplative creative based in upstate New York. For nearly two decades, she has lived beside the Hudson River, where she photographs the water's moods, wildlife, and changing light in all seasons. Her work explores the intersection of mindfulness and the natural world, blending poetic insight with visual storytelling.She has been meditating for nearly forty years and trained with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield, completing both their Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program and Mindfulness Mentor Training. She is an aspirant for ordination in the Tiep Hien Order (Order of Interbeing), founded by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.Susan teaches both meditation and nature photography, offers mindfulness mentoring, and is a teacher on the Insight Timer app. She created a self-paced online course, Resource Your Life with the Magic of Mindfulness, and two inspirational card decks that pair her photography with contemplative insights. Her nature images have won multiple awards in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor photo contest, and several are featured on kiosks along the Empire State Trail in Schuylerville, New York.Her approach to creative work is shaped by decades of personal practice, deep attention to the rhythms of nature, and a lifelong interest in spiritual development. She holds an M.A. in Education from Goddard College, a B.A. in Psychology from Ithaca College, and a Certificate in Spiritual Studies from the former Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (now Sofia University).
Review :
"Susan Meyer has created a luminous offering-a gentle weaving of mindfulness, nature, and soulfulness. Her stories, poetry and photographs invite us to slow down, listen deeply, and remember our belonging to the living world. With reverence and insight, she reminds us that the river is not just a place of beauty, but a teacher of presence, resilience, and grace." - Mark Coleman, Author of A Field Guide to Nature Meditation
"Charming" - Jack Kornfield, Author of A Path With Heart
"River Time is a gift-far more than a meditation on River's wisdom, it's an embodied immersion into the solace, equilibrium and learning that proximity to water, nature and the sacred patterns within them offer. Weaving personal reflections, essays and poems, this book generously springs from the wellspring of the author's long apprenticeship with the river and those kindred creatures who cohabit it with her, and it's lucid, accessible, eloquent and a much-needed medicine for navigating this precipitous time. - Nina Simons, Co-Founder, Bioneers and author, Nature, Culture & the Sacred: A Woman Listens for Leadership
"River Time by Susan Meyer is a gift of beauty and peace. Take your time as you journey on New York's Hudson River with the author. A photographer, Susan offers compelling views of river life. These are supplemented with her essays and poetry on kayaking, water lilies, herons, mindfulness, and even dredging. This book is a lovely gift to give yourself or water loving friends. Whatever page you open to, you will find a refreshing, captivating experience-much like the river itself." - Starr Regan DiCiurcio, Author of Dwelling in Wonder
