Connected Spirit

To truly become earth friendly and take an active role in caring for our planet, it helps to feel a connection that directly ties you to your efforts. The problem many people have in continuing their work as environmentally aware consumers is that the rewards are minimal. Many times the small efforts seem to become lost in the pool of environmental crisis. I have found that a relationship between the earth cycles and nature help to provide a source of accomplishment. By being involved and using what you are saving and restoring, you can feel that your work has meaning.

A person can have a connection by watching nature and following the patterns of the seasons. (Example; The winter is a time of hibernation and a period of dormancy for many plants and animals. Notice how the squirrels begin to prepare for the coming winter season by digging for stashes of food.) Autumn is a time of gathering and preparing before winter, so that we may hibernate within ourselves and become dormant. Winter is also a time of darkness and the darker side of ourselves should be examined during this time. Darker not meaning evil, but the places within ourselves that we choose not to look at. Perhaps your darker side holds anger or fear. Winter is a time to look at these feelings, investigate the cause and decide if it is worth it to continue to hold these feelings. Spring is when one should take what they have learned about themselves throughout the winter and prepare a seed to be planted that will correct, continue, or change the things needed within their life. This brings us to summer, which is a time to put into practice the things that we have investigated and prepared.

Another aspect of connecting to the earth is found in gardening, birding, and even hunting. These hobbies involve nature and give us an opportunity to be outside, even if only for a moment to fill a feeder or listen to the many calls of birds. Many times, when a person thinks of gardening the things that come to mind are weed pulling and rototilling. These items are used in gardening but there are many ways to help eliminate the hassles, including container gardening, companion planting and composting. Although hunting is considered a sport and many people think of it as inhuman, it is still a form of connecting. The hunter must be outside for extended periods, usually in wooded areas around nature. Then by having the knowledge of tracking, waiting and aiming the hunter will have the entire carcass to put to use.

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