Gaia Our Home by Laurie Buchanan
Barbara’s blog post, Earth Consciousness, was extremely thought-provoking, and served to stir the pot a little more …
The universe is a living connected organism. When we embrace this, when we really take this to heart, there will be a tremendous shift in behavior; individually and collectively. When we understand our relationship to Gaia—Mother Earth—we’ll cease dumping, strip mining and polluting our home. When we understand our relationship to each other—we are one—greed, envy, and fighting will cease; we’ll treat each other and our environment with respect.
When we truly understand how we fit into the big picture, we’ll teach our children the Seven Generation mind/heart set; a sound ecological concept that admonishes the current generation of humans to work for the benefit of the seventh generation into the future and to replenish what we use, leaving enough for the next seven generations in line. Imagine if humankind recognized Nature as a critical partner—the positive global change would be staggering!
“In every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation … even if it requires having skin as thick as the bark of a pine.” —Great Law of the Iroquois
© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com
Tuesdays with Laurie 
Wow, Laurie — thanks for the reinforcement, affirmation, confirmation, and connection. I love the quote you chose from the Iroquois. The idea for tomorrow’s post had not been decided yet, but you have led me there. There is such great wisdom in the ways of the native people of America and I often wonder if there is a way to peacefully marry the innovation of today’s generation with their ancient wisdom to create a sustainable way of life.
Barbara – I like your mindset of “peacefully marry” — I’m very much looking forward to what you have to share in your blog tomorrow. In the meantime, have a great today! I’ glad for your visit — thank you.
Thanks for the inspiration and reminder that the ways of ancient wisdom are way ahead of our ways.
I was reading the Spring issue of Sibyl and it verifies this as well in our own world of illusion.
“A Journey from Head to Heart” By Robin Mastro.
(Now Laurie, You know why I just sighed and laughed just now at the same time with this title, it just dawned on me what the title was!)
” I have been a journeyer between the world of truth and goodness and the world of illusion and uncertainty for quite some time. Wisdom, simplicity, and certainly are true voices from the heart.”
Kim
Kim – Your comments this morning made me smile. I’m glad you brought up the brand new Spring issue of Sibyl Magazine. I’ve got a piece on Friendship on page 12, I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for your visit.
Good Morning Laurie,
Yes wondrous wisdom… to pay it forward, this world is not just for us but for all of us who may and will come after us.
What do we leave behind? How do we share that wisdom with the younger generation?
As I walk my dogs each morning, running about in the little wood that is left here in suburbia NJ, teaming with life, seen and unseen, I walk with my camera ready, my eyes and ears open to the sights and sounds that amaze me in this forced wonder of wood! Bless to breath its essence, to hear the trees speak, and the birds sing their happiness…
This is what I want to leave, not just this little bit of wood but, forest of fabulousness, of sights, sounds, and bliss…
http://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffstroud/art/4881438-1-spring-fireworks-ii-maple-tree
Jeff – Thank you for the link, it’s great! I hope you know your RedBubble page is listed in my “Favorite Websites” list on the Home page of this blog. “… and heat thetrees speak …” yes, Yes, Yes! They’re waking up from winter. Thank you for your visit — I appreciate it.
Moving forward does not always excuse destruction for profit. When I reflect on what has been lost to future generations because of corporate greed and the “I want now!” attitudes of the last 50 years, it tears at my soul. Most of us no longer live hand in hand with Gaia. We wrongly assume that technology has taken the place of the strong core values and principles that our ancestors used to guide their lives. So we have shamefully wasted for momentary convenience and comfort what should have been protected and preserved for the “Seventh Generation.” We have squandered not only our own rich inheritance but that of our children and their children. Perhaps we will be known as the generation of ” They Had it All, and Threw it Away, Hand over Fist.”
Sandi – For a Master Gardener — someone who works hand-in-hand with the earth — the current state of affairs has to be especially painful. Your excellent comment brings to mind the willful ignorance and wanton greed that was portrayed in the movie, Avatar.
“They Had it All, and Threw it Away, Hand over Fist” is a shameful legacy, indeed.
Always a pleasure to read your thoughts.
It seems the Shift is accelerating from my perspective.
Almost every time that thought manifests, I turn my glance at the clock in the lower right corner of my browser and it’s eleven something…..
Peace
~lars
It is such a basic act of love Laurie, a foundation. Thank You for keeping this love in our hearts and minds!
Love You, Jeannie
Just think if we all included our great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandchildren in our actions…how much more consciously and sacredly we would choose to act. To know that we are not simply acting for our immediate needs, but widening that circle of love even further…
A thoughtless pursuit of “if I don’t take it first, someone else will get it”, is at the root of over-harvesting. The lack of a sustainable mentality can only lead to shortages in the future. It is greed and a sense of lack that drives such behavior.
Living so close to the Earth, practicing an Earth-based meditation twice daily, connects me ever deeper, bonds me ever more strongly, with the essence of the living entity, some call Gaia.
It is viewing oneself as separate, disconnected and with the only meaning derived from possession and consumption, that are all symptoms of our modern imbalance.
Yes, native people’s were closer to the Earth, and they survive still in remnants; yet many no longer understand the significance of the ancient wisdom, as they modernize too, and take on modernization ailments of thinking.
Still, indigenous people have been around so long, that most modern people would have difficulty wrapping their brains around such long-views. Yet, a daily practice of connecting deeply to our Mother Earth, to Gaia, can over weeks and months remedy the disconnection., even in the most modern of people. I know, I’m one (though I’ve been close to the Earth, since childhood; and perhaps in that, not typical of today’s childhoods).
Peace & Blessings
from a child of “hers” –
Deb
Deb – One of my favorite things about you is your consistent connection with the Earth; your day-in-day-out lifestyle. “Living so close to the Earth, practicing an Earth-based meditation twice daily, connects me ever deeper, bonds me ever more strongly, with the essence of the living entity, some call Gaia.” I appreciate what you’ve shared here and am glad for your visit — thank you.
Hello Laurie,
I have been reading of late a diary. It was written during the turn of century a little over two centuries ago by one Lady Elizabeth Simcoe. This person was, for those not familiar with this area of the country, the wife of a high ranking public official when the ideals of nationhood of our two countries were in their formative years.
The diary traces her journey physically, emotionally and spiritual to me across our two countries from the region of Montreal down through the great lake basin and onto Niagara Falls.
Written in the first person she writes her thinking, unguarded at times but always full in the way of European mind speak of the time and so it is both embarrassing and enlightening. Both I say because not unlike Anne Frank’s diary I suppose one cannot help but relish the beauty while also come to grasp the environment in which it was written.
Our lands were without comparison for their natural wildlife as Lady Simcoe so often and so casually states , the abundance in all that is around her is a constant source for her discussions and yet through it all there is this conquering force that is edging its way forward. A force that will diverts rivers, kill without thought or regard for what it lays waste to, nor allow anything to gets in it path.
Now I understand, like the Diary of Anne Frank when it was written and so do, to further what I hope is my own growth hold no judgement upon any one side, other then the lessons it can tell to all that it makes me feel inside myself.
A lesson that when I see you write of preparing now for seven generation hence makes me realize that diary was but four or five generations ago at most. And that we had better find a way to think more longer and wider, more united and free and less divided and to conquer. For what surrounds us is what we are while what we cherish becomes what surrounds us.
Oct 15th after returning to England, Second to last entry.
The weather is damp raw and unpleasant. I could not but observe as we passed many good Houses that those Mansions appeared very uncomfortable habitations in which people might live very happily, but it could not be supposed they could ever be induced to go out of them in such a damp Climate for the fields looked so cold, so damp, so chearless, so uncomfortable from the want of our bright Canadian sun that the effect was striking & the contrast very unfavourable to the English climate.
Thanks
R
Robert – I very much enjoyed what you had to share. The thought that really grabbed me is when you say, “… hold no judgement upon any one side, other then the lessons it can tell to all that it makes me feel inside myself.” I like the way you think. Thank you for visiting. I hope that you and yours have a wonderful holiday weekend.
Wonderful Laurie! This entry reminded me of Chief Seattle’s Lament. Here is a section from it that resonates with what you say here.
Chief Seattle…
“One thing we know, Our God is the same God. This earth is precious to Him. Even the white man cannot be exempt from the common destiny. We may be brothers after all. We shall see.
This we know: The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know: All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.”
And in so doing we do to subsequent generations. It is NOW we leave our legacy!
Masterful Call to Our Current Mission!
Ben
Ben – Chief Seattle’s wise statement made so very long ago, “… Our God is the same God …” very much reminds me of what the camel driver in Paul Coelho’s book The Alchemist said, “All of our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand.” You are oh-so-right when you say, “It is NOW we leave our legacy!” Thank you so much for dropping by. Have a wonderful holiday weekend.
Very true as ever Laurie. I can’t speak for the universe but as a planet we all have to get on together and take care of it, and each other. Money is nice to have but you can’t eat it, you can’t drink it, and you can’t smoke it.
Kevin – “… we all have to get on together and take care of it, and each other.” Your point is straight, to the [excellent] point and well taken. Thank you.
I did a “eco” green convention recently and was happy to see schools interested in showing children how to grow your own lunch by launching gardens in schools. I am aware it starts with one but good ideas like that are very viral and the word gets around. One school in England sent me pictures I have to post for you as the children made their raised beds into heart shapes and put the veggies in organic soil. I thought of you. Think with your ♥ !
Kathy – Thank you so much for stopping by. The “eco” green convention about launching gardens in schools is cool., and I’m glad you shared it.
And you know what else is cool? Our mutual friend, Sandi White, from the Gaia Community, has an article in the April/May edition of Cherokee Countee Master Gardener’s Newsletter. You are all cordially invited to read “The Chicken Ladies Garden Club” by Sandi White, Cherokee County Master Gardener (page 4).
More of her writing can be found on her blog, Under Southern Skies.
Thanks for sharing Sandi’s article. Kinda makes me homesick for Atlanta and my friends there.
Kim
Kim – I’m glad you enjoyed it. She has no idea I shared it. She’d probably smack me silly if I were in arms reach. But there’s a good protective distance between us (600 miles as the crow flies).