Spirit Matters: Beauty of the Earth

 

Dear Friends,

Here we are, April already! – Earth Day, National Poetry month (the world’s largest literary celebration), and my husband’s birthday. Poetry and nature are spiritual lifelines for me and I became curious to look back to see how that evolved.

As a child in Palmer, Alaska, I was surrounded by the stunning Chugach Mountains, Pioneer Peak, and Matanuska River valley. Growing up in church, I loved the hymns, “For the Beauty of the Earth” and “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.” In the sanctuary of The Church of a Thousand Trees, we sang “This is My Father’s World” – The birds their carols raise, the morning light, the lily white and of skies and seas, of rocks and trees. I could relate!

In all this childhood magnificence, God and Earth as one sacred Being blossomed in me, while music lifted my soul. My mother held me on her lap, reading the great poems “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” (Wordsworth) and “Loveliest of Trees (A.E. Houseman).

When I turned ten, we moved to Aberdeen, Grays Harbor. I learned many versions of rain! Our family drove to Ocean Shores to dig clams and pypo–board, as well as to Westport where we strolled on the pier and walked the beaches. The beautiful power of water and ocean flowed into my life.

At church during my teens, I swooned with the hymns “How Great Thou Art,” as well as“Be Thou My Vision” from the Celtic tradition which embraces the blessing of Earth (unlike the Roman tradition). Read John Philip Newell’s  Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality.

At sixteen I questioned my religion due to patriarchal language, the Calvinistic belief in predestination, the assumption that Christianity was the only way to God, and nodivine feminine. I couldn’t buy it. My father’s ministry was liberal, loving, and did not focus on these aspects but they were still implicit in the litanies, creeds, and music. I felt hungry for more.

This led me to Chinook (aka Whidbey Institute) where young adults gathered on “the land” and explored with Fritz and Vivienne Hull a new vision of reverence for Earth as well as “discipleship” to God. I learned of the Findhorn Community in Scotland, where thousands of people lived and visited each year to co-create a loving world uniting nature and God. I got “the call” and lived at Findhorn for over three years wheremeditation and “attunement” were woven throughout the day, my heart gladdened by gardens as well as the nearby North Sea. Music by members roused our spirits and tapped our toes. I was even inspired to write songs there!

I also visited the island of Iona where St. Columba established an abbey in 563 AD, evangelizing Scotland. On Iona the “veil is thin” and, before Christianity, it was a sacred Druid site. The turquoise sea, white beaches, and some of the most ancient rocks on Earth – over two billion years old! – stirred my soul.

I returned to Whidbey where the Salish Sea, verdant forests, and a community of spiritually-open friends provided a wonderful home for raising my daughter as well as nurturing my own journey. One of the highlights was joining friends to sing in the chorus of the “Missa Gaia Earth Mass” in Seattle with the Paul Winter Consort. I was moved to tears by this powerful Earth and Spirit devotional praise.

Later, living in Edmonds and Seattle, I put my love of nature to work by setting up and managing waste prevention, composting, and recycling programs for Snohomish County and the City of Seattle, and even a statewide program, Washington Green Schools (now called EarthGen). Something really fun was writing and performing aRecycling/Composting Rap for schools and conferences.

At Unity, we enjoy exceptional contemporary music as well as an open inclusive loving spiritual community. Our award-winning church building enfolds sustainability andconnects us with nature through huge windows in our sanctuary as well as the outdoor terrace upstairs. A labyrinth, spearheaded by Jackie Roberts, is set in stone across the street in Denny Park. Our church has a stellar reduce, compost, recycle program, not only for church gatherings, but also by contract for all rentals. And the Risers carry the environment in mind, taking tree action as well as doing justice work. I love these commitments to Earth.

Back to my husband’s birthday. My mother and father gifted me with a love of reading, writing, music, God, and poetry. During my earlier adulthood, poetry lay dormant though music kept rhythm and rhyme flowing. However, Carl is a poet and loves poetry, so when we met he naturally shared his enthusiasm. I was enchanted. This led to us being part of a poetry group and from there I became more and more fascinated, now engaged with several poetry groups and classes, and writing a poem almost every day.Thank you, Carl!

I’m truly grateful for how Spirit opened pathways for me into the heart of Gaia throughpoetry, music, and community. I wonder how you were led in your life to embracing your passion and creativity. Let me know!

As Spring resurrects with green lushness, the return of birds, and unfolding flowers, and as we celebrate new life and rebirth through Passover and Easter, may we all walk in beauty on this Earth, singing our thanks.

 

Early Morning  

Everything is still, except
the spotted towhee buzzing
me awake.

I’m slow to shake off dreams
yet can no longer sleep, light
summons me into day

The sky lifts blue, sun
brightens crowns of maple, cedar,
heart-leafed cottonwood

Later when it’s hot I’ll stay
inside, but for now I hear
quick wings of hummingbirds

I tie my shoes, open the door, step
into a fresh new morning,
lavender and lemon balm

My breath takes communion
with the air. Liquid calls of songbirds
teach me how to pray.

 

Music Suggestions

From “Missa Gaia Earth Mass” – Paul Winter Consort, Susan Osborn

     The Blue Green Hills of Earth

     Mystery

Findhorn

     Peace of Iona – Mike Scott of The Waterboys (6 minutes, stunning Iona video)

Contemporary New Thought

     Living in the Heart of God –  Jan Garrett and JD Martin

 

 

.