This day is one to be made love - its skin is so warm. Blueberry bell clusters chime with fragrance. Bumblebees are going mad with choice. Ferns spiral upwards in undulating stillness. Finches echo springtime's wonderment in song. Mud, moss, mayflowers, and violets; the sky a cloudless celebration of blue. The whole day heaves in a quiet kind of heat. To think I'd almost stayed inside to work at making something worthy; to earn what was already given; to praise what was already praised.
Sitting at my computer, I have a little wren visit me on the window ledge outside with a small cluster of leaves. Yes, he is nest building, preparing for the days and months to come. A small yet pertinent reminder to me right in front of my eyes which cannot be ignored. I love such synchronicities.
Opening the window now I hear birds calling across the green in the sunshine welcoming the afternoon and happy that the cherry tree standing here is budding with fresh new leaf. I think of all the new opportunities which wait beyond us waiting for our notice. A stillness hangs in the air and the softness of the day with the pink and white blossoms of an English village spring caress my mind overworked from too much time at the computer today. I have to step outside to fall into the embrace which welcomes and feel the ground supporting me.
Yesterday I wandered through the elegant array of bluebells in the wood, watched rabbits dart and bird flit beneath branches as sunlight filtered through after a shower feeling the cool breeze on my cheek.
How is it that we can ignore the messages, overlook the beauty that surrounds us? It was during a particularly stressful and traumatic time that I felt impelled to immerse myself in the warm hug of nature, to become enraptured by her enticing colours, textures and smells to release myself. I found trees to hug and felt the response sending shivers of delight along my veins.
No matter where you live there is some small piece of nature to enjoy. A window box with splendid colour, a vase of flowers beaming at you and filling your soul with joy when you decide to look and truly appreciate.
I love to wander down to the river and watch the ducks playing, diving for food and truly enjoying life. A true blessing to observe and it lifts the vibrations, the mood and makes one feel so good. Another place I love to go is to walk by the sea wandering along the shore looking for interesting pebbles, shells or seaweed and I find myself in the moment and all cares vanish. Taking my shoes off I then paddle in the cool water and am completely uplifted as the breeze strokes my face and the waves wash around my ankles. Nothing matters except the now. What a luxury and so healing. It was nature which had a hand in creating wellness when I was very ill some years ago. I give thanks for nature and her wonderful ways. Enjoy your time in nature and notice how you feel so much better.
Rosemary has been writing for many years, was the Creator of Binka, the children’s television series and has had many poems in anthologies. She has read at poetry events in her home country of UK, where she studied amongst other things beyond English at college, Creative Writing, Writing for Children, Children’s Fiction, Picture Book, Short Story Writing and has written a column in a local newspaper as well as theatre crits and articles. Currently she writes on line with women’s groups and takes writing workshops as part of her Creative Empowerment series to help people to open and to create from the heart.
In addition she has created A Book For Now and Another Book For Now which have different spiritual sayings in them and include some of her own artwork. A few of her other Self Help books are Fraught With Thought, The Magic of Life, Conscious Wellbeing and Look, Live, Survive and a Book Of Children Now.
Rosemary loves nature, lives in a beautiful environment and is passionate about the sea. Photography and Art are part of her toolbox and she is aware of the ‘soul touch’ of any who will come into contact with her work. She strongly believes in the healing power of nature and loves to walk in the countryside and in the woods surrounding her home not far from London.
At times she is wrathful, red scalding lava spewing from her mouth as she splits the ground with rage. Sometimes she is joyful, her immense green lap holding the smiles of lovers, children, and daisies. At other times she is silent, dressed in white robes of contemplation, or sensual and seductive with pink blossoms strung into her wild, leafy hair.
Why then do we as women apologize for our feelings? We allow male partners, even other women to place invisible signs in front of our homes and work places that read Beware of Woman when we are PMSing, pregnant, undergoing menopause, or in one of our many ‘moods’. One of our greatest gifts is our ability to embody the wide spectrum of human emotions and wear the colors with flair.
Perhaps this is only possible when we allow the emotions to be present with kindness, understanding, and forgiveness, and without shame or judgment. It took me six years to greet the messy feelings born with my daughter as angels instead of demons. With anger, fear, sadness, and shame as my constant companions during the postpartum period, I felt like an ugly caterpillar begging for the chrysalis stage so I could quickly transform into a beautiful butterfly. I couldn’t see that the road to heaven is sometimes paved with perceived pebble stones from hell.
Today, I still feel anger, fear, sadness, and shame. Sometimes the flashbacks from the postpartum period and my childhood are so strong, that I believe I am the ugly caterpillar destined to always be abandoned.
fear
wraps itself around me
in layers of warm escape
no room to move, to respond
to the wind's howling anger
or the earth's dampened spirit
under the weight of cloudy skies
and colorless rain
this coat constricts breathing
separates me
from all other beings
frozen in their own thoughts
encased by their own egos
the same wind asks,
"why wait till spring
to become a butterfly?"
Then I remember Mother Nature never apologizes for her feelings. Why then, should I?
Kaveri has been on a quest to find answers, not through religious texts, any particular person or popular dogma,but through her own experiences. She lives with her wonderful family in northern California where she practices medicine, meditation, parenting, yoga, writing, and patience. Kaveri's column here focuses on "Living Poetry." Her first book of poetry, An Invitation, is available on Amazon. She can be reached at: aninvitationpoetry@gmail.com
Healing Light and Shadows: Arica Palms and Banana Plant
by Sheila Finkelstein
Thank you, Jan, for the invitation to participate in these month’s “Nature as Healer” issue. Life’s synchronicities often amaze me. I participate in a weekly writing group. A recent, timed, four minutes of free flow writing fell perfectly into place for this issue.
The prompt was to a quote that unintentionally appeared this day, William Wordsworth’s, “Come forth into the light of things. Let Nature be your teacher.”
The Buddha Chick Life theme of the month was far from my thoughts as I wrote (then edited for this): “What is Nature teaching me as I look out through my patio’s wall-to-wall windows, across the width of my house?
I see a variety of leaves, the dead and live ones of the ginger plant and other bushes. Then there are the Arica Palms, many of the long slender leaves browned and crisp, ready to drop.
During the past six years ago, the palms have grown quickly, blocking out the light that had my first banana plant grow so tall. The latter produced a huge bunch of good-size bananas. My excitement with the growth of this first banana plant, for me, resulted in my taking a couple thousand photographs. The picture-taking actually became part of the healing aspect of Nature for me. Being in it, and with it, as I took photos of whatever called my eye and soul, became a stress reliever as well as a re-energizer. Further healing, relaxation and release of the anger at the impact of Parkinson’s Disease on my husband, occurred as I ran the downloaded photos as a slide show on my computer. Ultimately 100 of these photos, along with healing music, resulted in "Banana Sky" DVD, so others could experience some of the same.
The banana and the palm plants and their behaviors taught me about the beauty of light and shadows... the reminder that in order for there to be shadows there must be light.... I also saw the beauty that's available in death. This visual, visceral experience over several months shared powerfully the cycle of life and death at a time when I didn't really want to be dwelling on it. The fear, in denial, of losing my husband was there underneath it all.
On the more intellectual level, I learned that an individual banana plant lives only as long as its fruiting cycle. Then it dies off. Subsequent to the passage of the first, the palms grew larger and the banana plant had new shoots. Ultimately there were two and three plants with far less light, now overpowered by the palms blocking most of the sunlight.
The next season of the banana plants had one with two bunches growing on each. Albeit smaller bananas, they were still lively and tasty. The plants continue going through their cycles, simply differently and abundantly in their own way, teaching and reassuring us ongoingly of the Natural rhythms of life.
Sheila, www.sheilafinkelstein.com, is a photographer, an author, and a relationship coach who works with individuals and groups, teaching them how to use photography as a tool for creating new ways of seeing their world.
As caregiver to her husband, Sam, of 47 years, who was afflicted with Parkinson's Disease for over 12 of those years, Sheila found the camera to be a tremendous aid in restoring her own emotional balance. No matter what, each day ended with "I love you."
Sheila now passionately helps her clients find - and experience - wonder and magic in their relationships. The individuals with whom she works, together with their partners, build a treasure chest of actions and memories, so they know they are loving fully (before it's too late). They deepen their communication in areas in which they’ve been avoiding. They experience the loving touching that had been missing. Acts of love occur spontaneously, including giving and receiving unexpected gifts. Acknowledgment abounds. See www.LoveWithNoRegrets.com for more information.
Mothering in the Moment: Lessons on Mothering Learned from Mother Nature
by Jennifer Niedzielski
Mother Nature’s Life Lessons
As mothers, we have a profound teacher on the art of mothering available to us at all times. That teacher is Mother Nature. She has so much to teach us if we are ready and willing to listen. There is one lesson she has been waiting for me to learn for a very long time-- the Law of Least Effort. Now that I am a mother, it’s become essential that I learn it!
The Law of Least Effort is one of the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra. “Do less and accomplish more,” is its mantra. Now, I've just got to say, this is so not intuitive to me. I am (err-- was) the type of person who believes that struggle, stress, and strain are essential for doing anything of importance well. Thus, I pursed mothering with the same rigor I did everything else in life; I was hard on myself, demanded perfection, worked tirelessly without breaks, and sought control of every situation.
But my theory wasn’t effective in mothering (nor in life, I’m finally able to see). The harder I pushed myself in my mothering, the harder it pushed right back. I was constantly overwhelmed and stressed. I was anxious. I fell prey to perfectionist thinking. I was angry, tired, and reactive-- all the time! That’s when I started to realize that stress, strain, and working really, really hard to be successful was actually counter-productive. Perhaps there was something to the idea of doing less to accomplish more. What did I have to lose in testing it out?
The Effortless Ease of Mother Nature
The Law of Least Effort reminds us that Mother Nature’s intelligence functions with effortless ease and grace. There is no resistance. “Grass doesn’t try to grow, it just grows…Flowers don’t try to bloom, they bloom…Birds don’t try to fly, they fly” (Chopra). In essence, the Law of Least Effort is all about just “being.” It’s all about letting go, accepting the present moment, and not thinking so darn much.
To really grasp this concept of doing less, consider how a flower grows. It doesn’t stress or strain in order to “accomplish” its true nature and beauty. It simply does exactly what it is destined to do without expending any more effort or energy than absolutely necessary. It doesn’t think, “I wonder if I’m doing this right. Am I growing fast enough? Am I as pretty as the other flowers around me? Perhaps I should try to be tulip and not a rose. I really got to get going here. I better hurry up!”
Silly example, I know. But when I consider how everything in nature displays this effortless ease and grace (sans thought), I begin to realize just how much our thinking is our primary problem. As I see it, struggle, strife, and stress all come into play as a result of our “extra” thoughts about the thing we are doing, not the doing of the thing itself. Yes, we are intelligent human beings blessed with the ability to think, but we are also infinitely intelligent human beings blessed with the ability to control our thinking so to access the sacred space of non-thinking whenever we wish.
Mindful Mothering
The principle of the Law of Least Effort and doing less to accomplish more might not initially seem realistic in mothering. More times than not, we feel we have to expend as much effort as possible to accomplish the countless things that must be done every single day. There is no denying that mothering is, at times, chaotic, challenging, and all-consuming.
But what would happen if we thought “less” in these moments? What would happen if we didn’t mentally judge these moments as stressful, bad, boring, or unacceptable? What would happen if we intentionally breathed in and out in the situations that stressed us out and focused our attention on our breath and not on our negative thoughts?
I know what happens. I’ve experienced it. I mother from a sacred place. Every time I surrender to all the mothering moments in my life by releasing my judgment of them (e.g., doing less thinking), I accomplish peace of mind. When I accomplish peace of mind, I tap into my infinite font of pure love. When I mother from this place, I respond to my children and all my mothering moments with effortless grace and ease-- just like Mother Nature intended.
Jennifer Niedzielski is a teacher, writer, mother of three young daughters, and the co-founder of Mindful Moms Network™. After teaching in the traditional classroom setting for over 12 years, she is transcending classroom walls to inspire and teach women how to reclaim their calm and take exquisite care of their mind, body, and inner-selves amidst the chaos of mothering. Through Mindful Moms, it is her intention to create a nurturing and supportive community for moms that encourages Inward Development through the Art of Mothering.
Grow and Glow with Conscious Intention Healing through Meditation
Part II
by Cindy Hively
Conscious Intention Meditation teachings and practices guide you to experience the place of true inner peace where the 'story' and distractions of life fall away leaving you with a life of wholesome health and happiness.
Conscious Intention Meditation is a simple and authentic self-empowerment and healing system that only requires your presence, intention and passion. It does not require any prior qualifications in energy medicine, meditation or spiritual philosophies. It is a modern and advanced system used by people such as Reiki masters, yoga teachers, psychologists, energy healers, social workers, accountants, school teachers, university students, musicians, parents , workers and people of all cultures and ages. It is one of the most evolved systems used in the developmental education of enlightenment since 2010, yet is as ancient as the first moment of creation itself. I would say the healing through CIM is on fire and the word is out and being taken seriously. More and more are paying attention, especially in the field of Mental Wellness because of the over whelming scientific evidence that conscious intention medicine factually works. This is great news for those of us who suffer from chronic illness/any illness, and especially brain disorders.
Traditionally in Western culture, we have sought relief from stress, anxiety and depression through medicine, alcohol or drugs. Now, in today’s modern world and the joining together of world cultures through technology and media, we can enjoy sharing and exploring scientifically researched and proven practices such as meditation to enhance the well-being of our lives naturally and authentically. This system of meditation is easy and simple and requires less and less effort the deeper you go into the process of letting go. Can you feel relief and a sense of empowerment knowing this? I am using this practice everyday and jumping for joy. Inside of our own being we actually have the power to heal ourself, feel as well as possible, and the medical field is getting it! That is truly a cause for celebration ...
Thoughts are the cause of all human suffering. Our thoughts are constantly comparing, searching, seeking, judging, organizing, controlling, manipulating and questioning life. Who Am I? Why me? How do I look? Why do others act as they do? Why am I happy? Sad? Lonely? Depressed? Why is there anger? Blame? Criticism and war? Where do I find peace in my life? Is it in my relationship, money, work, my home or my car? The list goes on. The mind is always “doing’ something or getting ready to take action in order to survive, keep safe, or feel loved.
Thoughts from the past constantly replay themselves from our subconscious mind. For example, fear of abandonment, need for approval, unworthiness and failure are patterns that repeat themselves throughout life—in relationship with ourselves, others, and community. These thoughts sometimes force us into feelings of confusion and depression.
We define ourselves and who we believe we are through family, media, religion, spirituality and society. Our natural state of being is stillness, peace and silence. It is as pure and innocent as it was the moment you where born. From birth you have been conditioned, controlled, manipulated and encouraged to believe you are different than this natural state. The need for safety, wisdom and education is an important part of human existence but we spend so much time working on survival that we have forgotten to give ourselves time to stay in touch with our authentic self.
Peace is always will be present. Silently sitting behind the activity of the mind like an ocean that calmly abides, it watches the waves arising before itself, and from itself, but not separate from its own essence. Meditation helps control the waves of thought that crash endlessly against all resistance to peace. Meditation is an authentic contemporary approach to spiritual practice and inquiry designed to bring about a total transformation of humanity. Conscious Intention Meditation creates equilibrium of the mind.
One of the most common misconceptions people have about learning how to meditate is that it involves trying to stop your thoughts or attempting to control or change the mind in some way. For this reason, many people see it as something difficult to do. In truth, true meditation is completely effortless. In fact, trying to stop your thoughts is an impossible task. The mind's job is to produce a constant stream of thoughts and we actually have zero control over the content or the frequency of the thoughts. The average adult has around 100,000 thoughts per day, 95% of which are the same as yesterday! No wonder we find so little peace. Giving the monkey mind our attention all day is absolutely exhausting! One of the most significant benefits of learning how to meditate is that it frees up a tremendous amount of energy. CIM is the philosophy and the technique which helps direct the 'Conscious Mind' to create a new perception of itself by dismantling old patterns, habits and addictive thoughts. These patterns of beliefs are what creates the obstacles to happiness in our lives. (Source: Robyn Collins, Coordinator, Conscious Life Teachings. www.consciouslifemeditation.com)
CIM creates new neural pathways within the brain. This can lead to improved concentration, a feeling of true contentment and peace, increased productivity levels and sensation of fulfillment, joy and happiness. This meditation process also allows for previous life difficulties to be brought unto a place where you are able to consciously with intention heal from past experiences.
Why Meditate?
Stress, pressure, fatigue, poor diet, alcohol, and drugs damage neural connections between the brain’s prefrontal cortex—or “CEO”—and the rest of the brain. When you are overtired or under intense mental or physical stress, the brain bypasses its higher, more evolved, rational frontal executive circuits—it starts using more primitive stimulus/response pathways. Consequently, you respond to daily demands without thinking; you make impulsive, short-sighted decisions. When the CEO goes offline, strong emotions, such as fear and anger, take over, adversely coloring your view of the world.
Stress signs
Rigid thinking
Impulsive, reactive behavior
Shortsighted decision-making
Poor working memory
Distracted attention
Drug and alcohol abuse
Unethical thinking and behavior
Stressed physiology
Fatigue
High blood pressure
Eating and sleeping disorders
Weak immune system
Imbalanced emotions
Low self-esteem and self-confidence
Worries, anxieties, and fears
Shallow, divisive emotions
Unstable relationships
Depression
People who practice Conscious Intention Meditation have reported improvements in various areas of their lives.
Here are some of them:
Greater happiness
Inner Peace
Natural Spiritual connection
More mental clarity and creativity
Feeling less stressed
Improved sleep patterns
A more relaxed way of handling difficult situations
Improved energy levels
Greater self-confidence
A deeper understanding of life
Purposeful, flexible thinking
No impulsive, proactive behavior
Greater work focus & productivity
Farsighted decision-making
Excellent working memory
Settled, focused attention
No substance abuse or addictions
Ethical thinking and behavior
Energy and vitality
Fit cardiovascular system
Strong immune functioning
Self-confidence and secure self-esteem
Feelings of safety and peace
Compassion and empathy for others
Healthy interpersonal relations
Happiness and optimism
Practice is preparation. Without practice the human being is unprepared to meet the demands of life. Practice is, at its center, engagement. When you practice, you engage the various faculties that the chosen activity requires. The more you engage, the more prepared you become. When you took your first steps in life and began walking you most likely balanced tentatively, teetered and fell. Often. But with practice, as you engaged the activity of walking over and over, you became increasingly more competent, more proficient and ultimately more elegant to move about in the world and meet the demands of your life.
Without practice you often find yourself lacking the competence needed to meet the multifaceted challenges of life. Fail to engage in disciplining your mental focus and you are likely to find yourself in repeated dis-stress instead of focusing on real strategic priorities. Fail to practice attuning to your child and you are likely to find yourself unprepared in being able to connect with them as they grow. The practice of CIM is no different.
Without the repeated engagement of practice you are largely unprepared to meet the demands of your life. It is simple, practice is a necessity. But what happens when you engage life and acquire a certain level of competency that is satisfactory for you? To answer this question we must look more closely into what it means to engage.
Engagement is the conscious inhabitation of your body and mind. Practice is happening when your open awareness is moving with, in and through your embodied activity. Dedicating to practice is your conscious participation with your life. Engagement is the conduction of your free and open awareness through your activities, whatever they may be.
When you acquire a certain level of competence that is presumed to be working well, practice typically stops. As soon as ‘good enough,’ is achieved something subtle yet extremely powerful happens: habituation steps in. One of your habituation’s central attachments is comfort. Wherever you are comfortable, wherever ‘good enough’ is subjectively perceived, your habituation will invest vast amounts of resources to maintain this comfortable status quo. One way your ego achieves this is to stop practicing. Shoeing away the ego and continued practice of CIM will continue to cultivate your life in ways that keep you centered and grounded.
This inspired desire to cultivate equanimity for yourself, the inner imposition to develop and evolve your gifts, skills and unique capacities is nothing other than your Divine be-ing calling you forth into your greatest possibilities. Your desire to go beyond habituation, to reach into novelty and to liberate the constraints of your life is the beating heart of your true strength. When you free yourself from the ego’s grip upon comfort, I think you will find yourself realizing a necessity once again. If you are to actually face and embody the purpose of your life you need your strength. Without practice strength and cultivation rarely manifest. Ultimately, practice is part necessity and part inspiration. To understand and embody practice requires both.
“True fulfillment, peace and happiness can be found in the silence of the mind. Suffering is caused through the identification and definition of the body, the world and the question: who am I? Freedom is attained through transcendence. Conscious Intention Meditation is about welcoming the miracle, freedom and peace, found only in stillness”. ~Author Unknown
Wind rocks the pine tree while ravens lift and settle lift and settle on the branches saying and saying.
The size of them, the heft the sheen the meat of them as they lift and settle lift and settle saying, saying, saying.
The sky has that dark gleam of more rain to come it’s cold.
Wind in the pine tree branches: that sound and how the tree moves.
Those ravens: rearranging off and on saying, saying-- Suddenly they lift, tilt, veer: the light on those wings their heft, their sheen, their silence gone
The pine still moving as if breathing.
Photo Credit: Shiro Kasamatsu - Pine Tree in Rain, Kinokunizaka, in Tokyo
Janine Acevedo is filled with awe by the beauty in every day moments and can't help but write about them. She lives with her husband, daughter and dog in northern California. Being diagnosed with a chronic illness has made her slow down, and in doing do, she finds more and more at which to marvel.
It is our pleasure at Buddha Chick Life to welcome an inspiring naturalist and the author/illustrator of a delightful new children's book that encourages young ones to connect with and celebrate nature. She also invites us, as adults, to re-examine our relationship with nature. She shares ways that we can find delight in our natural surroundings in wonderful new ways. Welcome, Marghanita!
1. What led you to the writing of your book, Orange Moon - Grandmother Tree?
We all have a story to tell. Each one of us is a story teller. People weave in and out of our lives at different times for different reasons, each one gifting their stories as we share our journey with them. Some leaving footprints on our heats. One such person had many stories to share, gifting wisdom, knowledge and helping me find enlightenment. During my awakening, rebirth, I was gifted Orange Moon. It was on a beautiful summers day in this dear friend's enchanted garden when Orange Moon appeared, as if by magic dancing amongst the wildflowers. A vision so beautiful, so pure only the gods could gift. I believe Orange Moon was gifted to me to help return our children to Mother Earth.
2. What is the main message of this book? What do you hope the reader will gain from reading it?
The main message I would hope that readers take from the book is how infinitely connected we are to one another and everything in our world. And that connection carries on even after death. My hope is that the parents and children who read the Orange Moon book series will catch a glimpse of the awe and wonder of our beautiful and enchanting Mother Earth, hopefully inspiring the reader to spend more time outdoors in the natural world, connecting to the oneness and reaping all the benefits time spent in nature gifts us.
3. You are also the illustrator. Tell us about that and what inspires/influences your drawing?
Mother Nature is my teacher, my healer, my inspiration. My surroundings and the beautiful people that journey in and out of my life have a great influence on my art too. Being very sensitive, I feel others joys and sorrows deep within my heart. The love that is abundantly felt burns deep, pure and true, gifting immense joy. This joy flows through me, melting into liquid, transforming into the very ink with which I write and draw. Orange Moon is my way of communicating with others, gifting and sharing the love and passion I feel for life and Mother Earth.
4. What do you perceive is the relationship between connecting with nature and spiritual growth? For healing?
Nature is the gateway to all spiritual growth. We are nature, there is no separation. In order for us to be healthy, well balanced beings we need to spend time in nature. The more disconnected we are from nature, the more lost and ill we become. Nature is our teacher and healer, our life force. When we take time to listen deeply with our hearts, with kindness and curiosity, we are able to allow Mother Nature to heal us. When I enter the forest I feel I have returned home, a place I feel safe and loved. When our hearts are fully open, we can feel that deep connection with Mother Earth. Without nature we are nothing.
5. Tell us more about the work you do with children connecting them with nature.
When children and nature mix, something magical happens. I am passionate about changing the way children spend their time by reconnecting them with nature and reawakening the awe and wonder in those of us who have become lost. I run nature classes for children (and adults) - celebrating the pure and simple power of life. We provide a natural space where children can run, play, dance, sing, squeal, shout or be silent in this forest space. They stand, kneel or crouch to paint or create the creatures, birds, trees, flowers and grasses which are all around us. We are in a space where we are surrounded by the magic of nature. The sessions flow from what happens around us each day. We are all totally absorbed in the present moment. All of this evokes joy, sparks imagination and laughter, peace, wonder, awe, love, contentment and enthusiasm. We then harness this energy and flow into foraging, hunting and collecting seeds, berries, pebbles, stones, leaves, petals, twigs, flowers and branches which, over the different sessions and seasons, we then use to create (by painting, weaving, threading, gluing) owls, squirrels, butterflies, snakes, bees, fish, turtles, flowers, frogs, bats, dragonflies and spiders, and bows and arrows. I feel honored and blessed to have been chosen to help return our children to Mother Earth.
6. How can each of us connect more deeply with nature, even as adults?
Each new day is a gift. A miracle to be celebrated. Simply by taking time to be in nature, we honor her and ourselves. A deeper connection can be easily achieved by silencing the mind, and being in the moment. Unplug and step outside the office or your home and allow the sun beams to kiss your face, let the sweet bird song soften your heart, let the sprinkling of soft raindrops wash away all your worries allowing your spirit to dance. Grabbing just 10 minutes of your day to feel that peace, that connectedness, that love, is spiritually quenching.
Thank you, Marghanita! What a beautiful mission you have created. May many beings benefit from your generous heart and earth-loving efforts!
You may enjoy this stunning video featuring Marghanita and her work.
Marghanita Hughes is a children’s author and illustrator and creator of the award-winning children’s brand: The Little Humbugs and the Orange Moon book series. She is truly able to spark a child’s sense of wonder. Marghanita is a naturalist and founder of the “Let’s Go Outside” Revolution – a non-profit organization with a mission to change the way children spend their time. Throughout the year, Marghanita runs nature classes for children and interactive workshops for educators wanting to learn how they can connect children with the natural world. She strongly believes that all children should be given the opportunity to discover and explore the natural world.
Nature and energy medicine have been linked together in cultures around the world for thousands of years. In energy healing traditions, imbalances or blocks on an energetic level, which include both our mind and body, are treated. Among the many methods used to do so is contact with natural elements. Historically, each tradition had different ways of classifying the elements – the Greeks used the classical four of earth, water, fire, and air. Hindu systems added a fifth element – ether. Chinese systems included these, and added others such as wood and metal.
In the classic 7-chakra system, each chakra is associated with an element, and we can work with these elements to help strengthen, balance, or clear our chakras. Although the elements vary, the most common mapping is:
1st (Root) – Earth 2nd (Sacral) – Water 3rd (Navel) – Fire 4th (Heart) – Air 5th (Throat) – Ether 6th (Third Eye) – Light 7th (Crown) – Space/Source
Spending time in nature connecting to each of these elements is one powerful way to clear and strengthen the energies associated with the corresponding chakra. However, visualization work is also very powerful – you can connect with the vibration of each element within your mind, particularly if you visualize somewhere you have actually been. By connecting mentally with the energy of the place and its elements, you can actually shift the energetic balance of your subtle body, benefiting both your physical body and mind.
Here’s some ideas for working with the elements and the first four chakras, each of which is linked to one of the natural elements of earth, water, fire, or air:
Root Chakra - Earth
Our root or first chakra is associated with our ability to feel grounded, safe and secure, as well as being physically associated with our bones, adrenals, and immune system.
To strengthen your root chakra using earth try:
· Gardening, or working with plants indoors or out.
· Sitting or lying down on rich, fertile earth, focusing on the feeling of solidity and nourishment beneath you.
· Anchoring yourself into the earth by visualizing tendrils of light extending from your root chakra (at your tailbone) down into the earth beneath you. You can do this even when meditating inside, by imagining the earth beneath the building you are in (I start my meditation each day this way.)
Sacral Chakra - Water
Our second or sacral chakra is associated with our emotions, creativity, sensuality, sexuality, and ability to adapt. Physically it is associated with our reproductive organs, bladder, ovaries (in women), and prostate (in men.)
To nourish your sacral chakra using water try:
· Soaking, standing, or swimming in water. Imagine it cleansing and dissolving that which you do not need.
· Gazing a body of water. Watch the way it moves – the fluidity and adaptability, and the way it parts and moves around obstacles.
· Visualizing yourself sitting on a beautiful beach, preferably one you have been to before. Imagine streams of light flowing between the body of water and your sacral chakra, in your lower pelvis area, cleansing and nourishing your energy there.
Navel Chakra - Fire
Our third or navel chakra is associated with our personal power, will, mental activity, sense of individual identity, and boundaries. Physically it is associated with our digestive system, including our pancreas.
To clear and empower your navel chakra using fire try:
· Standing in the sunlight with your eyes closed and focusing on the heat of the sun on your skin (with sunscreen on of course!) You’ll get your vitamin D quota for the day too.
· Gazing a candle flame, or fire in a fireplace. Allow your eyes to blur a bit, and connect with the heat and movement of the flame.
· Visualizing the sun or a flame in your navel chakra, just below your belly button. Imagine the heat of the flame is clearing away debris, fueling your will, and empowering your sense of personal boundaries and identity.
Heart Chakra - Air
Our fourth or heart chakra is associated with our ability to love and be loved, to connect with people, and to feel compassion, equanimity, and balance. Physically it is associated with our heart and lungs, and with our thymus gland.
To heal and open your heart chakra using air try:
· Spending time in a clean, green park with plenty of fresh air. Focus on breathing in the oxygen produced by the trees and plants around you. Feel the breeze on your face and skin.
· Standing in the wind and asking it to take whatever is blocking your heart with it as it blows through and by you. Ask it to bring in new insight and compassion.
· Visualizing a beautiful light breeze blowing from front to back through your heart chakra. You can also work with breathing exercises – focus on taking long, deep breaths, inhaling healing and compassion, and exhaling anything you no longer need.
Don’t forget to say thank you to Mother Nature when you are done – gratitude can shift our awareness and energy faster than almost anything else. I hope you enjoy these simply ways to work with your chakras and the elements.
~~~~~
On a side note, I’m very excited to announce my first teleseminar – Healing and Empowering Your Sacral Chakra, starting June 4th and running for 6 weeks. The sacral chakra is central to women’s energy bodies, and the focus of many women’s spirituality traditions. In this class – which you can participate in live or through recordings - I will guide you through many methods for working with it. Here is the link to learn more:
Also, I’m doubly excited to announce I will be teaching at a retreat in Bali this Fall, with Cyndi Dale, Chantal Monte, and Anthony J.W. Bensen. This will be an amazing, transformative spiritual adventure - I hope you can join us! ~ Lisa Erickson.
Lisa is a meditation teacher, energy worker, writer, and mom to three. She loves helping people heal and explore the unseen aspects of themselves through chakra (energy center) meditation and related energy body work. She specializes in women's energetics - the distinct characteristics and phases of women's subtle bodies, and the special spiritual doorways available to women through their feminine divinity. In her work she draws on many diverse traditions, including Vajrayana Buddhism, Tantra, Zen, gnostic Christianity, shamanism, yoga, astrology, and several energy healing systems, most particularly the work of Cyndi Dale. She writes on all these subjects at her blog Mommy Mystic (http://www.MommyMystic.com), as well as writing regularly on Buddhism for Bellaonline (http://buddhism.bellaonline.com/Site.asp), where she is the Buddhism site editor. She offers classes, workshops and personal sessions through The Maat Institute (http://www.themaatinstitute.com.) Lisa's column here is entitled, "Women's Energetics."
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