Ancient Awareness

Agenda:

1. Read "Step into Nature"

2. Proaction

3. Reciprocity plans

1. Read "Step into Nature":

I've just started this book by Patrice Vecchione (2015), subtitled Nurturing Imagination and Spirit in Everyday Life. My goal with this book is to soften the bluntness of my Nature-Culture ideas and add some wonder.

"To learn how to best care for the earth and how to find the will to do so, we need to ask previously unasked questions, be more wholly aware, engage our senses and our spirits, honor our emotions, and put stock in the earth's wisdom."

She advocates for walking in nature to deepen my love for the earth, inspire my art-making, and balance my emotions. "If we want to care about the earth, don't we need to know her?"

Chapter 1 is The Allure of the Earth. Patrice, like many writers about nature, gets woo-woo very quickly, speaking of a mysterious ancient awareness that our cells have not forgotten - That may or may not be true. It is true that the earth has a "power and presence" that soothes us. If we can force ourselves to go outside and find a green space, even just to gaze at for a moment, our day is better. The allure then is that we need healing and the earth is the medicine?

It is a fact that we are a part of Nature, whether or not our cells remember. I contend that we are not a good part: We are like a plague on earth. We cannot keep taking and taking, and then expect Earth to heal our ills without making some serious reparations at the same time.

"There are fewer dividing lines between the human-made world and the non-human one than we sometimes think. The earth is what everything stands on -- below the street and sidewalk, holding up house, school, and office."

2. Proaction:

Every Wednesday I try to journal a bit about the future, about my dreams and goals: What GREAT things do I want to accomplish? How will I serve people? How will I use my talents? How will I stretch myself? How can I become an “island of excellence”? What is essential?

Then I try to define achievable, meaningful goals and prioritize the goals and tasks with the greatest long-term impact.

My Journal: It is essential that I get out of town for a bit; the ocean is calling me. I want to walk on the beach, take photos of tide pools, feel the wind and the waves on my skin. (It's a pilgrimage!) Then I will return and reciprocate with my writing and a renewed energy for Earth Care Action.

3. Reciprocity plans:

Reciprocity means to pay forward the benefits you receive from nature by educating others and advocating for nature, with all your creative self.

My reciprocity goals are:

1. Write more about reciprocity for the intro section (see old EC blog posts for ideas)
2. This month's theme - advocate for OCERA, the rights of the earth in legislation.