Dare to dream

Atlas - As Bearer of the Earth - Greek Mythology

Source: Wikimedia Commons

I was listening to a Meditation which called on the listener to imagine waves, a brook bubbling gently in a magical forest. Imagery and symbolism worked in to meditations evoke an inner calm and take us away from our everyday cogitations and ruminations. Well, this led me to thinking - why not use more peaceful markers when contemplating the future of our earth? Perhaps, as greenies, we can transcend the every day and delve in to dreams, deeper beliefs, devotions and the subconscious. Watching “Australia’s Favourite Tree” on IView calls to mind the Djirri Djirri (Indigenous) Dancers of the Wurundjeri people, who hold their smoking and cleansing ceremonies and dance for the forests that are dwindling in the Central Highlands of Victoria (Australia).

Any meditation on the earth draws out a sense of gratitude for and elevation of Earth’s amazing bounties, rather than the usual negative ‘End-game’ narrative.

The focus can be on acts of devotion as seen through both the temporal lens of History, and distant or spatial lens of Geography. Rather than focussing on the positive (nature devotion, the current trend toward land regeneration, wilding, bio-mimickry), much of today’s narratives centre around the deficits we are causing, and the irreversible damage to our Earth, and hardships we as humans will face down the track, if we DO NOT Act.

Gorgeous Wales - full of mythology and intriguing history and struggle to retain their rich language and culture involving the Druids (spiritual teachers) and the Bards (poets). 

Those interested in Philosophy, Theology including school students or pupils of the Middle Years and up - (it was called Religious Instruction - in ‘my’ day), why not embark on a study of Religious Obeisance and investigate the ways of honouring Nature, Mother Nature, by the various Animist, Pagan, Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain faiths. Examine how Offerings can be made and other Sacrificial practices, and the various Festivals and Sacred Days (eg. Diwali). One example of animist beliefs can be found in Hawaii whose practices include caring about over-fishing and caring for the Earth, Sacred Mountains and the Sea.

Read about mystical beliefs that relate to the protection of the Earth such as Varaha - the Avatar of the Hindu Deity Vishnu - associated with the legend of raising the Earth (Bhudewi) out of the Cosmic Ocean and restoring her to her rightful place in the Universe. Or in Greek Mythology, there is the Titan God Atlas and Heracles as the Bearers of the Earth/Celestial Spheres on their shoulders, or to shirk the responsibility, as the case may be.

The sharing of solemn observances, and lessons through story-telling can be done sitting out under the sky - to create a traditional ambience and to throw up a sense of awe and wonderment and a connection with the Past, One’s Ancestors and with the Divine. Here, in Australia the Dream-time of our Indigenous or First Nations People and their connection to Country is a topic one could spend all day fathoming. The Dreamtime where Australian indigenous people weave their stories to explain past and present events, connect with their ancestors, and set up guidelines for behaviour is a good starting point. Young people will enjoy getting out in nature and learning about the many medicinal uses of plants and bush foods, and a visit to the School or their After School Programme by a First Nations Elder to help them understand their insights in to protection of country, controlled or back-burning, and sage advice about keeping nature in balance (responsible fishing, invasive species regulation etc). These can be run as excursions, school camps to protected tea-tree lakes and sacred sites (if permitted) or incursions.

The group can move on to Folklore and Fables, Legends and Myths - and the revelation of bewitching stories. The oldest in the Group (or loudest) can assume the role of Mentor or Druid or Spirit Guide, depending on the context. The Fable or Legend can be adapted to some eco-theme relevant to the Group and even adapted to what occupies them on social media or in their lives.

New stories, dress-up days, pantomimes and games can be woven around the many eco themes that can both arise from and transcend our every-day lives.

DARE TO DREAM and think beyond the here and now - is our NARRATIVE.

Facing photo - Kristan Laimmle-Ruff, Artist, Photographer, Convervationist

A unique way, the Welsh Church, Melbourne is expressing its message to appeal to a younger audience.