Nature / Retreats / Almost Science

The Writing Portfolio of Mike de Give

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For 25 years as a journalist, then eight in Buddhist retreats, I’ve written about salamander migration, fireflies, and the struggles of solitary practitioners — reminders of how unusual it is to be here at all. What drives my writing now is the realm of not-quite-science, where mind and nature click. If that resonates with you, these stories point to where I’m digging next.

What Lives Here
Bioluminescent Jellyfish Science in Nature's Glow

Bioluminescence lights a path from childhood wonder to medical discovery.

Close-up of honeybee gathering nectar on lavender blossom The Buzz of Bee Society

A delicate dance of defense and cooperation shapes life in a honeybee colony.

Salamander Migration Salamander Migrations

Local amphibians, slippery migration paths, and the volunteers who help them cross.

Solitary Retreat Essays
Cabin in snow used for solitary retreat Life Leaves a Note

A solitary retreatant's daily notes offer a tender testament to presence.

Retreat Area Walk Malfunction is the Path

A broken truck turns a supply run into an extraordinary ordinary walk.

Dhritarashtra Cabin Dhritarashtra Winterized

The steadfast cabin, the bowing tree, and watching Joseph do all the work.