* Letter No.5 * March 2018 *
Happy Spring Equinox!!
|
|
|
Hi earthlings, happy first day of Spring!! Welcome to all the wildflowers, sunshine, animal babies, fresh rain, new growth & possibilities!
As you may know, today is the Vernal Equinox, a day when the sun lines up directly with the equator so that the Northern & Southern hemisphere experience an equal amount of daylight. While the north turns towards spring, the south begins to transition into fall. All because of the angle of the earth we happen to be on, as it spins around through space ~ it's a cool reminder that we are strange creatures living our weird lives on a spinning rock in the universe, dependent on the light of a star for survival. Ya!
Anyway, today is a special day in my opinion, particularly because it has been honored by human beings through ritual and ceremony since ancient times. It's a day of balance, rebirth, welcoming the sun back into our lives after winter, honoring the earth's cycles, and setting intentions for the things we want to grow throughout the coming spring and summer.
So get outside today, plant some seeds, bring some flowers into your home, share a meal with friends & family, celebrate life!
|
|
|
Save the date for EARTHLINGS, UNITE!!!
If you've seen the last couple newsletters you know that this Earth Day art show & celebration is being formed into existence, but now it's really go time!! We're officially one month away and it's getting exciting. We've got some awesome artists participating and lots of interesting events happening throughout the weekend as you can see above. (Schedule subject to change slightly -- Also there will be a screening of the movie "Fern Gully" in there somewhere!) In addition to the organized events, there will be opportunities for tarot readings, sacred tattoos, information about local resources, and a lil market of food & health related creations. There is still time to participate if you have artwork, information, or ideas for an activity -- just reply to this email. :) I hope you can make it!!
RSVP & Share with your fellow humans!: FACEBOOK EVENT
Help Make This Thing Possible!: GoFundMe Campaign
|
|
GOOD NEWS TODAY ON PLANET EARTH:
1. Art and food brought people together at the U.S. / Mexico border. French artist JR organized a giant picnic across the border wall for people to share a meal together in solidarity.
2. This village in India plants 111 trees every time a girl is born. This beautiful tradition helps to sustain the forest and dismantle a culture of violence towards women. "Over the course of the past six years, a quarter of a million trees have been planted in Piplantri. Villagers credit the harmony that this tradition has brought to their community with the dramatic drop in crime. Not to mention their renewed adoration of little girls."
3. Also in news of planting trees, 1,527 guns become 1,527 shovels, to be used to plant 1,527+ trees. In response to the gun violence in Mexico City, artist & activist Pedro Reyes collected 1,527 guns from residents and had them melted down and reformed into shovel heads, which were then given to various organizations to plant trees. Reyes said he was interested in showing “how an agent of death can become an agent of life.”
4. This sweet guy took his telescope out onto the streets of LA so that people could see the moon, a reminder "that we are all on this small little planet, and we all have the same reaction to the universe that we live in -- I think there's something special about that, something unifying."
5. In response to a global need for efficient & affordable housing, construction technologies startup ICON and housing nonprofit New Story released the first permitted 3D printed house, which took just 24 hours and cost less than $10,000 to build. They have plans to build a 100-home community in El Salvador with this technique. Pretty cool!!!
|
|
|
DIRECT ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:
1. Plant some seeds this spring.
Last year I discovered how fascinating and satisfying it can be to grow your own food, and I highly recommend everyone try it even if it's just one little pot of basil on your windowsill. Obviously this is a pretty basic thing that humans have been doing forever, but it's a great practice to reconnect to our food and gain a sense of self-sufficiency. And you get to see the little tiny seeds turn into delicious fresh food for you. :) It's kinda crazy.
2. Form a sentence (or two) that describes your vision of a healthier world.
IMAGINE. What kind of world do you want to live in? What are we working towards? If you could change the world for the better, what would that look like, feel like, taste like? Post these words up somewhere where you can see it everyday and keep the vision present.
Send me your words if you feel inspired, they could be featured in the Earthlings Unite show or in future newsletters. ;)
|
|
|
Thanks for reading folks! :) A warm welcome to all the new subscribers and hugs to the OG's. I deeply appreciate your support and interest. Keep up the good work, I hope to see you at Earthlings Unite next month!!!
with gratitude,
Rachel
|
|
|
|
|
