Happy New Moon April 20, 2023
Earth Day Mindfulness
Earth Day is upon us (Saturday April 22nd) and I wanted to write about Earth Day Mindfulness, but have been challenged by opposing views. Mindfulness is of course paying attention to what IS, not about closing our eyes, and pretending things are okay when they are not.
On the one hand, I see many positive signs of change as people embrace gardening, sustainable practices, and an awareness of the interconnection of life on the planet. On the other hand the effects of human caused climate change can no longer be denied. The increasing threat to lives and well-being (not just of humans but the animals and plants
we share the planet with) is at a critical point. We need to commit to solutions faster. I was not sure what to focus on.
Tarot Cards for Earth Day
I often draw tarot cards for inspiration and insight when I am stuck. So I shuffled my tarot deck and posed a question – “What is the focus of this new moon/Earth Day blog?” I pulled two cards.
Turning over the first card, I found #19, the Sun. With joyful images of the sun and sunflowers this card is about optimism, and hope. That was a great start, I thought. We were leaning toward the positive. Then I turned over the second card. It was #13, Death. Now in case you don’t know, the Death card is not necessarily about death. It encompasses the idea of endings, change, and transformation. But death could be in there somewhere as well!
And I had to laugh, because the cards were so clear. Thinking about Earth Day and the state of the planet involves both of these perspectives. There is hope and optimism. But there is also deep concern and a need for change and transformation. To move forward we have to have our eyes open to the problems, but we also have to believe change is possible. That is where hope comes in. One thing that can inspire both hope and action is remembering Earth Day’s beginnings.
Roots of Earth Day
The original Earth Day took place on April 22,1970. Twenty million Americans took part in teach-ins and protests to call for environmental protections. That day was inspired by many factors, but there are two often cited as contributing to a tipping point.
In January of 1969, an oil spill off the California coast gushed 3 million gallons of oil into the ocean, killing thousands of fish, birds, and mammals. The images of sea creatures coated in sticky oil as rescuers worked to save them filled everyone’s television screens. Then in June of 1969, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland caught fire from chemicals dumped by industries. Yes, the river itself was on fire.
The weird thing about both these events is that it was not the first time for either. The oil spill was the biggest in the country’s history (up to that point), but oil spills often happened; and the Cuyahoga River had been on fire at least a dozen times before the 1969 event. These kinds of events were looked at as the cost of progress. This time something was different.
People mobilized and Senator Gaylord Nelson spearheaded the movement to create a first Earth Day. And that action led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and other protections.
Tipping Points
What we learn from this history is that shifts in thinking for entire populations can and do happen. Rivers on fire and oil spills were once acceptable. That is no longer the case. Yes, these kinds of things may still happen, but they are now treated as emergencies rather than business as usual. There is obviously much work to be done, but the history of Earth Day provides proof and inspiration that the population can be mobilized and change can happen.
Tipping points of various kinds – profound changes in attitudes and thinking – have happened throughout human history. We may be on the brink of that again. One of the hardest things to overcome is resignation that “what I do won’t make a difference.” And it is why it is important to focus not only on actions but also celebrations.
Earth Day Mindfulness – Include Celebrations & Actions
The Tarot cards reminded me that we don’t have to think in polarities. We can simultaneously hold the hope and the challenges for our planet in our awareness. We can practice Earth Day mindfulness by focusing on both celebrations and actions.
Find ways to celebrate this beautiful place we call home. Stop to appreciate the gifts of sunshine, water, soil, and air. Walk among trees. Notice what is springing to life. If you are gardening this weekend, take the time to marvel at the magic of seeds – little bundles of life energy – as you plant them in the ground. Attend an Earth Day activity and learn more about what you can do.
That leads to actions. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the interrelated challenges of climate change. But being in overwhelm doesn’t get us anywhere. Pick one thing to focus on, put your energy there and trust that others are focusing on other aspects and doing the work. EarthDay.org has lots of information on the issues and specific suggestions on actions to take to combat climate change. Check it their list here. Actions are stronger when supported by community. Gather your friends and family and make a commitment to one action. Move forward.
Circling Back to Celebrations & Gardening
Just in case it is not obvious, one way to appreciate the planet is through gardening. Gardening can happen on balconies and window sills, so even if you are without your own outdoor garden space you can join in. Many cities have community garden beds as well.
Gardening contributes to the health of the planet and the gardener. It also inspires others to join in. I see more and more gardens in my community, many of them in front yards, something that was once unheard of. Gardens bring us joy and joy will keep us motivated to action.
If you are not yet a gardener, maybe this is the weekend to begin. Touching the earth, watching things grow, creating beauty and nourishment – this seems a perfect way to celebrate. Have a beautiful Earth Day and stay hopeful!
Lunar Blog Post Series
This post is part of my lunar blog series. Each full moon I write about one plant, many of them are plants featured in my book, Growing Mindful. Each new moon I write about a topic related to gardens, mindfulness, and spirituality. For more details and a list of past lunar blog posts, click here.
