Misty Fields

@mistyfields.bsky.social

616 Followers 462 Following

As a bioarchaeologist, I’ve dug into the human past to better understand life and death. These days, I excavate the biological and emotional remains of our lived experiences—to reveal what may lay hidden in our grief.

The Stargazer figurine was carved from marble around 5,000 years ago. (Image credit: Cleveland Museum of Art / Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; John L. Severance Fund 1993.165 (Public Domain))
Photo: Bighorn National Recreation Area. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved. Towering walls of layered sedimentary rock include limestone, sandstone, shale. The pale, grey-white rock make up most of the canyon walls that were formed ~ 350 million years ago, from a shallow tropical ocean that covered the area.
Photo: Bridge on a cloudy day. Saint Regis, Montana ©all rights reserved.
Photo: Navajo Code Talker Highway heading toward Monument Valley. Navajo Nation.
Photo: Balanced Rock, Arches National Park, Utah against a star-studded sky. The rock is an orange-red Entrada Sandstone on top of a mudstone pedestal. ©all rights reserved.
Photo: Silhouette at sunset in Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, a 3,730-acre desert park in southern Utah. ©all rights reserved.
Photo: My little grandson walking under towering trees. As if in the shadow of those who've come before. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Beautiful blue and grey clouds rise in the sky - backlit by the rising sun on the horizon of pink, orange and yellow hues. St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica. ©copyright protected, all rights reserved.
Photo: Under a cloudy sky, the Lewis Range stands behind St. Mary Lake in Babb, Montana. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Photo: In the shadow of these prayer flags, may you give and receive the energy of loving-kindness carried on the wind. In Tibetan tradition, it is thought that anyone can fly prayer flags as a way of spreading compassion and goodwill. In this way, we wrap the world with an intention for peace, unity, and compassion for all beings. @Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Photo: Tree Planting on Mt. Charleston, Nevada
Horses quickly let us know what our energy is saying about us in the moment - they read where we are - nervous system to nervous system. Photo: Picasso with an inquisitive eye and a big heart.
As I wrote about "Grief in the Human Experience" I realized that the book had actually begun to take shape years before. Where I scaffolded outlines for each chapter and spent time thinking on what I want to say to the world about ways that grief impacted me — how loss shaped us in ways we may not even realize. The book is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Lulu booksellers. I remember "pondering" would it ever get done! Photo: Image of me, seated in a chair and writing at glass table, as my reflection looks back. I'm preparing to present research at a conference
The sun's rays burst forth through clouds into a turquoise sky. Palm trees and mountain top are shadowed by soft yellow light. ©all rights reserved.
A yellow sun sends rays into a bright blue sky as it reflects light and clouds in a pond at sunset. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved
Photo: ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved. The green basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) or Jesus lizard. A Central / South American reptile known to run on water to escape predators. When threatened, the basilisk lifts onto hind legs and sprints, moving its feet in a piston-like motion. The webbed hind feet have skin flaps on its long toes that unfurl, increasing the surface area to create enough force that prevent it from sinking. They can stay afloat for up to 60 feet.
The towering red sandstone rocks of Courthouse Towers in Arches National Park, Utah, stand tall against a blazing blue sky. Photo: Misty Fields Photo: Misty fields
Under a clouded, azure blue sky, a woman turns to run through a meadow towards a forest in the distance. Photo by my husband, ©David Becker. Taken in Hannigan Meadow, White Mountains, Arizona.
Finches in a fountain try to share a bath. Photo credit: ©David Becker
Red dirt swallows the tires of an old rusty tractor. Bridger, Montana. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
A hallway arch lit by bright sunlight. In one window, the sunlight casts a shadow from the old prison rails. Hermosillo, Sonora, México. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Photo by Misty Fields. A view from Zion National Park - with grand views and a stunning color palette of earthy browns, reds, and greens under a vivid blue sky.
My husband taking a pic of red poppies in the morning light. East Glacier Park Village, located on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.
Cool and quiet hike on Fish Creek Trail, White Mountains, Arizona. Photo by David Becker
Picture of the book "Grief in the HumanExperience: How Loss Shapes Us" by Misty Fields
White horse looking into the camera backlit by the morning sun. Photo of Paco, my friend, mentor, and muse ©David Becker, all rights reserved.
Chief Mountain (Nínaiistáko) A 9,085-foot peak of immense spiritual significance for the Blackfeet Nation as a sacred site for fasting and a place of creation. Sitting on the border of Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet Reservation, Chief Mountain is known for its isolated, steep monolith-like appearance. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Photo: Rising Wolf Mountain over Two Medicine Lake. ©Misty Fields. Pacific Northwest of forests, prairies, glaciers, and aqua blue lakes. Waterfalls carry glacial water to major watersheds. Home to grizzly, wolves, cougar, bison, deer, elk, moose, sheep and other mammal species.
Photo: At the foot of Mount Shasta, my husband caught me in a moment of pure delight.
Photo: Dancing Lady Mountain, Glacier County, Montana. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Photo: Tall pine hollowed out by fire with a small child peeking in. Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Mount Charleston, Nevada. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Photo: Sacred site on Humu'ula-Upper Piihonua, Mauna Kea, Hawaii. ©David Becker, all rights reserved.
Mothra. Giant desert moth with a wingspan the size of a trowel. Photo by Misty Fields
Me working on my final manuscript. Feeling like a need to get this done already!
Photo: Parade of Elephants. Arches National Park, Utah ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Two palms standing side by side, face into the wind of a coming storm. Photo by David Becker.
Photo: Windows Arch. Arches Natl Park, Utah ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved. Red arches under blue sky filled with wispy clouds.
Petroglyphs by the Ute ~ 1650 to 1850 AD. People on horseback w/dogs participating in hunt of bighorn sheep. These images shared important information. #Photography #desertlife #AmericanSouthwest Photo: Arches National Park, Moab, Utah. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Photo: Historic cabin at Wolfe Ranch. Arches National Park, Utah. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
"Brushing" Gif by Misty Fields. Image of me brushing my horse Picasso's tail.
Photo: Work on Tumamoc Hill, with the Desert Laboratory in the background, and the ever-present Ancient Watchers.
Upper Showgirl Trail, Mount Charleston, Nevada. Photo by ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Las Vegas Healing Garden. In memory of the 58. Photo by Misty Fields
Photo: Rainbow reflection on a still sea. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Photo: #WildHorses Pryor Mountains of Wyoming. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Photo: ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved. Storm clouds on the horizon seem to be watching.
Photo: Clouds line up across a blue sky. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
Quote by Lisa M. Schulman, MD. "Grief is a normal protective process... to promote survival in the face of emotional trauma."
Handprint and Supernova. Chaco Culture National Historic Park, New Mexico. ©David Becker, all rights reserved.
Coming Soon! Grief in the Human Experience: How Loss Shapes Us. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
A red umbrella and an ancient Mayan Temple. Altun Ha, Belize. ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved.
©Misty Fields, all rights reserved. Sloth hanging out in Costa Rica. Pura vida!
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest ©Misty Fields, all rights reserved. Free-roaming horses moseying along on the only road out of town.