A Joyful Practice

What You Notice About the Earth (on April 22nd) April 22, 2020

“But it seems reasonable to believe — and I do believe — that the more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us the less taste we shall have for the destruction of our race. Wonder and humility are wholesome emotions, and they do not exist side by side with a lust for destruction.”

– Rachel Carson accepting the John Burroughs Medal (April 1952) and printed in Lost Woods: The Discovered Writing of Rachel Carson

For the last few days, I have asked people to notice things. Now, I’m wondering if you have noticed that the earth is healing itself. Oh, we have unwittingly played our part – just as some have unwittingly played our parts in the insult and injury – but… Have you noticed that Earth is healing herself? People in India and China are seeing mountains they haven’t seen in generations. Canals in Italy appear to be clearing up, and filling up with dolphins, fish, and swans. Wild animals are reclaiming their turf. Nitrogen dioxide air pollution has dropped 30% in certain parts of the United States. Earth has hit the reset button.

At the same time, one country (cough, cough, cough) has proposed rolling back emissions and clean air legislation just as the world commemorates the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day, the most celebrated secular holiday in the world. This Earth Day also happens to coincide with a pandemic that seems to hit hardest where there is the most air pollution.  I do not, however, want to get into an argument about scientific facts and semantics, however. I want to know if you’ve noticed what’s happening with Mother Earth.

“In these troubled times it is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility. There is modern truth to the ancient wisdom of the psalmist: `I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.’”

– from Rachel Carson’s original submission to “Words to Live By” for This Week Magazine (1951)

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”

– from Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (published 1962)

When we move from Autumn to Winter, which coincides with busy holiday seasons for many people around the world, I often mention how different our habits and activity levels are compared to the rest of the natural world. Everything else is slowing down, while we humans speed up. Some of us do the same in the spring and summertime, we slow down and take lazy vacations when everything else in the natural world is speeding up, blossoming, and playing around. I often suggest that, since we are also organic and part of the natural world, (perhaps) we can benefit from taking more clues from nature. Perhaps, I suggest, we might feel better if we followed the natural rhythm of the Earth.

Have you noticed, the Earth is healing herself?

“We stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert Frost’s familiar poem, they are not equally fair. The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end lies disaster. The other fork of the road — the one less traveled by — offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of the earth.”

– from Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (published 1962)

“I am pessimistic about the human race because it is too ingenious for its own good. Our approach to nature is to beat it into submission. We would stand a better chance of survival if we accommodated ourselves to this planet and viewed it appreciatively, instead of skeptically and dictatorially.”

– E. B. White, author of Charlotte’s Web

If you are interested and available, please join me today (Wednesday, April 22^nd) for a practice where we notice and appreciate this place we call Home. Classes will be on Zoom at 4:30 PM and 7:15 PM. Some of the new Zoom security protocols have definitely kicked in; so, please use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems. If you have not done so, you will need to register for the 7:15 practice. Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify.

Kiss My Asana is almost here (cause the yogathon starts Saturday, April 25^th!

As I mentioned in earlier posts, part of my offering to support Mind Body Solutions this year will be to tell seven special stories, your stories! Check out Friday’s post and then you can either email me or comment below.

Founded by Matthew Sanford, Mind Body Solutions helps those who have experienced trauma, loss, and disability find new ways to live by integrating both mind and body. They provide classes, workshops, and outreach programs. They also train yoga teachers and offer highly specialized training for health care professionals. This year’s yogathon is only a week long. Seven days, at the end of the month, to do yoga, share yoga, and help others.  By participating in the Kiss My Asana yogathon you join a global movement, but in a personal way. In other words, you practice yoga… for 7 days

I need your story to Kiss My Asana!!!

You don’t need to wait until the end of the month, however, to consider how you might participate. Start thinking now about how you can add 5 minutes of yoga (or meditation) to your day, how you can learn something new about your practice, or even how you would teach a pose to someone close to you – or even to one of your Master Teachers/Precious Jewels.

To give you some ideas, consider that in past years my KMA offerings have included donation-based classes and (sometimes) daily postings. Check out one of my previous offerings dated April 22^nd (or thereabouts):

30 Poses in 30 Days (scroll down to see April 22^nd)

A Musical Preview (scroll down to see March 22^nd)

A 5-Minute Practice

5 Questions Answered by Yogis

Answers to Yogis Questions

A Poetry Practice (notes)

A Preview of the April 22^nd Practice (see “A Poetry Practice” link above)

 Leaves of Grass

### HE MA DURGA ###