Two Feet Firmly Planted

Two Feet Firmly Planted

Foundations

crumble beneath my hands 

like a decadent cake 

Petrichor, flint, hematite, ochre

Heady moist scents of prosperity 

The powers of creation cling to my skin 

My heart echoes the drumbeat of our Mother 

as I kneel in silent contemplation… 

My hands cradling her cool tranquility

I feel her composure 

taste her boundless strength 

Eternal patience 

I yearn for the balance she teaches

Brimming with the dichotomy of Creation 

The eternal foundation forever changing 

Evolving 

Adapting…

She spins 

Shudders 

Dances through the twinkling void

Bountiful
She provides 

Though we abuse and poison her

Boundless Wisdom 

Taught by even a sliver of her bones 

where ancient memory has 

written itself

Through night and day 

Season’s wheel 

Pain and joy 

Birth, death and renewal

Our red roads scar her skin as we dance 

and yet,

She dances still… 

Provides 

Shelters 

Heals 

Purifies 

Supports 

Transforms 

Teaches

Renews  

Waltzing in time with us 

Even when we remain clueless 

that we too are part of the dance 

Our hearts keep the beat… 

Foundations crumble beneath my hands 

like a decadent cake 

Petrichor, flint, hematite, ochre

Heady moist scents of prosperity  

The powers of creation clinging to my skin 

My heart echoes 

the drumbeat of our Grand Mother 

as I kneel against her 

in silent contemplation…

For those new to the game, each poem is inspired by a Teacher found in Nature; a star, stone, animal, plant etc that holds lessons of Wisdom for us. Can you guess who is singing today? Congrats to Jan Neavill Hersh for naming this Teacher

“The American Indian is of the soil, whether it be the region of forests, plains, pueblos, or mesas. He fits into the landscape, for the hand that fashioned the continent also fashioned the man for his surroundings. He once grew as naturally as the wild sunflowers, he belongs just as the buffalo belonged….” Luther Standing Bear 

“The Great Spirit is in all things, he is in the air we breathe. The Great Spirit is our Father, but the Earth is our Mother. She nourishes us, that which we put into the ground she returns to us….” Big Thunder 

“There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew. ” Marshall McLuhan, 1964 

Earth represents stability, strength, fertility, creativity, abundance, and home. As one of the four classical elements, it was associated with physical life, practicality, the sensuality of life, and materialism. The Archangel Uriel or Auriel is associated with this element as well as planet Earth, patron of artists and poets as well as the birds and beasts of the wild. Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus are the Earthy signs of the Zodiac. 

In the practice of Feng Shui, this element also represents confidence. Brown is the color most often associated with this element, although black, green, yellow, and reddish browns like russet are also common. Sometimes metal or stone is used to represent the Earth, although I see each type of Stone or Metal as an individual Teacher. Stones are the memory keepers for the Earth, and contain much wisdom although interactions with them are very different from more lively Teachers like Animals or Plants. 

Greed, stagnation, materialism, gluttony, and unreliable behavior are signs of an Earthy imbalance. Without the Earth, we would not be here. Without this element’s receptivity and ability to nurture life we would have no food to eat, and no plants with which to create medicine, shelter or other useful items. Humanity is collectively Awakening, oh so slowly, to the connectivity of our planet, its needs and the damage we have inflicted upon it around the globe. 

In most ancient religions, reverence and care for the Earth is a prominent duty expected of each of us no matter our standing in life. People we admire are referred to as “salt of the earth”, although many such people today are scathingly referred to as “tree-huggers”. 

Native Traditions are rife with references on our duty to care for the Earth, and tend it in trust for the future generations of all Life, as are many ancient cultural Traditions from around the World. Many cultures believed in our earliest days that we are inextricably intertwined with all other Life here on Earth. That everything on Earth has an individual spirit, is worthy of respect, has a sacred right to exist and a divine purpose to fulfil. To me it has always seemed to be such a simple matter. We all live here on Earth and should do our best to take care of what we have as it benefits us all. 

There are many ways in which we can interact with this element whether we are speaking of mere soil or the planet on which we live, all of which are beneficial to us body, mind and soul. Gardening, planting trees, working with pottery, mud masks, voluteering your time to collect litter or help in your community on Earth day, picking up litter throughout your day, increasing your awareness of environmental issues, and recycling at home are just a few examples. 

My favorite suggestion, however, is simply spending time in Nature with the children in your life. To my mind, there are few occupations so rewarding both in the short term and in the long run. Drums are the traditional musical instrument associated with Earth, and the act of drumming is not only therapeautic but also a wonderful way to become aware of Nature’s rhythms and heightening our sense of connectivity. 

“Earth teach me quiet ~ as the grasses are still with new light. 

Earth teach me suffering ~ as old stones suffer with memory. 

Earth teach me humility ~ as blossoms are humble with beginning. 

Earth teach me caring ~ as mothers nurture their young. 

Earth teach me courage ~ as the tree that stands alone. 

Earth teach me limitation ~ as the ant that crawls on the ground. 

Earth teach me freedom ~ as the eagle that soars in the sky. 

Earth teach me acceptance ~ as the leaves that die each fall. 

Earth teach me renewal ~ as the seed that rises in the spring. 

Earth teach me to forget myself ~ as melted snow forgets its life. 

Earth teach me to remember kindness ~ as dry fields weep with rain.” ~ Ute Prayer 

“Wakan Tanka, Great Mystery, 

teach me how to trust 

my heart, 

my mind, 

my intuition, 

my inner knowing, 

the senses of my body, 

the blessings of my spirit. 

Teach me to trust these things 

so that I may enter my Sacred Space 

and love beyond my fear, 

and thus Walk in Balance 

with the passing of each glorious Sun. ” Lakota Prayer 

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. ~Elwyn Brooks White 

Keywords: Stability/Foundations, Nurturing Transformation, Renewal, Confidence, Creation, Feminity, Abundance, Natural Power/Magic/Wisdom/Connectivity, Protection, Life/Death/Rebirth, Protection, Strength, Duty, Sacrifice, Reason, Healing 

Associated Deities, legends, or popular figures: Mother Earth/ Gaia, Amatheon, Demeter/Ceres, Caillech, Cernnunos, Cerridwen, Dagda, Danu, Rhiannon, Skatha, Green Man/Woman, Gefion, Hades/Pluto, Hecate, Pan, Persephone, Aker, Ament, Hathor, Geb, Khnum, Khem, Neper, Osiris, Ki, Ninhursag, Ganesha, Tiamat, Freyr, Dionysus, Prithvi, Sita, Lakshmi, Atlas, Midgard Serpent, Kali, Khon-Ma, Nanda-Devi, Maya, Pavarti, Tara, Pan, Lilith, Archangel Uriel/Auriel, gnomes, dwarves, Hulderfolk, Cadmus and Europa, Brownies, Dryads, Pygmies, Satyrs, Elves, Axis Mundi 

Potential balancing energies: Water, fire, air, animals and insects, like Buffalo/Cattle, Deer, Badger, Groundhog, Earthworm, Rabbit, Pigs, Bears, Chipmunks, Snakes, Centipedes, Ants, Lepidoptera, Trapdoor Spider, Moles, Turtle, Elephant, Birds like Goldfinch or Quail, Water creatures like Crayfish, Salmon, Whale or Dolphin, Plants and Trees of all kinds including mosses and fungi, Stones/Minerals/Metals like obsidian, salt, amethyst, or gold