Happy Ways to Heal the Earth
This book is like chicken soup for the Earth lover's soul.
From simple ideas and suggestions to tuning into the energies of nature and experiencing the soul of the Earth, this book offers you hundreds of ways to heal the Earth. Encouraging and inspiring, it shares with you a mix of practical and metaphysical ways to benefit both yourself and the Earth.
Inside its pages you’ll find: How sharing a shower with a friend saves more than water; why growing a garden is good for you and the Earth; how to attune yourself to the energies of the Earth; how to make friends with the flower faeries and how to invite angels into your garden; how to grow babies in the carrot patch; how to tune into your inner nature and commune with nature; grown-up ways to play in the mud and dig in the dirt; why serenading the birds is good for your soul and the soil; how to create a cloud and make it rain; and a very special healing gift from the Earth to you.
Filled with many happy, helpful hints and a few words of warning, this book also includes anecdotes, Earth adventures, and Earth-oriented exercises you can do to increase your environmental awareness and to become more involved in caring for the Earth.
Contents ~ Happy Ways to Heal the Earth
IntroductionPart I – Getting Grounded 1. Grow a Garden
2. Plant a Tree
3. Run Through the Rain
4. Take a Wonderful Walk Through Nature
5. Pack a Picnic
6. Earth Day
7. Enjoy the Earth
8. Just be Happy
9. Tune In to Your True NaturePart II – Appreciate the Animals
10. Sing to the Birds
11. Share With the Squirrels
Part III – Helpful Hints
12. Remember the R’s
13. Carry Canvas
14. Stop Styrofoam
15. Saturday Stuff
16. Share Showers
17. Very Veggie
Part IV – A Word of Warning and Healthy Hopes
18. It’s Not Nice to Fool With Mother Nature
19. Playing and Procreating
20. Imagine That … A World ViewPart V – Garden Glimpses and Tree Tales
21. Plant With Care
22. Better Than Beans
23. Love-ins
24. Joyful Bloomers
25. Digging in the Dirt
26. Flower Power
27. Jungle Joy
28. The Carrot Patch
29. Loving Lure
30. Splash Bash
31. Have You Hugged a Tree Today?
32. Special Trees
33. Treasure a TreePart VI – More than Magical
34. Breathe
35. Smile at the Sun
36. Promote Peace
37. Whisper to the WindPart VII – Nature Spirits and Shamans
38. Make Friends With the Flower Faeries
39. Shaman’s SpiritPart VIII – Earth Exercises and Explorations
40. The Earth is Alive
41. Earth EnergiesPart IX – Earth Adventures
42. Wonderful Waterfall
43. Verdant Valley
44. Special Spring Morning
45. Transforming Tree
46. Being at the Beach
47. Secluded Serenity
48. Walking Through the Woods
49. Multidimensional MeadowPart X – Take Action. Do Something!
50. Soapbox Stand
51. Make it Matter
52. Kids Care
53. Clean-Up Crew
54. Helping Hands
55. Consciously Care About the EarthPart XI – A Garden of Harmony
56. A Special Gift from the Earth to YouRecommended Reading List
Chapter 1. Grow a Garden
One of the most healing things you can do is grow a garden and tend to it lovingly. It’s good for your soul and good for the soil. There’s something very special about planting a garden and watching it grow. It’s magical and mystical, plus it’s fun to play in the dirt, to feel the wonderful, silky touch of the Earth in your hands.
You tend to grow in many wonderful ways—spiritually, emotionally, and mentally—right along with your garden, and you have the added pleasure of knowing you’re helping to create something beautiful that will be treasured by the Earth and enjoyed by many other people.
We often look at the beauty of the Earth and take it for granted that things grow, but really think about it for a few minutes; think about the magic in the Earth that makes this happen. It’s so mysterious, and even a bit mystical, that a tiny, rather nondescript seed can grow into a beautiful, fragrant flower.
It’s hard to imagine that a little seed has the power within itself, and contains the imprint, to create something so delicate and detailed. All the little seed needs is the warm, receptive, nourishing soil of the Earth and the nurturing moisture from the rain to grow. Love and light are vital to its continued growth; the sun provides the light, you provide the love.
It’s more than magical when you see that first little green shoot coming up out of the Earth. It gives you so much joy to know you’ve helped to make that happen. It’s like giving birth. It’s a truly awesome experience; it completely opens up your heart with love.
As the flowers grow, bud, and blossom, opening up to you in the warmth and light from the sun, they share their joy at being alive. Grow a garden. You’ll be glad you did and the Earth will love it, too.
Chapter 13. Carry Canvas
Use canvas tote bags for your groceries and the other shopping you do, rather than using paper or plastic bags. For women: If you’re purchasing a small item, tell the sales clerk you don’t need a bag. Put the item, along with the receipt, in your purse.
Carry a canvas tote bag to work with all the stuff you need—your sweater, your lunch, a good book to read, whatever. If someone accuses you of being a bag lady, tell him or her that you care about the Earth and you’re helping to save the Earth’s resources. Maybe you’ll inspire that person to be a bag lady, too.
It seems most men are embarrassed to carry a canvas bag. They prefer to be macho and lug all their stuff around without a bag. Take pity on them; they haven’t learned to do things the easy way yet. But some men are wise enough to cram all their stuff into a briefcase or a sports bag.
Carrying canvas saves paper and plastic bags, and shows that you care. It silently shares your message, especially if it has an Earth-oriented design. It’s an easy way to honor and heal the Earth.
Mystical Mindscapes, 136 pages, $12.95. 978-1-883717-22-3