Naturally Connected

First Fall Rain Brings New Life

After a the long dry summer, we had a 3-4 inches of rain in one day last week.  The brown Bay Area hills are already showing some green as a result.  My back patio has its own explosion of new life.  The pile of niger seeds and discarded sunflower seeds below the finch feeder has grown what from a distance looks like some long black animal fur.  In fact, the first time the cat saw it, he was taken aback and very hesitant as he went over to examine the strange fur on the other side of the patio.  Upon closer view, one sees some impressive spore growth.  Each day it gets taller and thicker.  Flies buzz around and get stuck amongst the sticky thick.  I rescued one with a tiny twig, but one of his legs was injured from being stuck to the mass.  
 

All is One video

Jason Ables has created a short video called All is One for Global Mindshift.  It's a quickie to watch and has a very straight forward message.  We are all (naturally) connected and share this planet.  What we do impacts others (humans and all other living species).  We are the ones who are responsible for changing the world to make it a better place.  Each and every one of us!

Thanksgiving Prayer - A day late but still worth noting

I recently read this Mohawk Thanksgiving prayer during a class I am taking called The Great Turning which is focused on the shift from the Industrial Growth Society we know so well to a Life Sustaining Society.  It is said to be 900 years old.  I thought it might be something you can share with your loved ones as part of your holiday ritual/celebration.  It is a powerful way for all of us to pay our respects and remember the scope of our connection to other elements and species on our dear planet including mother Earth; the waters; the fish; the plants; the animals; the birds; the trees; the Four Winds; the Thunderers; the sun, moon and stars; the Enlightened teachers and teachers who have come before us or will follow us; and the Creator.  Please let me know if you incorporate this into your celebration.  I would like to hear about your experience. 

http://medicinecrow.net/ThanksGiving.html

Live Earth Activities

The Live Earth event is Saturday 7/7/07.  If you aren't attending one of the concerts live, there are a number of additional ways to participate:

Broadcast Options

In the US, Bravo is broadcasting events beginning at 9 am EST.  See the list of additional broadcast options. 

Attend a Local Party

As of today there are thousands of Live Earth parties taking place in 129 countries. Sign up to attend a Live Earth party near you.

Sign the Live Earth Pledge

Most importantly you can still sign the Live Earth pledge.  EVERYONE can do this. 

The Deep Connection of Humans to Nature

Exploring the sciences of cosmology, biology and genetics help us to better understand the deep human connection to nature.  Cosmologist Brian Swimme explains how being human is an extension of the original energy that emerged from the eruption of light that occurred 13.7 billion years ago in our universe.  As the universe expanded and cooled the actual components of our bodies emerged.  These components exist throughout the planet in various species and forms ranging from water to rocks.  Biologist Lynn Margulis discovered that all complex life developed from an original symbiosis of four different bacteria.  Three of these bacteria were incorporated into the first nucleated cells, and the fourth was the one that gave them mobility.  These nucleated cells eventually fused into more complex forms including plants, fungi and animals.  Biologist Edward O. Wilson has described how all higher eukaryotic organisms, which are organisms containing one or more cell with visibly evident nuclei and organelles, from flowering plants to insects to humanity are thought to have descended from a single ancestral population that lived about 1.8 billion years ago.  A genetic comparison between humans and other primates highlights the similarities.  The typical human protein has accumulated just one unique change since chimps and humans diverged from a common ancestor about 6 million years ago. Jane Goddall and Mark Beckoff explain that we share 98.7% of our genes with chimpanzees, 97.7% with gorillas and 96.4% with orangutans in their book "The Ten Trusts."  Geneticist David Suzuki speaks about how humans literally are our environment.  The air that we breathe; the water that we drink; the sun that generates energy in plants that we eat; and the soil that grows these plants; all exist as elements within our physical bodies.  Johan Galtung reminds us of how the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, micro-organisms and plants all come together for the successful operation of photo-synthesis, which in turn is the basis for the food chains on which we all depend.  The components of nature all exist within us.  Elisabet Sahtouris explains how humans see through their eyes that plants, animals and even rocks are separate, but if we look into a magnifying glass all of nature exists in an energetic molecular dance of chemical reactions and recombinations.  We are connected to all aspects of nature, and its preservation is critical to our very survival.

Being Thankful

Today is a United States national holiday for giving thanks. 

I am thankful to all forms of life (encompassing the earth, the air, the fire, the water and the cosmos) for every experience that we share.  They all have a meaning and purpose.  While this experience is personal, it also exists as part of the collective consciousness, a place without borders where we are connected to all aspects of nature.  Peace begins here.  It is a place where compassion and thankfulness become a part of our everyday existence. 

Development of a Conservation Society

Thanks to Dave Pollard at How to Save the World for mentioning the pattern map for how to build a conservation economy. this week on his blog.  I have seen this before on the conservation economy site, but agree that it is worth sharing to spread the knowledge.  The conservation economy has three primary components including social, natural and sustainable economic capital.  Browse through the site to learn more about it when you have a chance. 

Global Mind Shift

How can we change to make things better for all of us? The founders of Global Mind Shift believe the most powerful thing we can do is to get a deeper understanding of what it means to be a human being and change the story that describes how humans are connected to all of life. I HIGHLY recommend investing an hour to watch the flash presentations in the Explore the Shift section and Make the Shift sections. They provide a highly informative perspective of the opportunity that lies ahead for each and every one of us while putting it in the context of how our species is connected to all other species, throughout all of time. Please let me know what you think after you look at it. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Click for Greenland and Support NRDC

Kiehl's, a cosmetic company with a strong commitment to the environment, has come up with a quick and easy way for you to help raise $125,000 for NRDC and slow global warming -- with a click of your mouse! Just visit the website of Kiehl's "Click for Greenland" campaign, watch the short intro film and then click the blue button. For each of the first 500,000 people who click, Kiehl's has generously offered to give NRDC 25 cents -- for a total of up to $125,000 toward our programs!

Happy Summer Solstice!

A summer solstice celebration is a time where you can let go of something old and open your heart to something new.  This evening I attended a fire circle celebration at the home of a lovely couple in the Costa Rican Escazu hills. 

The physical set-up of a fire circle emphasizes the relationship of drummers to dancers and the relationship of both to the fire. Chanting, rattling and small percussion, and other forms of self-expression are also provided space in the fire circle set-up. The space allows for heartful self-expression and personal transformation for all participants.

Ceremonies and rituals such as these provide the opportunity to build community and bring individuals in greater connection with the earth.  I highly recommend seeking out these celebrations in your community.  AHO.

The image of the drum above seemed perfect for this occation.  It can be purchased at http://firecircledrums.com/.