Stephanie Rutt, Tree of Life

10/05/2026

A glorious weekend at our off-grid wilderness camp, 3 Feathers. Enjoy the pics!

09/14/2026

My latest for the Concord Monitor, "Beware the Depths of the Sea." For the children. (image by ninokunitalo21, freepik.com)
https://becomeaforceforgood.com/2026/09/14/the-depths-of-the-sea/

09/04/2026

Because I couldn't have said it better . . . for Dolly.
I've listened to it quite a few times now and still get choked up. As they say, "You can take the girl out of the South, but not the South out of the girl." It's true.

I miss my grandmother's porch, the South I knew. The one who had our dear neighbor, who was alone, over on Sunday after church for the best fried chicken, biscuits, just-shelled peas, and sliced tomatoes from the garden; the sort of "different" lady, Alice, we'd welcome, who knew how to spin the best story about taking a road trip to California always with an ice-cold co-cola. Just the telling was as good as going. She'd disappear for long periods of time and then show up again always with sparkling earrings and combs in her hair. And that smile.

The original small Methodist Church had, well, still does, my granddaddy's name on a plaque under one of the stained-glass windows as he helped found the church. And, of course, we had our special pew as all the regulars did. There, when I'd look around, I knew just enough about the stories of each one to know they and the world sure wasn't perfect. No. Some of it was downright too ugly to even be spoken out loud. But as we all rose to sing, "Just as I Am," it didn't matter. It's what we'd all come for, the grace, that remembered we could hug one another going out the door, just because. It was enough. Maybe because we knew our own hidden stories too. It seemed we all yearned for the same thing sitting there on those slightly worn pews, to be seen, welcomed, just as we were.

And when I close my eyes, I still picture Alice racing down the old country roads with that ice-cold co-cola, smiling like crazy. I hope she made it to California.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/18/2026

Would you like to journey deep into faith traditions where no walls exist? Would you like to hear the song your soul yearns to sing? If so, join me at Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center or on Zoom. For more information:

Day Apart: https://www.rollingridge.org/program/a-contemplative-journey-through-sacred-traditions-day-apart

On Zoom: https://www.rollingridge.org/program/a-contemplative-journey-through-sacred-traditions-online-series-2

08/05/2026

Hello Everyone!!
I'm thrilled to give you a peek at fall programs being created just for your delight!! Check out my updated website at https://www.stephanierutt.com (if you're reading this on Instagram, see link in bio)

There you'll find:
"A Touch of Awe" offered through the Tree of Life School for Sacred Living. This is a continuation of the Zoom Tuesday day class started last year but this fall will focus on spirit journeys, using mantra and ecstatic movement to prepare. Look under the PROGRAMS page.

"A Contemplative Journey Through Sacred Traditions" offered through Rolling Ridge Conference and Retreat Center. There is both an in-person day-away and a 10-week Zoom version offered. Again, look under the PROGRAMS page.

And a new SILVER SWANS page to check out! Oh my, just can't keep my soul from dancin'!

"Stay close to anything that makes you glad you're alive."
Hafez

Happy summer & I look forward to seeing you in the fall!!

(image by bramjanssens at freepik.com)

07/30/2026

Hello Everyone! My latest for the Concord Monitor . . . "Finding Love in the Trenches" (image by magnific at freepik.com)

https://becomeaforceforgood.com/2026/07/30/finding-love-in-the-trenches/

07/22/2026

Many of you have watched our two youngest grandkids grow up at 3 Feathers. This past weekend it was just Doug and I and a sweet time in my hammock where the Spirit of the Tree, the one I love so much, holding up the foot shared the following with me. For a little context, the family who built the cabin from trees on the land was a Mormon family who lived close by in Brattleboro, VT. The father happened to love swings, so we still have big hooks in our ceiling:) They had the cabin for about 17 years. The next owner, the woman who came alone, was from Massachusetts and had it for over 23 years. She visited us a couple years ago which was quite wonderful. She told us at the closing that the wife cried. And it was I who was drawn to make a walkway with stones. Trouble was I forgot to thank the ants, and some of them let me know they weren't happy:) Yes, our sweet place has been well loved as each owner has communed with the Spirit of the Place in a unique way.

Do you have a place you love so?

Enjoy what the Spirit of the Tree shared and pics:)

"You see I am back each year. After my leaves drop, the storms and snow. I am older but I still reach my limbs high to rest in the deep dream of our sky. My friends the oaks, the pines, beech and hickory and I have all grown up here. We watched as the first family cleared a spot, the father and sons cut the chosen of us to make the cabin. We saw the mother fire up the cook stove for the first time and could smell the stew lingering in our limbs. Then came the woman, alone, who would love us the longest. Along the way, we’ve watched children slide down our mountain on their backside, find hidden caves and want just one more marshmallow over the open fire. Each night we see your sun lamps light the walkway you made with our stone friends. So, yes, rest here awhile. Settle into the memories that have made this place. You are a part of them. And Great Spirit willing, we’ll meet here again next year.” See less

06/25/2026

In case you missed my blog last week I titled "The Cage Keepers," here it is in the Concord Monitor.
(credits for the image with the article)

The rise of a patriarchal movement threatens women, seeking to confine them to traditional roles and undermine their hard-won rights.

06/17/2026

Enjoy my latest article, The Cage Keepers, for the Concord Monitor.
(Image by Aeye at freepik.com)

https://becomeaforceforgood.com/2026/06/17/the-cage-keepers/

05/29/2026

Hello Everyone! ❤️
It's a funny thing about dreams. Sometimes they find you in the most unexpected ways, at the most unexpected times. This picture was taken almost a year ago when Doug gave me a necklace with a silver swan on it for my birthday. Amazing, awesome, wonderful guy that he is! At the time, I'd just discovered something called Silver Swans, a program for seniors who take ballet.

Well, over the past year, I've been slowly making my way back to ballet classes - first online - then private lessons in person - and since the first of the year a weekly adult ballet class at a local studio.

And . . . today, after completing a special training program, I learned I qualify to receive the license from the Royal Academy of Dance to teach Silver Swans classes!!!

I'd give all the world to tell my most special teacher, Jack Clause, some of you have heard about for so long and I wrote about in "That Certain Something," on my blog:
https://becomeaforceforgood.com/.../that-certain-something/

He was the one who first set me on fire with love of ballet in that Honolulu studio 50 years ago now. Some have asked why I never opened a ballet studio. Well, I wasn't drawn to teach kids. Like Jack, I wanted to teach adults but there was never a way to see that happening. So, over the years, I've focused on other forms of dance which have also been wonderful and a blessing to share with some of you:)
But . . . it turns out I was supposed to teach ballet after all - just not until I was 76 as a Silver Swan!!!

I love God.

Whatever your dream is . . . don't ever give up!!!!!!!!!