Getting Organized for Action

We had a great Earthcare Action Meeting on Sunday, and generated ton of ideas. As the leader, my next steps are to make a plan, discern and do my parts, and find volunteers for the other bits. 

Agenda:

1. Read "The Earth Keeper's Handbook"

2. Proaction and reciprocity plans

3. Love meditation

1. Read "The Earth Keeper's Handbook":

I've just begun this book by Loren Swift (2019), subtitled "Assuming Leadership in a New World." The premise is that lack of care for each other (people) results in lack of care for the earth. "This book details the practical steps to shift the paradigm internally from conflict to cooperation and to make the same shift in relationships and in group endeavors." Well, that is the work I need to do this fall and winter.

The first section is The Way In. Chapter 1 is The Inward Journey. She says that our own "inner landscape" is like mycelium, an invisible matrix of connection to everything, so going inward is the way to reconnect. "Deep self-connection affords us a wide range of insights via our expanded awareness."

We begin with self-acceptance, and building a healthy ego - one that keeps us integrated into our community - so we feel calm, self-confident, humble, generous, and empathetic.

When I know and trust who I am, I am free to serve the greater good. "The ego acting alone is only equipped to fend for itself ... A healthy ego, on the other hand, is flexible, integrated ..., and able to recognize our interdependence with others."

2. Proaction and reciprocity plans:

On Wednesdays I often journal a bit about the future, and 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 fall goals are to gather a core group of active individuals who want to work on earthcare projects; Take a theme that the group is excited about and write and plan my own kind of education and craftivism; expand my personal growth and study in clean water and clean air.

This week:

1. Help the newly gathered Earthcare Action Group hone a plan of action for the fall and winter, and schedule first steps.
2. Write this week's action newsletter, and find possible group work party.
3. Research actual butterflies to try to feed in my garden, and plan plantings; begin to plant and transplant.
4. Write about: Plastics advocacy and education, trout-friendly education and craftivism; Forest fires; beach clean-ups

Next week:

1. Take up the threads of legislation for one cause: Restricting neonics pesticides. Research and write a mad-libs script for letter writing - maybe for Oct. 19?
2. Draft a new Earth Care pamphlet for Nov. 2.
3. Write about: Plastics advocacy and education, trout-friendly education and craftivism; Forest fires; beach clean-ups

3. Love Meditation:

Every month after the full moon, in the quiet-energy yin time of the waning moon, I practice a love meditation that progresses from receptivity, to gratitude, to generosity:

Day 1: Practice a love meditation, and open to receive blessings - send a prayer to the universe asking to be showered with love, kindness, health, and happiness.

1. 1 minute - Relax your body, and focus on the tender emotion of generous love. Allow a smile to settle on your face and in your heart.
2. 1 minute - Visualize love as soft, tingly, warm, pink light, and see it move from your heart to every part of your body so that every cell is glowing and vibrating.
3. 1 minute - Now see the pink light of love radiating to fill the whole room, then the whole city, and the whole planet earth.
4. 1 minute - See that all people, plants, and animals feel warm and happy.
5. 1 minute - Send an extra dose of love light to those people you want to have a better connection to.