Wounded Homeland
Map
Map
Story & Experience
Never in my life have I rejected nature, particularly the little ecosystems that I’ve lived within. When I moved to my now home 6 years ago the gas fracking boom was taking off. Now there is a petrochemical plant being built in our community to process the gas by-products with 4 more plants planned for the wider region. “Cancer alley” is our new name.
Even while joining with other activists to protest these events, somehow I also withdrew and closed myself off from the wild life happenings at my homestead. I hardened and closed my heart. This year, I chose to do a solo Earth Exchange feeling that I HAVE wounded my own eco-home here with my rejection.
I wandered allowing the wild happenings to call to me—the snake skin, the dark cool under the pines, the gnat at my ear, shadows, dew drops, the wind! There was nothing for me to do other than allow my heart to be touched. I wasn’t struck by a lightning bolt of wisdom, or hit on the head with a snapping branch of insight. I was gently reminded of the resilience and unjudging stance of nature. She does what She does with or without my attention. But Oh! Maybe my reverence, gratitude and love will be felt by Her and my heart wants to offer Her those gifts.
Never in my life have I rejected nature, particularly the little ecosystems that I’ve lived within. When I moved to my now home 6 years ago the gas fracking boom was taking off. Now there is a petrochemical plant being built in our community to process the gas by-products with 4 more plants planned for the wider region. “Cancer alley” is our new name.
Even while joining with other activists to protest these events, somehow I also withdrew and closed myself off from the wild life happenings at my homestead. I hardened and closed my heart. This year, I chose to do a solo Earth Exchange feeling that I HAVE wounded my own eco-home here with my rejection.
I wandered allowing the wild happenings to call to me—the snake skin, the dark cool under the pines, the gnat at my ear, shadows, dew drops, the wind! There was nothing for me to do other than allow my heart to be touched. I wasn’t struck by a lightning bolt of wisdom, or hit on the head with a snapping branch of insight. I was gently reminded of the resilience and unjudging stance of nature. She does what She does with or without my attention. But Oh! Maybe my reverence, gratitude and love will be felt by Her and my heart wants to offer Her those gifts.
[isc_list]
RECENT STORIES
Nature has the right (of) way at Riverside Salem
After brief introductions and orientation to the Radical Joy philosophy and practice, a dozen and a half curious humans scattered across the Riverside Salem landscape to explore what this ecosystem along the Niagara River would[...]
Honoring the Ash Trees
Our group in Ithaca, New York ended up doing our 2026 Global Earth Exchange two months late, because of our various scheduling conflicts. We chose this year to honor the ash trees. Ash trees across[...]
Close to Home & Heart…and Yet…
In the Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple Garden Even here, like so many places on Earth, there are wounds. Some have been ‘made’ sacred, some have not. In truth, it is all sacred if we[...]