Green Witch Magic for Social Justice!
(Originally posted as a newsletter 2/23/21. If you are not signed up for my newsletters, signup here!
A Reflection on Reconnecting With the Earth
And online offerings: A Green Witch Guide to Spiritual Activism And Accessible Herbal Medicine
Hello Friends!
I'm pleased to have just had an article published in the Russian journal,"Ecopoiesis: Eco-Human Theory and Practice" which is the first international multidisciplinary Journal focused on building an eco-human paradigm, disseminating eco-human knowledge and technology based on the alliance of ecology, humanities and the arts.
A Reflection on Reconnecting With the Earth
by Robin Rose Bennett
If I could sing the opening of this article, I would start with a chant that
I've spontaneously opened or closed presentations with when I felt called to do so:
"We Are One
With the Soul
Of the Earth
Mother Earth"
I love Earth - deeply, truly, fully.
Earth loves me - deeply, truly, fully.
The love she has for me is not monogamous.
She freely offers herself to anyone who is open to receive her gifts.
She requires no payment for her love, yet responds to respect, gratitude, and affection, like any beloved.
This is not anthropomorphizing. Earth is so far beyond, so much more than just homo sapiens. She is alive, breathing, flowing with movement, birthing and dying in every moment. The earth is comprised of billions of creatures revealing innumerably diverse layers of microscopic to macroscopic forms of life. She has been cast as less than the living, sensate being that she is, but that is not the truth of Gaia, the Earth. Viewing the earth as inanimate has allowed human beings to steal her body bit by bit, chunk by chunk, tree by tree, in the name of industry and progress. It has allowed people to foul and poison her air, water and land, and greedily misuse her creative fire without regard for the mystery of interconnection, and certainly without gratitude and a sense of reciprocity.
And this reciprocity matters. I've observed over thirty years of helping people reconnect with the Earth physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually as part of their studies of herbal medicine, that rekindling the awareness of this living connection helps a person to reconnect with and liberate their own authentic self. And as it says over the doorway at the temple of Delphi, "Know thyself." And as Shakespeare reiterated, "To thine own self be True".
If you can't attend these classes live,
a recording will be available after the class.
A GREEN WITCH GUIDE
TO SPIRITUAL ACTIVISM
Monday, March 1, 6 - 7:30pm EST
Online Learning through Forever Wild Catskills
Register HERE!
Join us as we gather our collective powers of imagination to help weave a narrative of justice, compassion, & love for the present and future generations.
Turn the World Around from the Inside out.
What does a magical response to the heartlessness of the current paradigm that passes for reality look like? And what are the wise and unwise ways to do this work?
We'll discuss potential pitfalls as we explore ways to direct our intentional magic toward advocating for social justice and compassionate policies. Our physical and spiritual activism work best when empowered by our fiercely loving dedication to bringing about a healthier way of living in our world, with respect for all people and our more-than-human kin.
Coming up next:
ACCESSIBLE HERBAL MEDICINE
Tuesday, March 9th 6 - 8 pm EST
Online Learning through Transcending Roots Herbal Apothecary
Register HERE!
Does herbal medicine conjure up ideas of arcane lore and smelly potions? Or, perhaps images of rows of commercially prepared bottles of supplements and herbs with long names and high price tags?
Herbal medicine doesn't have to be that way.
It is the people's medicine and is as close to you as the onion in your pantry that can relieve ear pain, or pull out an infected splinter! Or the home-made tincture or salve available at your local apothecary! Or the wild dandelion leaf in your lawn that can help keep your blood pressure in healthy bounds by strengthening your kidneys! Come hear stories of real healing with common plants, trees and wildflowers.
A cup of tea, a foot or body bath, herbal vinegars... we'll explore accessible herbal medicine for everyday concerns.
Love and Green Blessings,
Robin Rose
~*~