Blogs

Let’s celebrate!

http://savetheforestnow.org/

“To achieve the incredible, we must attempt the impossible.”

Together, we achieved the incredible by protecting a square mile of land, setting aside a home for wildlife, and saving a special place to cherish.

Now let’s celebrate our achievement!

The deal is done! The Trillium forest is saved.

Smiling as the deed was recorded, Pat Powell, executive director of the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, completed the transaction to purchase the 664-acre Trillium forest on central Whidbey Island. More than 1485 individual donations made the purchase possible. A soldier overseas contributed $5.00. An anonymous donor concerned with the survival of wildlife habitat came forward with a very significant gift that allowed the Land Trust to purchase the property. In between were 1483 other named donations.

“It seemed impossible in March and yet it happened,” says Pat Powell. “Hundreds of people took a stand to save wildlife habitat, open space, and a place for people to be out in nature. With their dollars and their effort, they voted this a high priority. The impossible dream came true in September. Our hearts are brimming with gratitude.”

Photos from celebration: http://picasaweb.google.com/wcltonline/TrilliumCelebration?feat=flashalbum#5533521843753321346

EARTH CHARTER

The Earth Charter is a declaration of the fundamental principles that are going to be needed for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century. It offers a compelling vision, and states the guidelines, principles and values needed in order to live together as one planetary community.

Prologue – Earth Charter

“We stand at a critical moment in earth’s history, a time when humanity must choose its future. As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future at once holds great peril and great promise. To move forward we must recognize that in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace.”

See http://www.earthcharter.org

SingPeace! Earth Pilgrimage for Peace & Global Harmony is welcoming groups to Questing Camps at Asherah, a lovely retreat site on on South Whidbey Island. The Gulf oils spill brought home the need for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel consumption. Since the SingPeace! wagon needs a tow to move about the country, we've chosen to wait upon viable alternatives before making the journey.

In the meantime, growing in my mind and heart is the vision of bringing folks to Whidbey Island for a questing experience. As you may know, I have been training since December with the Barefoot Sensei, Mick Dodge, who has recently created a dojo (traning hall) on Whidbey Island. My goal from the beginning was to make the "Misty Mountain Quest," a journey that Mick, as a "foot fitness outfitter" guides into the Olympic Rain Forest. The quest, taken this summer, has brought me into a refreshing new relationship with the Earth. Life "makes sense;" it has been enriched and simplified since my return.

Additionally, I attended "Singing Alive," a summer harvest of sweet harmonies shared in community with singer/songweavers from our northwest region. I returned home feeling: we must keep these gatherings going throughout the year! Why not invite groups from around the region to participate together? Why not as often as once a month? These could be overnight or weekend events, with perhaps a longer gathering during the summer months. Mira Gulum said, "Yes!" to hosting them at Asherah.

Why not combine the Quest with the Song? They go together, after all, because from the "question" arises a heartfelt response that yearns to be shared and brought into harmony with others of our "tribe." Inherent in the song crafting and sharing of our songs lies a potent path to peace.

Our Earth Gym practices are all about crafting and weaving back into the earth: crafting the soles, crafting the sticks, the cowhide sandals and moccasins we sometimes wear, weaving with trees, toning with stone, finding our comfort zone in diverse, natural environments.Toning our bodies, minds and spirits, renews our relationship with ancestors, tribe and land. These six comprise a holistic practice that "makes sense." Training with the trees, the mountains, the river stones, the earth, water, fire, wind, until we recognize our unity within them. "ME" becomes "WE" and we find our way home.

Starting at Asherah as a "base camp" on Whidbey Island, we will quest and explore on foot to the east, west, north or south, asking the Earth to "teach me." Returning to camp to voice some aspect of that experience, we can try sounding, harmonizing, "Crafting a Culture of Peace."

At present, I am scouting to find out if any of you whom we've met on the SingPeace! and Earth Gym journey would like to participate. We need to hear from you!

For now, I will leave you with the poem crafted following my Misty Mountain Quest:

Blessings of the Misty Mountain Quest