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Living in harmony with the earth. Earth Harmony’s column began in the spring of 2006 after consulting with the publisher of Art of Wellbeing (AWB), Sybil Harmon who wanted to feature more environmental sustainability in her publication. This column creates awareness through personal experiences in nature. Each story features a quote from a person doing good things in the community as well as a listing of local resources related to the topic. By living in harmony with the earth, we leave a more beautiful world for future generations to enjoy. “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” Earth Harmony: Finding Freedom in Nature on Earth Day and Every Day by Terry Rader...At the trailhead, we pulled on our rain gear, covered our packs and began the climb uphill into the woods, our boots sticking in the mud making slurping noises with each step forward...See full story below as published in AWB Spring 2009. Earth Harmony: Eating in Season, Living in Balance by Terry Rader Earth Harmony: Grounding Yourself to Mother Earth by Terry Rader Earth Harmony: Loving Our Pets – Holistically and Unconditionally by Terry Rader Earth Harmony: Honoring Medicinal Plants by Terry Rader Earth Harmony: Gardening with Heart by Terry Rader Earth Harmony: Healing Foods for All by Terry Rader Earth Harmony: Connecting to Nature by Terry Rader
Earth Harmony: Drumming to Mother Earth’s Heartbeat by Terry Rader
Earth Harmony: Finding Freedom in Nature on Earth Day and Every Day by Terry Rader It was a clear, cold morning when we loaded up our gear and headed to Mount Rogers (the highest peak in Virginia at 5,729 feet) for an overnight backpacking trip. By the time we reached the higher elevation, it was raining – a fresh, cool spring rain that quickly turned into a real drencher, but we were prepared. At the trailhead, we pulled on our rain gear, covered our packs and began the climb uphill into the woods, our boots sticking in the mud making slurping noises with each step forward, a real workout!
By late morning, the rain had slacked off and so had our stride, our spirits cleansed and cleared and totally present in the now. We enjoyed a slower pace; picking fresh blueberries and devouring them along the trail, now open to vast pasture and big sky.
At the top of the plateau, the wind was quite unruly and tried her best to claim a tent or two as we worked to secure our camp. Luckily she calmed down and invited us to join her in a hike instead. We spent the afternoon exploring the area’s flowers and fauna, watched over by falcons and hawks, we lost ourselves in the tall grasses like children left to explore paradise on their own, frolicking, laughing, letting go of the work-a-day world for the weekend.
Later that evening, we relaxed around a warm, roaring-red fire, exchanging stories and songs, until in our exhausted contentment, we called it a night and retreated to our tents for much deserved sleep. I awoke around five am to the sound of pouring rain and snorting. I pulled on my rain gear, unzipped the soaking tent and stepped outside to share the early morning with twenty-three wild horses, glistening in the moonlight all throughout our camp. I felt blessed to have this quiet time alone with these beautiful creatures. Inspired by their gentle power, a feeling of peace washed over me. I stood there for what seemed like an hour as dawn crept over the mountain, awakening my seven sleeping companions, all smiling in awe of the horses as they emerged from their tents.
We got a fire going and sipped hot coffee silently under a tarp in the pouring rain. Nothing needed to be said as we gazed at the shimmering wet horses grazing. They were not at all concerned with us. We were not a threat to them – we had “let go.” We had become nature.
Then, all of a sudden, our mouths dropped open in unison, like choir children ready to burst into song as a wild cry broke out beyond the plateau and a big black stallion mustang burst into life over the ridge, his jet-black mane swinging wet in the wind as he raised up on his hind legs and cried a powerful: “Let’s go!” He was clearly the leader of the herd as all twenty-three horses raised their heads and neighed back: “Yes, let’s ride!” And off they went, brown ones, white ones, grey ones, and pintos – galloping like thunder across the plateau as the great black mustang, again on his haunches, let out a cry of freedom that spiraled into our hearts like a hot knife slicing through butter. We gasped aloud from the intensity of the feeling. This unforgettable performance was forever embedded in our minds, the feeling of true freedom, forever carved into our hearts.
As the horses disappeared over the ridge, any doubts about the healing power of the connection to nature washed off of us like yesterday’s dirt in a hot shower. We were forever connected to that wild place inside of us that craves the same freedom that the wild animals share with the earth.
This relationship is always there. All you have to do is step outside or remember an outing in nature that stole your heart and took your breath away for the sheer beauty of it. A powerful sunset, the elegance of dolphins jumping in the ocean, the grace of an eagle soaring above the clouds, the magic of a rainbow, the sounds of the songbirds singing us awake every morning, these miracles happen everyday!
If you don’t have any wild nature memories, please get outside and make some! There are so many green spaces in the Triad, so much beauty to see in North Carolina (see resources on page 34). These precious places in nature are here to experience, respect, preserve, and protect. If we don’t protect these wild places, how will our children be able to experience the freedom and magic that can only be found in the natural world?
Terri Legrand, Executive Director of Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA) extends an open invitation to everyone to come and experience the Triad’s 4th annual Piedmont Earth Day Fair on April 18th. This is a free, zero-waste community event hosted by PEA. She shared this: “Our hope for the Earth Day Fair in 2009 and every year, is that people will come, enjoy themselves, learn something about how their everyday activities affect the health of the planet, and be motivated to change behaviors that are detrimental to the environment.”
Mother Earth is calling us to honor her beauty every single day. Simply by being present – in the wind, the rain, under the stars, sun and moon and truly feeling that connection to nature can help you get grounded, giving you more clarity in your day-to-day survival. Living in harmony with the earth is a celebration of life itself.
Earth Harmony: Eating in Season, Living in Balance by Terry Rader Tired travelers bid the driver of the van farewell, as the paved road turned to rock and dirt – dry and dusty from the long-standing drought. Darkness was falling fast as we arrived in the heart of the Rainforest Mountains of Belize. Chaa Creek Camp was yet a twenty-minute walk away, one that would take us deep into the belly of a living, breathing beauty. Relying on flashlights to guide us, we took extra care to find our footing on the steep and rocky path, our primal senses heightening with alertness to each new smell and sound. The thirsty jungle drank us up as we merged with it. I awoke the next morning to incredible sounds in the open-air hut and felt quite at home. Sitting outside at breakfast, a dozen or so hummingbirds fed on the sweet nectar of the flowers just a few feet away. Our camp hosts greeted us good morning with great platters of freshly chopped papaya, pineapple and bananas. Much had been said on the ride in about the delicious papaya and I was about to learn why. One bite of this blessed fruit harvested fresh from its homeland burst into my mouth and spirit with long-lost life-force ready to be remembered. Sweet beyond sweet nourishment, there are no words to describe the energy of this experience. A year later I’m still poking papayas in the stores here in North Carolina, looking for that same sweetness – that burst! It just disappears once the fresh fruit leaves the source from which it is grown. Those nine days of papaya mornings in the jungle are unforgettable. We arrived in the darkness of a drought and we left in the light of morning from a soaking rain. Waking up to the wild sounds of howler monkeys (they sound more like jaguars or gorillas) in celebration of the rain stirred a new connection in me for the plants in a far away land and further deepened my relationship with Mother Earth. Being at home, I find that same burst in the foods grown and harvested here. My spirit recognizes that life-force in a salad made from fresh, locally grown produce – crispy lettuce, crunchy green peppers and succulent tomatoes filled with red, juicy sunshine! My senses awaken to what is good and natural – my body recognizes and appreciates the “pop” of fresh enzymes from food still loaded with life from the land. And in receiving this nourishment grown here where I live, I am fed on a deeper level. I am satisfied and have no need to search for that “something missing” from my diet as I would be in eating food without this local life force. By eating foods in season, we simply bring ourselves into balance by creating a closer relationship with the cycles of nature. The vegetables that grow in the Earth, below ground level, are very grounding and nourishing, for example potatoes, carrots and turnips. These types of foods make hearty “stick to your ribs” stews. The vegetables that grow above ground level, in the open air, are naturally lighter and more cooling, for example lettuce, cucumbers, squash and radishes. These foods take less time to grow and don’t stay with you as long as the more warming ones that are grown in the Earth. Each and every plant brings about a unique benefit. Some plants can even provide opposite benefits. For example, one of my favorite plants, dandelion, not only raises low blood sugar, but can also lower high blood sugar. It is the only “potassium-sparing” diuretic I know of. Fresh dandelion greens and roots in your spring salad will lighten the winter load on your liver. Fresh food provides vitality and health. Another good reason to eat in season is to support those in the area where we live. By coming together in community to make a commitment to sustainability, we rely more on each other. We learn how to bring each of our gifts to the table to help free us from being dependent on oil. By making an agreement to the Earth and each other, we create harmony to feed us as well as many generations to come. Beth Sinnott, Account Executive for The Proximity Hotel, shared this with me while having lunch at the hotel’s restaurant, The Print Works Bistro: “We strive to always offer vegetables when they are in season. We partner with local resources such as Goat Lady Dairy, Homeland Creamery and local farmers. Quaintance-Weaver as a company is passionate about sustainability and incorporates those practices into all aspects of the business.” Dennis Quaintance is excited to be the developer and owner of what’s to be the first Platinum LEED-certified hotel in the US. He says: “I promise if you stay at the Proximity Hotel, you won’t notice a negative difference. You can’t tell that the sun has heated the water you bathe with. A designer staying with us during furniture market in April asked me about fabrics and the furniture. We talked about how we custom designed most of our guest room and lobby furniture. I asked her what she thought of the green aspects of the hotel. She said: ‘What do you mean?’ I said –‘this is a green hotel, and once the paperwork is back from the US Green Building Council, we’ll be the highest rated hotel in America with their LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.’ She said: ‘I had no idea!’ This is very gratifying, as she didn’t experience less luxury, but her stay at Proximity cost 41% less energy and 33% less water usage. She couldn’t tell what we’ve incorporated into the hotel as sustainable elements.” We can make our lives matter by being responsible – by living consciously, by awakening to what is precious and hopefully everlasting. See Earth Harmony Resources and learn how you can eat in season and live in better balance by supporting your local community vendors.
Earth Harmony: Grounding Yourself to Mother Earth by Terry Rader It was a cold November morning – the sun was still sleeping as we loaded up our gear and headed towards the mountains of Tennessee. I had joined a hiking club and while I didn’t know anyone in the group, I did know it was time to get my hiking boots back on. When we got to the trailhead, we were at a much higher elevation and the wind showed no mercy, whipping around us and bearing down its icy teeth on the tips of our ears. I stood outside the car shivering, despite my long underwear, layers and fleece, wondering if I might lose a toe or two. It occurred to me that all of the other hikers were at least 5-20 years older than me, so I felt confident that I would be able to keep up with them. I could not have been more wrong. Despite my daily seven-mile walks and workouts at the gym, I soon realized I was not prepared for this excursion. The trail ahead was straight up and very steep. All but one hiker scurried upward and out of sight before I could ask if we were starting – they were gone! I quickly let go of trying to figure out how that had happened when I began navigating the rocky footpath, calling on muscles not used in my legs for a while and pulling chilled air into my lungs, making me huff and puff in time to my heart beating rebelliously against my chest all the way up the mountain. Each time I stopped to catch my breath I seriously considered staying put and waiting for them to get me on the way back, but then I’d push myself a little harder…just to the next rock and then the next. In not giving up, my body, mind and spirit all merged together. I kept pushing myself until I reached the summit where I made a strong heart connection back to the Earth that had long been waiting to be remembered. My eyes drank in the many layers of blue hues spreading out across glorious mountain ranges for as far as you could see. There was snow at my feet and the icy wind had returned. Perhaps this crest was its home and it had come down the mountain earlier to invite me up for a visit I would never forget. I sat on a car-sized rock on the edge of the world and forgot all my troubles as I merged with Mother Earth, the sky, the clouds, flowers and trees. Everything around me appeared more vivid than before I had made the climb. I allowed myself to open to being a part of something bigger than me. Finally, I felt grounded again – a warm secure feeling of belonging in your skin, knowing who you are and what really matters becomes crystal clear. I sat there in awe as everyone began unwrapping their lunches, I was being fed on a deeper level and I inhaled this nourishment from the beauty of the Earth. I have never been the same. That was fourteen years ago and what a journey it has been. Now I help others get grounded to the Earth so they can walk their truth. This is hard to do when you are being pulled in so many directions. Getting connected to the Earth via drumming, singing, nature excursions, and exercise all help cut through the clutter in your head so you become more grounded in order to make the decisions that are best for you. This beats being off in the clouds daydreaming about this or that, unable to manifest anything here on the physical plane. Dreams are important, but sooner or later you have to make some choices. Meditation is a great way to help you stop the chatter in your mind in order to find your center – your core strength. It takes more than just working from the heart up, all emotions and thinking. If we wish to consider a more holistic approach, we would strive to balance our heart, mind, spirit and body. The body needs physical attention. We are here on Earth to enjoy this “being” human. Start with the heart – find a way that resonates with you to open your heart via meditation, dream work, prayer, drumming, singing, chanting, etc. Free your Spirit with something you love to do that is creative! Stretch the muscles of your mind – learn a new language or take a class. And get grounded with some form of physical reward for your body – bring it all together and you will find it much easier to handle your daily stressors and decisions. Go walking, hiking, swimming, whatever makes you feel good. Yoga is a wonderful friend that I begin my mornings with. Tai Chi and Qigong are yet other practices to help you get connected to energy and your personal power. In talking with Sybil Harmon, she shared this: “For me, being ‘grounded’ has manifested through ten years of tai chi, qigong, and meditation practices. We speak of ‘sinking your chi’ with consistent practice of tai chi. This physical transformation of energy connects one’s mind and body, building a reservoir of energy to draw from for all life’s processes, rather than continually depleting our life force. Through empowering the body and mind, one’s true spirit ‘awakens.’ My experience of being ‘grounded’ is feeling more alive, more present, more centered – living powerfully.” Walking in nature is my favorite way to ground myself to the Earth and get clear in how I feel about things. This is where I take my greatest questions and find my most enlightened answers. Human beings are great sounding boards, but they too, have opinions, I usually like to find my own way and Mother Earth is always there. She is here to nurture us and we her. Once you make that connection with Mother Earth, you will receive so much more. So, get grounded and practice living more sustainably – in harmony with all living creatures.
Earth Harmony: Loving Our Pets – Holistically and Unconditionally by Terry Rader What a great day to be walking with my dog in the woods. It was a time of early fresh green spring. Kayla, my beloved Australian Shepherd, aka “Blue Gypsy Spirit,” was leading the way, of course. My protector, my ally, my teacher – my greatest inspiration for my studies in alternative healing – it all began with her. On that particular day, we were on a familiar well-worn trail, taking in the seasonal brilliance of plants and trees coming to life. After an hour of clipping along, we slowed our pace as Kayla began greeting plants, nuzzling them with her nose and then chewing on one. As we continued our trek, I picked up a piece she had dropped, and twirling it in my fingers, asked: “Who are you?’’ Further along our path, I caught a glimpse of something moving. As I got closer, I saw a tall wispy, surreal looking lady wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, swaying back and forth with her arms raised up in the air. I startled her as I said hello. She looked surprised to see me standing there and exclaimed: “I’m just taking my time, taking my time, it’s such a beautiful day…” She was enveloped with an ethereal energy as the forest sky opened up to allow the rays of the sun to wash over her. Later, I identified the plant Kayla had chewed as a “Dayflower.” It only blooms for one day. Was the lady on the path the Dayflower Plant Spirit? Such synchronicity! Imagine having only one day of life. That’s how dogs live. Every day is the first. Dogs live in the now, and that is good medicine. At six months of age, Kayla had been diagnosed with CISD (Chronic Immune System Disease); , a condition vaccines often trigger. She was allergic to everything. It was very unsettling to me to be told that cortisone was the answer. The very people I trusted with my dog’s wellbeing made me feel guilty about not wanting to put drugs with dangerous side effects and unnecessary vaccines into an already compromised immune system. I was heartbroken. I knew there had to be another way, and found it in a book by Dianne Stein called Natural Healing for Dogs & Cats. This was the beginning of a long educational process for me. Choosing to take care of an animal holistically is not an easy task, since many vets are not open to alternative options. I began doing all I could to make Kayla stronger. I started with her diet, making homemade dog food with fresh organic vegetables, chicken, brown rice/oats, vitamins, minerals, Nettles, Astragalus and enzymes. Processed foods lack life force – if you can’t pronounce the ingredients in your dog’s food, chances are their liver can’t process them. I learned how to create cool, soothing rinses with dried peppermint, green tea and lemon juice, and gave her baths to relieve her itchiness with a gentle “Magic Eucalyptus Soap.” You don’t need expensive shampoos; if a label cautions not to get shampoo in your eyes, why put it on your dog? I applied plantain and calendula salves to ease her hot spots, along with giving her energy work and Reiki. Most dogs respond very well to this and don’t seem to need as much as humans do. Just after Kayla turned a year old, we found a gem of a man who truly loves animals, Dr. Charles Loops, DVM. I believe he is the reason that Kayla is alive today; he helped save her life when her kidneys were failing. He’s always been there for us and thanks to him, she’s doing quite well – almost thirteen years old now and still acting like a puppy despite her CISD, arthritis and hip dysplasia. Dr. Loops had been practicing Western veterinary medicine for over ten years when he began his studies in homeotherapeutics. Now, over twenty years later, more than 60% of his work is with cancer cases. He combines his knowledge of both worlds and chooses to treat animals more inline with the Hippocratic oath: “First, do no harm.” In talking with Dr. Loops, he shared with me: “I have always been ultra conservative in using drugs and avoiding any unnecessary surgery. When I became aware of the potential side effects of vaccinations, I began questioning where and when they should be used. I love what I do, enabling the patient's ability to fight their imbalances that are stressed by a poor environment, poor diets, multiple vaccinations and bad genes. We all come into the world with our specific deficiencies and genetic imbalances. Homeopathic treatment can help neutralize those imbalances, but even feeding the perfect diet and avoiding vaccinations, you still may not have a healthy animal. They may still get cancer, but death is part of life, a part of the natural flow of things. We can't control it all. But when possible, it is preferable to treat them by enhancing their immune system instead of destroying it with suppressive drugs." I’ve often had friends say they want to come back in their next life as one of my pets. I believe that just as the Earth does not belong to us, we do not “own” our animals. We are responsible for taking care of them – our souls have an agreement to take care of each other. Do your best, find a vet you can trust, never give up, and keep on loving them through it all. They are here to teach us how to love unconditionally and to remind us to play every day. Give your pets and yourself the most natural diet and holistic healthcare you can find. Don’t pretend a treatment is okay if it doesn’t feel right to you, but realize that Western medicine does some good things, too – Kayla had knee surgery that allowed her to run again. Educate yourself – knowledge is power (see Holistic Pet Resources below). Be as loyal to your four-legged companions as they are to you. Every step we take to live more naturally brings us more in line with living in harmony with the Earth. This story is dedicated to the memory of Kacie, beloved companion to Sybil Harmon, 1990-2007. May this blessed little white shadow spirit shine ever brightly and live on in your heart forever.
Earth Harmony: Honoring Medicinal Plants by Terry Rader What a treat to see Lady’s Slipper in all her glory – a rare unveiling of feminine delicacy to be admired, but please don’t touch. And here’s Burdock, what a tough old goat, he’ll grow in just about anything, which tells you a lot about how he can get you grounded in most any situation. Look down low, under the bushes and you’ll find Indian Pipe, an old friend of mine, translucent and angelic, barely there at all... And one of my favorite allies, Bloodroot with a flower as white as white can be, so clean and pure. So many friends to get to know – it would take a lifetime of learning. After more than a decade of studying the plants, I am still learning – humbled and in awe as I walk upon Mother Earth’s medicine chest. I feel at home here, the plants and trees have been my allies since childhood. My heart is most connected to the forests in North Carolina and Virginia. This spring while in the rainforest in Belize, it really hit home to me – you don’t have to go to the jungle to experience beautiful plants, we have so much to protect right here. In partnering with medicinal plants, I feel the most important aspect is the relationship you have with the plant itself, not the bottle it came in or what it can do for you. The plants are so willing to give of themselves. If we treat them respectfully, perhaps they will always be there to help us. Most people who purchase herbal supplements have no idea where the herbs come from. They can actually be (without realizing it) supporting those raping the medicinal plants from our fields and forests, and in doing so, unfortunately contribute to the many species at risk of extinction. I believe this is where the modern day myth “the herbs don’t work” came from. How could anyone expect a plant to respond favorably if it’s been disrespectfully yanked from the ground? When I make my teas and tinctures, I do prayers of gratefulness, I sing to the plants and dance them in their jars – they really like it. If you are just beginning to learn about the medicinal plants, start with the food herbs. Grow your own, sit with them and get to know them. Perhaps your best medicine can be served at your kitchen table. Add garlic to your diet, it has been proven to reduce high blood pressure and lower bad cholesterol. Plus it protects you from various bacteria and viruses. Peppermint will cool you off, lift your energy and sooth an upset tummy as will Chamomile. She’s a gentle ally for menstrual cramps not to mention a blessing to babies who are teething. Nettle’s natural histamine will help your allergies and so much more. Oat Tea can “take the edge off” of pre-menstrual and menopausal moods and also nourish the elderly. Ginger is my favorite flying friend, she settles my tummy and adding her to tea will warm you up instantly and get your blood flowing. Basil is my buddy for when my monthly girlfriend is lagging behind and dandelion root tea makes my liver quiver happily. Thyme can be your hero for healing ear infections and sage can remove swelling. Rosemary will knock the socks off ‘da blues – don’t leave home without her, she’s a great protector ally as well. Herbal medicine is incredibly healing and I am in good health again because of it. If you have health challenges, seek out a knowledgeable herbalist or Naturopathic Doctor. I also believe there is a place for allopathic medicine. It helped my Mother in the last two years of her life. I would like to see a day when allopathic and naturopathic doctors can work together, using their individual gifts. It really breaks my heart to see the plants being left out of the loop. It’s not just the constituents that heal. It’s the whole (holistic) plant, the energy and spirit. One of my favorite teachers, Martin Wall, is an herbalist and extraordinarily gifted Botanical Photographer. He specializes in photographing medicinal plants as shown here (as well as other plants, wildlife/birds, etc). He and his wife, Deetra, directed the Southeastern School of Herbal Studies from 1999 until 2001. Marty is a very humble "powerhouse" source of herbal knowledge. In talking with him, he shared with me: "We are becoming more and more distant from our food and medicine. Most people don't know how to grow or use herbs. They know that food comes out of a grocery store and that herbs come out of a bottle...that medicine in general is a pill that somebody gives you. Our school was originally intended to help people help themselves. We weren't looking to certify herbalists as doctors. I have considered starting another school to share and preserve the tradition of the family or community herbalists. Whether it's a school or just a place where interested people could come together, it is important to keep that knowledge alive." The plants made a promise to take care of us a long time ago, but we have to honor them, too. With so much development, there are fewer and fewer forests. Where will our plants come from in the future? Where will our water come from? Will the air be breathable? Look at all of the children today who have asthma and the elders struggling with emphysema. How will we survive tomorrow if we can barely breathe today? Simplify your life. Use a little less. You’ll feel better about your future and you’ll also have more time to play today. Why not start with the plants and the foods you consume? Be sure they are as pure as possible. Tomorrow’s plants and children are counting on you to make sustainable decisions today. I hope your decisions will be aligned with living in harmony with the Earth. Consider it your responsibility to keep the plants alive and available for future generations.
Earth Harmony: Gardening with Heart by Terry Rader For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a strong connection to the Earth and the plants. I was just seventeen when I moved away from home and planted my first organic vegetable and herb gardens. And what spectacular gardens they were, fed daily with gentle, loving care. Time spent gardening was, and still is, some of the sweetest Medicine I know. My family always had vegetable gardens. My Mother’s people were farmers in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia and my Great Grandfather, Elijah, had two enormous oxen that helped him plow his land. His long scraggly beard and sun-carved face showed a true salt-of-the-earth man, working the only way he knew how to support his family. As the land became over-farmed, many farmers had to move to the city to take jobs and work in ways they were not accustomed to. My Mother was only three months old when her parents moved to Winston-Salem. Two years ago, I ventured back into the mountains to visit the lands where my ancestors once farmed – beautiful, rolling hills and lush green valleys. I continue to visit every few months. I know that someday my heart will take me home to live within the mountains as they live within me now. I have fond memories of how my grandparents lived in harmony with the Earth. Even after moving to the city, they continued to have large gardens, growing and taking only what they needed to survive. My Grandmother “put up” food for the winter and I looked forward to our weekly cellar explorations to retrieve jars of pickled beets, green beans, squash and other homegrown goodies. Her home baked breads and pies were treats to us kids. She hung a row of hollowed-out gourds over the kitchen sink for drinking so we didn’t create extra cups to wash. I remember how sweet and cool that delicious well water tasted on a hot summer’s day. Who needed soft drinks? It was a simpler time and a time we may all want to consider moving towards again. I still have the yellowed notebook of that original garden plan. I thought my first organic garden just had to be the most wonderful garden in the world. I wanted to partner with Mother Earth and all of the Earth elementals. I took the time to learn as much as I could about natural gardening methods to keep the plants happy. Today I know to simply ask the plants. If you listen (with your heart), they will teach you. A lot of love went into those gardens and my personal connection to the Earth grew each time I put my hands deep into the dirt. How much clearer can one be than when you’re down on your knees grounded in your garden with the sun on your back, receiving all of that beautiful energy? The vegetable garden was 20’x30’ with companion planting. The herb garden was 10’x15’ with herbs arranged in a semi-formal pattern based on the colors of the flowers with paths of alternating pinks, purples, blues and yellows, all leading to the center circle – the heart. The heart is what I worked towards everyday. I don’t think I realized it then but it was my heart connection to nature that I was watering, mulching and feeding. The plants, especially the herbs, called to me and continue to do so today. A friend of mine once asked me how you know which plants to put where. I smiled and answered, “why not let them tell you?” Just walk around the garden and see what space they pull you to. Trust your intuition and the guidance from the plants and the land. They “know.” They are the ones who dreamed you and the garden into being. All you have to do is start from the heart, allow it to be and give it a little attention. You don’t have to have a big back yard or a lot of space to create this connection to the Earth. Your simple intentions and a small patch of ground or pots can bring about great harvests of the spirit as well as culinary delights. Even a patio garden that receives ample sunlight can be planted with staked tomato plants, basil, sage, dill, yellow and red and green peppers – all in pots–along with hanging baskets of cherry tomatoes and thyme, a window box full of sunny chamomile, and perhaps a trellis with climbing cucumbers or purple passionflower. The possibilities are endless. There are many ways to garden and one way to practice tender mercy to the soil is with Permaculture gardening. Charlie Headington teaches Earth Matters at UNCG, conducts Permaculture workshops, coordinates and teaches Edible Schoolyards, and speaks and consults throughout the state of North Carolina. He explains. “Permaculture Design produces beautiful and bountiful gardens. The best garden design follows natural systems: worms do the tilling, water is harvested, and insecticidal plants ward off harmful insects – all with less human intervention and no toxicity. We harvest the surplus fruit, herbs and vegetables and enjoy the natural aesthetic. Permaculture works on any scale: backyards, schools, and farms. Our home, near downtown Greensboro, is surrounded by a garden. Greensboro Montessori and Day School have their own gardens and student programs. Nature wins and we win. To learn more, come to our next workshop on May 6, 2007.” See “Gardening Resources” in this issue for contact information. Listen to the plants that are calling to grow with you and co-create your own garden with nature. If the water spirits are calling you, plant a pond garden. For a more grounded garden, plant a rock walkway lined with succulents. Bring more fire into your life with sunflowers. Start small, use your imagination, and make it your own. Let it be a lifetime project that grows a little more each year. Each individual garden increases the healing energy needed for a more balanced and harmonious Earth.
Earth Harmony: Healing Foods for All by Terry Rader As we drove away from the city, I settled into a calmer state of mind. I looked forward to getting outside and spending some time in the country. I welcomed that warm, comfortable feeling that penetrates my soul each time I get away and allow my spirit to expand. We drove past the pastures and lakes and woods – oh for the love of the trees! Rounding one last curve, we pulled into the driveway of our friend’s farm. The dogs came running, free and full of life, to greet us. The farmhouse stood strong against the big blue sky as it’s doors opened and our friends emerged to join us. We took off across the land, past the fruit trees and barns, to the gardens. Walking down the path, my eyes soaked up the light, dancing on the sweet majestic corn tassels swaying in the country breeze. With each step, I felt more grounded with the Earth. We picked some plump red tomatoes, crispy green peppers, golden sunny squash and purple earthy eggplant. I found myself wishing for a garden to tend, feeling such admiration for these stewards of the land. As my heart exhaled a great sigh of expansion, I felt my blood connect to the dirt of the fields and remembered what one of my shaman teachers had said to me: “The land is crying out and sometimes the land chooses people to tell the story of its pain. You are one of those people, so keep telling the story.” I stood there holding the brightly colored summer harvest in my heart, tears glistening on my cheeks in the warm sunshine. I wondered how I could share this feeling of living in harmony with the Earth? I’m not a farmer. How could I help others understand the value of the land? Today, I am still receiving answers as I continue to ask the questions. Earth Harmony is just one answer. If it ignites your inner desire to want to make changes for the sustainability of Earth and mankind, it is a garden worth tending. We are all a part of this beautiful bounty and I am honored to help it grow with these simple seeds I sow. One thing we all have in common is WE HAVE TO EAT. The food we eat is the foundation for all natural medicine. If you are feeling out of balance, perhaps the first thing to consider is your food. If you are not eating pesticide-free or organically grown food, you may be loading your liver, kidneys, heart and lungs with more chemicals than they can process. If you are not shopping from local sources for your food, meat, bread, cheese, milk, honey, etc., then you are supporting the loss of our Earth’s precious fuels to truck your dinner in. By supporting your local farmers, you build community – you contribute to the healing of the Earth, which in turn continues to feed you with healing foods. Some people believe that organic foods cost too much. When you add up the nutritional value, it far outweighs the cost. You’d have to eat extra large portions of processed food to get the equivalent nourishment. And that’s exactly what Americans are doing, eating more than they should, seeking satisfaction from food that is simply not healthy. Pat Bush of Handance Farms explains: “How can you have a healthy community if you depend upon other places to grow your food? The life-force energy of the food we eat is what makes us healthy. Most foods begin to lose life-force as soon as they are picked. I am always awed when I see the life-force of the food we produce – it glows! This comes from a combination of healthy, balanced soils and planting with celebration and ceremony … this is what supports a healthy community … When people ask me what makes your food so different, I reply with this: You know how you say grace before you eat? We say grace before we plant.” You can find Pat and Brian’s remarkable produce at The Greensboro Farmer’s Curb Market (see below for Farmers Market locations). I know first-hand what she is saying to be true. Her foods and flowers have an energy that is missing from the store-bought varieties. Soups made with her veggies are like Medicine soups, they are healing and satisfying. You walk away from a meal made with fresh food feeling nurtured, like you would after eating at your Grandmother’s house. Part of the reason that Grandmother’s meals were so appreciated by our bodies is that she cooked with foods that were in season. Our bodies have a connection to the time of year that certain foods are harvested. When we eat with the seasons, we connect to an ancient form of gratification. January is a great time to make a commitment to healing yourself and the community with the purchase of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). CSAs are formed by a group of individuals who agree to support a farm by purchasing a CSA at the beginning of the growing season. The CSA subscriptions allow the farmers to buy their seeds and supplies upfront. And the farmers provide CSA members with a weekly share of the harvest. Begin the New Year with healthy food from local resources. You’ll have lots of choices with all that is available today, not to mention the fun and fellowship that goes along with shopping in a bustling year-round market with unique products such as Goat Lady Dairy’s wonderful goat cheeses. Steve Tate shared this: “Our goal at Goat Lady Dairy is to build a sustainable way of working and living. We believe that the food we produce improves in quality as we nourish our partnership with the land and animals here.” See Healing Foods Resources below. Feed your community as you feed yourself and your family – keep the circle flowing. Doing this today will mean a greater harvest for us and for the Earth tomorrow.
Earth Harmony: Connecting to Nature by Terry Rader “Gawark, gawark!” The Great Blue Heron flew across the lake ever so gracefully, flapping her smoky blue wings with the majesty of an orchestra conductor. As she approached the shore and flew over my head, she croaked her greeting again. “Gawark, gawark!” I looked up in awe as her blue-gray belly circled around me and back across the lake. Her long, graceful neck was tucked in an “S” shape and her skinny legs looked like cross-country ski poles. She maintained an exquisite balance despite her length. The Great Blue Heron is often a solitary bird. Her appearance seemed a most appropriate gift from Mother Nature while walking solo through the woods, taking my time for self-reflection. Alone in the woods, my mind is free of the chatter from the everyday world. My aura is more open, making me more responsive to the energies of the natural world. My mind becomes clear to connect to the Earth with all of my senses, all of my being. And when this happens, I feel centered and grounded, more connected to my core. This clarity gives me the opportunity to find true discernment with whatever matters of my heart, mind, body or soul that need tending to. It also allows me to simply relax and let go. Nature offers us a very effective and fast-acting stress tonic without any unpleasant side effects. The woods have always brought me great solace and peace. I was just a young girl when I first began going to the woods near my home to sit and write. It seemed such a magical place, so full of life and love, with such comfort. Being in nature soothed my soul and I looked forward to my daily visits with the tall trees, little plants, and animals. When I was lonely or troubled, I always felt safe and protected sitting against the strong trunk of a great oak, surrounded by my friends, my family of the Earth. This heart connection with nature has remained constant throughout my life, one that I am very grateful for, especially today when I see so many children who rarely play outside, much less ever get to the woods. I can’t imagine missing out on catching crayfish at the creek, chasing fireflies or blowing dandelion wishes. I loved finding little snakes and taking them back to school for show and tell. I wanted everyone to experience some of what I was feeling with these nature connections. When we connect to nature, we connect to a deeper sense of ourselves. It’s an instinctual part of us – a connection we need to honor today more than ever. Scientists have been measuring the effects of global warming for over thirty years. There are species of plants, trees, animals and entire ecosystems being wiped out everyday. This comes not just from global warming, but also from the impact we have had as humans living unsustainably on a planet that is running out of resources to keep up with our demands. How can we be so sure that we are not already an endangered species? If we all take a part in the responsibility of maintaining our world, hopefully we will have a planet that will continue to take care of us. I was just recently reconnected to my childhood adventures while attending a Herpetology Camp led by Naturalist Christine Simonson at Piedmont Environmental Center in High Point. The kids were wide-eyed and full of life as they explored the creek and woods, squealing with delight with each new find. My heart soared as they shared their excitement and interest in the natural world. Christine placed a salamander in a collection jar and explained “We want to limit handling him…his skin is very sensitive. We don’t want to transfer oils, bug spray, sunscreen, etc. He uses his tail to help him escape from predators. We have to be careful he doesn’t shed his tail because of us…” The children gave her their “eyes and ears” and also their hearts. Planting these seeds of respect for the environment in today’s youth is an honorable task, one for which PEC Naturalist Tom Shepherd received an Environmental Educator’s Life Achievement Award. Piedmont Environmental Center (PEC) is a protected preserve of 376 acres with over eleven miles of hiking trails for you to enjoy seven days a week. Laurel van Deusen of PEC can recite their history back to 1972. This outdoor environmental education terrain is a wonderful place to learn from the Naturalists. Perhaps you will consider helping them reach their goal of doubling their memberships by September 2007! Even non-participating memberships are needed to help maintain this beautiful place. Donations and volunteers are always welcome – see http://www.piedmontenvironmental.com. Dick Thomas, the Executive Director of PEC, shared “There is no separation whatsoever between humankind and the Natural World. We have grown out of the Earth as a plant grows out of soil. PEC's classes, activities and ecotours help people of all ages to understand and identify with the life forms with which we share the Earth, and the systems that bind us together.” Think about this: the trees are our lungs; the air is our breath; the waters are our blood; the plants are our foods and medicines. The birds, animals, amphibians and insects hold the balance. We, as human beings are the ones who hold the key to our preservation. Let’s join together and unlock the possibilities of a greener tomorrow. Demonstrate your desire for Earth Harmony by taking responsibility for yourself and your family. Get educated (see “Environmental Resources”) and learn how you can make changes that matter. Simply cutting back 5-10% a week can make a big difference. Instead of doing things that “use” the Earth’s resources, take a hike and “experience” her resources instead. By getting outside and connecting to nature, you can connect to yourself and your loved ones in a more natural, less stressful way, not to mention the wonderful health benefits you get from walking, hiking, bicycling. Your heart will thank you in more ways than one!
Earth Harmony: Drumming to Mother Earth’s Heartbeat by Terry Rader
Dadadadat…dadadadat… The woodpecker drummed his morning song on the tree outside the cabin bedroom window. I pulled the covers up around my ears, yearning to sleep in on this crisp, cool, mountain morning. Dadadadat…dadadadat… He continued to drum me awake. I couldn’t help but smile, how could I ignore the master drummer? To me, the woodpecker is an ally that drums in new rhythms and beginnings, a very timely awakening for this early spring weekend. Did he show up to offer his expertise for this drumming story? I decided to go outside and see what he had to say. I pulled on my clothes with my sleepy-eyed Aussie by my side. The clock above the stone fireplace read 5:25am as I opened the cabin door to a symphony of songbirds. The Red Bellied Woodpecker continued to drum: dadadadat… I walked outside and was greeted by a beautiful pink sky over the lake. A mallard duck fluffed his glistening feathers and quacked to get my attention from the two Canadian geese flying overhead, sounding their trumpeting calls just as the wild turkeys gobbled out in the woods. The ravens cooed across the lake while the crows cawed in the trees nearby. I ran back into the cabin and kissed my honey on the cheek, waking him up long enough to whisper, “come watch the sun rise with me." He growled a little and rolled over, but joined me a few moments later on the cabin porch. It was about 33 degrees cold, so we bundled up in blankets in the rocking chairs with hot tea and coffee, just in time to catch the parade on the lake, only twenty-five feet away from us. The sun began to peek out over the tips of the trees spreading a golden ball of energy across the lake, illuminating the dancing mist spirits, moving towards the East to greet the rising sun. As our heartbeats aligned with the heartbeat of Mother Earth, we felt an incredible heart connection to everything around us. Dadadadat…dadadadat… the woodpecker reminded me of how the drum is capable of joining people together to experience this connectedness. I’ve seen this happen many times in drumming circles. The simple sound of a repetitive beat takes us back to being in our Mother’s womb, to the soothing sound of her heartbeat. The drum is a great reminder of that comfort, that connection and protection. It helps us to get grounded in our own bodies and brings us back to center, empowering us to better discern who we are. The healing power of the rhythm of the drum awakens our primal instincts that connect us to nature and instills within us a mutual trust and respect for all living things. This thinking for the good of all is greatly needed today, as our planet struggles to sustain us in our present state of need. When we open our hearts, there is no room for fear or separation, there is only room for love and the drum is a powerful healing tool to experience this with. Summer is a good time to slow down and come together to find ways to live in harmony with the Earth. There is a give and take in any relationship, and our climate changes are clearly showing us that the taking from the Earth has exceeded proper proportions. If we all do a little less each week, there will be a little more tomorrow. Simply changing the energy from “go-mode” to sitting in circle with intention for harmony is a natural healing medicine for all life. From the beginning of time, each culture has been attracted to the magnetism that comes from the Earth. Most often, festive gatherings and celebrations occur outside. We come “out to play”. When we come together in circles to drum and lift our voices in song, we forget our troubles, we leave all of our agendas behind and allow the drum to lead us in heart-opening synchronicity. This joining together of our diversified songs moves us to feel more alive. These gatherings may be a way for us to offer a giving back to the Earth and have some fun, too. Community drum circles are being birthed at the Cancer Center on Elam Ave. in Greensboro. A Spring Equinox Drum Circle was organized and hosted by Terry Moore-Painter, the Chaplain and CL Hickerson, a Phlebotomist. Several friends and participants joined them, along with the following drummers: Simone Cooke, Robin Mayberry, Matthew Bahr, Blair Caudle and Terry Rader. Blair Caudle who led the circle, said: “The drum gets people out of their stuff, they forget that they are separate from each other. It promotes a whole lot of unity with hardly any effort at all, there doesn’t haven’t to be any talking, or any politics, it’s a basic thing. It’s profound at the power it has to connect and establish that unity between people and the Earth and the Creator.” When talking to Terry Moore-Painter about the upcoming drum circles at the Cancer Center, she said: "Our patients often tell us that they experience the sacred in nature. When people are sick, they spend a great deal of time in medical settings, separated from the natural world. Celebrating the change of seasons at the equinox and solstice on the labyrinth with drumming, dancing, and reflection, helps them to reconnect with nature. I believe the seasons have much to teach us about the seasons in our own lives." I believe that drumming is the universal language. It feeds the soul. This is being proven with great success with Alzheimer’s patients, Cancer patients, children with A.D.D. and many others. It is also an incredible tool for your personal healing. I invite you to make a commitment to Earth Harmony and get drumming. Each of us has our own unique song to sing. I believe it takes all of our songs to create the symphony to heal the Earth. Together, we can make a difference.
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