EARTH DAY - Ways to Connect & Tend to Mother Earth
Today we celebrate EARTH DAY in the US,
and although this should be a day of Celebration,
I can’t help but feel Grief & Rage with all of the damage we do to Mother Earth,
Pachamama, Tonantzin.
So I wanted to share some Ideas & Reflections
on how we can be good Stewards of the Land
based on Indigenous ways of being-living:
1.) TAKE ACTION:
Join an organization that helps fight for Environmental Justice.
This can be a local organization to you, or a chapter of a national organization.
Or you can donate to their causes.
2.) JOIN OR START A COMMUNITY GARDEN:
Many cities now have community gardens where you can go help tend to the land
and grow your own food, plants & herbs.
If your city/town doesn’t have one, then look into how you can begin this project.
3.) ADVOCATE & SUPPORT LAND BACK MOVEMENTS:
Many of our Indigenous Relatives are fighting back to obtain sacred land back.
Research land-back movements in your Area and see how you can support.
4.) START PLANTING:
in your own backyard or front-yard.
Research “local native plants” for your area and plant those.
Many “natural disasters” happen because the landscape
does not have its own native plants, which causes ecological disasters.
Non-native plants can overtake the landscape, may need more resources (i.e. water),
and with native plants, we can restore balance to the ecosystems.
5.) GIVE OFRENDAS TO MOTHER EARTH:
Give thanks to Mother Earth for all that she provides.
Ask for permission of the lands where you reside for being there,
when you go visit another land,
and when harvesting from Mother Earth.
In exchange you give an ofrenda which can be:
Tobacco, Water, or sing her a song.
I hope that these actionable steps give you strength & power
to connect & tend to Mother Earth because Earth Day is EVERYDAY.
She is our Mother, she nourishes us, provides shelter, food & BEAUTY.
She takes care of us without asking for anything in return,
so how can we begin/continue to take care of our Mother Earth?
