Saving life on Earth

 

   

AT THE ROOT OF IT ALL

Some of my followers may have noticed a reoccurring theme in some of my posts related to trees. There really is something parallel between the growth of trees and the way in which humans grow, not literally but metaphorically— it does take some thinking at first, but don’t give up as you look at my photos and read through my thread focusing on roots as the basic foundation and guides of all breathing things: 

ROOTS

    1. Stability. Strength. Support.  Nourishment.

      2. Connection to the past. Birth. Origins.  

          Ancestry. DNA. History. Culture. Family.

      3. Expectations. Dependency. Needs. 

So just by reflecting on those three groupings of the lifespan of a tree, we can transfer our thinking to that of our human experience on Earth. Those are the roots or strengths of our existence.

The purpose of life or the route to a good life is to create a foundation from which comes stability. These strengths guide us and prepare us to meet challenges, handle setbacks, defend our ground, build on our strengths, pace ourselves, stand firm in the face of adversity. We strive to be ready and prepared for whatever comes our way, and have faith that our strong, firmly planted roots will restore our determination to move forward. The roots will give us the sustenance and support system we need to keep growing and aging the best we can.

Just like the roots shown in the photos, our human roots also spread out far and wide. They are found in our connection to family, friends, acquaintances and coworkers, as well as key people in the community. Not only that, just like those tree roots, sometimes our lives get twisted and turned, messed up and confused. Those old growth trees did not roll over and die; they found a way to keep going and growing. We do too.

We are resilient products of the Earth, tenacious and determined to do well and persevere. But we also need to include the bigger picture.

When we spend time within nature, whether it is within a forest, on an ocean, along a lakeshore or riverbed, a dyke walk or cycling along an endless pathway meandering in and out of valleys or the outskirts of town, we feel a sense of peace around us and within us. It’s magical and reciprocal, calm and calming, welcome and welcoming, simple and authentic peace. We realize we have shared roots with Nature — that’s the  bigger picture.

Roots are the source, strength and sustenance of all lives — theirs and ours. Together we are interconnected, especially by the similarities. 

Humans all get a one time journey on Earth. Our purpose is to do the very best we can to respect and honour what we have here. This can best be done by opening our eyes, hearts and minds to the reality of what is around us and of what’s happening around us. We aren’t here in isolation. 

We (humans, animals and flora)are all rooted in this one Earth, interconnected as living breathing entities. We depend on and lean on each other to get it right. We share and depend on the land, water and air.  Humans are responsible for the here and now, tomorrow and all the tomorrows possible for future generations on this planet Earth. 

Respect and honour, and clueing in to the many disturbing, unpeaceful clues before us, beside us, around us and rooted within us, is key to rising from the entangled mess of well-rooted social, political, economic and environmental atrocities plaguing our Earth — before it really is too late. 

We need to be looking UP at the bigger picture before the entangled twisted roots of unhelpful human behaviour chokes the air out of the entire planet, killing our roots and terminating a rather interesting phenomenon.

Heralding Indigenous Healing

 

SIGNS OF HEALING

When my body is ready to wake up in the morning, the first things I ask are “ok, what day is it and what’s on the agenda?”

Today, I didn’t need to ask both questions, only the latter. A new art exhibit is being celebrated and unveiled at the Pitt Meadows Art Gallery. I’ve been excited about it all week, and today was the day of revelation!

Signs of Healing features the creative works of artist James Groening and other Native Renaissance Foundation artists. My personal interest stems back to witnessing odd human behaviour and attitudes towards the Indigenous peoples in the hamlet where I grew up. Later in life, I was able to piece information together, and I have carried a talking stick at every opportunity to raise the profile of, and support, the reconciliation movement. 

I think by now we all know that for over 400 years, Indigenous peoples have endured immense hardship—marked by colonization, forced displacement, cultural obliteration and acts of genocide. The legacy of this trauma has created generations of pain and systemic inequality, as well as social issues and economic hardship.

Still today, some ask—often with indifference, ignorance or disdain—“Why can’t they just move on?”  This insensitive and senseless question or suggestion overlooks the depth of the harm and the time it takes to heal from centuries of injustice. If we all put ourselves into their shoes for even an hour, like at this exhibit, we would develop a level of empathy and understanding that many still now simply do not have. It is hard to move forward when an iron door remains firmly shut. 

Happily the creative works in this exhibition do not dwell solely on the historic and ever present wrongs of which we are all aware,  including the resulting sorrow and pain throughout Indigenous communities. This unique art also radiates joy, connection, resilience, and the enduring strength of family and community. These pieces of art tell many stories that form one gigantic story from which we can all learn. 

Artistic expression is a significant step in the reconciliation process as well as in the important process of healing. It is but one step of many. Within each piece of art, there is a story to be told by the artist, not only to help their personal healing journey but also to highlight the significance of their history and culture.

To give but one example of what stood out for me today, I want to mention the depiction of the Turtle and Mother Nature in some of the pieces. Long before the invasion of what we now refer to as North America, this landmass was named by the original inhabitants as Turtle Island. If you study a topographical map of the land and use your imagination, and respect the respect Indigenous peoples have for animals and the holiness or power of Mother Nature, suddenly the depiction makes total sense. 

I totally enjoyed looking at, studying and understanding the messages of the artists. The experience was not rushed and should not be rushed. I highly recommend the curious and reluctant set a couple of hours aside for a fantastic educational experience the likes of which I hope we will see more of very soon, and at other venues around town.

As Indigenous communities continue to reclaim their voices, cultures, and identities, their art becomes a living expression of strength, pride and transformation. It shows us what healing can look like: powerful, beautiful, and ongoing.

We are all one on this Earth — one group of breathing plants, animals and peoples, guided by Mother Nature. By moving forward together, with respect, honour and in harmony, acknowledging links between all four, we would be more inclined to feel peace, live in peace and be at peace on this unique planet called Earth. 

I stand on the back of a turtle and see a beautiful world … I do pray that it will soon be so …

THÉ ROOT OF IT ALL

 

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥!

Not a day goes by when I open FB, read news or watch news, without a dominating trend of watching our world go to hell in a hand basket!

But, what can we do as individual grassrooters? It is time to find out.

Bitching and complaining, highlighting idiocracy, insensitivity and stupidity, outing atrocities, crying, yelling and stomping our feet just is not working.

I don’t have the answer to my own question but I am working on a theory. I am studying Nature. How does Mother Nature deal with challenges? Her roots are deeply embedded into the earth’s soil and her work is keeping the plants and animals healthy and strong. Unfortunately her power has not resonated in the minds of some humans who are bent on selfishness and evil, authoritarianism, domination and indoctrination.  

Diversity in the plant and wild animal world seems to be doing very well. Boundaries, respect and honour are cornerstones of their survival. 

Diversity in the human world — not so much! A certain component or segment of the human part of our Earth has failed the rest of us, resulting in the travesties that are spreading faster than ever. No boundaries, no respect, no honour. 

Yes I am working on a theory…it focuses on roots, grassroots, paired with the power and energy of SkyWorld and Mother Nature, to shake up all segments of the human component of our Earth. I think we can all agree that that component of our Earth could use a good shake up because no day goes by without a large question mark vibrating in our heads! « What are they doing and what are we doing? »😳 

Yes I have studied Plato, Aristotle and Socrates. And, much like they tried to set a logical path for humanity to follow, I will « piece » MY 21st Century theory together for the sake of peace and the survival of the human component of our shared Earth, one root at a time. 

Yes, like Plato, Aristotle and Socrates before me, my head is out of the sand of mainstream thinking and I am using all of my cerebral gears to get this peace engine rolling forward! ☮️ There’s no stopping me now!

Stay tuned!