Healing Outdoors
  • Mission
    • Ladybug
    • Caregiver Rights
  • Offerings
  • Contact
  • Posts
  • Background
  • Resources
    • Healing Walk
  • Videos

#6 - Got Medicine? Bring It

10/25/2014

0 Comments

 
What do you do that comes easily to you?  How do you gift others?  Do other people say "Wow, I could never do that" but "that" flows from you without effort? 

These are your medicines for the world, and this world badly needs them. 

Whatever insights you have attained in the company of non-human community in this world, share them.  

Each image below is of some medicine gifted to me and each carries a story I would tell if asked.  I am no shaman, no wise sage, no person with indigenous ancestry (that I am aware - never took a DNA test), but I do spend time connecting deeply to Nature Community.  

It is possible people who are shamans, healers, and knowers have prayed over you in ways you will never know.  It is possible people and nature beings have gifted you medicine, but you don't yet see what it is. 

When I feel overwhelmed with paying bills and all the suffering caused by the way I live in my economic and physical disconnection from nature, the fastest route to heart space for me is saying the phrase, "In nature nothing exists alone."  

None of us exists alone.  All of us can bring medicine.  

My Medicine

One of the things that comes easily to me is long distance walking.  Blisters and pain mean it is not easy, but the capacity for and inner drive toward it is something that has been a part of my core ever since I can remember.  Walking distances outdoors to raise funds to bring healing (my own and others) is something I consider my "medicine." 

Consider joining me either to walk a bit of the journey, drop off some much needed water, or contribute how ever many of the 25 miles I complete in dollars to a neighbor in need of healing.   Thank you! 
Picture
Another piece of my medicine is creating colorful things that keep people warm via knitting.  Knitting is like breathing or meditation to me because I was taught by my grandmother when I was 6.  So I have almost been knitting since I was born. : )  I have decided now in this time where every medicine is needed, knitting will be my 2nd job, a labor of love in each creation.  

My goal is by Solstice 2014 to post an Etsy page from which anyone can purchase gifts made by hand in loving kindness meditation with the intent that each wearer know they are loved.   What this means is I used to spend an hour or so a day meditating, but now I knit my meditation.  Each stitch is part of a loving kindness mantra, and my challenge - as in meditation - is to maintain my focus on such phrases as "may all beings be free (of suffering)," "may all beings know peace," "may all beings be safe," "may all beings be filled with loving kindness."  Of course there will be moments of lapse of focus in the knitting, but my intention is that loving healing energy will be transmitted to the wearer. 
0 Comments

#5 - Adventure Education

10/10/2014

2 Comments

 
All photos courtesy of my amazing daughter, Carli who trekked 25 miles of coastline on the Olympic Peninsula this week.  Congratulations Carli!  Mountains of gratitude to the adult chaperones who made this life-shifting trip possible for 12 8th grade kids.  Carli was one of three girls in this quarter's program, and she had never (to my knowledge) walked 5 miles, let alone carrying a 30-pound pack for 25 miles.  She returned tonight in great spirits and intact, telling me how useful a Swiss Army knife is and that non-dehydrated food tastes incredible!   

For more information on the Native petroglyphs photographed, look at E (Makah) on the following link:  A Gallery of Northwest Petroglyphs

I know my heart is with outdoor education in some form, that I have incredible endurance even if not athleticism, and that I need to get more hands on training if I am to ever attract and lead groups confidently.  To that end, I have been looking at the many opportunities in Washington State to get further skill training and wilderness medicine training.  I have not been able to afford a tent or pack, which is one reason this Adventure Ed program was invaluable to my family, but I intend to make every effort to do some trekking with my now experienced daughter next year. 
2 Comments

    Author

    Erin Waterman

    Favorite Wisdom:  
     
    "In nature nothing exists alone."
                                 
                        ~ Rachel Carson
           

    Archives

    January 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    June 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012

    Categories

    All
    Care For Caregivers

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.