I chose Mother Nature’s eyes to represent life, because when we are alive, we are aware. Not all creatures have eyes, but we all perceive the world through senses of some kind.
Overview
There has never been a more important time to ask, ‘How do the decisions and actions I take most support life?’.
Life is precious, an extraordinary mystery.
Innumerable scientific findings and recent events across the world show all living beings, including we humans, are at risk due to climate change and other consequences – of the now global – patriarchal (power over colonialist and capitalist) social, economic, cultural and political system.
Now is the time to prioritise life, rather than material acquisitions.
Personal and spiritual practice for Life
Just thinking about the preciousness of life isn’t enough to shift the dial of changes towards and new paradigm, Mother Nature-archy. One needs to feel the sacredness of oneself, others and all livings beings. The following practices are adapted from Buddhist meditation, which help us experience ourselves and all living beings as alive and sacred, through breathing, sensing and imagining.
Body awareness
Sensing
Present moment
Deities
Elements
Feeling sacredness
Overview Meditations
Actions for Life: Actions that support life in the world also support the life of one’s heart. There a many ways to do this, such as :
- Actions in accordance with the wisdom of many Indigenous cultures, where one has a responsibility to look after, be a custodian of, Life.
- Actions for a social structure that supports the lives of children, future generations, the sick, the elderly – all people; and environmental action to support all living beings in the tree of life- which are, after all, are our relatives.
- Actions to support the ways nature itself heals the world – Gaia – a self-regulating living system.
At this time, there is deepening realisation that a changing climate, due to a reliance of fossil fuels, is a big risk to all life on earth. The Life practices will open and strengthen the heart, and build one’s capacity to support Life always, and find ways to adapt to climate change, and to mitigate it (reduce fossil fuel emissions).
You may wish to reflect after each practice session on how a deepening sense of the sacredness of Life helps you to feel more resilient in your steps to honour and protect Life in your daily life and community.
Summary
A deepening awareness in the heart brings personal happiness and a growing awareness of the sacredness of oneself and all Life. This strengthens once’s capacity to take action towards a sustainable and peaceful future – towards Mother Nature-archy. .