Weathering

by Ruth Allen

Rocks and mountains have withstood aeons of life on our planet - gradually eroding, shifting, solidifying, and weathering. We might spend a little less time on earth, but humans are also weathering: evolving and changing as we're transformed by the shifting climates of our lives and experiences. So, what might these ancient natural forms have to teach us about resilience and change?

In a stunning exploration of our own connection to these enduring forms, outdoor psychotherapist and geologist Ruth Allen takes us on a journey through deep time and ancient landscapes, showing how geology - which has formed the bedrock of her own adult life and approach to therapy - can offer us a new way of thinking about our own grief, change and boundaries.

In a world shaken by physical, political, and medical disasters, Weathering argues for a deeper understanding of the ground beneath our feet to better serve ourselves and the world we live in.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Science, Psychology, Self Help, Memoir, Natural History

288 pages, Hardcover

Published March 28, 2024

About the author

I’m Ruth Allen (PhD, MNCS) and I’m an outdoor and online counselling psychotherapist, professional development coach, and experienced consultant, trainer and facilitator. I offer weekly sessions through to multi-day journeys, for individuals, pairs and groups.

I specialise in outdoor practice, nature connection and working with mind and body in harmony. I’m interested in how we do relationships with others, nature and ourselves, how we make meaning of our lives, the stories we tell, how we live in our bodies, and post-traumatic growth.

I am also a writer, adventurer and occasional art-maker – exploring the intersections between nature connection, adventure, human and planetary health and wellbeing, movement and story. I occasionally work with brands to deliver important ‘people + planet’ health messages.

In 2008 I completed my PhD in Himalayan Geology with fieldwork seasons in India and Bangladesh. I have spent my adult life travelling the mountains of the world by foot. Highlights include, the South American Andes, The Romanian Carpathian, The Slovakian High Tatra, the Moroccan High Atlas, the Western Alps of France, Switzerland and Austria, and the Japan Alps.

I also have a special love for the cold north: give me half a chance and I will return to the Scottish Highlands or the arctic north of Finland. That said, I can easily pass several weeks running around the many lovely islands of the Atlantic.

In autumn 2018, I ran solo and unsupported across the Bosnian Dinaric Alps, an assumed world first, and I continue to enjoy inspiring people through new adventures that combine my love for place, people and purpose. In 2020, I will return to the Balkans to run the Dinaric Alps again from Montenegro to Albania.

Day-to-day I enjoy small adventures close to home and can be found biking, swimming, running and kayaking in the beautiful UK uplands with The Little Blue Camper Van.

When there is time left I like to read. A lot. I also take too many photographs. I am based on the edge of the Peak District, Derbyshire, UK, working out how to live a place-based life.

Reviews

[Beth Bonini · Rating 5 out of 5]

”Change is not a fearful thing, but a natural phenomenon echoed throughout the universe on every conceivable scale, though it rarely arrives quickly, or stays forever. Being committed to the long process means looking at your place in the world through a longer lens, and being willing and able to change your mind, follow shifting intuitions and be more patient with yourself (and others) as you navigate your life and the challenges it presents along the way. Apprenticing ourselves to the long process also means staying open in the face of suffering, patient in the face of urgency and exploring how to live better with the rest of the living planet. It means sorting through the depression and anxieties we face, the difficulties of relationships with other humans, and facing the terror of a short life.


When life weathers us we so often value a guide to show us the way, and this is as true in therapy as it is in life.”

Author Ruth Allen has a unique perspective as a geologist who retrained in her 30s to be a psychotherapist. She combines these two areas of study into an exploration which could be described as philosophical, metaphysical, emotional and spiritual - and yet, seemingly paradoxically but not, is at all times grounded in the landscape of the Peak District.

This book is not just one study, and for me that is not a criticism but more of an alert. I have a high tolerance for metaphorical language, digression and philosophical musing, and this book is rich with all of these. It’s not an “easy” read; it is going to require some careful thought and attention. And careful thought and attention is very much integral to Allen’s project. Let me try to explain.

Allen uses the language of geology as an extended metaphor throughout this book - her primary subject is the excavation of, or tunnelling into, the emotional psyche - but she also imparts general and specific information about geological elements. The book does indeed focus on geology, and our relationship to the natural environment, in a more literal sense. Her own therapeutic practice includes what she describes as “wild therapy”: “unpredictable, entangled, complex, dynamic, adaptable.” She accompanies and guides her clients on walking expeditions of the Peak District, and the landscape itself provides inspiration, example, equalisation and the “containment and holding” which she explains is a “vital part of therapy.”

”To be a geologist and a therapist is to have a foot in two timescales - the longest imaginable, and the shortest. In outdoor therapy, we cross both terrains.”

Some chapters are more effective than others, and the one that really stands out for me is called “Stone Stories.” In this chapter, Allen has an extended exploration and discussion with a 66 year old woman - described as a true “elder” - who is also named Ruth. There were so many beautiful and meaningful ideas in this chapter; its collaborative and philosophical language really appealed to me. I was reading a Richard Rohr book called Falling Upward around the same time, and the two books touched on such similar ideas that it felt like they were in conversation with each other in a way that deepened my experience of both.

I love reading a book (and this applies to both fiction and nonfiction) which leaves me with thoughts that I can return to again and again. I will include a few, as I think that Allen’s own language probably gives a potential reader the best sense of her project, or study, and its aims.

”When I give my time wholeheartedly and without distraction to be with another (or they to me) - time seems to double and not divide.”

. . . “It is well to remember that clients in the deep dark seldom need a solution they have already researched themselves; they need a companion for the journey.”

“Erosion always wins.”

“Deep listening is a willingness to put aside our preconceptions and move inwards. It requires a hearing-heart that can always be surprised.”

“Listening is how we love better.”

** Thank you to Ebury Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House UK, for a free copy of this book for review **

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth is such a beautiful, emotive writer. I loved the way she interweaves her knowledge of rocks with psychotherapy. My favourite bits were when I recognised exactly where she was stood or walking through in my beloved Peak District and there were many relatable themes throughout the book. I’m not sure I will ever quite look at rocks the same way and love seeing how they can mirror our lives and what we can learn from them. Highly recommend!

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I do not recommend this book to those who are not perfectly able to translate geological related words from English; I struggled quite a bit. Then I admit that I have difficulties with that whole school of thought that claims that there is no anxiety that cannot be cured by taking a good walk in nature - I don't think so. That said, the book had intrigued me as a psychotherapist, and I admit that some of the comparisons between people and rocks struck me. The author also provides a measure of self-revelation that contributes to the degree of authenticity that shines through her words.

Prima di tutto sconsiglio questo libro a chi non sia perfettamente in grado di tradurre parole di ambito geologico dall'inglese, io ho fatto parecchia fatica. Poi ammetto che ho delle difficoltà con tutta quella scuola di pensiero che sostiene che non ci sia ansia che non si possa curare facendosi una bella passeggiata nella natura - non credo proprio.
Detto questo, il libro mi aveva incuriosita in quanto psicoterapeuta e ammetto che alcuni paragoni tra le persone e le rocce mi hanno colpito. L'autrice fornisce anche una certa misura di autosvelamento, che contribuisce al grado di autenticità che traspare dalle sue parole.

[Ayşe | عائشہ · Rating 4 out of 5]

From synopsis you can guess what it is about. This book has a unique style, comparing psychology with rocks. This book inspires its readers to not lose hope, to embrace change and to be optimistic.

Life is like a journey with different weather conditions. Just like how weather changes the world outside, it also affects our thoughts and feelings inside. We learn to adapt to both. Thus, I loved both perspectives.

Perfect for anyone who needs some motivation; after all, we all need some inspiration.🙃

[Lindsay Tecco · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first half (the whole book is kinda a modern Walden pond-esque reflection) but I did divest during a part that talked about treating anxiety with nature. SOme of us have a chemical imbalance no amount of touching grass can ever cure.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept. Well written.

[Kate Wileman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some chapters definitely caught my attention and resonated with me more than others. I really liked the chapters about grief and the benefits of walking. As a trainee therapist it was nice to hear that she still gets nervous and has doubts et cetera.

[Filip Zajíček · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tahle kniha byla jako pohlazení na duši. Čtěte a jděte ven!

[Jana Rađa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth Allen is a geologist turned writer and psychotherapist from the UK, whom I discovered through a review of her second and most recent book, Weathering: How the Earth’s Deep Wisdom Can Help Us Endure Life’s Storms, in The Marginalian. I was enthralled by the following passage and decided to read the whole book as soon as I could get my hands on a copy (which I managed to do relatively quickly, via Amazon):

‘Mountains can only be maintained because they are also places of vast removal. Through a process called isostacy, uplands and mountains accumulate material, making them heavier, and then weather and erode to become lighter again, causing crust to rebound as the earth maintains its balance, which it must do. … This tells me two fundamental truths: one, that in order to evolve and grow, we must be prepared to face the erosive aspects of life. Two, it’s the weathering that creates the finest landscape of our lives, shaping us and defining us over time.

…

‘Reaching our boundaries is not the same as limiting our growth. Sometimes we find our edges and an amazing thing happens; capacity is rebuilt, old wounds are healed and we grow further and more beautifully than before. The process is analogous to mineral growth in rock. Without a surface and a set of containing edges, minerals that we prize for their beauty, function and even healing properties do not have the right conditions to develop. Crystals do not grow in the open, where space is boundless. Where crystals become their most vivid and multi-faceted is where there is containment that gives shape and definition to what is alchemically coming together on the inside.

‘We all need a container to hold and ferment the rich potential of our energy and talents—this is the crucible of newness from which all creativity and life flows.’

In Weathering, Ruth Allen takes us on hikes through an upland area in central-northern England, much of which lies within the Peak District National Park. On some of these hikes we accompany Allen and her clients, whom she takes on therapy sessions ‘on the edges between inside and out’; on others we walk with her fellow therapists, or simply with Allen herself, sometimes accompanied by her dog, Juno.

With her training in geology, rocks hold a special place in Allen’s heart. Although most of us see them as mute, inert, and lifeless—something we most fear for ourselves, Allen poignantly adds—rocks play a vital, foundational role in sustaining life, just as water and plants do. As a result of her deep, introspective engagement with rocks and the landscapes in which they are found, she ‘can’t help but see the way [the landscape] mimics the human inner landscape’.

‘Working outside is an embodied and deliberate act of situating clients back into the environment of their lives. While we are apart in the sense that we are not working in the client’s house, or with their family and friends present, we are in the area of a person’s life. We are opening the doors to create a throughflow of air. By situating therapy within the landscape, clients are able to ask themselves not only questions about themselves in relation to other people, but also Who am I out here in the world? Who am I in this place? I call this finding out about Us in Landscape, where clients are invited to see themselves in the numerous ways that they exist in broader social, political and economic landscapes, as well as meeting themselves in new ways outside.’

Allen argues that we do not merely live in landscapes and impact them; they also live in and shape us. Often, when I am hiking in my own ‘Peak District’, Mount Medvednica Nature Park, or even in some of Zagreb’s larger parks, I find myself changing with every step I take in the landscape, noticing how different the experience can be from day to day, month to month, season to season, and year to year. The questions I find myself answering each time—despite never entering a forest with a pre-formulated set of questions, or even the intention of engaging in a self-directed therapy session—I later encountered in Weathering: What is the effect of this landscape on me? How can being here help me understand myself and my experience better?

This past summer, I took our dog out on a short hike relatively late in the afternoon, meaning the trail had to be brief. There were few people about, and the whole experience was infused with the stillness of a summer forest at day’s end: the warm, mellow, dappled light of the setting sun; a quietness; a sense of preparation for the coming dark. At the highest point of the circular trail, a wooded ridge path led me to a beloved grove of conifers, surrounded by sessile oak, sweet chestnut, beech, and other deciduous trees. It is a lovely spot, one to which I usually offer only a silent hat-tip in passing, always putting one foot in front of the other in order to reach the next destination in a busy schedule. That afternoon, however, I stopped. As I reached the high point, I was met by the gentle golden light of the late-afternoon sun and an extraordinary stillness. There was no sound on that calm day other than birdsong. I sat down and lost myself in the moment, completely forgetting my human body and mind. I was simply there, part of nature, breathing in ‘its own consciousness, its own life history, its own story of living and dying’. Such moments are rare and should be cherished fully, and I immediately recalled this experience—and this place—when I read the following passage:

‘But older beings, whether they are human or more-than-human, can have a particular quality of safety and containment that we don’t always find among our contemporaries. How many of us have instinctively gone to the old places when we’re in need of solace? Who better to join us in the unsteady emotional work of maturing than the steady presence of life that has lived to see so much more than we have?’

Weathering is a book to be read many times—whether from cover to cover or by opening its pages at random. It is beautifully written and masterfully blends observations of the natural world, seen through the eyes of a geologist, with explorations of our inner landscapes, shaped by the insight of a deeply reflective human being. It is firmly among my top five books of the year.

[Samantha Sarkar · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not what I thought it was going to be. I only made it 40% of the way through before stopping because it just wasn't that interesting. The author is a geologist-turned-therapist, and I initially thought the book was going to give a lot more information about cool geological processes, and how they might parallel human psychological phenomena. Turns out the extent of geology in the book as far as I made it was rocks are hard and our bones are hard, so we can feel connected to rocks. The author's writing style is also very wordy and rambly. There is some discussion of vaguely interesting concepts, such as why the author conducts therapy sessions outdoors, and the idea of being aware of our bodies and physical health, as psychological stress can affect our physical health. However, the ROI on continuing to read this book just ultimately did not feel that big.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every section of "Weathering" unveils a new understanding, invitation, or viewpoint that alone could serve as the foundation for profound reflection, akin to the deepest meditations.

Using the UK’s Peak District as her steadfast guide, Ruth takes us on an exploration, both tangible and symbolic, of her fascination with geology and the human experience (and perhaps more importantly, what she believes they both have in common).

Reading her expressions, which often mirror the elegance of poetry, I found myself cultivating a deeper connection with the ground beneath me. "Weathering" awakens an intense desire to slow down and explore one’s hidden depths, challenging the perpetual quest for fulfillment elsewhere - a journey I've found myself inadvertently committed to throughout my life.

At each opportunity, Ruth lovingly draws parallels between the nature of rocks and the human condition without ever diminishing the freshness of this comparison. On the contrary, the potential depth of this metaphor mirrors the depths of our inner and outer landscapes.

Ruth's writing is characterised by sincerity, modesty, and conviction. Her candor about the human experience is refreshing, using her stony companions to subtly (and sometimes not-so-subtly!) suggest where we might redirect our attention for deeper internal peace, which could, in turn, represent the most benevolent act towards our wounded planet.

[Gem ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Derbyshire lass I felt so at home exploring the familiar trails, hills and rocks of the Peak District featured in the chapters of Ruth Allen's latest book. This landscape perfectly frames the theme of "weathering" both in the form of erosion of the geology but also of life, how these events shape and define everything. Fundamentally it explores how things must change in order to keep a balance. Reflections on stress, grief, aging, safety, health, fear and ambiguity are beautifully written in the context of experiences of the author in amongst the outdoor places used for recreation and in her line of work as a psychotherapist. The parallels drawn between human life experience, ecology and geology are captivating and deeply intriguing to read. Expertly written and superb in its summary of the enduring cycles of nature and the importance of connection and resilience, "Weathering" is a book I feel I'll often dip back into for reassurance and encouragement through times of change.

[Angela DT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weathering by Ruth Allen

Rocks and mountains have withstood aeons of life on our planet - gradually eroding, shifting, solidifying, and weathering. We might spend a little less time on earth, but humans are also weathering: evolving and changing as we're transformed by the shifting climates of our lives and experiences. So, what might these ancient natural forms have to teach us about resilience and change?

As someone who also enjoys walking on the UK's ' big rocks ' it was fascinating to read this book, I've enjoyed some of the hills she mentions and so expertly writes about.
A great book for those that enjoy getting outside in the hills with the added bonus of her in depth knowledge of geology and how that fits in with us .

[Helbob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep I’m a rock person. This book and its author Ruth Allen got to the bedrock and back in this book. A fascinating journey into geo-therapy. I’ve gathered stones and rocks and fossils to my heart for decades and this book makes me want to go and pick each one up again and think into it. But also it’s a new interpretation of our relationship with the geological landscape around us. It’s beautifully written and I’m familiar with some of the places Ruth visits, alone and with clients. Nature writing at its best.

[H]

DNF

This is actually an interesting viewpoint on the world and our place in it as humans. It's very well written, but there was no thread pulling me from chapter to chapter, once I put it down I was always forgetting to pick it back up. And after renewing it three times at the library I gave up and just accepted I'm probably not going to finish it.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - not my usual choice at all but very enjoyable and thought provoking!

I studied Geology at school, was brought up in the vicinity of the Peak District and spent my childhood walking with my grandparents and parents around the areas in the book. The sentiments are all ones I feel myself.

I am very grateful to have found this book and have enjoyed every part of it.

[Genevieve Nathwani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really thought-provoking and soothing read. Particularly liked the small section on the question of whether to have children - some of the best writing I’ve read on this tricky subject. The sort of book you can return to again and again and find new gems every time ❤️

[Flowernl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erg interessant boek over de relatie tussen geologie en psychotherapie. Over hoe we meer op rotsen lijken dan we denken. Over hoe de natuur ons verder kan helpen. Over hoe we meer in verbinding komen met de natuur en er daarmee ook beter voor zullen zorgen. En vooral ook over meer stil staan....

[Lisa Murgatroyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I connected really well with this book having used the outdoors for therapeutic reasons however it has taught me to look beyond the trees and rivers and to instead respect and connect with the rocks embedding into the environment.

[Claire Milne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I took time to read as there is a lot to be gained from reading it slowly. It is also a book I will go back to and I don't hesitate in giving it five stars.

[Julesdesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful synopsis of how connecting to place through the rocks teaches us about ourselves . I loved it

[Ivana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, this book feels like home.

[Anna Sircova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a blah-blah…

[Foggygirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, one part memoir, one part geology text and one part self help book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eclectic therapeutic approach but it does make some sense to me.

[Shamaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this, well worth it

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was lovely to read (rather listen to from the author). There were some beautiful quotes and moments of beautiful reflection on nature and processing all the life stuff.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rock is a world of its own that is closed to human hearts. Indeed, to be stone-hearted is to be cut off from the last signs of life, love and care. In many parts of the world, death is marked with a headstone, heavily inscribed with formal words that mark the very end. Perhaps in their dull tones, rough, cold textures and slow, abrasive ways, rocks remind us what we least want to be. Perhaps in their muted, inert, lifeless form they remind us of what we most fear for ourselves.

Ruth Allen takes us on a walk through landscapes of the Peak District and beyond, across ridges and through caves. It meanders through geological stories, retelling of her outdoors therapy sessions, and interactions with others – all connected through rocks and natural landscapes. At times, it feels like a personal journal of thoughts and direct experiences. At times, it surprises with beautiful of meditations on life, grief, on growth, kinship, fears; leaning on metaphors that rock provide.

I wish there were more of those meditations on life and less of the stories of therapy sessions in the wild, of camping, of mention of the national trust,... More digging into the feelings and thoughts, less retelling on the visible landscape and experience. It is overall a lovely read, and I've enjoyed it very much.