Tag: Earth

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Divine I Am Earth Spirituality

Earth Love 2021

Earth Love is gathering created by Nicole Sharkey, of Nicole Naturally, to celebrate the love vibrations of the earth. Everything is energy and vibration! Through the foods we eat, the sounds we hear, and the sights we see…. our bodies and minds can become healthier and feel more uplifted.

The Earth Love weekend was built to deeply connect us to our senses; to clearly remind us of the beauty all around, and to open us up to the unique beauty inside. This is the 3rd annual event.

This weekend was a wonderful experience. Grounding to mother earth, and tuning into the divine through sound and art at Amethyst Retreat Center.

It all started on Friday night with Sarah Fiore with The Big Sky Quartet, previously known as Indian Summer Jars. The sound of her voice and the lyrics to her songs feel like beautiful earth. <3

Earth Love Festival
Earth Love

Sarah Fiore is the founder and songwriter for Central PA’s original folk/roots quartet Big Sky (previously known as Indian Summer Jars). With songs that evoke the mystery and deep joy for life, she aims to inspire people to remember their dreams and follow their hearts in walking their own life’s paths. Big Sky has many great accomplishments, including their recognition and award by Central Pennsylvania’s Music Hall of Fame as ‘Best Trio’ 2020. The band has become well known for their beautiful three-part harmonies and the energy they create together on stage. Sarah’s solo work invites you to an intimate view of these long standing folk blues anthems and stories. Her new album, ‘Back to the Heart’ was recently released.

Earth Love Vibrations

We started the days activities on Saturday with a vocal toning circle lead by Lana Ryder. Lana has been sharing the healing power of sound, voice and music for 50 years.

We used our individual and group vocal sounds to create a portal to journey within, to connect with earth and with one another through simple toning sounds used by shamans, indigenous healers and sound medicine practitioners throughout antiquity. Now more than ever we need to use our voices for transmuting negative energy into healing, peace and love. We chanted, hummed and sang our own songs together. The cicadas added another level of vibration to our song as well!

After the toning circle, we shared a delicious lunch before I presented on sacred geometry. My talk felt so good, it was fantastic how it all fit with what Lana had mentioned about sound and creation. How our voices are one of a kind and the world needs us to use them! We are meant to create in this world and when we do not create … the world is missing out.

Everyone helped create our flower of life community mural, while they worked on their own mandalas to focus their energy on the desire they wish fulfilled.

After artmaking John Protopapas played the sitar, taking us into a journey through music.

Immersed in the study of yoga and Indian music for over 35 years, John will share and offering of classical Indian music on the Sitar. This music takes you to a deep contemplative space beyond words and ideas. In most ancient traditions, music is approached as a sacred path, leading the listeners and musicians to deeper states of being and nourishing our hearts and minds.

Nicole created an amazing event, with a delicious menu of music and food! Breakfast on Saturday was crafted yogurt, a spring fruit selection, hearty home made granola. Lunch featured the finest spring vegetables in a healing broth accented by locally made baguette and home made dessert. Breakfast on Sunday was delicious sour dough bread, local eggs, veggies and a lil something sweet.

Amethyst Retreat Center

This land is such a beautiful and magickal sacred space. So grateful for its presence in my life. <3 Thank you everyone who made this weekend so magickal!

An inspiring environment dedicated to discovering innovative and meaningful ways of living, learning and healing.

They are dedicated to offering information, experiences, and programs that inspire innovative approaches to wellness and living in ways that are nourishing and sustainable.

Amethyst offers wellness retreats, educational workshops, classes, nature programs and camps for children, gatherings for women, for men, for the public and weddings for 100 guests or less. Their weekend gatherings typically feature music, art, movement, hands-on workshops, incredibly good food, time in nature, and optional camping.

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Earth Green Lifestyle

The Garden Club

So we are a month into our first big garden! I recently put an all call out for those interested to share in the gardening and the harvest! There are usually 5 of us in our club.

We have tilled, fertilized, and planted onions, cabbage, brussel sprouts, peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, potatoes, squash, kale, and beets so far in the vegetable side.

There is also a spiral herb garden that has a variety of mint, catnip, motherwort, Mugwart, stinging nettle, echinacea, yarrow, anise hyssop, feverfew, fennel, blue anise, evening primrose, sage, Mullen, self heal, and horehound.

Garden

So far things are going well. I have been watering at night, but I think they need more water so I am going to look into an irrigation system.

Tending the Garden

Some of the plants are a little sad, and I wonder if its the fertilizer, sun or water? There are some gardens that have covers over the plants, so I am going to try that. The sun is really hot and full on them during the day.

While I am out there in the dirt I can feel the plants… when they are too hot from the sun I feel for them, when they need more water I can feel their thirst.

It made me sad when I woke up to see a few of my plants looking so sad. To think that I did not take enough time to listen to their needs. Feeling sad for them made me think about my actions and how I could take care of them better. I want the garden to thrive so badly, perhaps I am just learning patience again. Patience and listening.

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Earth Green Lifestyle

Gardening by the Moon

Gardening this year is going to be so wonderful. I am super excited about growing food! I have purchased many seeds, and begun tilling the dirt. The garden was overgrown with grass and weeds, so before I could till I had to get a lawn mower! Being that we moved in December, we had no need to purchase a riding lawn mower for our 1.5 acres. But now it is spring and the grass was growing fast!

Gardening

We were fortunate to find a 48” Husqvarna riding lawn mower on Facebook marketplace. It just reached 600 hours, which I learned is how you tell how long your lawn mower is expected to last! The average is 1500 hours. It is so much fun mowing my grass!

Now that the grass is mowed over the garden I am able to begin tilling the rest! The garden is at least 23ft. x 15ft, and I have only tilled a small portion.

The garden had turnips growing wild and taking over, along with strawberries! So I have transplanted some of the strawberries, and have let the rest to grow where they are for now.

On the spring equinox my friend Rachel and I planted 12 packs of seeds, there were three packs that did not grow at all, the rest are ready to be transplanted to larger containers! I was thinking maybe I could put them right into the ground, however it might be too cold just yet.

My Peach trees are blooming so beautifully… the green leaves are coming out. But I noticed that the bark has some mold looking fungus growing on it… some of the lower branches do not have any leaves at all. The bark also looks like its been shredded a little. Copper fungicide is supposed to work for the lechins which is what I think it is.

Another one of our trees that I have yet to identify, it is graphed…. has mites. So I purchased fruit tree spray. I hope that helps.

Gardening By the Moon

I have always been interested and fascinated by the idea of planning my garden around the cycles of the moon! Recently I came across the website Gardening by the Moon! They have wonderful digital resources that assist with what to plant and when! I am excited to be using these resources to help me plant!

I love learning as I go, being in the experience and figuring things out. Connecting with my network to hear stories of the way others have experienced life. Gardening is such a beautiful thing to build community around.

We have an idea, to invite our friends to share our garden with us. To plant food and share in the tending as they can. We would over see the garden daily. Then to come together for a community harvest dinner!!

I am looking forward to watching the garden and my community grow in peace, love, joy and unity. <3

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Divine I Am Earth Existence Green Lifestyle Most Popular Spirituality Video

Earth Meditation

The earth is the Goddess, in all her feminine and receptive energy. Her direction is North. The Pentacle and a bowl of salt are her tools. Her colors are green, yellow, brown, black, and her season: is Winter.  The Zodiac Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn are earth signs.

Earth energy is grounding, bringing us back to the present moment when all else might be up in chaos.

The Earth is the foundation of our lives, as it is both our home and our source of sustenance. The Earth Element is ever-present and highly versatile, manifesting as both soil and seed, and witnessed in the eternal rhythms of growth, harvest, decay, and regeneration.

Earth is represented by the diverse topographical features found all over the planet, including forests, fields, caves, rocks, valleys, and gardens. This “classical” Element is associated with abundance, prosperity, and strength.

It is presented as the duality of existence.

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Divine I Am Earth Existence Green Lifestyle Most Popular Spirituality Video

Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. Nettle is a superb nourishing food and has beneficial actions on many parts of the body including the urinary tract, liver, digestive tract, reproductive system, and respiratory system. Known as an overall nourisher and strengthener, stinging nettle leaf is full of vitamins and minerals most notably magnesium, calcium, iron, and protein.

Harvesting stinging nettle at Burns Valley Herbals and Retreat was such a learning experience.  I used gloves to hold the nettles while I cut them, however I still got stung.

I learned when brushed by the nettle, its best to leave the area alone so it will sting less. If you touch the area a lot, it rubs the sting into your skin more and lasts longer! I got a few welts and a rash from where the nettle touched me above the gloves! It went completely away within 12 hours. 

Nettle’s sting, however, reminds us to value our gifts just as we must honor and protect our work if we are to remain healthy. With her sting, she asks us to recognize and honor the worth of what she gives; if you’re willing to brave the sting to gain her treasure, you’re more likely to value what you have taken.

Enjoy the video, please comment, like and subscribe!!

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Divine I Am Earth Existence Green Lifestyle Most Popular Spirituality Video

Stewardship!

Stewardship is the job of taking care of something.

When we are stewards of the land, we are taking care of what’s been given to us.

We are showing our gratitude for all of the gifts we’ve received.

The earth provides so much life energy.

Show respect and reverence through tending the land.

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Art Divine I Am Earth Existence Green Lifestyle Most Popular Revealing Treasures in your Own Backyard Video

Quarantine Art Series: Sitting Stone

Every now and then it is important we go outside and sit.

To listen to the wind blow around us, and feel the earth beneath our feet.

Sitting stone is just the place to do that at Burns Valley Herbals and Retreat.

I enjoyed sitting at the bench and painting the mountains!

I am looking forward to when others can enjoy this beautiful space with us!

I feel like the summer solstice will be the perfect time!

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Art Divine I Am Earth Education Existence Green Lifestyle Most Popular Revealing Treasures in your Own Backyard Spirituality

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forum

The leaves are great examples of how each of us is different and on a different journey.

Each leaf is unique as it grows and thrives connected to the tree, but that’s not all that makes a leaf unique. Once the leaf has completed the cycle of growth, it begins its journey back down to the ground.

Watching a leaf fall from a tree, at the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forum, I realized how each leaf is different in the way they fall as well.

Each leaf has its own way of returning to the roots. Each person has their own path that allows them to come back to realizing who they are and their place on this earth.

When we experience this connection to earth, we become its stewarts and will to protect and preserve this beautiful planet.

The 14th annual Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forum was full of passion, inspiration and excellence, reminding us why we do what we do to take care of the water and the land.

 

Mamie A. Parker was the keynote speaker at the forum,  and she was so inspiring.  She spoke about how we as advocates, educators and stewarts of the watershed, can overcome obstacles to keep going and to keep growing. One of the big takeaways was eliminating the 4 C’s from our thoughts and speech: complaining, criticizing, comparing, and competing.  When we do those 4 things, we really separate ourselves from one another and therefore can not grow and succeed.

We have to do it together, as a team; If you want to go fast, go alone… if you want to go far, go together. 

Our first step towards helping the Bay is collaboration.

“Individually we are one drop, but together we are an ocean.” -Sylvia Earle

One of the sessions I attended at the forum was called Spiritual Voices in Nature.  We walked through the woods with four faith leaders. Each leading the way back to nature through their own individual ceremony.  It was an amazing experience to be in nature, listening to one another share our connection to the earth and spirit; something that I wish to be involved in more this year.

My second year at the forum taught me many new things! Live staking is when you cut branches from trees and stake them in the ground which triggers hormones to make the branch root and bud!

I learned about the importance of all aspects of our community working together for the good of the earth! The port of Baltimore works closely with the community to help handle the dredge material in an environmentally beneficial way for the whole community, through the creation of Masonville Cove. Located in South Baltimore, Masonville Cove is the nation’s first Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership, and home to a state-of-the-art green building nature center and beautiful waterfront public trails.

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The forum also had many wonderful interactive art activities. One of which is called the Climate Ribbon Project! The Climate Ribbon is an arts ritual to grieve what each of us stands to lose if we do not take care of our earth, and affirm our solidarity as we unite.

 

I am so grateful for the opportunity to represent BCPS and Ridgely at the Watershed Forum, and to learn new things to share with others!

Thank you Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay  , and the National Conservation Training Center for hosting such an amazing event, and a big thank you to the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds for the scholarship!

<3 Migwetch

 

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Art Divine I Am Earth Education Existence Green Lifestyle Most Popular Revealing Treasures in your Own Backyard Southern York Spirituality

Earth Love Festival 2019

This years Earth Love Festival at Amethyst Retreat Center in Duncannon Pennsylvania was a beautiful demonstration of community, collaboration, and love.

Nicole Sharkey is the visionary who thought of this beautiful festival 3 years ago, and has since turned it into an amazing opportunity for all, to gather and to heal.

The Earth Love festival grew out of my desire to experience and share joy, forge connections in our community, and understand different perspectives on how to live in harmony with each other and the Earth.

The Earth Love festival is my way of sharing my gifts to create beauty.

I hope you will join me as the Earth Love festival evolves into its second year.

With love,

Nicole Sharkey

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Thank you Nicole Erin Sharkey for following through with your beautiful vision and leading by example… when we are compelled to create something, we should let go and follow through with actions to manifest our deepest desires.

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Thank you Indian Summer Jars, Kevin Koa, Holland, Cumberland Honey, and Shrimp Ryan’s Jig Band for following your passion and sharing the joy of your being with us through sound!

Thank you Pat McCabe, Susquehanna Alchemy, and Sarah Poet for facilitating such a safe space for communion and vulnerability. The stories you shared, the passions you have and how they all intertwined with our now, was a beautiful synchronicity, balance and flow to be witness to and apart of… thank you for helping me to remember the romance.

I am so grateful for all of you.

Amethyst Retreat Center is a space for all who wish to find peace and love within the land, and their community. During this event there was a pretty intense storm that damaged a few vendors tents and products, as well as one of Amethyst’s new event tents. Please consider donating to the retreat center to help keep the space beautiful and available for new and exciting events!

Miigwetch and gizaagi’in

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Art Art Class Divine I Am Earth Education Existence Green Lifestyle Most Popular Video

Earth Day

In honor of Earth day this year, I did all recycled material activities for our recent Arts in Action community event. In my room people were able to create sculptures from recycled materials like plastic containers and old toys.

Another station was to use plastic bottles to make flowers which were then glued to old paint brushes to be used in an installation piece on the hill by our bus loop.

Guests could also help glue down pieces of recycled plastic in order to fill three murals in the shapes of the Chesapeake Bay, a recycling sign, and the earth!

 

There was so much more happening during the event in other art rooms! Mrs. Grace had Draw and Dine station, and Ms. Kambic created a “Paint like Picasso” station!

1,000 students had artwork hanging in the show!

Down in the office lobby our musicians were showing off their talents as well!

A HUGE thank you to Michelle Dress, Lara Grace, Caitlin Kambic, and Anne Scott
for their amazing effort and awesome ideas!
I am so grateful to work with such amazing people!

 

Check out the video of the event below!

Happy Earth Day!