Spiritual Parenting Thought for the Month (SM)
Brought to you by Mimi Doe
April, 2009
V11 #4
NATURAL PARENTING
*******************************************************************************************
This newsletter is my gift to you in the hopes of empowering children and parents everywhere to live more joyful, connected lives.
********************************************************************************************
NATURAL PARENTING
- Welcome From Mimi
- The Earth Is Our Mother
- April Showers - Blessings of Rain
- Earth Teach Me - a Ute Prayer
- What's New
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
April Greetings,
After all these years of working with families, writing about parenting, and raising my two daughters I have seen a remarkable shift in the time children are outside and connected with nature. This loss is natural given the schedules most of us have created, and yet the consequences are dramatic in many ways.
Read this month’s newsletter about natural parenting and vow to become a more “natural parent” who cares for the minds, bodies, and spirits of the children in your life. A natural parent provides healthy organic food and pure, fresh water to her children. She uses nontoxic cleaners, crafts a schedule that includes time in nature, is attentive to the people and energy around her family, selects toys made from natural products, and honors the vast inner lives of her children.
Perfect parenting is impossible and a warped expectation given the foibles that make us human. Being a natural parent, however, and following our deep intuition about what is right for our children – now that’s the way to live and flourish.
Blessings and light from my heart to yours,
Mimi Doe
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Teach your children what we have taught our children: that the Earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the children of the Earth…. The Earth is precious to God, and to harm the Earth is to heap contempt on its Creator.
-- Chief Seattle
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story.
--Linda Hogan
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
THE EARTH IS OUR MOTHER
The degree and way in which our children reap benefits when they connect with the natural world is shaped, in party, by their spirituality. Experience with particular religious traditions impacts them in certain ways. Some environmentalists suggest that the Judeo-Christian tradition, for instance, believes in a world created solely for the benefit of man. And yet, might we humans have twisted sacred teachings for our own benefit? In the HarperCollins Study Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:19 states: "For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over the animals; for all is vanity."
In Judaism, the Torah outlines a series of ethical environmental obligations. The Torah, in Ecclesiastes, Rabbah7, says: "When God created Adam, he showed him all the trees of the Garden of Eden and said to him: 'See my works, how lovely they are, how fine they are. All I have created, I created for you. Take care not to corrupt and destroy my universe, for if you destroy it, no one will come after you to put it right.'"
In other religious traditions, humans are seen as part of, rather than ruling, nature. Followers of Hinduism, for example, believe that certain rivers and mountains are sacred, as they give and sustain life, and that all plants and animals have souls.
Religions are evolving to embrace an understanding of human's spiritual link with nature in today's world. I found it encouraging that the Sierra Club and the National Council of Churches cosponsored a television advertisement opposing drilling for oil in Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge. The narrator intoned a Jewish prayer interpreted from the Torah quote above in which God says: "This is a beautiful world I have given you. Take care of it, do not ruin it."
New alliances are being forged to link religion and nature, spirituality and environmental consciousness. Teens by the thousands are drawn to this union. They resonate with the principles of Deep Ecology, the concept that there are no superior or inferior things. They are passionate about caring for the environment and the future of the planet. It gives meaning to their lives. They are also attuned to the idea of good and evil, and the ethics of Deep Ecology call them to identify how this fragile planet is being damaged, who the culprits are, as well as how to be accountable in their own lives.
Religious beliefs and traditions influence a child's attitude toward the natural environment; so do family values. Trusting that life is connected forces us to ask difficult questions; it also brings simple joys - when we pay attention. Many of us are so caught up in our daily routines that we've lost contact with these daily glimmers of Spirit. Our teens, in particular, are brainwashed to honor perfect pectoral muscles and expensive cars rather than the gentle hum of a bee or the brilliant colors of a setting sun. How often do we stop to smell the special scent of fallen leaves in autumn or feel the warmth of the soil in spring? Helping our kids feel at one with their everyday surroundings, the Earth, and the Universe, allows them to experience a deeper sense of connection.
Feeling a part of nature is different than passively observing it. Passive observation is thin nourishment for the soul - and poor stewardship of the Earth. Only a few generations have brought our planet to the brink of total destruction by lacking an understanding of our unified link.
Traditional Native American perspectives suggest that a harmonious relationship to the world requires us to move beyond the role of observer into active participation. Shamans talk with the plants, animal, rocks, wind, and all creation with whom we share the Earth.
Chief Seattle spoke of the Suquamish people in 1854 when he said, "Teach your children what we have taught our children: that the Earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the children of the Earth…. The Earth is precious to God, and to harm the Earth is to heap contempt on its Creator."
I urge parents to figure out how to tweak the rhythm of their whirlwind lives so that they might shift the emphasis from being the perfect parent who grants every material wish their child might have to a natural parent who leads their child to the contentment and power that comes from a peaceful connection with nature.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
APRIL SHOWERS - BLESSINGS OF RAIN
Rain is the elixir of life - it rejuvenates the Earth; slakes the thirst of plants, land, animals, and us; transforms creeks into rivers and lakes into oceans; refreshes our bodies; cleanses our skin… and cleanses our souls. Take a few cues about enjoying the many blessings of rain, and try some out for yourself and your family:
- Walk in the rain. Tell your child how soft the rainwater makes his hair.
- Taste the rain. Jump in the puddles. Do a rain dance. Sing in the rain. Freedom in a rainstorm is exhilarating to a 9-year-old whose life is filled with obligations.
- Talk about where the rain comes from. Are raindrops, as one child said, "angels' tears"?
- Sit on the porch and watch a rainstorm approach. The excitement of the change in weather can displace any fear. Join in the excitement over the lightning. Nature's fireworks are on display just for your family. Dance to the music of the thunder.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“My mom let me go outside last night in my nightgown and run through the rain. I felt so free. I had to take a warm bath afterward, but it didn't even matter.
--9 year old
“One day I called my dad, who lived in another town, to tell him of what a beautiful stormy spring rainy day it was where I lived.. Dad then told me a story of when he was a young boy, around age 8 or so. On a soon-to-be-rainy afternoon, walking home from school, he'd walk by the local grocery store to get a large cardboard box. Once home, he put the box in the backyard, crawled inside the box, sit in it cross-legged, and shut the flaps almost closed, leaving a space just large enough to peer out of. When the rain came, he was safe and dry inside his box, looking out into the yard and the neighborhood, hearing the rain, smelling the rain, and seeing the rain quieting everything around him.”
--Daughter, 51
“I think it's beautiful when it rains in a certain way and the drops go split-splat.”
--Age 5
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
EARTH TEACH ME
Here is a Native American (Ute) prayer giving thanks for the teachings available throughout nature.
Earth teach me stillness
as the grasses are stilled with 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 the mother who secures her young.
Earth teach me courage
as the tree which stands all alone.
Earth teach me limitation
as the ant which crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom
as the eagle which soars in the sky.
Earth teach me resignation
as the leaves which die in the fall.
Earth teach me regeneration
as the seed which 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.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
THINGS I LOVE THESE DAYS
1. TED Talks
My husband Tom and I can't get enough of these free, inspirational 22 minute lectures by the world's leading thinkers. I love hearing Elizabeth Gilbert speak about finding her muse and my husband's favorite is Barry Schwartz speaking on decision making.
2. Dream Manifestation Wizard
I'll let the developer of these transformational products tell you about them in his own words as mine don't do justice:
Manifest any goal, desire or life dream with this new award winning audio and software program. A simple and highly efficient process, using the power of your intention combined with images and your own voice, to reprogram your mind for instant and lasting success.
This is an amazing gift of empowerment and will uplift you this month or anytime. If you have a dream, this will help manifest that dream. I spend time each week editing my Dream Manifestor images and lists as my dreams come true almost as fast as I can articulate and put them up!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~WHAT'S NEW~*~
WHAT I'M LISTENING TO THESE DAYS
Lately I've been listening to Steve Halperns OM Zone on my laptop as I work. It transports me to ease and calm. Check out this instrumental CD and I promise you will find a new serenity. What soothing music do you love? I need some new songs.
MIMI BLOGS
Click HERE to visit my Blog. You can bookmark it on Google to receive updates of new posts. Do leave comments and suggestions so we can have a virtual conversation. My daughter is traveling in Africa matching schools out in the bush with schools in the U.S. She's a college junior and devoted to Ghana, where she taught for four months at age 18.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
CREATE A YEAR OF DREAMS
Make ALL your dreams come true with the Dream Manifesto!
For YEARS I have been creating vision boards or treasure maps using poster boards and images of what
I would like to manifest in my life...Literally for about 24 years...
Up until now...
Now, since I'm on my computer so much of the time...I've installed this easy to use software, literally I had it up and running in less than 5 minutes, and my images are scheduled to appear with sound...that I've created...every few hours...reminding me of what I wish to focus upon...
It's crazy cool! In fact, I have had to delete most of the images I first put up as they HAVE COME TRUE. Time for new dreams!
**********************************************************
TREAT YOUR TEENAGERS TO STRESS FREE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS!
If your children are in high school, pick up a copy of my book: Don't Worry You'll Get In: 100 Tips for Stress Free College Admission. I believe that knowledge is power and have created various ways to help make the application and admissions process less stressful.
**********************************************************
CREATE A LIFE LIVED ON PURPOSE IN 2009
Busy but Balanced
Begin RIGHT NOW to craft a more balanced life!
This book takes you through the year, week by week...Full of tips, tools, ideas and inspiration for crafting a family life that is calm, centered, and full of joy!
Start 2009 with a committment and intention to craft a life of calm and ease. Dive into this weekly, inspirational guide for living a more meaningful life.
Your own new semester of sorts.
|
|
To unsubscribe/change profile: click here.
To subscribe: click here.
SpiritualParenting.com
109 Baker Avenue
Concord, Massachusetts 01742 |
You are welcome to reproduce this newsletter under the following conditions:
1. Include the following attribution: Mimi Doe is the founder of Spiritual Parenting.com and the award-winning author of "Nurturing Your Teenager's Soul", "Busy But Balanced", "10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting", and co-author of "Don’t' Worry Get In." Mimi's free newsletter, Spiritual Parenting, has more than 30,000 subscribers from around the world. Sign up on the website: www.SpiritualParenting.com.
2. Inform us of how, when, and where you are using the article.
3. Send a hard copy or a link to the site where it is being published if reproducing it electronically.
4. If reproducing the article electronically, include a link to our website: www.SpiritualParenting.com.
Spiritual Parenting Thought for the Month (SM) is written and produced by Mimi Doe and Karen Adolphson. If you have any stories to share, questions or comments, please send them to: Editor@SpiritualParenting.com. We'd love to hear from you!
Any submission of tips, stories, and other content to Spiritual Parenting Thought for the Month and SpiritualParenting.com, whether by email, mail, or posted to our website, becomes the property of Spiritual Parenting. Please see our terms of use and privacy policy for more details at: http://www.SpiritualParenting.com.
Mimi Doe, Author of:
"Nurturing Your Teenager's Soul"
"Busy But Balanced"
"10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting"
"Drawing Angels Near"
http://www.SpiritualParenting.com
Copyright 2004-2009 Mimi Doe. All rights reserved.
