Hormê

As a stoic, I practice Hormê or impulse to ethical action; the application of ethics for daily living of a virtuous life, and living in harmony with the community of all mankind - and all living beings that share the planet with me - benevolently wishing all of life to flourish and achieve happiness, but releasing the outcome to the Universal spirit.

Releasing the outcome is essential: If I take on the guilt and sadness of the world I will not be able to function.

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.

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. The allure is that we need healing and the earth is the medicine.  It is true that the earth has a "power and presence" that soothes us. Time spent in nature will improve your mental health, and she shares many stories to prove her point.

"Abundance is restorative. ... I won't die of lack, not while I'm surrounded by this enormous sky, watching thousands of leaves caught by the breeze. Of course, if we want to support the earth's enoughness, it's important to get out there and do what we can to preserve it."

Maybe I just know too much about the damage we have and are doing to this vast earth, and how much has been lost. When I go into nature, my sadness is for the earth, and I do not feel that soothing me is the earth's responsibility. I need to remember Hormê, take myself in hand, and release the outcome to the Universal spirit.

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: I'm dreaming of September and a time after being clerk, and after the big earth-care event of this Saturday, when I can go back to being the face of Earth-care Action for the Meeting! I hope to stretch myself by getting involved in legislation.

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. First thing, I want to have an After-Party for Quakers who want to take action, to plan what we will do. 
2. Go back to writing a bi-weekly action newsletter.
3. Write more about reciprocity for my Nature-Culture book.
4. Take up the threads of legislation for one cause: Perhaps the Green Amendment or restricting neonic pesticides.