To be rooted means I belong here, strong and grounded in Love, Truth, and Creation, solidly living in the Now, connected to the Divine Whole, and radiant in peace, in health and resilience. It means I belong in my home, my family, and in my community, I'm integrated and whole.
At Lent I allow myself to be slow, simple, and thoughtful. I spend time each day in focused study and prayer. This Lent, I plan to study nature like I would prepare to visit a foreign country - learn the language of my bird and plant neighbors, and continue to explore my relationship to the natural world, the cycles of the seasons, and the history, culture, and ecosystem of my valley.
And I also observe Lent as a time of creative action, acting on my leading to become more rooted in Creation with small and large actions at home and in my community, and by sharing Medicine Art projects with my grandson and others.
My intentions this year are to:
- Read and Journal: I intend to learn more about the nature in my own backyard, starting with a dive into various web sites, and will also keep a daily nature journal with notes about the weather and things I notice.
Explore resilience practices: I'm also reading from the book, "101 Mindful Ways to Build Resilience," by Donald Altman, which offers simple ideas for being more rooted in my body and mind.- Take creative action: In the weeks of Lent, I intend to act on my leading to become more rooted in Creation by
- Tending my garden (and letting it tend me)
- Building habitat for plant and animal people
- Supporting and working directly on campaigns to defend the environment
- Witnessing to others with writing, talking, and artwork.
- Fast: This year, like last year, I intend to fast from all new single-use plastic, and continue to experiment with plastic alternatives. I'm also going to witness to why plastic production is so dangerous, and why we need to slow it down.
February 26, Forgiveness Sunday-
1. Nature Mentor: Today I watched the 4th video in the Nature Mentor's Bird Language video series, called Five Steps For Going Deep Into The World of Bird Language. Brian is so excited to explain how learning to understand bird language will help you become aware of the harmonious life of nature all around you, live in a more sensitive way, and create a better world. He has an infectious enthusiasm!
He also has an online course he calls the Bird Language Blueprint, and these are some of the steps he covers in that course:
- How to choose the best birds to study, that will give you the most information without overwhelming you.
- How to find good locations to practice, including your backyard.
- How to be stealthy and not cause alarms.
2. Resilience practice: I'm reading from the book, "101 Mindful Ways to Build Resilience," by Donald Altman, which offers simple ideas for being more rooted in my body and mind. Practice #5 is to Tone Up Your Vagus Nerve.
The vagus nerve runs up the inside of your spine, and its purpose is to regulate and relax you. You can actually learn how to activate it either before or after times of stress.
- Bring the palms of your hands together in front of your chest, and notice the warmth between them for a moment or two, to get centered.
- Take a big inhale into your belly as you slowly open both arms outward.
- When arms are spread open to the max, hold your breath for a count of two.
- Then slowly release all your breath with a count of four, as you move your palms back together.
- Repeat 3-5 times.
3. Ask forgiveness:
I ask for forgiveness from those I've hurt, and I offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me - and to those who hurt the earth. In asking and offering forgiveness, I hope to be able to release this burden of shame, indignation, and fear, and move on with resilience.
4. Plastic fast, Week 2 - Food shopping: Much plastic waste is created in the packaging of foods. When we shop, we find shrink-wrapped cucumbers, meat bundled up in Styrofoam, and plastic jugs of milk. In order to avoid plastic packaging from food and drinks, some research and planning ahead is required.
Buying in bulk is one way to reduce single-use plastics, especially for foods like pasta, rice, nuts, and beans (often packaged in plastic bags), and oils and nut butters (often in plastic jars). Think about the stores you can go to that provide staples in bulk; do you know which ones will allow you to bring your own jars and containers to refill?
Add glass jars and re-usable plastic containers to your zero waste shopping kit (and remember to ask for the tare weight).
February 27, Clean Monday-
2. Nature Mentor: I've been enjoying my dive into the Nature Mentor website. The writer, Brian Mertins, offers a practical approach to awakening naturalist instincts by building skills with plants and birds. Today I downloaded his free e-book called What's That Crow Saying?
One important thing to remember is that crows are ALWAYS and ONLY ever talking about tangible things that directly relate to their survival as a species.
2. Plastic fast:
In the late 1970s, the meat industry standard became polystyrene foam trays. Styrofoam is a petrochemical made with styrene, which is classified as a known hazardous substance and has many ties to cancer. Styrofoam toxins seep into the food contents, and according to the EPA, as styrene leaches from landfills into our drinking water, it causes liver, kidney, or circulatory system problems. Minorities and people living in poverty are more likely to live near landfills and factories, and are disproportionately affected.
Solution: Find and shop at a deli or meat counter that wraps with paper rather than plastic or Styrofoam, or ask if you can put products in your own containers.
3. Prayer of Cleansing:
I Cleanse My Soul- Author Unknown
I cleanse my soul in the dews of spring,
Light of mind's refreshing dew
Love of heart's renewing dew,
Life being's restoring dew,
Cleanse and recreate my soul this night.
May the souls of all beings be
Peacefully preserved
From fall of night
Till day's dear light.
February 28-
2. Resilience practice: Practice #6 is to create a morning blessing. "Morning is a special time, a sacred time in the sense that it harkens our return to the world of daily activity. ... Awakening is a metaphor for how you wake up to appreciating each new day in a meaningful, playful, creative, and thoughtful way".
The author suggests that you write down a blessing of gratitude each morning, that helps you to shift into a place of ease and grace.
- Focus on a single, simple gratitude, such as appreciation of your body, or fresh water, or a relationship that bring you joy.
- Make a point of appreciating something new each morning.
- Write each one down so you have a record.
- Mentally repeat your blessing throughout the morning, and notice how it makes you feel.
1. Nature Mentor:
I'm reading through Brian Mertin's free e-book called What's That Crow Saying?
He says that crows have two types of caws, that he calls structured and unstructured.
The primary function of structured caws is to keep track of other members of their flock at a distance. They sound like a short burst of 1-9 caws, all be similar in sound, volume, and intensity. Then a short pause of silence anywhere between 15 - 60 seconds. Then another burst of caws followed by another period of silence, and so on - structured and consistent, and indicating an overall emotional state of safety, relaxation and well-being.
To hear an example of this type of calling visit this webpage.
3. Creative Action: I'm starting work on a garden themed collage-painting that collects together some of the plants and animals I feel affinity with. I'll post it here later.
4. Plastic fast: Many condiments and food items that are sold in plastic jars (mayonnaise, catsup, salsa, peanut butter, oil, etc.) are also sold in glass. You may need to pay more, and you may need to search the shelves to find them.
March 1-
I'm reading through Brian Mertin's free e-book called What's That Crow Saying?
He says that crows have two types of caws, that he calls structured and unstructured. Unstructured caws are loud and have no pattern; sometimes many crows join in or only two.
"Unstructured crow caws fluctuate in volume, pitch, frequency and overall intensity as the event gets more intense. Continuous “cawing” from multiple individuals can go on without stopping for a very long time as the crows mob the source of their excitement. If you hear these sounds coming from a group of crows, you might see other crows flying towards them at rapid speed to rally and mob an eagle or an owl."
This link contains examples of a low intensity alarm situation, And this link contains an example on the more extreme end of the alarm spectrum such as when crows are rallying to mob an owl.
2. Resilience practice: Practice #7 is daily intention setting. "A consciously thought out intention aligns you with your deepest values. ... A guiding intention invites a sense of order and calm into your life". Start with a simple intention that supports your work on resilience: To treat others with respect and kindness, or to be less reactive when encountering triggering events, or to keep a positive attitude.
My intention today is to give focused attention to Grandson #1 while holding Grandson #2.
3. Plastic fast: At super markets, bread is always sold in a plastic bag, and most other bakery items come in plastic #1 PET thermoform clamshells. These are not recyclable, due to specific temperature needs and attached adhesives.
One option is to shop at a local bakery - someplace where you can buy fresh bread and bakery items that come in paper bags, or cardboard containers: This eliminates plastic wrapping waste from shop-bought bread and you help support local businesses.
You might also want to sign this petition at Change.org, to let supermarkets know your concern about clamshell packaging, and encourage them to find recyclable options for packaging their goods.
March 2-
1. Nature Mentor: Today I continued to read through Brian Mertin's free e-book called What's That Crow Saying?
After defining the two types of crow caws, he advises me to get out there and try to notice what activities go along with them:
"When you hear crows making structured vocalizations... look around for signs of “maintenance” behaviour (resting, preening, feeding, nesting, courtship)
When you hear crows making unstructured vocalizations... try to get closer and see if you can identify what’s causing the emotional intensity".
2. Resilience practice: Practice #8 is an evening blessing, to bring a sense of closure to the day. Choose a time of the night when you can be fully present, and repeat this at the same time each night.
- Lower the lights, take a slow breath, put your hand over your heart.
- Think back over your day. Recall one unexpected positive event or response from another for which you are thankful, and remember little moments that you savored and appreciated.
- State your gratitude for that which this day provided.
- Send a wish for rest, peace, love, and wellness to others.
3. Plastic fast:
When in season, remember to buy berries and other fruits from farmers markets. Farmers often use sustainable packaging or will reuse what you bring. Freeze or can fruits when it is available seasonally, to avoid buying plastic bags of berries later.
March 3, Hina Matsuri-
2. Resilience practice: Practice #9 is a sleep ritual, to help ensure that you get a good night's sleep, which we all know will help you be more resilient! Set your bedtime at the same time every night, to train your inner sleep clock.
- Start one hour before your regular bedtime. Turn off the tv, tablets, and computer, so the light from these devises doesn't interfere with the production of melatonin.
- Choose any activities that will calm you down: Take a warm bath, get into your pajamas, listen to soft music, have a hot drink, read something fun...
- Let go of thoughts about "things to do', and let your mind take a creative story journey instead.
1. Nature Mentor: Today I watched this little video that Brian Mertin's sent to me: What's that Crow Doing?, with "3 super cool crow behaviors that happen during winter".
On Hina matsuri some Japanese families perform the purification custom called hina-okuri: By stroking or breathing on paper hina dolls they symbolically inject them with their own wrongdoings or ills, then they pile their dolls in a small wooden boat, and float them down the river!
Today I will seek to become aware of a connection to the nature spirits - the kami - or that of God in all of nature, and offer my prayers of hope. My hina doll says, "I invite the birds in my neighborhood to speak to me".
4. Plastic fast: Raise Your Voice: Talk to store managers. If the store has bulk foods, ask about bringing your own containers. Ask if plain paper can be substituted for plastic lined paper. Ask for changes in plastic wrapped produce, fish, and meat. Ask stores to stock products in glass containers instead of plastic; they need to hear from the customers that we want plastic alternatives! Say thank you where you see positive changes.
March 4,
World Day of Prayer-
1. Resilience practice: Practice #10 is to practice the BE-THIS grounding skills, an acronym for Breathe, Emotion, Touch, Hearing, Intentional
- Take 2 or 3 soothing Breaths.
- Tune in to your Emotional state.
- Place your hands over your eyes, then your temples, then one on your forehead and one on the back of your neck, and feel the soothing Touch.
- Notice as many different and subtle sounds as you can Hear.
- Intentionally stretch your shoulders and neck.
- Notice as many Sights and Smells as you can, with child-like wonder.
Practice this process whenever you feel scattered or anxious, to help to ground and settle all your senses.
2. Prayerful Action:
They ask, "What are the stories of faith in your community? How do you encourage them with your prayers and actions?"
3. Plastic fast: Remember Integrity: As you take action on reducing plastics in your life, you might feel some resistance to change, and regret at the loss of conveniences, but you can do hard stuff. Integrity requires us to live congruent with the Light, and for our belief and actions to be aligned.
Query: How do you use the resources and strength you are given to meet the challenges of living a whole and honest life?
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