Hello Everyone
It is an interesting time in the world right now. Politicians are in disarray as to how we wish to leave the planet for future generations. Around the world we experience hope and disappointment with The Copenhagen Talks being one such example.
Yet there is a ground swell of ecology poetry that is having a huge impact on people’s thoughts and actions. Who else but poets can so eloquently put into words the love and beauty that so many of us feel for nature? Their observations of the world and their love of beauty make them highly qualified to lead a new revolution in sustainability.
The crisis that the planet faces now has given poets the opportunity to speak in a new voice. They can express our basic humanity, our connectedness, our need to conserve resources and our responsibility to cherish diversity.
Consider the following:
It is the opening question from Don McKay’s Strike/Slip
"Who are you?" and concluding,
"You are the momentary mind of rock"
McKay puts the temporary nature of humans on the planet into the wider geological perspective of the earth on which we tread. As these two lines hint, the poem discusses the erosion and self destructive behaviour on the planet. The poem then considers that this is slowly being replaced by a greater understanding of our connectedness to the sacred story of planet earth.
As humans we have developed an incredible ability to think and bring a level of consciousness to our actions and their impact on the planet. It is the elevation of these skills accompanied with ecological poetry which will determine our future.
So it might be appropriate that we visit part of the thought provoking poem Hieroglyphic Stairway by Drew Dillinger. Just suppose we could get the politicians and power brokers to consider its message too… just suppose ecological poets were as highly valued in our society as plastic surgeons, media magnates and TV stars.
it's 3:23 in the morning
and I'm awake
because my great great grandchildren
won't let me sleep
my great great grandchildren
ask me in dreams
what did you do while the planet was plundered?
what did you do when the earth was unraveling?
surely you did something
when the seasons started failing?
as the mammals, reptiles, birds were all dying?
did you fill the streets with protest
when democracy was stolen?
what did you do
once
you
knew?
The power and challenge with which this poem confronts the reader is only surpassed by that of hearing the poem read by Drew Dellinger himself. He describes himself as a spoken word poet and as a recent member of the audience when he visited Australia last year I can state that his own reading is even more challenging and beautiful.
A somewhat less confronting piece of poetry comes from Kathy Sherman:
Touch the earth with gentleness
Touch the earth with love
Touch her with a future
By the way you live today.
Drew Dellinger has a car sticker which he distributes at his workshops it says ‘Planetize the Movement’. Perhaps with the creativity and power that ecological poets present a new car sticker should be distributed ‘Poetise the Planet’!
Works Cited
Dellinger D 2007 love letter to the moon Poets for Global Justice Press
McKay D 2006 Strike/Slip McClelland & Stewart
DVD
Sherman K 2008 Touch the Earth with Gentleness New Zealand Sisters of Mercy
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Composting and Forgiveness
Blog 1 November 2009
Is it possible that recycling could be a spiritual activity?
Composting, for most of us, is nature's own recycling system. It breaks plant matter down into its original nutrient form and then returns that valuable nourishment to the soil.
By composting we give back some of the nutrients we have taken from our soil.
Putting home-grown compost onto gardens also greatly reduces our dependence on chemicals, such as artificial fertilisers and pesticides.
Everything we put into a compost heap is broken down by bacteria and other creatures such as worms and slaters. Air and water also play a crucial role in the life of a compost heap just as they are crucial to human life.
Composting is the best way to reduce food and garden waste.
On average, about half of our household rubbish is food scraps, garden waste and other organic matter that can be composted.
Compost returns nutrients to the soil and improves plant growth by:
· Bringing life back to the soil.
· Helping to break up heavy clay soils.
· Improving the soil's capacity to hold water.
· Adding essential minerals to the soil.
Did you ever think that composting could be a spiritual activity? Here is an interesting tale from Lethea Erz a spiritual psychologist from New Zealand:
Consider that the compost process demonstrates the powers of birth, death and regeneration at an earthly level. It reminds us that we need life to continue renewing itself without our constant intervention.
It also reminds us of the interconnectedness with everything that exists.
In our own small ways with just our own kitchen waste we are given an opportunity to participate in the ongoing sacred process of creating and sustaining life on earth.
May we all enjoy our harvest and make the planet sustainable .
And if you really would like to take on impacting communication on the planet I invite you to take on the distinction
Forgiveness – to give as it was before
Actively bring the distinction Forgiveness to all of your conversations.
Create 2 practices to take into your life using the distinction Forgiveness. Share them with someone.
What does it look like who your being is the distinction Forgiveness in your life, what does this provide for you, your life and others.
Distinguish how being someone committed to Forgiveness makes a difference when you are stopped and share with someone how this will make a difference in your life.
Is it possible that recycling could be a spiritual activity?
Composting, for most of us, is nature's own recycling system. It breaks plant matter down into its original nutrient form and then returns that valuable nourishment to the soil.
By composting we give back some of the nutrients we have taken from our soil.
Putting home-grown compost onto gardens also greatly reduces our dependence on chemicals, such as artificial fertilisers and pesticides.
Everything we put into a compost heap is broken down by bacteria and other creatures such as worms and slaters. Air and water also play a crucial role in the life of a compost heap just as they are crucial to human life.
Composting is the best way to reduce food and garden waste.
On average, about half of our household rubbish is food scraps, garden waste and other organic matter that can be composted.
Compost returns nutrients to the soil and improves plant growth by:
· Bringing life back to the soil.
· Helping to break up heavy clay soils.
· Improving the soil's capacity to hold water.
· Adding essential minerals to the soil.
Did you ever think that composting could be a spiritual activity? Here is an interesting tale from Lethea Erz a spiritual psychologist from New Zealand:
Consider that the compost process demonstrates the powers of birth, death and regeneration at an earthly level. It reminds us that we need life to continue renewing itself without our constant intervention.
It also reminds us of the interconnectedness with everything that exists.
In our own small ways with just our own kitchen waste we are given an opportunity to participate in the ongoing sacred process of creating and sustaining life on earth.
May we all enjoy our harvest and make the planet sustainable .
And if you really would like to take on impacting communication on the planet I invite you to take on the distinction
Forgiveness – to give as it was before
Actively bring the distinction Forgiveness to all of your conversations.
Create 2 practices to take into your life using the distinction Forgiveness. Share them with someone.
What does it look like who your being is the distinction Forgiveness in your life, what does this provide for you, your life and others.
Distinguish how being someone committed to Forgiveness makes a difference when you are stopped and share with someone how this will make a difference in your life.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Consciousness and Communication on the Planet
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to my first blog. I would love to hear any responses you might have. My goal is to forward consciousness and communication on the planet.
Do you realise that language is only about 40000 years old for humans? Before language our ancestors would grunt and use gestures or non-verbal communication. Some researchers even say that non-verbal communication still conveys the bulk of the message.
Some of the figures floated suggest that only 7% of the meaning of communication comes through words. 38% of the meaning of communication comes through the tone of our voice and 55% through our body language.
You don’t believe me? Imagine someone growling at you with a scowl on their face “Yes I am happy!” What are you going to believe?
Consider then that we created words and language. We decided what was important. The Eskimos for example have over 70 words for snow. We in Bathurst Australia have only a few.
The words and concepts ‘right’ and ‘wrong ‘ have been very important in our history and development. And a new model of communication is being developed where ‘there is no right or wrong – just different’. I can very clearly remember being instructed in this when we hosted teenagers from other countries.
Moving away from blaming others is a big step for many of us. Yet it is important if we are all to work and live together in harmony.
If what I have said is of interest to you might like to focus on the distinction GENEROSITY for the coming week and do the following activities.
Generosity
Take on listening for what people are committed to. Listen beyond their words and hear what deeply motivates them.
Take on being Generous in your listening of others even when you don’t want to or disagree with them.
Take on being Generous with yourself, notice what new openings for action occur and what results did you produce by doing this.
Practice being Generous during your conversations with people today/tonight. What does this provide for yourself and for team?
Actively bring the distinction Generosity to your conversations for relatedness.
Create 2 practices to take into your life using the distinction Generosity.
What does it look like who you are being is Generous , what does this provide for you, your life and others.
Distinguish how being Generous makes a difference when you are stopped during in life and share how this will make a difference in your life.
Write on the blog and let me know what you have created.
Till next week
Ciao
Roz
Welcome to my first blog. I would love to hear any responses you might have. My goal is to forward consciousness and communication on the planet.
Do you realise that language is only about 40000 years old for humans? Before language our ancestors would grunt and use gestures or non-verbal communication. Some researchers even say that non-verbal communication still conveys the bulk of the message.
Some of the figures floated suggest that only 7% of the meaning of communication comes through words. 38% of the meaning of communication comes through the tone of our voice and 55% through our body language.
You don’t believe me? Imagine someone growling at you with a scowl on their face “Yes I am happy!” What are you going to believe?
Consider then that we created words and language. We decided what was important. The Eskimos for example have over 70 words for snow. We in Bathurst Australia have only a few.
The words and concepts ‘right’ and ‘wrong ‘ have been very important in our history and development. And a new model of communication is being developed where ‘there is no right or wrong – just different’. I can very clearly remember being instructed in this when we hosted teenagers from other countries.
Moving away from blaming others is a big step for many of us. Yet it is important if we are all to work and live together in harmony.
If what I have said is of interest to you might like to focus on the distinction GENEROSITY for the coming week and do the following activities.
Generosity
Take on listening for what people are committed to. Listen beyond their words and hear what deeply motivates them.
Take on being Generous in your listening of others even when you don’t want to or disagree with them.
Take on being Generous with yourself, notice what new openings for action occur and what results did you produce by doing this.
Practice being Generous during your conversations with people today/tonight. What does this provide for yourself and for team?
Actively bring the distinction Generosity to your conversations for relatedness.
Create 2 practices to take into your life using the distinction Generosity.
What does it look like who you are being is Generous , what does this provide for you, your life and others.
Distinguish how being Generous makes a difference when you are stopped during in life and share how this will make a difference in your life.
Write on the blog and let me know what you have created.
Till next week
Ciao
Roz
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
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