As the expression goes, getting older is not for the faint of heart. If we find our bodies failing us, or our brains not functioning as they used to, it may cause us to feel somewhat alienated from ourselves, as though we were hovering outside our bodies, or even being angry with ourselves at times, when we are not able to do the things we used to do, or when we feel sick, reel from past trauma, or have chronic conditions.
Whether or not we use modern medicines or work with health procedures, it still can be very healing to us to spend time flooding our bodies with unconditional love, especially the places that have been giving us trouble. This is also a great practice when we are disappointed in ourselves for some reason, like not accomplishing a goal we set out for ourselves. A good time to do this is before falling asleep, or early in the morning before getting up. We can allow our-selves to feel loved again, like when we used to depend on a partner or friend to make us feel special and invigorated with happy energy.
Another practice we may employ that connects us with Nature is to do something each day for the natural world. Trees have been having a hard time with the change in climate and there are many more downed trees than there used to be. Placing your hands on a tree’s bark and sending healing or love is a worthy practice. Studies with the connectivity of mycelium underground show us that even in the plant world there is communication. We can assume that bodies of forest may also have a kind of consciousness of their own too. After all, as I have discovered over the years in working with different animal species, the Creator of all things was not lacking in giving various forms of intelligence to Nature’s creations. Doing something kind each day for Nature – whether it be for the Plant Kingdom or the Animal Kingdom is healing for us too. Imagine a squirrel’s delight when you toss a nut to it!
While we’re at it, we may make it a practice to do something kind for our fellow humans each day too. Even a smile or a kind word goes a long way. It can be much appreciated to have a joke on hand to tell the checkout person at the register. How about this corny one for starters: A priest, a rabbi and a minister walk into a bar. The bartender says, “What is this – some kind of joke?” Whatever our sphere of influence is – it’s important to bring Love into it. It will be healing for ourselves and the rest of Life. No, we can’t change everything bad happening in the world all at once, but never underestimate what your own sphere of influence can accomplish or stimulate in others.
I have included my poem, Sphere of Influence for more details on how to do this from my recently published book, The Path of Love; A Way to Heal – published on Amazon
SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
Yesterday, I harvested some yellow coltsfoot
to make tinctures for coughs
I thanked each group of them
and blessed the entire coltsfoot family,
taking care to leave many for future growth
As I was searching out the coltsfoot,
I noticed trash thrown from cars that
zoom down my country road, from
folks that don’t care at all that the beer cans,
plastic, and fast-food containers don’t compost
So, having been given the gift of the coltsfoot
I decided to give back, picking up a shopping bag’s
worth of garbage to take to the dump
hoping to recycle the ones that could be
made into some useful future item
Then, today I read a story that told
of a group of women in northern India
Knitting sweaters and leg warmers
for elephants who had been rescued
after being terribly abused
It took about a week to make each sweater
but the women enjoyed their task
They saw a need, and their loving hearts
and hands, filled a void
And that’s when it clicked!
We can’t heal the whole world at once
There’s too much abuse, violence,
lack of caring, helplessness,
pollution, and greed-inspired damage
to heal everything at once
But what would happen if each of us
did something to change things for the better –
whatever is in our own sphere of influence?
What if each neighborhood banded to help
their neighbors and the natural world?
I’ll bet it would spread pretty fast
among folks with good hearts
because people will help
if they know how to, if it’s do-able,
and will make a difference
So, let’s all look around us
to see what needs to be done
Enlist the aid of others, or do one thing
by ourselves, with an open heart
to heal an Earth out of balance
Let’s express our Love
in ways large and small
Teach our children how to care for life
How to be inspired and effective
in their own piece of the world
Once we turn our attention
toward doing so,
We will undoubtedly find more and more
ways to help, and
more and more people who want to help
That’s how a dream becomes reality
© Cie Simurro 2023
The Spring Equinox is Tuesday, March 19 th at 11:06 p.m.
In loving kinship,
Cie