Children in the Spring
As a mother and daughter, I have learned to lean on the Great Mother Gaia for uncomplicated support in all seasons. Metaphorically, she represents reciprocity, abundance, stability, and beauty. I can tune into her vibration for guidance when human relationships feel more complex. And, she holds within her deep lessons that deserve to be heard. One of my favorite quotes by Wendell Berry is,
”Whether we and our politicians know it or not, Nature is party to all our deals and decisions, and she has more votes, a longer memory, and a sterner sense of justice than we do.”
Memories of my mom alone in her garden were foundational to an appreciation of solitude in nature. This is where she found peace, sitting on a 5-gallon bucket for hours in her crop top, pulling weeds while my brother and I ran around the confines of our backyard. Sheets dried on a clothesline bring back memories of hot summer nights sung to sleep by cricket song, and radishes in the spring remind me of the breakfast I would choose as I was unleashed, barefoot, and dew-kissed in the early days of this incarnation.
When my daughter was around four, she pulled out the green beans in our garden because she knew how much time there meant to me. It was my break from the constant demands of being a business owner, wife, and mother. It was where I listened, and it took time away from her. Over the years, the word bean has evolved into terms of endearment for anyone cared for in our home, whether the kids or the cat; string bean, snow pea, bean, little bean are all translated to dear one to my heart.
Raising our kids in natural environments has always been a value. As much as they call me the nature nerd or meditation lady, all the clutter falls away when they set out on a trail. The melodic steps create their meditative flow; the walls come down, and imagination blossoms.
Accessing my inner child on a subconscious level helps me connect more deeply with my children. Research shows that forest bathing, walking in the woods, and earthing, placing your bare feet directly on the earth, help regulate our nervous systems. This puts us in harmony and coherence with our ecosystem.
We live in a world of overstimulation, and children process life energetically as they develop their reasoning abilities. If we slow down enough to allow this gift, we can nurture and learn from them. Cultivating their free spirit is necessary for the health of our future.
Reversing the damage we’ve done to our planet requires individual effort. Heather White of One Green Thing says, ‘Individual action shifts the culture.’ She suggests we should not rely on individual contribution math to convince us of the change we can make because our influence is impactful and not captured in that data. She suggests individual household changes can contribute to a 25% reduction in emissions.
Our children are growing up understanding that their parents’ consumer-driven culture does not support their future. We’re not, as the Iroquois and other Native Americans have suggested, planning for a sustainable world seven generations forward.
Learning from our kids and connecting with them around conservation opportunities allows us to grow together and nurture that innate understanding of our interconnectedness. After all, we are part of the ecosystem—what we do to one, we do to the whole. How can we question war, disease, and hatred when we treat our planet, which sustains us with these very qualities?
As spring teaches us the rebirth available after a long winter and our energy picks up to do more in the world, here are some fun activities you can enjoy with your children as a way to bring the intentional reciprocity needed to honor the Great Mother:
Compost—save vegetable scraps for a composting container or space in your yard. To become nutrient-rich soil, it must be mixed with dry, organic material like leaves and newspaper. Adding worms aids in this process.
Hike — Louisville parks are an incredible treat for anyone! Full of birds, deer, flora, and walking paths, let the melody of your soul lead you forward.
Ride a bike — not much takes one back to the freedom of youth, like the wind in one’s hair, embodying all senses for safety and fun. Rentals are available in multiple locations around Louisville.
Get a bird feeder — Bring nature to your window to help you remember.
Visit a nature center — learn more about our natural world. Some options include the Louisville Nature Center, Waterfront Botanical Gardens, the Parklands, Falls of the Ohio, Bernheim, and Jefferson Memorial Forest. Many offer classes.
Incorporate Ritual — any organic element you offer the earth, such as flowers, seeds, hair, or food, allows a moment to honor all she gives back. You can share yourself with the offering through intention and your breath.
It is through harmonious relationships that our world will find peace.
Loved the memories and glad you are keeping them going!
I love this piece. Thanks for the reminders.