I've often felt like two of the major interests I have in caring for the earth, and pursuing a spiritual path and practice are quite different from one another. My experiences here in Ecuador at Cancion del Corazon (where 'permaculture for the soul' is practiced) have opened me further to the understanding that being a land steward, is in fact, embodied spirituality.
Integral Awareness was one of the first topics that Phil broached with the group of interested Permaculture Caravan Canadians here in Ecuador back at the beginning of February. In his passionate way, forgetting all sense of time, Phil spoke of everything being an emanation of consciousness, everything being spirit. He showed us some amazing and inspiring diagrams that settled inside me, making so much sense. He expressed the connection between the Conscious self (i.e. thought) and the Unconscious/Subconscious (i.e. the soul, the belief system). Connection and communication can happen between the conscious and the subconscious soul. Linking into your Superconscious (i.e. essence! spirit, intuition, inner voice, enlightened higher self) needs to happen through your Subconscious self.
From what I have gathered, learned, realized and experienced, you can connect to your subconscious soul by being with, in, and connected deeply to nature. So, I believe that being in, stewarding, and paying close attention to the natural world can help us realize our Superconscious selves...furthering our spiritual connections with all.
I have trouble putting words to all this, but this is an attempt, thank you for reading.
In no order, I have a few more thoughts I want to share, that have been shared with me over recent weeks during my time working in the gardens and with foods to nourish our physical selves at Cancion del Corazon.
Everything is spirit, so everything is spirituality.
We (our physical bodies) are temples for divine spirit, we need to care for that divinity (with healthy habits).
When we are connected with the physical earth, when we have our hands in the soil, and when we understand the life that water grants us each day, we are connected with spirit.
Earth connection serves as a direct vehicle for our own wellness.
Stewarding the earth, connecting and healing the earth, are the main ways to walk a spiritual path. Being in nature, for so many people is a direct way to experience a deep state of awareness and meditation.
Caring for something, or someone, like the earth, or your sweetie, is a heart centered practice. Opening your heart to care for the earth is furthering your opening to a spiritual path.
I'm excited to be planning on returning to Cancion del Corazon to participate in the Yoga Teacher Training that they will be hosting this November. If you are interested in deepening your yoga practice, eating delicious organic garden fresh goodies each day, learning from credible teachers, and engaging in song, meditation and dance in a unique ecological environment, please do get in touch, I'd love for you to be my Sanga (you likely already are)!
I leave you with the lyrics to a song I learned in the past months....and I leave you with the invitation to steward whatever land you are close to, to experience nature, and the spirit that dwells within.
"We are a circle, within a circle,
With no beginning, and never ending.
Brother, sister, take my hand,
When we join together we will heal the land!"
