One of the many things that I have written about on my blog is the concept of how everything is interconnected. It is as if the entire Universe is one huge jigsaw puzzle and each piece fits together.
Often in spiritual circles much is written about the concept of how mind, body and spirit have to be all connected. What is often missed is the fact that in order for complete harmony to exist, people not only have to be at peace with one another but with nature too.
I will be the first to admit that I never gave much thought to nature and the environment when I was growing up. For most of my childhood, the town I lived in had numerous orchards. So as a kid I have fond memories of climbing into a truck and being driven miles deep into an orchard and picking apples and peaches. I never fully comprehended the beauty of such a thing until years later.
When I was a child, the summer skies used to be lighted by the wings of lightning bugs. I used to catch them and put them in a jar to observe and then let them go. Hours were spent walking in the backyard in bare feet and playing with my numerous pets. I had chickens, ducks, rabbits, birds, turtles, frogs, and a cat. Back then, I found animals much easier to deal with than humans. (To be candid, I still do.)
As time went on, the orchards were closed and in their place new homes were built. Within ten years, there were no more farm lands and everything was turned to either a home or a shopping center. The bird and bug populations decreased tremendously to the point where now to see a lightning bug in the summer is a rarity.
Like many people, I never gave much thought to the environment as being a part of me. I always viewed it as something separate. I had no idea what was happening to the ozone layer until I was in high school and all of a sudden the ozone layer was a big concern.
However, even with that news I still did not give much thought to the environment. I was more occupied with myself than with Mother Earth. It was not until I was in my twenties and fully immersed in my spiritual path that it occurred to me that nature was inevitably tied to me somehow.
I am not a scientist so for me to give you a full education on global warming would not be practical. (For information on the issue, check here.) I am not an expert on it but what I can share with you is that a part of many spiritual traditions is to pay homage to Mother Earth.
When people decide to climb Mt. Everest, they always take a Sherpa with them. This is for two reasons. The first reason being that the Sherpa knows the terrain very well and second, the Sherpa believes in the importance of respecting nature so they are sure that certain things are done which will not anger the mountain.
I remember reading some years ago about a few climbers who had died while trying to summit Mt. Everest. In one account it was stated that the Sherpa was concerned about how the mountain would react since two people decided to have sex one night while at the base camp. The Sherpa believed this act on such a mountain would dishonor the gods and the mountain would respond with some sort of natural reaction. Sure enough the two people who had sex were two of the many who died.
Maybe their death was a coincidence but the fact is that the Sherpa was scared. Here in the West we have no fear or worry about nature. Many people view nature as being something separate yet we rely on nature to provide us with food and water.
When the missionaries arrived in Hawaii, the Native Hawaiian population was around 400,000. Within a few years, the native Hawaiian population went down to only 40,000. Nine out of ten Hawaiians died as a result of not having any resistance to the flu, measles, small pox, whooping cough and many other diseases which the missionaries brought.
As a result of such a dramatic decrease in the native population, many Hawaiians became angry at how their gentle way of life was disturbed. And just like the Native Americans, they were made to sign over land which to them was an odd thing since only the gods owned land and not man.
I give the Hawaiian example not in order to blame the missionaries or the “white man” but to show how many cultures hold great respect for nature and live in harmony with it. The environment is not something that is separate from us…it is something that is a part of our world.
Henry Ford was fascinated with the soybean and believed that it could be used in various products. His love for soybeans was so well known, he was made fun of quite often.
In 1941, he designed a soybean car. It was given that name since all the plastic parts had been made from soybeans. The car ran on ethanol. It was his hope that such a car would become mainstream but then the demands of war took over and his efforts were halted.
To treat nature as a dumping ground or to have no respect for it is kind of like spitting on the hand that feeds you. There is nothing wrong with corporations wanting to earn money but to earn money at the expense of nature is wrong. It is said that so many governments are not doing what they can to reduce carbon emissions. I understand that some companies are concerned about the cost but in the long run, the lack of concern will catch up with us.
Polar bears are drowning. The snows on Mount Kilimanjaro are disappearing. What more has to happen before people finally wake up and realize that something is wrong with how we treat the environment.
The increased rates of cancer are very alarming. People should not get leukemia from drinking tap water. Various beaches are eroding due to the fact that the sea is rising since the polar caps are melting.
Yes, many people do dispute the existence of global warming but as some stories have indicated, those scientist that dispute it are often paid to do research by companies that are trying to confuse people by saying there are no environmental problems.
It does not take a genius to figure out that something has shifted in terms of nature. Polar bears do not drown because they do not know how to swim. They drown because there are no glaciers for them to roam on.
I am a big believer in harmony. A person must not only be in harmony within themselves but with the world around them. In order to be harmonious with the rest of the world, you have to acknowledge that the world is a part of you. That world does not only include people but nature too.
In order for us to survive, we need water and food. Even though we buy all of those things (including water) from the supermarket, all those items originate in nature. So we all need nature in order to survive. Like I said, don’t spit on the hand that feeds you.
{ 46 comments }
Nadia,
It’s easy to think that the drowning polar bears are a bad thing, but it’s not anything I can do something about. “What change can I really make that’s going to save a polar bear from from where I live?”. The real truth, though, is that if we all did just small things to treat the world a little better – the change would be gigantic. Small change, done by many, CAN make a difference. So, I know I can do better. As I’m sure we all can. As Gandhi says, “be the change you wish to see…”. Nadia, I commit, today, to being a little more conscious of this beautiful Mother Earth we are blessed with…
.-= Lance´s last blog ..Sunday Thought For The Day =-.
Hi Lance,
You raised a great point about how the situation concerning the polar bears may seem distant to someone. However, every action creates a ripple effect. The key is to be aware of the ripples we are creating and sending out to the world.
Hope all is aswesome!
So, so true… like the old proverb:
“Only when the last tree has been cut down;
Only when the last river has been poisoned;
Only when the last fish has been caught;
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.”
Don’t forget the third reason why Everest teams have always hired Sherpas: to carry and set up the extensive gear at all the camps along the way. Yet another example of opportunism at work, I suppose. It reminds me of the Pirate’s Code (on Pirates of the Caribbean): “Take what you can. Give nothing back.”
Sad, really.
.-= Lisis´s last blog ..Inspiration from T. Alan Armstrong: Become Your Passion =-.
Hi Lisis,
That is a beautiful proverb and so true. Thank you for sharing that and for the third reason as to why climbers use sherpas. I did forget to mention that. Oppps.
And as for the Pirate’s Code, that is sad. It reminds me of the saying “divide and conquer” which is what many military powers do so that groups that normally got along suddenly become aware of what makes them different.
As you have said wonderfully Nadia, the human being is not separate from nature. And the human being is not merely a part of nature, but the complete expression of the beauty of nature.
That timeless beauty of a flower, a mountain, a stream, is always present within us all, and is available for expression at every possible moment. Whether or not we believe this is irrelevant.
To be free, a liberated being, is to fully reveal that expression of nature, and to share it with all creatures we come into contact with. It is not reaction based on our desires or greed, but action taken at the right time, allowing the bird to sing, the flower to grow, and the child to love without fear.
It this sense, nature is love beyond measure.
Thank you for a great post, Nadia…
.-= Takuin Minamoto´s last blog ..The Landscape of the Dreamer =-.
Hi Takuin,
That is a beautiful comment. I just love all that you wrote. You are so right…we are a complete expression of the beauty of nature. Imagine if we were really rooted in that belief then our actions would be motivated from a much purer source. The world would be a different place.
And yes, nature is definitely love beyond measure. May be that is why so many teachers from various traditions use example of nature to show the mercy and compassion of the Divine.
I agree with you completely and always thought it was a tragedy that cultures that had great wisdom about living in harmony with nature were practically destroyed by other cultures. All we can do is make an individual choice to respect everything around us and be thankful for it. Thanks for another wonderful post!!
.-= lena´s last blog ..Friday Shoot-Out–Christmas Weather =-.
Hi Lena,
You are most welcome and you raise a great point that we should just respect everything and everyone around us. That is so true. When we function from a place of respect and honor our actions carry a more positive vibration.
Hope all is well.
Nadia, I resonate with your message, especially your point that everything we buy in stores originates in nature. I would even take what you are saying a bit further, to a natural conclusion or two about the best way to lead our lives — whether we are spiritual, religious or just plain old ethical. You’ve inspired me to write this piece about a path I have been finding joyful: http://www.diamondcutlife.org/spiritual-but-not-religious-tell-me-more/.
.-= Alison Wiley´s last blog ..Geothermal Causes Earthquakes: More Urgency For Energy Conservation =-.
Hi Alison,
Great mind thinks alike. I read your post and one of the points you mentioned is something that I am planning on writing about. I guess we all reach the same conclusions through different roads. Your post was really good. I enjoyed reading it. Thank you so much for providing a link to it.
Hope all is well.
Nadia:
Funny you should have this post today…I just listened to our friend Krista Tippett over at Speaking of Faith on NPR and her show explored this very topic. A few minutes later on another station, I listened to another program about being more “green.” Its not exactly cheerful Sunday morning listening, but its important.
You put it very well in your post…about people needing to respect other people and the land. So many people are ignoring everything that is happening to our world, but we may get to a point where we can no longer ignore this. One particular thing that is scary for me is the amount of pharmaceutical drugs that are present in our drinking water. I guess technically, according to someone somewhere our water is safe. Is it though?
Thank you for exploring this topic today…I know there are a lot of people out there who think being an environmentalist is someone who’s a bleeding heart, Al Gore-supporting liberal. Maybe that’s the case, maybe not. I just know that if I have kids someday, I’d like them to be able to appreciate some of the same things I did when I was younger.
.-= Tim´s last blog ..Getting to the Point…Pecha Kucha Style =-.
Hi Tim,
When I was living in Boston, the story about people getting leukemia from their tap water was a huge eye opener to me. It scared me to think that tap water could be toxic. The sad thing is that those families lived in low income areas and so the corporations did not think twice about dumping chemicals in that area.
Funny you should mention about being a bleeding heart liberal. Someone once accused me of that and I told them “thank you, it means that I care. ” They were so floored when I said that because they were expecting me to get upset. I never understood the problem with being a bleeding heart. I rather have a bleeding heart than be cold hearted.
A lot of negative views about environmentalists, I think, are rooted in people’s beliefs about the hippies and the sixties. Many people back then were talking about the environment. In 1962, Rachel Carson wrote a book that was the first environmental book that talked about the dangers of DDT. Thanks to her that chemical is no more used in this country.
Change has to start somewhere and I think we all need to realize that everything is connected. If someone pollutes the water, that water is eventually going to find its way to someone’s lips. So why take a chance?
And I know what you mean about the future generations. It is scary to think what they will have to deal with if we do not get our act together.
Well said, Nadia, well said.
I can really relate to your observations regarding the disappearing fireflies. I feel the same way about the bees. Well, and about everything else you said here, too.
I can also remember talking to my sister, about a decade ago, and the topic of discussion is how strange it was that our farm hadn’t seen the feet and feet of snow as in our childhood. I mean, when we were tykes, we often had drifts up to the roof! Thirty years later, it rarely even snows back home anymore. I remember her and I remarking how odd it was, and wondering if there was some shift happening in our weather or ‘something’.
So, all the research that has been communicated about global warming is a great thing — as it can take a long time to “get the word out” for any hypothesis. I’m glad more people are aware of this crisis and that I’m hearing more and more people making the effort to start the change with them. If we all even make the smallest changes, as a population, we can make huge changes together!
Thanks, Nadia. Have a great day, and I’ll be striving for more fireflies, too!
.-= Lori´s last blog ..Nine for 2009: My ‘Proof’ List =-.
Hi Lori,
I know what you mean about the snow. When I was a kid, we used to get about six to twelve with every storm. Now we hardly see an inch or two. In the last ten years or so, winter has come to mean only really cold temperatures and rain. However, the cold here is nothing like out in the Midwest…it is much warmer than there but it is nothing like it used to be.
And I know what you mean about the bees…we do not see much of those either. Kind of sad.
Hopefully, more and more people will start to respect nature and we can change things around. I would hate for future generations to not know the joys of nature.
Hope all is awesome!
Hi Nadia
Nature is so much more important than we think. In nature we can see the thoughts of God.
If you look at how nature works, feeds us, cleans itself up, interconnect, gives us air and water, it is just awesome.
Then we wanted to create like nature, make things ourselves and we got carried away.
We think we know better than nature and we do NOT.
We have a combustion engine which is primitive and very destructive.
Of course there are other ways that are NOT dirtying our own nest, but they migth cost more and they might require more effort.
Like as you said before there is organic food but it comes at a price.
I was ignorant too, I wanted somebody else to solve the problem, I did not want to pay more for good food.
I did not want to do anything as I thought I did not cause the problem, until I got to see that as we are all one, I have to take the good with the bad and I am just as responsible.
It takes a real knowing of nature to honor it and to stop trashing it.
It is up to me to share my love for nature and to make all of us realize that nature is our home, our food trough, our world and a gift from God to play with honorably.
And it will reward us hugely when we let it.
AND now I have to walk my talk, hmmm.
Hugs to you my friend for sticking up for nature so beautifully.
.-= Wilma Ham´s last blog ..Context is King. =-.
Hi Wilma,
I loved how you wrote that through nature we see the thoughts of God. That is so true.
Whenever I am at the beach and looking at the ocean, it makes me feel so at peace and at one with everything. Actually, the awesomeness of the ocean reminds me of how small my “problems” really are in comparison.
The good thing about ignorance is that it can be corrected. In my mind, ignorance is a result of being not exposed or unaware. So we all have had our moments of being ignorant. The good thing is that once we saw a difference, we changed our mindset. One of the things I love about God/The Universe is how merciful it is to all of us. So once we realize that our old way of thinking was too limited that is when we can grow and expand. Nothing is set in stone…we all can change if we want to change. What a gift!
Hugs right back at you!
Hi Nadia,
I will do what I can to protect the earth and show my respect.
Thank you for this reminder! Jodi
.-= Jodi at Joy Discovered´s last blog ..Planting Seeds for the New Year =-.
Hi Jodi,
You are welcome! Hope all is well.
Dear Nadia,
This post touched me very deeply…cause I am such a strong believer in our connection..with one another and with nature. Lately I have been more and more aware…..
I completely agree with what lance said too….about each of us doing a small part in preserving and respecting mother nature. Believe me…each of us making small changes in our lives and our choices….will make a huge difference …I do hope everyone realizes that…and stops cutting down trees to make malls among other thing…
I have already started doing my bit to save and respect mother nature…..small gentle steps and I believe the difference will be magnanimous.
We need more posts like this in the blogosphere to create and awareness…
Thank you for touching this topic.
Lots of love
Z
.-= Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s last blog ..Human Experience {Inspiration from Helen Keller} =-.
Hi Zeenat,
If we each did our part, we could so such miracles. The problem is that many people do not want to be a part of the solution. Many people would rather stand on the sidelines and criticize what is happening or be in denial. Not many people are willing to realize that we are all sharing this planet together so we might as well just learn to get along and do what we can to make sure that nature does not suffer any more than it already has.
Here in America, each day in the mail we get lots of stuff that is basically junk mail. Most of our mail are advertisements for all kinds of stores or restaurants. It is about an inch thick and it is so sad that all this paper basically just gets put in the recycle bin. And the worse part is that not many people take the time to separate their trash for recycling. So all these trees get destroyed for nothing. Of course, it can be argued that the junk mail is a form of employment for people which is a valid point. So it is a tough situation. However, I think we all can do our part to help nature thrive.
Lots of love right back at you! And I think it is awesome that you are a strong believer in the connection between mankind and nature! It is quite obvious in the work that you do on your blog.
Hi, Nadia! I’m so glad you wrote this post. For quite a few reasons. First of all, uh, it’s a little funny that the title is what it is… All I’ll say is HELLO synchronicity (I was having mother issues this weekend). Next, on Saturday at the market I actually decided not to buy the recycled paper towels I usually do, opting instead to change one more habit in favor of mother earth. I’ll use little wash clothes, instead, to wipe my hands. And lastly, I’m a huge believer that it might not be war, terror, or anything in that vein that does us in as a race. It might end up being a very angry mother earth who continues to purge negativity from herself in the form of exceedingly ravenous natural catastrophes. God help us help mother earth. It’s time we reverted back to how the indigenous people treated her. Everything “old” will become new again.
Best to you, my friend!
.-= Megan “JoyGirl!” Bord´s last blog ..7 Steps for Climbing the Staircase to Joy =-.
Hi Megan,
I just love synchronicity! Something about events like that just make me extra happy. Sounds so weird, I know, but it just is such a wonderful feeling. I know you know what I mean.
And that is an awesome switch regarding how you decided to use little wash cloths instead of the recycled paper towels. For the past year, we have been switching all our products from the normal kind to the more environmentally safe version. Finally, a few months ago the conversion was complete. Now everything in our home is environmentally safe. Ironically, it did cost more at first but now we are spending about the same or even less than before which was a surprise to me. So it all balances out.
I remember reading a while ago that what destroyed many past civilizations was that their technological advances outran their spiritual advances. I have no idea how true it is but it does make sense on an intuitive level. Everything is a matter of energy and if something is out of whack, something will happen to offset the imbalance. The only force that can really do that is nature. Like you, I think natural catastrophes are the result of nature purging herself from the negativity that we have allowed to accumulate.
Hi Nadia! I am SOOO with you! I think the saying “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody gonna be happy” pertains to Mother Earth. Clearly She is not! Choking on pollution in the air, water and land. It has been a disgrace the way people have ignored nature as if it doesn’t count, taking everything for granted. If we could all just realize Mother has to come FIRST, not our ultimate convenience and self-centered ruling over all in the pathetic chant of “progress”, there may be time to undo the damage?
I’ve seen the farm lands I grew up on also turned into subdivisions, gas stations, and stores. Gone is the land that provided REAL sustenance. I mourn every bit of it. My ultimate prayer is that people will make the effort to make things right again – yes, this post touched me deeply!!!!
We can’t be lazy. We cannot put this off! Mother Earth is EVERYone’s Mother!
Hugs of thanks for this post, Nadia!
suZen
Hi SuZen,
Amen to that fact that Mother Earth is everyone’s mother! Ain’t that the truth!
Isn’t it hard to see farm lands be destroyed? I often think about farmers and how they are a lost breed. It is so hard to be a farmer. I am not talking about just the physical labor but everything else that comes with that job. Yet without farmers we would not have the things that we so enjoy. I hope that the people who do run working farms keep on going because if we lose the small farms, then we are in trouble.
And I am praying right along with you!
We depend on nature, it doesn’t depend on us. In the end, nature will prevail because the tiniest molecule is nature. We’ll only have succeeded in creating misery and devastation for ourselves.
Hi Nothing Profound,
I totally agree! Nature will always win out in the end. Now if only human beings would realize that fact.
Indeed, we are in the Universe. And the Universe is also in us. As we breathe out, the air carries the cells we shed. Likewise, the air that we breathe in carries a little bit of everything else; including the animal and plant kingdom. We are all part of one another. We are very interconnected. To not honor every relationship we have with our external environment can potentially disrupt the harmonic balance that is required to sustain all of life.
I admit to not having made some of the best choices in the past with regards to taking care of nature. However, I hope to be more cognizant of my responsibilities going forward. Namaste!
.-= Evelyn Lim´s last blog ..Goenka Vipassana Meditation: Your Body As An Laboratory =-.
Hi Evelyn,
The mere fact you are aware and you wrote what you wrote says volumes about your committment to nature. So no worries, you are on the right track.
Isn’t it beautiful when we realize how everything is interconnected? There are days when I can go out into the world and feel that connection so powerfully. Such days the amount of love and bliss is so wonderful, I feel like the energy is too big for my body and I could explode from all that love. On such days, I tend to just want to hug everyone. Of course, I do not do that for that would get me in trouble. But what I do is just send out thought waves of love and interestingly enough, on such days people are usually much nicer to me than normal. People are always nice to me but it is different on those days when the energy is so immense.
Namaste to you!
Hi Nadia, this was really beautiful, and so true. I, like you, didn’t really discover my reverence of mother earth until I was in my 20′s and deeply immersed in a spiritual path, but then it all made so much sense. I could really FEEL the interconnectedness, so hurting the earth meant hurting myself and others, too.
Your post also reminded me of a great quote by Chief Seattle:
“The Earth does not belong to us. We belong to the Earth”
Thanks so much for this thoughtful and inspiring piece.
Cheers,
Miche
.-= Miche – Serenity Hacker´s last blog ..Is Passion Necessary for a Meaningful Life? =-.
Hi Miche,
You are most welcome. Thank you so much for sharing that quote. That was just awesome. I will have to add it to my book of quotes that I collect.
Hope all is well with you.
I’m a fan of systems and ecosystems thinking whether it’s for building software or helping the world.
I’m not a fan of sacrificing people to volcanoes to make the volcano gods happy, but I do think it’s about harmony, where the best mix always ends up a blend of art and engineering.
As much as we know about how things work, I think we still get surprised, and I think our surprises can cost us a lot when we’re talking about goold ol’ Mother Nature.
.-= J.D. Meier´s last blog ..What 25 Holiday Classics Teach Us About Life and Fun =-.
Hi JD,
Harmony is key and often people do things that generate more disharmony than harmony. I think sometimes even systems do that because to some degree not everything in life can be boiled down to a set method. That is one of the problems in modern society, we have lost the ability to be imaginative. Scientists who changed the world did so due to creativity.
Take Sir Issac Newton. This was a guy who watched an apple fall from a tree and that image generated some thoughts and he went out to mathematically prove the existence of gravity. Today if a scientist asks to write a research grant based on his observation of an apple falling from a tree, he/she would be denied funds or laughed at. I come from a family of scientists who are part of that brain trust. The older generations of scientists say that there is no more imagination anymore in younger generations. I think that is because most people want everything to be a tight set formula and life is just not like that. I think that is what makes life beautiful.
Apologies for going off topic but I think systems can be dangerous too. Of course, your definition for systems may be very different than mine. So maybe we are saying the same thing but in different ways.
And your comment about Mother Nature surprising us is very true.
THIS Nadia – this topic of nature is one that is closer to my heart than perhaps all others combined.
As my spirituality and awakening grew in these last few years to connect me to who I am, my connection to nature grew along side, but exponentially. Today…almost everything I do has nature taken into account…from what I eat to what I buy on every level, the activities I do, etc….
I have not transformed my life into the perfect “eco-zone” yet….although I am laughing at the term and use of the word “yet”, I am very motivated to make myself and my life as in harmony with nature as possible, so I am striving towards that. My love for nature, for Mother Earth is overflowing today and it pains me to know what humans have done and what is even happening today as we speak…but I do not dwell on it, and I do not dismiss or ignore it either… instead I become the change I want to see. I look at what I am doing, wanting and being and align my life to reflect the harmony of nature in all ways that I presently can.
More and more I am called to a natural life….simpler….quieter. In fact my husband and I who currently live in a typical suburban neighborhood, have a strong call within to move to a cottage in the wilder forests of Ontario…cottage country some would call it. We want to feel the Earth daily…get our own food and water from it too.
Either way, what I hope all people realize from this article is exactly what you said here:
“There is nothing wrong with corporations wanting to earn money but to earn money at the expense of nature is wrong.” This relates to many things in our lives too…
This in my opinion is the first thing that needs to change, and as far as I see it…..it is changing. Nature will not allow herself to be destroyed.
.-= Evita´s last blog ..Make Every Holiday a ‘Holy Day’: Redecorating the Landscape of Life =-.
Hi Evita,
I so much could relate to what you wrote and with the desire to live off the land. We are thinking the same thing too but not up in Canada. We are aiming for a different part in America that is more natural and simple. We currently live in a suburban area and the pace of life here is something that is getting harder and harder to deal with since it seems to be at odds with what we want for ourselves. Not that this is a bad area. On the contrary, it is very nice but I think it is important to feel harmony with one’s surroundings.
I also love the term “eco-zone”. I have no doubt that you will achieve that goal. Your passion for spirituality and nature are very obvious and sincere which is wonderful.
Hope all is well!
I’m watching an interesting series on the travel channel about five “natives” from a small Pacific island who visit various parts of the US. These are people who completely in tune with their environment, and it’s interesting to see their reactions to our way of living. They don’t quite understand the quest for money, because it leaves many people out when there is so much. Where they come from the land gives them everything they need. It’s interesting to see that many of our delusions are a result of our estrangement with our natural environment. Civilization see the environment, absurdly, as a possession.
Thanks, another thought-provoking article!
.-= Kaushik´s last blog ..How to mend a broken heart =-.
Hi Kaushik,
That sounds like an amazing program. We do not have cable television but I will check to see if we can get that online.
And I love how you wrote that modern civilization sees nature as a possession. That is what the Native Hawaiians and Americans felt about the “white man” asking them to sign contracts for land.
Hope all is well!
Nadia, thank you for creating this beautiful love letter to Mother Earth. Like you, I adore her and am trying to do everything I personally can to honor the gift of her presence to us. She gives us everything! Without her we are nothing, truly! My heart breaks each day when more news comes of how we are de-sacralizing her– and ourselves!
I must be doing at least something right though as my youngest daughter (now 19) is now an environmental sciences major. She is passionate about the earth (and an artist) so I am pleased that one of my seeds has been well planted and will bring progress, healing, education, and more to the planet because of her. May we all live with ease and grace and generosity of heart with our Mother.
Hi Jan,
You are welcome and thank you for your heartfelt comment which reflected your love of nature. It is heart breaking to see what is happening. Cancer is not a normal disease of aging. It occurs when the body turns against itself. To think that some companies will intentionally put toxic trash in a lake which provides water to surrounding communities is something that I do not comprehend. Nor do I want to comprehend it.
And how cool about your daughter majoring in environmental sciences. Good for her!
I do not know what to think about global warming anymore. There seem to be zealots on both sides, and lately news of suppressed evidence that indicates tampering with temperature records has been going on in the scientific community, politically motivated. What can one believe? Believe in oneself, I guess, and follow one’s own conscience.
I cannot change that humans need housing but I can do my best to make my own home, and the one that we will eventually be building, as green as I can and let others know their options in building.
I cannot change that family cars in China are increasing exponentially and that they might not have the emissions standards we have. But I can continue to drive less and walk more, as I do.
I cannot change that those who make millions and millions in green industries and from books and movies about global warming or the terror of capitalism advise us to “reduce energy consumption,” then flit around the world in private jets and enjoy the air conditioning and heating in their 20,000 square foot homes — or multiple homes. But I can continue to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as I can in my own sphere. And I can keep on singing to trees.
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Kelp Bikinis & Squirrels With Waivers?!? =-.
Hi Jannie,
What a beautiful comment! I loved it especially the last paragraph. You made such a great point about those who make millions in the green industries and yet live lifestyles that are quite lavish. I have often thought the same thing too. How much is too much. Actually, my post tomorrow deals with that issue. But as for this post, when it comes to nature and the environment, all we can do is work within our sphere of influence and I know that you do.
And isn’t singing to trees just awesome?
We are too proud to accept that we are part of nature. Instead we foolishly choose to live apart from it. As a consequence, we have exploited the very source of our replenishment. Now, because of our arrogant ignorance, we have made a slow decay of the condition of our existence. This is sad.
Hi Walter,
I am so fortunate to have readers who leave such beautiful comments. Thank you for being one of them. I loved your phrase “arrogrant ignorance”. That is so true and very unfortunate. We think everything is separate when the reality is that everything is connected.
Hi Nadia,
Like Jannie, I’m uncertain what to think about global warming, as well.
But having said that, I remember when we had our wood recycling business and the sense of satisfaction we got from having nearly zero waste. Some how, some way, we found a use for each end product. Although we have since closed down that portion of our business, I’m very aware of how waste can harm the planet and our environment.
And to echo what Walter said, in the name of convenience we’re using up our resources with no regard to how they will be replenished. That is truly sad.
.-= Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..The Shortest Lesson Ever =-.
Hi Barbara,
No worries regarding your thoughts on global warming. You are not alone in your uncertainty. Even though I may share a different view, I can understand the uncertainty because there are some people in my life who share that same perspective. I used to not understand why they did not see things as I did but in talking more and more about the issue, I understand why they feel as uncertain as they do. So like I said, no worries.
How cool about having zero waste when you had a wood recycling business. I am sure that would generate a huge sense of satisfaction. My dad has an organic garden and when I was a kid, we used to do our own compost and it was cool to see how it all would come together the following season.
And I am so with you on the dangers of convenience. It is truly very sad.
Thank you, Nadia. After I hit submit on the above comment I thought “Uh-oh, did I just shoot my mouth off, was I too judgmental of others? Just wanted you to know that.
Now, on to read your newer post — which I am sure will be another interesting and heartfelt one.
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..With Not A Dry Parental Eye In The House =-.
Hi Jannie,
You are most welcome and you did not sound too judgmental. You sounded like you!