Monday, April 8, 2019

#25: Earth CARE: connecting with the healing energy of the earth's love




Love from the Earth
I had just finished a large year-long project for my workplace and was struggling with my energy after having many long nights and days of stress and 'full speed ahead' momentum.

In walking towards my car to return home, the message clearly came that I needed 'to plug in.' immediately. No, not to electronics, but to the earth physically. To really feel her energy, her love, her soil, fresh air, sunshine and more.

It was a gorgeous warm winter day, a respite from the deep cold that Mother Earth usually shows us this time of year, and perfect for this experience.

Where was I to go? I knew just the place, a small White Pine (Pinus strobus; tree of peace) grove on the property of my research center. I often visit this area when it's warm, and today was the perfect day to just be me, with the earth and these trees. Almost immediately in seeing the forest, I teared up and started viscerally releasing the stress and the overwhelm. All that my body was holding from a very long time was ready for me to let go.  This was something my soul, heart, mind, and body needed in order to recalibrate and continue.

As I collapsed onto the soft bed of rust-colored pine needles, the fragrant smell of the trees filled my lungs with a nourishing force. The sunshine covered my body in warmth and it just felt so good. As I lay there, my fingers immediately navigated their way through the pine needles, then into the top layer of cool soil until they hit the frozen layer. All five of my fingers were feeling this coolness and earth force through my body...I was plugged in. I rested here, let my body melt into the earth as long as I needed. I looked up into the canopy, again resting here and letting the earth, the Source, fill my body. With the sun's warmth coming from above, I felt rejuvenated and back to my center, and this didn't take long, maybe 20 minutes. The key to this was that I welcomed and allowed the healing, the support, and love of the earth to come deeper into every part of my being.

This was not the first time I had connected to the earth for help. Often, if ever I felt anxiety, I take to the woods or visualize growing a root from my lower abdomen, down through the many layers of the earth into her core. I'll feel calming energy, a warmness, seep into my extremities and displace the anxiety so I can regain my foundation. This is critical for all of us to do and oftentimes, we just need this restorative time to flourish again.

Benefits of a Connection
Research by institutions around the world has shown the multiple benefits to your body and mind of being connected with the Earth. For example, time in the forest has shown to significantly improve mood, mental performance, and creativity, boost the immune system and energy levels, improve blood pressure and reduce stress. The benefits are really endless, all around you, and as in my case with the pine grove, right at our fingertips.

As you are a living part of the earth (Mother Earth= ME!), brought to life from her life, inherently we are meant to have a connection and in a way, need this in order to thrive here. But, as I mentioned below, you need to make time for this and allow for it to happen. And, as I’ll explain further, the earth needs you too.

Before I share a practice to facilitate an earth connection, let me ask you a question...how do you connect with the Earth in your every day? Even though you interact with the earth everywhere as she's in everything from cell phones, computers, cars, clothing, food, air, water, pens, books, and you, I mean a heart to heart connection. This can look like taking a walk in your favorite forest, visiting a river and seeing it flow, watching or listening to birds and other wildlife, or resting with your feet bare on the ground. This heartfelt connection can also appear through lessening your footprint on the earth's resources such as using less water, plastic or paper, or telling the earth you sincerely love and appreciate her.  As I have taught classes over the years on connecting with the earth, many people do not know where or how to begin. So let's go through some examples of how this can start for you or your clients, and I promise, as you become more aware and appreciative of the earth, you will start to feel stronger, more expansive, and lighter and brighter. And in this shift, you will see a reflection of this in Mother Earth as we are one.

So let us do a meditation from Master Sha’s book Power Healing (p.129; Ginseng Tree Growing on the Chong Meridian) where we grow a root like a tree, receiving the earth’s nourishment. Ginseng nourishes chi and blood, and in this practice, you will feel the strength, vitality, and healing properties of the tree running through your veins and organs. You may want to voice record the mind power so you can listen and do the practice easier, and here is a recording of me doing this if you want to listen! 

BODY POWER: Standing comfortably outdoors (or indoors) shoulder width apart, relax your body, ground your feet to the earth (perhaps barefoot), and let your arms hand by your side, palms open to the sun.

MIND POWER: Visualize a Ginseng tree seedling in your lower abdomen. Its tender shoots reach up. A trunk grows in your spine. Young roots spread down to your feed. Your arms are branches, your legs are main roots, standing sturdy, strong, rooted on the fertile Earth.

The trees branches grow and fill your head, reaching to the sun with warm, golden, healing light.

You bask in the radiance as the sun nourishes your leaves. The leaves rustle music above your head, winking gold in the sun. Your many fruits feel light and rich in the breeze.

Take energy from the Earth!
Take energy from the Sun!
Make life force energy!

Send glowing energy to all parts of your Ginseng tree and feel the strength, the vitality, the life in your veins. Feel energy glowing, flowing all through your body as it nourishes all parts from smallest root to topmost branch.

All your organs are healthy, strong, and vibrant!

Your roots are bright, shiny, and clean. Your trunk is a glowing silk stalk. Your branches are golden vibrant limbs. Your leaves shine gold and are blinding in the Sun. Your fruits are heavenly golden orbs of energy.

Everything radiates light and energy. You shake with this energy! Vibration!

You feel STRONG as the Sub smiles on you. Bend and sway in the Wind. Rejoice in your strength.

Relax. Feel appreciation.

Awareness, Appreciation, and Action 
"I'm not asking you to think like I do, I'm just asking you to think" was a phrase my high school history teacher would say right after we learned about a significant event from the past and the awareness and lessons from that event. As you read the following words, I will also ask you to do the same!

Once you have knowledge or awareness about something, it's hard to turn back. A simple way to begin to connect and care for the earth is simply becoming aware of where she is present in your life and then make choices that reflect love, kindness, and compassion towards her. For instance, notice the water you use and consume throughout your day. The water to brush your teeth, wash your dishes, the water used to make your clothing, or to grow the trees used to make the paper you use. Feel the water in your own body.  Our planet is largely covered with water and for us, is a source of our existence.  So taking the time to see where this beautiful natural resource exists in your life is an incredible first step to developing a connection with the earth.

A natural progression with this created awareness is then to feel and express appreciation, again, sincerely. You may not feel anything at first, but gradually over time, something will again shift in your heart.  I remember, about five years ago I was watching the water go down a drain and suddenly felt deep gratitude in my heart and teared up in thinking about where this water may have come from to get here, how old it might be, how fortunate I was to have clean healthy water in my existence. The appreciation poured out of my heart and I now see water in a different light wherever I am and in the choices I make. Try this experience with your children, clients or yourself when teaching about gratitude. The earth does not judge us, so express what is in your heart and soul, she will love you and give her appreciation in return.

One of the highest levels of care for the earth is to take actions that uplift her, that create a happier and healthier planet. Below are some small suggestions to lighten your 'earth print' and that could benefit your community, clients, and families:

1. REDUCE & REUSE: The resources of the earth are not infinite and are being used at an unsustainable rate. I remember when the phrase 'reduce, reuse, recycle' came about, with an emphasis on recycling. But recycling is not the answer and we are now in a state where recycling is not sustainable.  Reducing can be as simple as not purchasing multiples of the same item, carpooling to an event or buying foods without packaging. Reusing is also a powerful action to take, rather than purchasing new or disposable items, and can often be less expensive. Reusable cutlery, coffee/tea mugs, straws, bags, etc. I’ve got a travel kit of reusable items to take so that I don’t create more waste.

2. CHOICES MATTER: Each choice you make carries a vibration for the planet and sends out a message, a statement.  As I became more aware of the water pollution associated with the clothing industry, I started shifting in a big way (e.g. buying organic or materials with non-toxic dyes).  Research your options. Did, for example, your food travel 1000s of miles to get to your plate? Or was grown in a desert where there really isn't much water, to begin with? How were the land, animals, and water treated in making the product? Was it with respect and compassion? Sometimes it's hard to find these answers and if I cannot find the information on the product, I will look to another source for my needs. It's worth taking the time to make a healthier decision, which again, is a healthy choice for us all.

3. GO GREEN: Participate in the Love, Peace, Harmony Foundation's initiative to plant 1 million trees and other plants across the planet to improve the well-being of all life. It’s an easy initiative to start with and any amount planted will raise the vibration, plus there are benefits of getting your hands into the soil and receiving the ions and nourishment within the pure earth.

4. LOVE LETTER TO THE EARTH: I love Thich Nhat Hahn's book called 'love letter to the Earth' in which he reflects on the earth's wisdom and love.  After reading this book, I was inspired to write my own letters to her, and have several times. I found these very healing in my relationship with her and myself. Sit under a favorite tree and pour out your heart to her. 

5. SPEAK AND THINK WITH LOVE:  We know that our thoughts and feelings carry a vibration, so why not make it one of upliftment for the planet? In my work, I have heard many people call rivers negative names as they are full of chemical and waste pollution. This act of dislike is affecting the frequency and vibration of that water and all life within it. See the water as healthy and beautiful, full of light, and express your appreciation and see what happens. Upgrade your choices so that perhaps you aren’t contributing to the pollution. Same goes for the refuse we create. We throw it away but really there is no 'throw away,'- it has to go somewhere on the planet. So send it too light and your love, and again, reduce what you consume that isn’t sustainable.

In loving the planet for all she is, a quote comes to mind from Aldo Leopold (1966; Conservation ecologist, writer)
     Conservation is a state of harmony between people and the land. By land is meant all of the things on, over, or in the earth. Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left. This is to say, you cannot love game and hate predators; you cannot conserve the waters and waste the ranges; you cannot build the forest and mine the farm. The land is one organism. 

So in essence, we are one with her. We cannot only accept or love certain parts of her that we find favorable; we need to love her in her entirety, just as we do each other. 

As you progress with your earth awareness and appreciation or take some action to uplift her frequency, your heart will start to expand, and you will notice a positive shift in your interactions with the planet and a connectedness you’ve never felt before.  It really is like establishing a friendship. Friends nurture and care for each other, confide in one another, grow together, experience joy and love and each other’s high and low points. So plug-in to the earth and you (and she) will live a richer and healthier life.

With one earth heart,

Tara 




Wednesday, July 25, 2018

#24: Keep peace in your soul




Through all the challenges on Mother Earth, it is vital to stay in the peace...wherever you can find it. In a flower, in the sun, in your breath, for just a few minutes. Find this, as this is who you really are, and connect. Stay there for as long as you can.

One Earth Heart,

Tara

#23: Let there be light


LET THERE BE LIGHT

Do you ever feel depressed, angry, or sad at what you witness on earth? I want to share with you a way to see differently to help you uplift yourself and the earth. It's something that helps me after many years of struggling with these feelings.

Here are a few examples of scenes from the earth that pull at my heart strings...
An overload of 'waste' (and recycling here) on the earth

Pollution of our air

Using precious resources (water) for something I feel is insignificant (clean sidewalks)

More impervious surface, more people, more waste

Clearing of trees for housing, right along a creek that needs forest for protection

Chickens stuffed in small cages, on a semi truck, being transported to a processing factory


WHAT CAN YOU DO? I have had feelings come up of anger, fear, sadness when I see or know of her mistreatment or lack of care. I asked the earth, please show me where the love is here because i'm not seeing or feeling it at this moment. I would cry often and get so angry that something needed to change. I know I needed to change too.

The earth told me that my anger and sadness will not help her, instead send love to these people, animals, rivers, etc., in whatever way you can. Tell them you love them in your heart. See the love and the joy that still exists. 

And then I  heard her tell me, say these three lines when you experience these feelings:

I want to see the love here
I want to feel the love here
I want to be the love

Now look at one of these images again and say these three lines over a few times-how do you feel? Do you see and feel the love that is really present? Love is really everywhere in everything, even in the overwhelming, dark, struggling places. It is there. And it is within all of us. It starts with YOU.

At a later time, these 3 lines then evolved to:

I see the love here
I feel the love here
I am love

Say these phrases whenever you come upon a contrast/struggle/challenge to help transform (not ignore) the emotions, uplift yourself, transform yourself, and even perhaps inspire yourself to take an action to improve the well-being of the planet.

With one earth heart,

Tara

#22: Sing for plants


Yes, you read this right, you can sing for plants of the planet! Why would you do this? Many scientific studies have found that your words, the vibration you give, the energy from you, matters. It can affect other life, and that includes plants. So why not uplift the planet through plants!

We have seen disharmony across the planet, the pollution, health challenges, extreme changes in our climate. How can we improve life here?  By sharing our love, uplifting others, smiling, caring for each other all life here.

You can do this by singing a beautiful song called love, peace and harmony!


This song carries the vibration of love, peace and harmony, and can be sung in any language. Here's a website that has the words translated, and a free MP3 download of others singing the song. This song was created in a very special forest in northern California (the Redwoods), so it already has a beautiful connection to plants!

Why sing to plants? Plants (trees, shrubs, grasses, cacti, etc.) provide many services to the earth, including to us humans, providing wildlife habitat and jobs, cleaning the air, keeping rivers healthy, and giving us many resources we use like paper and clothing. But much of the earth as mentioned above is experiencing great challenges, and plants can help, so can singing to them.

How do you begin? 

#1) SET an INTENTION: You can say, 'Dear the song of Love, Peace and Harmony, I love and appreciate you. Please come to bring love, peace and harmony to all the plants of Mother Earth, thank you!'

#2) SING! You can watch the video below, you can sing in your home, on your porch, out in the woods, as you're walking or even on a kayak (like me!). You can find one plant and sing to it-connect with it and sing with all your love. See how you feel as you sing, and if you notice any difference in life around you.



#3) TAKE one STEP FURTHER & SING EACH DAY for 15-MINUTES!  If you are moved to do so, join others around the world that are committed to uplifting the earth and pledge to sing 15-minutes each day through this link on the Love, Peace Harmony Foundation website. You can also bring together a small or large group of others to sing with you on a weekly basis. The more that gather to contribute, the better!

#4) EVEN ONE MORE STEP FURTHER, PLANT PLANTS!  There is a very special project on earth called PLANT A MILLION, where you simply pledge to plant and care for plants of the earth. Here is a link where you can see more information and connect!




THANK YOU for caring for Mother Earth, and please share your experiences below in the comments and let me know how you feel!

One Earth Heart,
Tara

#21: Plant one million


I am excited to share with you a new initiative to improve life on earth, one plant a time, through Love, Peace Harmony Foundation's PLANT A MILLION initiative!

It's simply planting more plants on the earth, registering/pledging them on our website, and taking care of them with great love.

Think you can do this? We need one million by  2020!

Check out this website for more information, please reach out if you have any questions!


Sunday, November 26, 2017

#20: Action for the Earth


AWARENESS, APPRECIATION, ACTION


Doing any acts of kindness or 'service' to the Earth can help us all. Want to learn more about how?

See this page of my blog or read about 'Tao in Action' on the environment!

And if you ever need guidance, advice, or just want to bounce some ideas across me in regards to your 'action' with the earth, reach out anytime!

One Earth Heart,

Tara



#19: Cleanse Your Rivers & Oceans





San Jiao is like a river. 
Wai Jiao is like the ocean. 
The water from the river will flow to the ocean. 
-Master Zhi Gang Sha

Ever feel like your energy or blood are just stagnant?  This happens to me every now again and I just feel stuck inside,like my blood is sick. As many of our rivers are stagnant due to dams, our bodies can be too. How do we become unstuck and flow again?

Remove blockages in the San Jiao to the Wai Jiao.  the SAN JIAO (RIVER) and WAI JIAO (OCEAN) channels. This is said to be the key for healing!

SAN JIAO (pronounced sahn Jee-yow) is the pathway of energy (qi or chi) and body fluid in the body and is a concept in traditional Chinese medicine. It is also a space in the body to hold all of the organs and is divided into 3 areas: Upper, Middle and Lower Jiao.
               Upper Jiao  is the area above the diaphragm (heart and lungs; major function is blood
                                    circulation, energy flow and respiration)
               Middle Jiao is between the diaphragm and the level of the navel (pancreas, stomach,                                                  spleen: main functions are to digest and absorb food)
               Lower Jiao is from the level of the navel down to the genital area (liver, bladder, kidneys,
                                    reproductive organs; main function is water balance and regulation)

WAI JIAO is the biggest space in the body, located in front of the spinal column in the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

Here's a practice you can do to open your San Jiao to flow more freely to the Wai Jiao. If after 10 minutes you don't feel more free in your body, continue longer! Sometimes I've needed to do this for at least 1 hr, many days in a row.

PRACTICE:

1. BODY POWER: Sit up straight in a chair with your back free and clear. Put one hand on your abdomen (front) and one hand on the abdomen (back).

2. SOUL POWER/INVOCATION:
Dear the soul of my San Jiao, I love you, honor you and appreciate you. 
You have the power to open fully, remove blockages from my chi and body fluid, open my rivers to my ocean. Please heal and transform my whole body. Thank you! 

3. MIND POWER: Visualize golden light shining and radiating within you, throughout your whole body, head to toe, skin to bone.

4. SOUND POWER:  Say silently or aloud for 10 minutes or more:
                                    San Jiao heal my whole body, thank you
                                    San Jiao heal my whole body, thank you
                                    San Jiao heal my whole body, thank you
                                    San Jiao heal my whole body, thank you
                                    San Jiao heal my whole body, thank you
                                    San Jiao heal my whole body, thank you
                                    San Jiao heal my whole body, thank you

CLOSE the PRACTICE
Always express gratitude: Hao! Hao! Hao! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. “Hao” (pronounced how in Mandarin) means get well. “Hao” means perfect. “Hao” means restore health.

Please leave comments below on how this practice was for you!

One Earth Heart,
Tara