The blessings of snow (when you're a mouse)

"The mouse is a sober citizen who knows that grass grows in order that mice may store it as underground haystacks, and that snow falls in order that mice may build subways from stack to stack: supply, demand, and transport all neatly organized. To the mouse, snow means freedom from want and fear."

Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There (NY: Oxford University Press, 1949), pg. 4.

A Simple Guide to Eco-Spirituality coming soon!

Last night my sons and I went to dinner to celebrate the completion of A Simple Guide to Eco-Spirituality, available March 1 (!) from Luminis Press. I absolutely loved writing this book. I used a similar approach to the topic that I offer in the graduate-level course I teach in Eco-Spirituality at Earlham School of Religion. Here's an idea of the types of topics we cover:

• Finding your own Earth story
• Exploring your family geography
• Looking at Earth care through the lenses of different faith traditions
• Connecting with reverence in the here-and-now
• Exploring eco-justice and spiritual balance
• Moving toward sustainability
• Advocacy and blessing

The book includes ideas, exercises, and resources and I hope it will inspire you to continue learning more about this important, dynamic, and ultimately loving connection of spirit, self, and planet! I've also started a new blog, called Simply Eco-Spiritual, which offers posts, tools, and resources (like free downloadable presentations) so you can continue to spread the world and help educate your family, friends, and community. Thanks for loving the planet! I'll post a PDF sample when one is available (if the publisher says it's okay).

Smiles and blessings, Katherine

Blessing the space

I've been thinking a lot lately about what the power of our blessing can do when we bring it into spaces that need healing. Perhaps an area has been overrun with flooding, or something tragic occurred on the land. Or perhaps there is a controversy about what will be done with a landscape, as is the case in this Tennessee town where an ecumenical gathering of townsfolk have begun praying for the protection of a local mountain ridge.

I believe our connection with the land and our prayers, meditations, and actions on its--and our--behalf can really do something. Blessing the land before changes begin, asking that animals with homes in that area find just the right new places, asking that the growth in that area be prepared for change, asking that the land be understood as an appreciated and welcome partner in the coming changes are good, positive efforts that bring a sense of awake love and awareness to all participants in the change. When these changes come, it's not simply humankind acting on an object--nature. It's a partnership that is unfolding and it could be a co-creative, respectful relationship, if we approach it with open eyes and hearts, and our blessings.

Caring about trees

I read this devastating article on Reuters this morning that claims that up to half a billion trees in Texas may have died due to the horrific drought conditions the state is experiencing. The article claims that's approximately one tenth of all the trees in the state.

On an eco-spiritual level, I have always been a lover of trees. I feel their grace and rootedness; I sense a kind of "I've-seen-it-all" wisdom and even an air of benevolent service, as though they know they are holding our earth together and creating the oxygen we need to breathe. When I think of a loss on this kind of level, what comes up for me is a question: "Why are trees leaving Texas?" and a follow-up, "What can we do about it?"

Our country experiences floods and droughts all the time, cyclical and sometimes seemingly nonsensical, as various parts of the US deal with climate crises of varying proportions. It's just part of what happens with weather, people, and land. (And, many would say, events like these are increasing as a result of climate change.) But when so many living beings leave at once, I wonder what else in the environment--beyond the current drought--makes it likely for that outcome to arise.

If you're a praying or meditating person, I invite you to join me in sending love and strength and compassion to the trees in Texas. And while you're thinking about it, maybe send a quick "thank you" to the trees in your own area, too. They don't get a lot of thanks in our world, but we'd miss them if they were gone. In fact, our physical lives depend on them.

Belonging to your place

I love this passage from Gail Straub's book, Circle of Compassion: Meditations for Caring for Our Self and Our World and I use it in my Eco-Spirituality course:

We have forgotten what we can count on. The natural world provides refuge.... Each of us harbors a homeland, a landscape we naturally comprehend. By understanding the dependability of place, we can anchor ourselves as trees. —Terry Tempest Williams

• I put down deep roots where I live. I belong to my place, this is the very grounding for my rhythm of compassion. This helps me belong to myself. 
• To create my sense of place I begin by becoming intimate with the particulars of my home landscape: the plants, creatures, stones, trees, buildings, landmarks, and people.
• I create my sense of place as I walk every inch of my surroundings, feed the birds, or plant indigenous herb gardens.
• Today I practice mindful intimacy with my place as I stop and notice the subtle details of the sounds, sights, smells, and textures that surround me.
• This week I study the maps and history of my region. I am falling in love with my place. I write a love poem to my home landscape.
• Over time I fall in love with the light and shadow of the days and the cycles of the seasons. As I learn to live in harmony with the cycles of my place, I begin to live in harmony with my own seasons and my own light and shadow.
• Today I focus on Terry Tempest William’s wise words about place, “Each of us harbors a homeland, a landscape we naturally comprehend. By understanding the dependability of place, we can anchor ourselves as trees.”
• There are few things in life as steadfast as my place. It is my ground for meaning. As I belong to my place, I belong to myself. I am rooted in my rhythm knowing when to pay attention to myself, and when to focus on the world.

Writing about Nature & Spirit

Hey, this is exciting. I just received word yesterday that the Festival of Faith & Writing, which will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan in April, accepted my proposal to facilitate a discussion circle on "Writing about Nature & Spirit." (Woo hoo!) The Festival is a huge, biannual writer's conference, full of inspiring talks and performances, fascinating people, and great energy. It's also not "exclusionary," either in the faith sense or the writing sense--readers are welcome too. And if you're interested in writing about nature, come be part of my group! :)

Coming soon! A Simple Guide to Eco-Spirituality

Hi and thanks for checking out my new blog, Simply Eco-Spiritual. I'm creating this blog to share ideas, tips, and resources related to Eco-Spirituality (which I teach at Earlham School of Religion) and my newest book, A Simple Guide to Eco-Spirituality, to be published soon by Luminis Books! On this site you'll find

• Presentations
• Video clips
• Discussion guides, and
• Additional eco-spirituality resources

I invite you to drop me a note if you have a question or just want to share your own thoughts and interests in eco-spirituality. The time is now for a nurturing relationship with this planet! Thanks for joining me in loving and supporting life. :)

Wondering who I am? Here are links to my Amazon Author Page as well as my blog about writing.

Smiles and blessings to you!

Katherine