In Chapter 5 of LOVING MOTHER EARTH, I name the two simple overarching truths that should guide our lives on our planet.  We should... must... live in communion with all of life, and reverently.  Those two are of utmost importance. You can live in communion and with reverence no matter who you are and no matter where you live.  Page 64 from my book, which you can purchase on Amazon, is below.

Here is page 64 from LOVING MOTHER EARTH: Integrating Environmentalism and Spirituality.  

What is preventing us from soothing Mother Earth's pain?  This is the subject of Chapter 4 in my book, which you can find on Amazon.  Two big issues are the problem.  First is the fact that we slice and dice Mother Earth, living separately from her.  We are not integrating her, nor ourselves with her.  And second, we compete greedily for her resources, taking more than she has to give. Check out this 3:06 long video.  

Sit with me in the woods.  In this 3:55 long video I comment on Rabbi Steve Leder's wonderful book THE BEAUTY OF WHAT REMAINS, and an article that appeared in Medium, written by Umar Haque titled THIS ISN'T A HEATWAVE - OUR PLANET IS DYING.  You can find my book LOVING MOTHER EARTH: Integrating Environmentalism and Spirituality, on Amazon.  Let's work to make sure some beauty remains.

​There are deer all over Michigan, and that includes our backyard.  There were over 611,000 deer licenses sold to hunters in our State in 2020.  That is pretty amazing when you consider that there are less than 480,000 active duty men and women in our U.S. Army.  I don't hunt, but I've family and friends who do.  In fact, one read my book while sitting in his deer blind last year.

Solitude is one thing that binds hunters and non-hunters together.  I've heard it over and over again. "It is the one time a year I get to go and just sit in the woods."

Yes, there are rituals and companions that go along with "deer camp."  There are also rituals and companions that go along with a retreat to the Hermitage, St. Gregory's Abbey, and GilChrist retreat centers down around Three Rivers, MI. I've spent a bunch of time in solitude at each, especially the Hermitage.

Henri J. M. Nouwen said that the first of three spiritual movements is from Loneliness to Solitude. Thomas Merton was a convincing advocate for contemplation. He spent decades at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, KY, another place I've visited.  I have read his book, Thoughts in Solitude. 

In solitude we connect with what IS, with Being Itself, with the energy that is Christ within and between one and all.  Moving from loneliness to solitude is a challenge. It takes time and practice, but once you have some substantial experience of the enormous richness provided by solitude, you will long for it. In solitude you know you are not alone.

Enter into solitude and realize your Oneness with all that is. Sit in nature with Mother Earth, and you will come to love her more, and more, and more.

Find my book, LOVING MOTHER EARTH: Integrating Environmentalism and Spirituality on Amazon.