Exploring stories, beauty, and imagination.

Welcome to My Journal

Here I share the stories behind my books and artwork, together with the ideas, discoveries,
and moments of wonder that continue to shape my creative world and the world of Fantaeryn.

 

9/25/2026 7:29:55 PM

What Makes a Living Garden

Carol Walden / Comment on this

What makes a garden truly alive? Perhaps it is more than the plants growing within it. From companion planting and biodiversity to the less manicured gardens I encountered in India, I have become fascinated by the relationships that allow living systems to flourish. If difference creates possibility and relationship creates resilience, perhaps a garden can teach us something profound about the Living Field, and about our own place within it. [...]

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9/4/2026 7:46:37 PM

The Self-Contained Human

Carol Walden / Comment on this

We think of ourselves as individuals, contained within the boundaries of our own bodies. But how independent is a human being, really? The closer we look, the more relationships appear—and perhaps individuality and interdependence were never opposites at all. [...]

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9/4/2026 5:09:21 PM

We Were Never Outside Nature

Carol Walden / Comment on this

We speak of going *into* nature, reconnecting *with* nature, even getting *back* to nature—as though nature were somewhere else. But what if the separation we feel is not the same as actual separation? Perhaps we have never been outside the living world at all. Perhaps we have simply learned to see ourselves that way. [...]

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7/18/2026 7:58:40 PM

Why I Wrote "The Whispered Horse"

Carol Walden / Comment on this

More than a fantasy novel, The Whispered Horse grew from a lifelong relationship with nature, imagination, and the living world. Discover the inspiration behind the Fantaeryn series and the philosophy that continues to shape my stories, my art, and my life. [...]

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7/17/2026 7:57:23 PM

The Five Great Turnings of Fantaeryn

Carol Walden / Comment on this

Discover the ancient legend that shapes the world of The Whispered Horse. The Great Turnings of Fantaeryn explore our connection with nature, the consequences of separation, and humanity's relationship with the living world, revealing the deeper philosophy behind this ecological fantasy series. [...]

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6/20/2026 8:08:31 PM

The Real Power Is in the Heart

Carol Walden / Comment on this

Modern research suggests that the heart influences far more than physical health. It may help explain why gratitude, creativity, community, and connection matter so deeply—and why the philosophy behind Fantaeryn imagines a world sustained by coherence rather than domination. [...]

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7/3/2025 9:03:43 PM

Conservation Art: How Creativity Fuels the Fight to Protect Nature

Carol Walden / Comment on this

Conservation artists champion the cause of preserving life itself, translating Earth's beauty and vulnerability into art that awakens the soul. Through serene landscapes, intricate wildlife studies, and sustainable creations, they invite us to witness, reflect, and act. Discover how these artists—and the collectors who support them—are weaving a legacy of harmony between humanity and nature. (P.S. Don't miss the story of Australia's trailblazing Scott sisters, whose 19th-century illustrations still inspire reverence today.) [...]

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