An overview of Zen Mountain Journal.
Quiet beauty. Deep peace.
The beauty and peace found in wild nature. An expression of gratitude.
The beauty and peace found deep inside one’s self.
Zen Mountain Journal is an evolving creative work encompassing a subjects ranging from the ancient Taoist poetry of mountain hermits to Thoreau to the desert wanderings of Everett Ruess and Ed Abbey to Rachael Carson’s musings on the beauty and mystery of the natural world.
It is a celebration of the gift of life.
The Zen Mountain Journal and Art Studio was founded in 1995 as Heron Dance Art Studio by Roderick MacIver. For sixteen years, Heron Dance published an art journal and the books of a number of authors including those of Heron Dance founder Roderick MacIver.
About Zen Mountain Studio
Books and Journals that explore the beauty and mystery of the natural world and of life. And journaling as a tool in the creation of a life.
The Journal Meditations binder and section inserts.
Journaling as a Tool in the Creation of a Life.Read more here.
Art connects us to our dreams, to the things that can’t be explained with words, to the things that have touched our core, to our imaginary worlds, and even to our personal chaos. Art has something to do with the part that doesn’t want to be tamed, that can’t be tamed.
You can view the collection of Zen Mountain Art here. Members get free shipping on everything ordered on this website, 10% off on the purchase of originals, as well as other benefits.
If you are not on already, you can become a Member here.
The Tao Te Ching Journal
A Taoist journaling practice for those who seek to connect with inner worlds, with the deep silence and peace within. Published in June 2026. Full color art throughout, with unlined blank pages for your journal notes, sketches and paste-ins. Order here.
A Substack: The Zen Mountain Journal.
Published at least weekly, the Zen Mountain Journal Substack is a refuge of art and words that celebrate the beauty and mystery of wild nature, and of life. It also explores the use of journaling and meditation in understanding the hidden underlying currents of our lives that affect our relationship with our inner world.
Like everything Heron Dance did, and Zen Mountain Journal now does, this is an evolving creative work encompassing a wide range of subjects from the ancient Taoist poetry of mountain hermits to Thoreau to the desert wanderings of Everett Ruess and Ed Abbey to Rachael Carson’s musings on the beauty and mystery of the natural world. It is a celebration of the gift of life.
The Zen Mountain Journal is reader supported but there is no obligation to support this work. If you would be willing to contribute, please do that here.
Visit the Zen Mountain Art Gallery in Asheville’s River Arts District. Learn more here.
Slated to close at the end of January, 2027. Rod will take to the road, paint, create the Substack, and videos of wilderness areas in different part of the country.
Member Information
The Zen Mountain Journal is reader supported but there is no obligation to contribute. If you would be willing to help keep this work going, you can do that here. Many hands make light work.
If you forget your password, you can click on Login at the extreme right of the top menu. There’s a link there to create a new password.
Complete instructions on how to cancel your membership and recurring support here.
More member information here.
The Background of Zen Mountain Studio Founder Roderick MacIver
You can read about Rod’s background here.
Zen Mountain Press PDFs
You can read about some of the PDFs of sold out Zen Mountain and Heron Dance Press books here.
Many are slated for republication in softcover and as binder sections over the last couple of months of 2026 and first six months of 2027.