When you realize that Heart and Earth
are spelled with the same letters,
it all starts to make sense.
Anonymous
I hope that you and your loved ones are well--mind, body, and
spirit.
How are you doing during this surreal and strange time? Are
your emotions going from hopeful to scared, from positive to
negative, from feeling hopeless to grateful? You're not alone. I
told a friend recently that sometimes it feels like a bumpy roller
coaster ride! I’m thinking this might be the new normal—at least
for a while.
The pandemic has presented each of us with challenges—to
our values, our empathy, and our resilience. Even with all the
fears, concerns, and inconveniences that stay at home orders
bring to many communities around the world, there is an
unintended and unexpected benefit, a glimmer of hope in the
darkness . The pandemic has gifted scientists enormous data
on human environmental impact. Just over a month ago, China
saw jaw-dropping global improvements on an unimaginable
scale in air quality due to “The Great Pause”. News reports
show that the polluted rivers in Venice are looking cleaner and
wild animals are reclaiming their habitat from Chicago to
Sydney. Mother Earth is inherently resilient.
April 22nd marked the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day,
an opportunity to reflect on how to protect the only planet we
have. In April 1872 the first American Arbor Day was celebrated
in Nebraska City. Now, 148 years later, in the midst of the worst
pandemic in over a century, billions of people from all over the
globe came together this year--at a distance--to pause and
appreciate Mother Earth.
Nature is our most powerful, healing ally right now! Grounding
with her is deeply healing. Have you noticed that, even with all
of the trouble we’re seeing across the globe, the natural world
continues on? Nature holds wisdom and healing for us to
uncover — no matter how dark the times we find ourselves in.
And it reminds us that we are a part of something bigger. Doing
our practices and remembering our intentions helps us reach
beyond overwhelm, stress, and despair — and become more
attentive, present, and receptive to the beauty and wisdom of
the Earth. This is a pathway to bring us back home... to
our true Self, to our Wholeness.
spirit.
How are you doing during this surreal and strange time? Are
your emotions going from hopeful to scared, from positive to
negative, from feeling hopeless to grateful? You're not alone. I
told a friend recently that sometimes it feels like a bumpy roller
coaster ride! I’m thinking this might be the new normal—at least
for a while.
The pandemic has presented each of us with challenges—to
our values, our empathy, and our resilience. Even with all the
fears, concerns, and inconveniences that stay at home orders
bring to many communities around the world, there is an
unintended and unexpected benefit, a glimmer of hope in the
darkness . The pandemic has gifted scientists enormous data
on human environmental impact. Just over a month ago, China
saw jaw-dropping global improvements on an unimaginable
scale in air quality due to “The Great Pause”. News reports
show that the polluted rivers in Venice are looking cleaner and
wild animals are reclaiming their habitat from Chicago to
Sydney. Mother Earth is inherently resilient.
April 22nd marked the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day,
an opportunity to reflect on how to protect the only planet we
have. In April 1872 the first American Arbor Day was celebrated
in Nebraska City. Now, 148 years later, in the midst of the worst
pandemic in over a century, billions of people from all over the
globe came together this year--at a distance--to pause and
appreciate Mother Earth.
Nature is our most powerful, healing ally right now! Grounding
with her is deeply healing. Have you noticed that, even with all
of the trouble we’re seeing across the globe, the natural world
continues on? Nature holds wisdom and healing for us to
uncover — no matter how dark the times we find ourselves in.
And it reminds us that we are a part of something bigger. Doing
our practices and remembering our intentions helps us reach
beyond overwhelm, stress, and despair — and become more
attentive, present, and receptive to the beauty and wisdom of
the Earth. This is a pathway to bring us back home... to
our true Self, to our Wholeness.
There is no difference between
healing ourselves and healing the Earth.
Thich Nhat Hanh,
Love Letter to the Earth
May 1st marks the mid-point between Spring Equinox and
Summer Solstice. Do you see and feel the evidence that the
wheel has shifted? The days are noticeably longer – the sun
sets much later than it did at the Spring Equinox. It’s grown
considerably warmer outside (in the high 80s where I am in
Colorado--WAHOO!). At the Spring Equinox new life was just
beginning to emerge. But now, at the beginning of May, there is
no denying that the Earth is being reborn. Nature has an
amazing ability to reproduce itself, and in such stunning &
beautiful ways. It’s important to honor this power that nature
holds – a power that we, as humans, also hold.
Victory Gardens are being
planted in neighborhoods all
around the world. The renewed
interest in local food production
represents another positive
consequence of this waking
nightmare, among the other
encouraging signs—the
countless examples of selfless
service and generosity toward
others. The pandemic is forcing
people to think hard—and to feel deeply—about our connection
with each other and to the source of life. It is allowing people to
see the world with fresh eyes. No wonder many of us are finding
solace in reconnecting to the Earth through backyard gardening.
To feel grounded, we are putting our hands in the dirt.
No matter what your circumstance is remember to go out in
nature as much as possible. According to one study if you can’t
be outside, you can calm your mind just by looking a
pictures of nature.
Science is only scratching the surface of the many benefits that
come from understanding our interconnectivity with others,
animals, trees and nature. This is truly an opportune time for
humanity to shift to increased cooperation and harmonious
interactions with each other, other cultures and Earth’s
bounty.
This Co-Creative Mandala, "Resilience", from a photo of a
Ginkgo Biloba tree reminds us that nature continues on even
under the worst of circumstances. Ginkgo trees are the oldest
known surviving trees species, with a botanical history that
dates back over 200 million years. Located near the center of
the 1945 bombing in Hiroshima, Japan, six Ginkgo trees
survived the devastation and are alive today. Any crisis, such as
the coronavirus pandemic, can test resilience. Like a tree
branch that springs back under the weight of snow,
we have the capacity to recover from adversity, and come
back as strong or stronger than before.
planted in neighborhoods all
around the world. The renewed
interest in local food production
represents another positive
consequence of this waking
nightmare, among the other
encouraging signs—the
countless examples of selfless
service and generosity toward
others. The pandemic is forcing
people to think hard—and to feel deeply—about our connection
with each other and to the source of life. It is allowing people to
see the world with fresh eyes. No wonder many of us are finding
solace in reconnecting to the Earth through backyard gardening.
To feel grounded, we are putting our hands in the dirt.
No matter what your circumstance is remember to go out in
nature as much as possible. According to one study if you can’t
be outside, you can calm your mind just by looking a
pictures of nature.
Science is only scratching the surface of the many benefits that
come from understanding our interconnectivity with others,
animals, trees and nature. This is truly an opportune time for
humanity to shift to increased cooperation and harmonious
interactions with each other, other cultures and Earth’s
bounty.
This Co-Creative Mandala, "Resilience", from a photo of a
Ginkgo Biloba tree reminds us that nature continues on even
under the worst of circumstances. Ginkgo trees are the oldest
known surviving trees species, with a botanical history that
dates back over 200 million years. Located near the center of
the 1945 bombing in Hiroshima, Japan, six Ginkgo trees
survived the devastation and are alive today. Any crisis, such as
the coronavirus pandemic, can test resilience. Like a tree
branch that springs back under the weight of snow,
we have the capacity to recover from adversity, and come
back as strong or stronger than before.
Mother Nature and all of her remedies exist within.
Call upon Her at any moment
to heal and guide body and soul.
The Earth is bursting with energy.
This a powerful time to
honor and celebrate
the resiliency inherent in all life.
Call upon Her at any moment
to heal and guide body and soul.
The Earth is bursting with energy.
This a powerful time to
honor and celebrate
the resiliency inherent in all life.
Resiliency Exercise:
In this simple, yet powerful exercise, I invite you to celebrate
this incredibly joyful, festive time by honoring nature and all life.
It is an amazing, complex, beautiful and miraculous process,
this ability nature has to renew itself and to grow new life.
Give yourself plenty of time without interruptions to dive deeply
into this exercise. Meditate, journal, create and bless your
sacred space.
Make this exercise your own. Invest your time and attention.
Don’t rush.
As you sit quietly in your space, light a candle that welcomes
“Resiliency”.
Close your eyes. Bring your awareness to your breath; just be
with your breath. Take a deep breath in. Breathe out. Take
another deep breath in. Breathe out. Notice the sensations as
you exhale—without judgement. Feel the body breathing. Bring
your body into stillness.
Open your eyes and bring your attention to the mandala; allow
the mandala energy to fill your heart; be with whatever is there.
Invest a few minutes toward allowing the “Resiliency” energy
to flow to and through your body. Imagine that energy bursting
through your crown chakra & extending far into the heavens.
Imagine the “Resiliency” energy flowing through you and
down deep into the earth. Imagine it radiating from your heart
and extending out in front of you and behind you. Imagine the
“Resiliency” energy is a radiant ball that encircles you. Now, sit
with this energy for a few minutes.
What about the mandala captures your attention?
Notice and Wonder--Something in me is feeling...
I wonder what it wants me to know?
Relax into your body and its quietness. Be with the energy, be
present, listen.
Now, ask yourself:
1. What is bringing me great joy right now?
2. What currently lights up my spiritp? What do I feel inspired
to devote my spring energy toward?
3. What parts of myself do I feel most confident about?
Where do I need to boost my self-acceptance & self-
compassion?
4. What intentions do youI want to plant for the coming weeks &
months? What do I hope to grow in my life? What do I want to
harvest in the fall?
Listen to the answers you receive and act on them from a place
of love and compassion.
Repeat this exercise as often as you like.
During this uncertain time, remember that the only thing
imprisoning us is the idea of what is possible or not. Nature is
with you all the time: a portal into the beautiful unknown, a
mysterious realm, the gateway to the magical, the Heart of the
Earth — even when you feel alone, isolated, overwhelmed...
Resiliency means letting any thoughts of limitation go. Instead of
the “what if” thoughts that seem to predict a future of all kinds of
problems, allow a new kind of “what if” thoughts like:
amazing I never imagined I could before?
realizing we’re much more alike than different?
and inspire each other and the ripple effect impacts lots of
people and the Earth in wonderful and lasting ways?
What if...
I wish you and all beings the blessings of happiness, peace, and
good health during these times and beyond.
Peace and joy to your seeking heart,
In this simple, yet powerful exercise, I invite you to celebrate
this incredibly joyful, festive time by honoring nature and all life.
It is an amazing, complex, beautiful and miraculous process,
this ability nature has to renew itself and to grow new life.
Give yourself plenty of time without interruptions to dive deeply
into this exercise. Meditate, journal, create and bless your
sacred space.
Make this exercise your own. Invest your time and attention.
Don’t rush.
As you sit quietly in your space, light a candle that welcomes
“Resiliency”.
Close your eyes. Bring your awareness to your breath; just be
with your breath. Take a deep breath in. Breathe out. Take
another deep breath in. Breathe out. Notice the sensations as
you exhale—without judgement. Feel the body breathing. Bring
your body into stillness.
Open your eyes and bring your attention to the mandala; allow
the mandala energy to fill your heart; be with whatever is there.
Invest a few minutes toward allowing the “Resiliency” energy
to flow to and through your body. Imagine that energy bursting
through your crown chakra & extending far into the heavens.
Imagine the “Resiliency” energy flowing through you and
down deep into the earth. Imagine it radiating from your heart
and extending out in front of you and behind you. Imagine the
“Resiliency” energy is a radiant ball that encircles you. Now, sit
with this energy for a few minutes.
What about the mandala captures your attention?
Notice and Wonder--Something in me is feeling...
I wonder what it wants me to know?
Relax into your body and its quietness. Be with the energy, be
present, listen.
Now, ask yourself:
1. What is bringing me great joy right now?
2. What currently lights up my spiritp? What do I feel inspired
to devote my spring energy toward?
3. What parts of myself do I feel most confident about?
Where do I need to boost my self-acceptance & self-
compassion?
4. What intentions do youI want to plant for the coming weeks &
months? What do I hope to grow in my life? What do I want to
harvest in the fall?
Listen to the answers you receive and act on them from a place
of love and compassion.
Repeat this exercise as often as you like.
During this uncertain time, remember that the only thing
imprisoning us is the idea of what is possible or not. Nature is
with you all the time: a portal into the beautiful unknown, a
mysterious realm, the gateway to the magical, the Heart of the
Earth — even when you feel alone, isolated, overwhelmed...
Resiliency means letting any thoughts of limitation go. Instead of
the “what if” thoughts that seem to predict a future of all kinds of
problems, allow a new kind of “what if” thoughts like:
- What if as a result of having more time I create something
amazing I never imagined I could before?
- What if this time brings our human family closer together,
realizing we’re much more alike than different?
- What if we come up with all kinds of new ways to support
and inspire each other and the ripple effect impacts lots of
people and the Earth in wonderful and lasting ways?
What if...
I wish you and all beings the blessings of happiness, peace, and
good health during these times and beyond.
Peace and joy to your seeking heart,
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