How Do You Celebrate Her?

It makes sense that Earth Day is on April 22nd. A time in the year when the earth is waking up, at least in the northern hemisphere, where earth day originated. According to the Earth Day website, it was started by Senator Gaylord Nelson, the junior senator from Wisconsin, who was inspired by the student anti-war movement. Apparently, “Senator Nelson wanted to infuse the energy of student anti-war protests with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution.” Though it's been cold in NY this week, today there's been a shift, beckoning me outside. I hope you've been able to spend some time outside today, wherever you are.

Like so many of these days, it has since been co-opted by brands and corporations to sell us stuff, which is the antithesis of sustainability. I would challenge you - as I’m challenging myself - to resist the discount code emails we’ll receive today. But it's also so inspiring to see how many events, panels, and programming happens on this day. It really does feel like a collective day of action to celebrate the earth.

I have been working towards cultivating more of a passing interest in the earth and cultivating my relationship with it for some time now. I wanted to offer a simple practice that you can do each day, even if you're in the middle of a big city, to notice and be in relationship with the earth - especially if you feel disconnected from it (and also overwhelmed by the climate emergency we're in).

Each morning before I start my practice, I ask to be in commune with the earth and if the earth can show me its majesty, and allow me to be in relationship with it each day - no matter where I am. Of course, we are constantly in relationship with the earth, whether we take the time to notice it or not.

I have found that by starting my day like this, I tend to notice the sounds of the birds singing their morning song more acutely. I see the way the wind works its way over the mesh that covers the scaffolding outside the building I'm staying in a new way. I look at the trees in the park no longer as accessories, but as wisdom keepers. They know things, so much more than me - and have been here for far longer. Like any relationship, it takes work, care and attention. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming, it can simply be intentional.

This week I put up a Breathwork for Anger practice on Patreon, and we have class this Sunday at 10 am. If you'd like to join, there are lots of options for payment, and I'd love to have you in the community.