#Earthschooling365: Day Seventy-Four
Inner Work Meditation (Heart): Today we will explore the first sense of Knowledge – ego. The sense of ego is the feeling and sense you have for yourself. Contemplate the ways that this sense can be explored and consider how this is a sense you may not have recognized before. It is hard to move beyond five senses when we have been taught this concept from birth. However, it can be done with a little practice. The first step is learning about different senses and trying to identify them within yourself. What is your sense of ego like? What is it like for you when you are with yourself? How do you feel yourself? Are you distant from yourself or do you feel you are “there” immediately when you take some time to sit in silence? To get in touch with your ego sense you need to experience solitude. Spend some time in solitude today – even if it is only a half hour. Do any fears arise? Do you feel lonely or calm? How are you different in solitude than you are with a group? How are you different when your ego interacts with other things on the earth such as animals, plants or even other people? Take some time to explore your ego-sense and try to find words to describe it today. We have words to describe different smells and sights. What words would you use to describe your ego-sense?
Nature Walk Idea (Head): Yesterday we talked about how so many things in nature that we see as pretty flowers, weeds or “just plants” are actually important food for animals. Today’s nature walk project is to find a way you can nurture the natural food supply for your local animals. What you decide will depend on where you live. I will tell you what I am doing this week to give you some ideas. There is a prairie plot on my nature walk that has been mowed over many times. In past years they would have stopped mowing it by now to allow the prairie flowers and grasses to grow. There is also a clear sign there that indicates that nobody should be mowing the area. I called the city office to let them know that someone may be mowing by mistake. In my own yard I leave some areas to grow tall and do not mow them. In addition I plant local seeds and grasses to provide local wildlife with natural food sources. It is like planting a “natural bird house”. You can purchase butterfly garden mixes, prairie flower mixes and many other seed mix varieties at local gardening supply stores, farm supply stores or online. You can read about how easy it is to plant a butterfly garden here.
In addition to taking on these two projects I am also being careful where I walk, am not throwing anything on the ground and try to be respectful of where I sit. I don’t want to stomp all over a rabbit’s favorite dandelion patch or smash up a log that an entire bee colony may be living in. Sometimes I see people stomping on plants or ripping them apart for fun. Or I see people grabbing small logs and sticks from the trail and throwing them. Each of these things are homes and food sources for the wildlife.
Photography Notes (Hands): Remember the photo of the dandelion from May 10th? Today I took the exact same photo with different lighting and at a different stage in the dandelion’s life and it turned out to be an entirely different photo. The photo from May 1oth is very dynamic and reminds me of fireworks. The photo from today is softer and more gentle. It looks more inviting – like a place I would like to take a nap in. If this difference in moods can be created with simple dandelions imagine what could be created with a more interesting subject! Today’s assignment is to take a photo of the same subject at different times of day. How does the time of day impact the mood of your photo?
Verse: Mother Nature
Copyright Kristie Burns
Mother Nature
You are the tender roots of my rose briar
The butterfly that sips my nectar
The sun that warms my petals
The soil that nurtures me
The moon that tucks me in at night
The rain that quenches my thirst
And to you
I will return
*These poems have been created for many purposes – from early childhood circle time verses to inspirational or expressive. They vary from day to day so you may find the way you use them or enjoy them also varies. If you would like to set these poems to music consider our tutorial: Creating Your Ow Waldorf Verses or Finding Your Inner Voice.
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What is #Earthschooling365?
This series takes you through an entire year of our nature walks and is part of our non-profit project #Earthschooling365 at www.Earthschooling.org. The photos and posts in this series are all copyrighted. Please do not share or re-print them. Instead, share the link to this blog with your friends.
Along the way I will be sharing our favorite photo of the day, an inner work meditation for the day, photography assignment/tip for the day, nature walk theme for the day and a short verse for circle time (children) or meditation (teens/adults). We invite you to “walk along with us” this year, take some time to use the inner work meditation, be inspired by the nature walk theme of the day and perhaps even start a photo series of your own. To join the community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram please tag your photos #Earthschooling365. To receive these inspirations in your e-mail inbox daily please subscribe to our blog alerts HERE. Don’t worry about missing days – you can join us as many days as you want this year!
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