![]() "There is hope if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, that heartfelt knowledge that we are caretakers of this planet." Brooke Medicine Eagle The official Earth Day comes just once a year. But really, every day is earth day, for we should be constantly aware of our connection to the Earth Mother and how our actions affect this living entity. In our house, we accumulate a lot of plastic soda (we call it pop) bottles. Luckily our RV park has a recycling bin, so periodically we gather them up to take to the collection bin. But there have been times when we have been in places with no access to recycling and each time I put a bottle in the trash, I would cringe. We have created a culture that promotes the obtaining of things, such as clothing, furniture, knicknacks, and even more. For some people, going shopping is a cure for depression. When I am forced to venture into a Walmart for our biweekly grocery shopping, I often sit on one of the benches to rest. I look around at the displays all around me and wonder, how much is enough? When do we have enough baby items, shoes, electronic devices, posters, or toys? We have become possessed by our possessions and our economy is dependent on the making of them. Moving into an RV forced us to release most of our material possessions. In return we were gifted with the simple pleasure of enjoying many of the country's most beautiful lakes and forests. But taking care of the Earth is much more than thinking about what ends up in landfills. We need to be concerned with having clean water to drink and clean air to breathe. We need to raise our voices in protest when large amounts of the Rain Forest are cut down. If you have ever sat in your car during rush hour, moving only inches at a time and smelling the exhaust from all the other cars, you come to value and appreciate good public transportation. I grew up on the shore of Lake Superior, one of the cleanest, fresh water lakes in the world. But, it too is in danger of pollution from harmful chemicals dumped in the water. We mustn't allow these things to happen. Become aware of the environment around you and join or become active in one of the many environmental protection organizations. As I said in the article “Gaia – Earth Mother,” she will take care of us, but we also need to take care of her. I encourage you to leave a comment in the space below. I enjoy hearing from my visitors.
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![]() The celebration of Beltaine honors life and fertility. If you live in a part of the world that has long, harsh winters, as I did growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, then we greatly appreciate the awakening of the earth once again. Flowers are blooming, trees are turning green, and it is time to celebrate the “merry month of May.” I wrote about my first experience at a Beltaine festival and dancing the Maypole in the article, “What to Wear to the Beltaine Maypole Dance.” If you have read it and danced over here to this blog post, this is where you can leave a comment or ask a question. Don't be shy. I would love to learn about your experiences. Have you danced around a Beltaine fire? Do you love to wear flowers in your hair? Tell us your tale in the comment section below. |
AuthorI am a storyteller. I like to wrap inspirational messages inside little vignettes of my life or the lives of others. I grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, have lived in an RV, and am now living in a senior apartment. Everything I've experienced in my 68 years in this incarnation is fair game to be written about. Archives
September 2020
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