The
world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel in it the earth. I smell it in
the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it. (from
Galadriel’s monologue in The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
Today, April 22nd, is Earth
Day. This is a day set aside for planting trees, cleaning up parks, forests and
beaches, for teaching people to plant gardens and not lawns, and for healing
Mother Earth. For me, as a witch and pagan, as a gardener, and just as a human
being, every day is Earth Day and I find it very sad, dare I say offensive,
that there is only one day in a year dedicated to caring for, tending to, and
protecting our planet, our collective home.
Earth is a living thing. Carbon, the
building block of life, is found in not only humans but in animals, plants, the
air, the oceans, rocks, and soil. This means that we humans and the animals are
not the only things alive on Earth. That rock you toss aside, that soil you
turn for planting, that ocean you dive into each Summer, that tree you are
cutting down - all hold the elements of life. As Earth is made up of rock, soil
and water, the argument could be made that the planet Earth itself is alive.
Earth, Mother Earth, Mother to us all, home to us all. And we are killing Her.
Each year, we humans spend tons of
money, and time, on protecting the inner sanctum of our homes from things like
carbon monoxide, asbestos, and lead, on air filtration systems to clean the air
we breathe in our houses, and on water filtration systems for our drinking and
bathing water. Yet, most of us cannot stop to pick up trash on the ground when
we see it, cannot stop pouring fertilizers and pesticides on our lawns and
gardens, and cannot stop filling landfills with every item we wish gone from
our life, only to replace it with something “new and improved”. Our oceans are
filled with tons of plastic and other waste, none of it good and all of it
deadly. We are killing our home. Mother Earth is fighting for Her life. We, the
people, can help heal Her, not just one day a year, but every day of our entire
lifetime, for generations to come.
Saving our planet begins with education.
Educate yourself. Understand how all life on this planet in interconnected.
Learn the facts about climate change, pollution, and the importance of
maintaining local native habitats and ecosystems. Learn how to compost, how to
collect rain water, and how to recycle, repurpose, and reuse items in and
around your home. Understand the chemicals we use in our lives, our homes and
our gardens and the damage they can cause to humans, animals and plants. Know
their dangers and how to either use, store and dispose of them properly and
safely, or rid your life of them completely. Take that knowledge, make changes
to your daily living, and lead by example. Then educate your kids, your family,
your friends, and anyone willing to listen and empower them all to do the same.
Community service should not be reserved
for just Earth Day. Volunteer to help clean up local parks, forests, creek
beds, or beaches regularly. In Spring, consult with your child’s school
administration about planting raised garden beds as part of science classes. In
Autumn, help your elderly neighbors clean up the fallen leaves. Save them for
your compost pile or show your neighbors how those leaves can be used to mulch
gardens. Spread the word on your block of upcoming local shredding events,
hazardous waste collections, or electronics recycling programs. Offer help in
getting to those events. Simply just picking up trash you see in your travels
and disposing of it properly is community service. On a larger scale, join an
organization that protects wildlife and volunteer for their events as often as
you can. Work with your local government to begin greener practices or to
restore local habitats. I could list out hundreds of ideas and suggestions but
I think you get the gist of it.
♥ mother earth!!!
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