Advent Earth Care

My theme for this first week of Advent is "Cherish and care for the earth". I express my unity with nature at Advent in many ways:

• by offering small gifts of love and attention in recognition of all I receive from the earth;
• by learning the names of my neighbors- the birds, bugs, trees, and plants;
• by advocating for earthcare with my community;
• and by finding joy and fulfillment in simply being alive, instead of in an excess of buying, eating, using, and wasting.

Agenda Today:

1. Read "Shinto Meditations"

2. Journal queries
3. Redefine my work for earth care

4. Collection walks
5. Make bird feeder pine cones

1. Read "Shinto Meditations":

I'm reading "Shinto Meditations for Revering the Earth", by Stuart Picken (2002), which is a collection of Shinto-inspired devotions divided by the seasons.

In the preface the author says, "I would like to help awaken you to what religion began as, when nature was the spirit's only guide. ... Its sentiments, beliefs, and responses were drawn from direct communion with the natural."

The author's purpose is to share an ancient way to commune with the divine spirit of nature, and I hope to find some inspiration here for my own path to the same purpose. I believe Shinto is the only recorded description of what all original religion must have been like, and so a way to connect to my own roots. 

2. Journal queries:

Last year my query for the year was- 

How do I effectively witness to my community about my leading to live in Unity with the Earth, and share the Truth in a way that inspires the passion for change that I feel?

I can't say that I found an answer. Those who had been coming to Earthcare Support Meetings in years past have drifted off - perhaps because they didn't find the support they were seeking, or perhaps they found other avenues - and I am left with only my Earthcare blog as a forum for witness.

This year I find myself looking for realistic hope. I don't believe that our society will ever overcome the deep injustices that are at the core of our society: Colonialism, racism, patriarchy, and the rape of nature. I'm holding on to what the Jolly Quaker (British Quaker Mark Russ) calls apocalyptic hope: "Apocalyptic hope involves letting go of many of the things we might otherwise put our faith and hope in, and learning what hope looks like in a World that is coming to an end."

First and foremost, we must return to "faithfully listening to and following the guidance of the Spirit. ...  maybe we could be a community of hope if we made supporting each other’s faithfulness to the Spirit a part of our communal life. We could find hope in the still small voice that will help steer us in a World that is coming to an end. What would it look like if we saw our individual faithfulness to the Spirit as each other’s business?"

My overarching queries for this year are-

How do I maintain an awareness of the holiness inherent in Nature, and commune deeply with the divine spirit of nature?

How can I find hope for myself, and support hope in my community, as the world comes to an end? 

3. Redefine my work for earth care:

I need to simplify and refocus my community efforts this year. What is the best way to spend my limited time? What will have the greatest impact for the earth, and for building hope?

1. The Friends Meeting Earthcare Support Group might have outlived its usefulness for others, but it has been very grounding for me. My goals are to continue to write a weekly blog, with an emphasis on hope, and create synergy for advocacy, especially for climate change. Perhaps it's time for an EFM Climate Work Group?

2. The Friends Meeting Peace and Justice Committee is where I bring the EC ideas for action, which we season, and then bring to the Meeting as a whole. Perhaps we can work on a Climate Minute together?

3. The Interfaith Earthkeepers is a consortium of faith communities "committed to the care of God's creation". I find it to be an informed, passionate, and active group of people. I created an IFEK web calendar, but it needs more definition. I want to build a connection with individuals from each church who can help create more faith-based events to share.

4. 350Eugene's goal is to "build the global grassroots climate movement that can hold our leaders accountable to science and justice." My goals are to continue to build relationships, get educated, and join in actions when I can.

4. Collection walks:

I try to take a walk every day, for exercise and also to stay in touch with the season, my neighborhood, the birds, the sky, the leaves, and the moon cycle. I collect three things on my walks:

• I've been noticing a lot of litter in the alleys - a product of our throw-away society and the rampant homelessness in our country. I carry a trash bag  and a grabber tool; this year I've decided to especially target plastic litter because it is so toxic for the birds.

• I want to learn about the wildlife that lives in our area in the winter, and learn the names of the trees in my neighborhood, so I've been collecting a photo each day of a tree or a bird to add to my Nature Notebook.

• I use a lot of natural materials in my crafting, so I'm always on the lookout for greens, pine cones, straw, and other natural materials.

5. Make bird feeder pine cones:

When it gets colder, the wild birds will look for high energy foods. 

Peanut butter is high in fat and full of protein, and could be considered the perfect bird food. Be sure to get natural, no-sugar peanut butter, or use vegetable shortening as an alternative.

Supplies: 1 c. peanut butter or shortening, or a combination, 1 c. oatmeal or cornmeal, large pine cones, bird seed, yarn or string

Yield: Makes 2 bird cones-

1- Mix equal parts peanut butter or shortening with oatmeal or cornmeal until well blended. (I used half a cup of each and it just covered this one medium-sized cone.)

2- Choose a pine cone. Cut a long length of string to hang the bird feeder, and tie around the pine cone near the top (about 3 sections down).

3- Use a butter knife to spread peanut butter inside the pine cone and around the edges.

4- Fill a bowl with birdseed. Roll the pine cone in the birdseed and use your hands to pack it on firmly.

Go out and hang it in a tree where you can watch from a window.