How Does Climate Change Empower Your Spirituality?

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Nature and biology demonstrate Oneness/Interdependence. We are all part of an intrinsic co-arising web of life. One part affects the whole. Through observations from space, we know that what we do in one part of the ecosystem affects the entire system. Nature through its communicating, yet differentiated systems, demonstrates oneness.

Each environmental system and animal niche is dependent upon the whole system yet expresses in a unique way. Likewise, every human is individuated yet interdependent within the greater community. On a biological level we know that what we do to one part of the human body affects the whole.

When we notice the examples of oneness in nature and our body, oneness can be a felt embodied sensation with life. We are 100% dependent on the earth for our food and air. It is vulnerable to acknowledge these connections that keep us alive, but when we do, loneliness and separation loosen their tight grip on our hearts.

“The world is not a problem to be solved but a living being in which we belong. The world is part of our own self and we are part of its suffering wholeness. Until we go to the root of our image of separateness there can be no healing. And the deepest part of our separateness from creation lies in our forgetfulness of the sacredness of nature, which is also our own sacred nature.” -Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee Ph.D and author of, “Spiritual Ecology”

Waiting to go to heaven or trying to transcend the earthly realm will only keep us avoiding the earth’s suffering, spiritually bypassing what is desperately calling for help. Authentic spirituality empowers a person to be a love activist for themselves, for each other, for animals, and for the earth. Our crisis in the natural world is an opportunity to wake up to the fact that we live on one planet, on the same earth. The earth is your home.

Remembering the sacred: Becoming fully aware of what is happening in the environment, oceans, and food systems reminds us to be humble stewards, and thus infuses purpose into our daily lives. Our actions, choices, and thoughts today affect future generations. This is how we remember what is sacred and act accordingly.

Feeling the pain of the world’s suffering (environmental, factory farming, starvation, and more) is the bridge to spiritual expansion: Carl Jung’s famous saying, “Feeling is healing,” is applicable to both our personal healing and environmental healing. Self-love helps pain be productive by allowing yourself to feel the eco-devastation of the oceans, rain forests, or even a lost natural space from your childhood; your heart opens, promoting oneness and generating a feeling of being more alive. It is to the measure that we embrace pain that we can know joy.

How does your spirituality empower the healing of climate change?

Spirituality can increase your capacity to look at the devastation and take empowering steps: We must first fully look at, be with, and feel the problem to allow a solution to be born. Mindfully witnessing your painful emotions and thoughts in meditation practice helps you become available to looking at the pain of the world. Metaphorically, the bowl of mud must fully be turned over to allow the waters of awareness to wash away the pain. Many people who are overwhelmed by the world’s suffering will default to denial, blame, or apathy. We all need spiritual/healing tools (meditation, emotional self-awareness, therapy, coaching, etc.) to be able to cope with the immensity of what is happening. If a person doesn’t have or practice these tools, defense and denial become their only coping mechanism.

“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference … The greatest danger to our future is apathy.” Dr. Jane Goodall in, “Reason For Hope”

Meditation and self-love help you to be love in action: Every person is a complete representative of the whole. As you practice witnessing a problem or pain (personal or collective), the solution will be born. Writing letters to politicians, being kinder to yourself, volunteering, cutting down on consumption of animal flesh, forgiving yourself, becoming an eco-friendly consumer, and self-acceptance are all ways that solutions are born into being, and there are so many more.

“Be generous with your strengths and skills—they are not your private property” Joanna Macy in, “Work That Reconnects”, eco-activist and scholar of systems theory.

A grounded self-love and spiritual practice should empower a person to look directly at hate, and see only love: Spirituality should help you to hold a vision of healing, embody a place of creative solutions, and to take empowering action. Avoiding suffering because it’s “too negative” does not protect you, but actually disconnects you from the juice of life. Practicing a real, full love includes choosing to love all things. Non-dualistic love, or pure awareness, includes loving the negative (being aware of it), and at the same time, knowing itself as bigger than the problem. The survival of the human species is dependent upon every human doing their inner work, waking up to their inherent worth, developing the practices and skills to face the issues, and being the love in action the world needs.

“If we could surrender to earth’s intelligence, we would rise up rooted, like trees.” Rainer Maria Rilke

As an ecopsychologist, shaman and animal communicator, I help people reconnect back to their bodies, to the natural world, and to their inherent worth. Both the Divine and living nature consciousness are real and we are here to embody and demonstrate love through authentically being ourselves.

There are no simple solutions. The problems are systemic issues and require a new paradigm to emerge. However, as we utilize authentic spiritual practices and gather in community to face the food, agricultural, and environmental issues, I believe solutions will be born. For example, as more of us are no longer tolerating corporate pollution of our Great Lakes, or nation-wide protests of climate change … small changes are indeed happening. Let’s keep changing the world together, being love and living as eco-warriors of the new paradigm of peace.

Tibetan monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, when asked, “How can we best help the world?” replied, “What we most need to do is to hear within ourselves the sounds of the earth crying.”

May 5th – Come join us for the “Awakening Your Global Heart” workshop. Powerful teachings, Self-Acceptance tools, nature rituals, and shamanic practices to reconnect back to life and be the solution to global crisis. 12-5pm. 55-85$, 8830 Currie, Northville, Michigan. Call to register: 734-796-6690 Individual shamanic healing and mentoring also available.

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