Before everything was wrapped in plastic and "waste" was flushed down the toilet along with fresh drinking water, humans participated with all other Creatures in a balanced system with the Earth in which we ate Plants and Animals, and shortly thereafter fed the Plants with our poop. We also planted the seeds of the tastiest Plants, and so created food Forests that supported both us, and other Creatures. And we nurtured the Forests by burning them, which promoted growth and prevented massive, destructive forest fires. In that time, we lived in harmony with the Planet.
It's hard to imagine this kind of relationship today. Not only were we sustainable Creatures, but we were supportive Creatures then. Now, our impact is often neutral or destructive, as the media loves to expose.
Images of Birds choking on toothbrushes are horrifying, but even the bamboo toothbrush alternative comes sheathed in plastic. The combination of knowing our daily actions are causing pain, and also being compelled to do them, leads to a hurricane of feelings for many people - guilt, grief, pain, shame, anger....
Unless a person has cultivated an immense capacity for emotions, this is typically too much and we shutdown and perceive ourselves as helpless. Our actions also confirm our worst (and often subconscious) fears about ourselves - that we are inherently bad and worthless.
These days, many of us see our species as destructive and society aims for carbon-neutrality and sustainability. The most many of us have been told to hope for is that we stop having a negative impact on the World around us. This is really a bizarre way of relating when you think about it.
Imagine if we treated ourselves this way in relation to other people. Imagine if we said to our partners or friends, “I’m trying not to hurt you,” while relating to them in an exploitative and transactional manner, primarily concerned with what may be gained or extracted from the relationship rather than saying, “I love you,” and relating in a spirit of reciprocity, with a focus on mutual enrichment and appreciation, in conscious awareness that all we give freely and in gratitude returns to us. And yet, "sustainable" exploitation and extraction are how many are trying to relate to the Earth.
From a young age, we are encouraged to "leave no trace" as if any trace that we would leave would be harmful. In reality, it's impossible to leave no trace. We leave traces. We have the power to leave traces that support and nourish, or we have the power to leave traces that are disruptive and painful to other Life Forms (although this is almost always done unconsciously). But at a soul level, you are deeply beneficial, and if you aren't behaving that way, it's a reflection of your socialization, not an accurate reflection of you.
As Earth beings, I believe we have a deeply inherent capacity to connect in a healthy way to the Earth. Even if you hate getting dirty and never want to leave the city, it is still in your nature to be a benefit to all the Beings on this Planet. Your most authentic self is inherently a benefit to the Planet.
Please give yourself a couple breaths to let this message settle in. Notice any resistance to it. Notice if you believe it, or if you have another belief about yourself or our species. If that is the case, don't aim to fix your belief, but do spend a moment noticing how you would feel if you did believe that you belonged to a species that is supportive to the Earth.
Take your time with these kinds of deep feelings. Learning how to authentically support the Planet starts with you authentically supporting your own physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies.
If you need suggestions on ways that you can have a beneficial impact on our Planet, besides fostering self-compassion, please read on.
There are many ways to have a positive impact on the Planet around you.
If you have a yard, you can grow native Plant species, and instead of removing dead Plant material at the end of the growing season (this may include any fallen leaves from Trees living in your yard), allow the natural process of decomposition to take place. This provides nourishment to the Soil and by extension, nourishment to the living environment, especially to beneficial Microorganisms and Macroorganisms in the Soil, which increases the concentration and availability of nutrients to Plants growing in that Soil.
Composting not only creates amazing fertilizer for Plants and nourishes the Soils, it also prevents food scraps from going to the dump where they decompose and release methane (a greenhouse gas that's worse than carbon). You can vermicompost with Red Worms in your house, or use services like Block Bins.
You can limit consumption of foods produced via industrial agriculture. And in particular, factory farmed Animal products, which are massive methane producers. Watch "You Are What You Eat" on Netflix for more information on how diet affects you and the Planet.
You can step outside and develop relationships with Trees and Plants. The more that we all appreciate, honor, and directly relate with the Natural World around us, the more that those values will be reflected in the people we vote for and the organizations we support.
Responsible foraging is an excellent way of realizing your connection to the Natural World. There is so much food around us everywhere! And many Ecosystems actually benefit from our participation in them. When you pluck off a Milkweed pod to eat it, it spurs new plant growth. This new growth is optimal food for Monarch Caterpillars, who have a hard time eating the older leaves. When you coppice Willow trees, perhaps after harvesting the first year growth for use in basket weaving, it stimulates the Plant to grow more shoots and creates a carbon sink as Plants store carbon in their roots.
There are innumerable benefits to participating in even one of these activities for both you and the Planet. However neither the Planet nor you benefit from shaming yourself for not doing any of these things. If that is where you find yourself, notice the shame and give space to it. Feel free to talk with us for support, or reach out to a therapist or a friend who knows how to support emotional work. Also feel free to check out some of our recommended books from your local library to find inspiration and connect to your inner goodness.
The way you treat yourself will often be the way you treat the Planet. If you ignore your pain (including shame), you will unconsciously ignore the pain of the Planet. Loving yourself is so important. When in doubt, start there.
If you are already in a place of self-love, consider this: How can we cultivate a relationship with each other and the Earth, exemplified by a simple principle - what we nourish, in turn, nourishes us?
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