A lot of people think medicine hunting is all Chris trekking through the jungle. Or, for that matter, the chiefs and (male) elders he works with. The men get the headlines, but it's the women behind the scenes who are doing the planting and harvesting and chopping.

Wildlife needs wilderness-not just to survive, but also to live freely. Sadly, many species struggle to survive due to increased human activity and expansion into habitats they call home.

Wherever wolves run free, indigenous cultures have revered them as symbols of loyalty, free will, fearlessness and unity. But wolves haven't had it easy in North America, where negative myths prevail. Fear-based stereotypes and use of public lands for cattle ranching have resulted in Mother Nature's dogs being aggressively persecuted to the point of near extinction.

The health of life on Earth depends on its oceans. But unless we save our seas from the growing mounds of pop bottles, cigarette butts and plastic trash, soon there won't be much healthy sea left.

I meet people who use the term "plant spirit" as a matter of course. Initially I thought they were all rather woo-woo, but as I met more brilliant, accomplished plant spirit thought leaders, my thoughts started to shift to, "What am I missing here?"

Yes, your jewelry choices make a difference. When you invest in ethical, heirloom-quality jewelry, you're also investing in the future. Your purchase supports a creative community of like-minded humanitarians, out there doing important work.

I've learned that ayahuasca works in levels, a little like peeling an onion. It is complex and something you really have to experience to understand.