Loving on Mother Earth

“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” – Henry David Thoreau 

An hour spent outside shifts my mood in a way that few other things can. Feeling the sun on my face, the soft grass beneath my feet, listening to the songs of birds as they dart from tree to bush and back again … these little moments of connection with Mother Earth bring me back home to myself. 

Last week I found myself moving through some uncomfortable emotions. Life was feeling a bit more challenging, more overwhelming, and more lonely, as it sometimes does. During such a week, Mother Earth remained a constant for me – holding and grounding me when I was unable to do so for myself. Through example, she provides reassurance that all forms of life move through both seasons of growth and seasons of stagnation. She reminds me of the importance of surrender. 

With Earth Day approaching, I find myself reflecting on my relationship with Mother Earth. A relationship that I take so much from. But in what ways do I give back to her? Relationships (strong ones) require reciprocity. Am I showing this reciprocity? 

When I think of my relationship with Earth, and how to show her reciprocity, the word “commune” comes to mind. I want to commune with Mother Earth – to feel in close, spiritual contact with her. Much like the five love languages of Gary Chapman, below are some of my ideas on how to nurture this relationship. 

Acts of Service 

I am sure the majority of you reading these words have been informed of the importance of recycling, of reducing waste, and of reusing what we can. As Jack Johnson’s “3 R’s” song spouts, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. Instead of allowing others to just throw that apple core out the window, I want to find a compost pile upon which to deposit it – better yet, I want to start my own compost pile. Instead of putting the other half of my avocado into a plastic bag, I can place it in a small reusable pyrex. When I leave a room, I want to remember to hit the light switch on my way out. These are all important acts of service that we can take. 

Time Alone in Nature

Just as I carve out time alone with my romantic partner, close friends, and dear family members, so too can I carve out time with Earth – with nature. Through spending this time alone I can find a deeper level of appreciation for what Earth has to offer – her wisdom, her beauty, her strength. This time outside, free of distraction, could look like a quiet walk on a weekday morning, sitting on my patio chair watching the sunset, or lying on the grass observing the clouds as they go by. 

Expressing Gratitude for Nature

I often find myself outside – on a long walk, a bike ride, a run – thinking, “What a beautiful day!” Most often, the thought remains silent, kept to myself. What if I were to share this thought out loud with Mother Earth? To speak to her. Our words hold power, not just over our own internal state, but on the state of the beings around us. I want to thank the birds for their songs, the sun for her warmth, and the roses for their beauty. Maybe this sounds odd to you, but the thought alone makes me smile. 

Physical Touch 

The consensual, and kind, touch of another human has been scientifically proven to reduce stress. Just as human touch can be profoundly healing, so can be the touch of Earth. In the article, Earthing: health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth’s surface electrons, this is highlighted, “Reconnection with the Earth’s electrons has been found to promote intriguing physiological changes and subjective reports of well-being” (Chevalier et al, 2012). I want to dig my toes beneath the hot sand, run my fingertips over a fuzzy leaf, and place the palm of my hand on a tree’s trunk. Physical touch is a reminder of my connection to others, and can also be a reminder of my connection with this Earth that provides a home. 

The Gift of a Single Seed 

We are a country of consumption. I have written about my own work to address my personal consumption in former blog posts. So much of what we can do for Mother Earth requires “less” – using less, buying less, disposing of less … Yet, one thing we can give to her stems from a single seed. I’ve never had my own garden, though I’ve certainly romanticized the idea. In this garden I could plant rosemary, thyme, dill, and basil. Instead of utilizing a car (contributing to the harmful byproducts of gasoline fuel on the environment) and then buying herbs wrapped in plastic (creating thus more waste) at the store, I could plant them. This is a gift to Earth. Not only might this seed grow into something nourishing to eat, but seeds also help our environment by growing into plants that assist in the cycling carbon dioxide and production of oxygen. The planting of a single seed, a seed that sprouts into a tomato, a strawberry, a cucumber, even a tree … a single seed is a gift that I can give. 

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Mother Earth, Pachamama, has given, and continues to give, so much to me. I want to do the same for her. Earth Day is a reminder to me to pay a bit more attention to the love I pour towards this relationship. The intentions – acts of service, time alone in nature, expressing gratitude towards nature, engaging in physical touch with Earth, planting a seed – are all ways for me to begin to show nature a bit more of the same love and grace that she has shown me. 

Prompts for reflection: 

⚘ Describe your relationship with Mother Earth – how do you spend time with her? What do you gain from this relationship? What do you give to this relationship? 

⚘ In honor of this Earth Day, might you consider ways in which you could strengthen and pour more into this relationship? 

An Ode to Mother Earth

I return thanks to you Mother,

This Earth which sustains me, 

I thank you for your rain,

Leaving the hills a brilliant shade of green,

I thank you for the spring sun, 

Warming my pale shoulders, 

I thank you for the ocean,

the grandiosity of which leaves me in awe, 

I thank you for holding me,

Providing a soft blanket upon which to rest. 

I return thanks to you. 

Inspired by Prayer to Mother Earth, An Iroquois Prayer in Powerful Prayers for Everyday Living by Mark Linden O’Meara