April 22, 2022
Valley Below Fruitlands Museum Harvard Massachusetts
"When the Pleiades and the wind in the grass are no longer a part of the human spirit, a part of very flesh and bone, man becomes, as it were a kind of cosmic outlaw, having neither the completeness and integrity of the animal nor the birthright of a true humanity... Touch the earth, love the earth, her plains, her valleys, her hills, and her seas; rest your spirit in her solitary places. For the gifts of life are the earth’s and they are given to all... " Henry Beston/The Outermost House 1928
Step back. Be appreciative for all the miracles of nature. The first step in preserving the earth is appreciating her beauty and majesty and harmonizing with her rhythms.
Donate to an organization that works to preserve the oceans, the beaches, the forests, the parks this Earth Day, but BE SURE your organization is legitimate. Many of these organizations have become too politicized and are more about power and control than about preserving the miracle of the earth. Healing earth first means to understand her; to appreciate her.
For today, just appreciate the earth and all she gives. Put politics aside. Go for a hike in the woods or a ride down a country road. Get out and clean your yard. Pick up trash along your street or join a larger group cleanup. Plant a garden in your yard. Connect with the power of nature.
Nature heals if you allow it. When life's stresses become overwhelming, I go for a walk in a favorite sanctuary, by the ocean, alongside a stream or river, by a quiet pond. There I can feel the ocean or trees and green grasses pull the stress from my body, like a baking soda paste pulls out a bee sting. The more I walk, the more my body relaxes and releases the stress. I start breathing more deeply and the beauty turns my mind to better thoughts.
Nature connects you with life's rhythm. There is a beauty in nature that is incomparable and perhaps doesn't exist ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE. There is magic and healing in her rhythms, songs and visual expression. The winds whisper or stir. The gurgling brook massages. The tall grasses sing. Be like Mae, who, walking to school one day stopped and said, "Mom, look, an acorn!" She saw the beauty. She instantly connected with the magic of creation.
Take a walk, a hike, a kayak down a river. Sit under a tree in the park. Stare at the stars in the night sky. Lie on a blanket and stare at the cloud formations. Watch them drift. Find a way to connect every day.. You'll never find that peace or bliss or wonder or healing on your laptop, your cell phone, virtual reality, fancy clothes, important positions. What is inherent in nature outdoes the rest AND enhances the rest.
Nature gives you instant gratification be it a foggy morning, a rainy day, a sunrise or sunset. Smell the roses, look for that fleeting rainbow. The magic, peace and mystery are all around you.
Every day is earth day for me. When the time comes to take leave of this life experience...you won't be sorry for the missed texts or tv shows or video games or time spent on Facebook. You will be sorry for all the unseen waterfalls and sunsets, the unwalked paths, the missed swims in tropical waters and mountain lakes. You will wish that you'd looked up at the stars more evenings. You will be sorry that you didn't stop and pick up more acorns along life's journey..
