Earth Wisdom

A Heart-warming Mixture of the Spiritual, the Practical and the Proactive.

This inspirational guidebook encourages us to become more active in our relationship to the Earth and to become part of a growing global community of people prepared to bring positive change to the world. Its starting point is our natural affinity with Nature and the changing seasonal cycles that affect us all whether we are conscious of this or not.

Earth Wisdom encourages us to restore our own connections to the Earth, through working with the natural energy of the Earth's Cycles, through celebrating the Celtic festivals, by exploring the inherent wisdom of the trees, and the land, this book inspires us to become more engaged with the natural world around us. We are encouraged to broaden our perspectives, extend our perceptions and to embrace a more holistic and caring attitude to the Earth and all life.

The book covers each of the 8 Celtic festivals with lots of new ideas and suggestions for celebrating with family and friends as well as a further selection of ideas for deeper work. All the suggestions are simple but transformative and provide inspiration from which further ideas can grow. Throughout the book we are encouraged to follow our personal spirituality and intuitive wisdom.

Also included are trees for each festival, creating ceremony, our sacred landscape, detailed instructions for many seasonal craftwork activities, herbal and healing activities using natural resources and many seasonal ways to create personal change and connection to the Earth.

PUBLISHED BY HAY HOUSE UK, London First Published 2004 Second Edition 2006

Third Edition 2011

Also published and distributed by Hay House in the United States of America, Australia, the Republic of South Africa and distributed in Canada.

Price £15 + £4.00 postage & packaging - UK ONLY

Extracts

EARTH WISDOM - PREFACE

I am writing this book with an awareness that our world is changing.

A new global consciousness is emerging and it is disrupting the old 'us and them' mentality that has, until now, supported a world held in conflict, fear and separation.

We are changing.

People all over the world, from different backgrounds, different cultures and different belief systems, are uniting in a new feeling, a sense of a global 'we'.

The 'we' consciousness is emerging out of our evolutionary needs. It is not being imposed upon us but is willingly being embraced, chosen and understood on a level that goes beyond words.

We feel a growing responsibility to help each other and to move closer together as one global family. Our hearts are open, generous and loving. We support life and each and everyone's basic right to happiness.

We are willing to serve the common good and protect the environment from further harm. Our expanding communication systems mean that we are no longer isolated or ignorant about what is happening around the world.

We are willing to trust our intuition and have the courage to follow our dreams and visions.

We are standing together, knowing our strength lies in this feeling of togetherness. We are choosing to take the path of the heart, the path of Love and goodwill. We are aware of the power inherent in all our acts of goodness.

Love is at the heart of all the worlds spiritual teachings. It is not a new idea, but the power of Love is on the move, gathering momentum, happiness and liberation, and inspiring a change of heart in the world.

This is our voyage of discovery, our delightful rebellion and our profoundly exhilarating act of adaptation. It is a potent evolutionary shift, having as much survival value and significance as any physical transformation.

I plant this book like a seed in the Earth. It is your seed, my seed, a seed of our future. May we grow strong and true.

Glennie Kindred 2004

Earth Wisdom - Chapter 1

WE Are the Change

Our planet Earth is a Wonder. When we are touched by Nature, we are lifted out of time, beyond our everyday lives, to a place of inner stillness, wonder and Oneness with life. We become part of the invisible unity that holds all life together. The most profound and yet the simplest experiences pass through our brains to touch our hearts. This is a simple truth. The more we allow the beauty of Nature and acts of natural goodness to touch our hearts, the more deeply we celebrate our natural spiritual connection to life.

Earlier civilizations the world over understood the essential unity of life and respected everything on Earth as part of an integrated whole. The Earth was seen to be an intelligent living being. In the Celtic lands of the British Isles and Northern Europe, she was revered as a life-giving goddess, providing us with all Five Elements essential for life’s evolution: clean Air to breathe, pure Water, fertile Earth, transforming Fire and Spirit, the element which connects us to the invisible web of all life.

Our beautiful Earth has given us all so much to be thankful for. Our gratitude helps us to connect to the spiritual soul at the very core of our being. It is fuelled by Love and respect for the Earth and for all peoples, all creatures and each and every perfect micro-system. It brings awareness that we do not live separately from Nature. The Earth is our life’s blood; each breath we take depends upon her, and now also on us, for we need to help the Earth to restore clean Air, clean Water and balanced ecosystems throughout the world. This is each and every person’s basic birthright and responsibility.

We are at a critical time in the history of the Earth. We are emerging as a global community and we are all part of shaping the future we want for ourselves and for future generations. We are all responsible for creating a new future based on a culture of peace, universal human rights, economic justice and respect for all life on Earth.

We are developing a new awareness of our global responsibility and our connections to the Earth and to each other. We are becoming aware of ourselves as ‘We’. This is a new evolutionary shift in consciousness. More and more people are identifying with this new ‘We’, this new sense of belonging to the global whole. We are moving towards sustainable systems that are life-enhancing and self-renewing. We are developing new industries that support the Earth, industries that are in harmony with the natural order and Nature’s wisdom. There is much in our world that does not follow this path. Anyone who cares deeply about the Earth and her people can become caught up in anger, resentment and great sadness. Our inability to stop the ruthless control of those in power creates circles of despair and powerlessness in our hearts. This is the ‘us and them’ mentality that has kept us fragmented for many generations. When we become the collective ‘We’, we become a community of like minds, united in common heartfelt resolve. We inspire each other to believe that another world is possible. We become part of the change, the change of heart.

We are the people we are waiting for. We are the people who care, who dare to question and dare to stand up for the Earth. We have a profound respect and compassion for the Earth and for all of life. We know in our hearts what is good and what is right. We follow our hearts and seek positive solutions based on Love, basic goodness and common sense. Supporting these changes is our common unity.

‘Be the change you want to see happen.’ Mahatma Gandhi Changes of heart work by focusing on where we put our ‘YES!’. Once we begin to live and work from a heart-centred reality, supporting and following our every ‘Yes’, the waves of our positive action spread and ripple through the whole of the intricate web of Life. We discover the most profound potential in the smallest of actions. Our actions today affect future generations and have far-reaching repercussions, creating ever-widening circles of positive change.

We are no longer living in isolated communities. We are no longer ignorant of the facts. We are each responsible for our own actions based on informed choice. The choices we make in our personal lives will affect and shape the bigger picture. By every act of personal beauty and loving response, by every act that is life-enhancing, we make a difference to the world. Our starting point is our immediate surroundings, our community, our friends and family, sharing, collaboration, tolerance and cooperation.

Cooperation is the key to our survival. Wherever we see these seeds of hope it is crucial that we are proactive in supporting the changes.

Spirituality is moving from a conviction or belief to a lived reality that brings a heartfelt reverence and respect for all of life and all of the people of the Earth. Grassroots spirituality is growing out of our needs and the needs of the Earth. It is not being imposed on us. We are creating it ourselves. It is evolving and it is changing as our inner understanding grows. We are being guided by our inner wisdom, our integrity, our intuition and the wisdom of the Earth. We trust ourselves to do what is right with instinctive sureness. It is the path of the heart, of Love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, sharing and gratitude. It is not complex or elaborate. It is very simple. All the great spiritual teachers from all the world’s religions have told us the same thing: we must find our hearts and then we will find our true way.

Spirituality is not a religion. It is a journey and an inner connection. For some of us it is a natural part of our way of being and living, but for others it sometimes takes a crisis to bring changes of outlook and lifestyle. Illness, for example, can be viewed as a positive experience, an open door that invites us to change. We can take the opportunity to leave behind our old patterns and embrace new ways to live and relate. But why wait for a crisis? By becoming more committed to our own spiritual journey, a whole new world opens up for us.

Each of us has the power to change. It is up to each of us to live with this possibility and to inspire others to make that shift in perception. The changes we make on the inside have far-reaching repercussions in the outer world. Harmony on the inside creates harmony on the outside and is reflected in all we do.

A necessary working part of our whole self is our intuition. This faculty is inherent in all of us. We have been encouraged not to trust it and yet it is an essential lifeline, a vital asset. For too long we have neglected to appreciate it. This gift is life-given, but blocked by decades of fear, mistrust and lack of use. If you are not used to acting on your intuition, you often barely notice when you have an insight and disregard it if you do. Yet how often in hindsight do you wish you had acted on that flash of intuition? Despite centuries of social taboo, our sixth sense remains as bright and accessible as ever. We only have to acknowledge it is there and it is at our service, as it always has been, an integral part of our whole self.

Experiencing deep heartfelt connections to the Earth will bring us closer to understanding ourselves and trusting our intuition. It will help us to foster a sense of belonging and Love for the Earth and all peoples of the Earth. To live in harmony with the Earth, we need to remember our connection to her. This book is dedicated to rediscovering and reawakening the journey of Love and respect for the awesome Wonder that is our Earth. In our hearts we then feel true inhabitants of our wonderful unique planet. We feel connected on all levels of our being. We rediscover the sacred in ourselves and in all that surrounds us. our work, our businesses and our power as consumers to support the products and businesses we wish to see prosper.

By our positive actions and acts of hope we inspire others to embrace our collective power and discover the profound potential of our collective identity. Once this is fully understood, we become different people. We learn to follow our hearts as well as our heads, doing what we know is right, trusting our intuition and becoming more fully integrated individuals. This is the inner evolution of the ‘We’ consciousness.

This place of integrated understanding is not imposed on us from the outside but created from the inside. We live as individuals, but feel and understand our connections to the whole of life. We become the individual within the collective. Every single thing we do makes a difference.

We no longer see the Earth as something that serves us but begin to see how we can be of service to the Earth. This is a simple but major shift in consciousness that is necessary for the Earth’s survival.

It is time for all of us to make changes about how we live our lives and to follow a path of the heart. By following our intuition and inspiration we encourage our own acts of heartfelt genius and boldness. This makes us feel alive and vital, gives us a great purpose and harnesses parts of ourselves we may have neglected or didn’t even know we had. We no longer feel overwhelmed by the way the Earth’s resources are managed, but recognize that change is in our hands, yours and mine, the hands of ordinary extraordinary people who have made a leap in understanding and are determined to make a difference.

We become part of the change by becoming part of the solution.

As ethical consumers we have great power to change the world economy from a power-over institution to one which supports local community, local produce, the life-enhancing production of goods, fairly traded goods, cooperatives, recycled products, food which is free of harmful chemicals, pesticides or genetic modification, and products that do not harm the Earth.

On a basic level, we are the consumers that the great commercial wheel serves. Our every purchase increases the availability of that product. So if you believe that it is wrong to exploit the men, women and children of the poorer countries, then as far as you can, buy fairly traded products. Your action then increases the availability of these products and supports a system that is generating goodwill and fairness. If you are against GM food, then buy organic food and increase the availability of food we can trust. This in turn supports small farmers and the availability of local produce and creates less demand for the agrochemicals that are destroying the balance of Nature.

Money is a kind of energy. Every single thing that our money buys supports that product. It supports the way that product was made, the people who were involved in making it and, unless it was produced by a cooperative or was fairly managed, it supports the person at the top who makes the most money. Consume less and consume consciously, with awareness of how each product came to you. Live the life you feel good to live! Become the person you are proud to be! Every individual, organization, business and institution has a unique part to play. Once we reach critical mass, the gathering momentum will ensure that the Earth’s future is safe.

All things are possible if we stand together.

Procrastination, excuses, fear of change, fear of not having enough money, fear of what others will think and say are some of the things that can stop us following our true heart’s desire. None of them are helpful to us. We need to find out what is stopping us, draining us, restricting us, then how we can find ways to shift it so that we are free of all the restraints and blocks to our natural affinity for goodness and what feels right. But in many respects we do not need to dwell on past mistakes, just put ourselves back on track, re-establish our integrity and keep reaching for what we aspire to. It doesn’t matter that we fail sometimes – what matters is that we try.

Each one of us adds to the world we create. Becoming conscious of this process changes our lives: how we live, think and interact with others. The same law that creates our universe is operating throughout all of life. We are beginning to understand the nature of ‘energy’ and how everything we say, do and think has repercussions. We set off a chain of events by our every thought and deed. The energy we send out, we also receive. Expressing goodwill creates more goodwill. What comes round goes round. We create our world by what we give or what we take. Our giving creates open-hearted channels for Love and positive change, and for these things to come back to us. We create our own circles of energy, which have a profound effect on our everyday happiness and well-being.

At the root of old-style thinking lies warfare mentality. This warfare mindset, based on fear, scarcity, competition, the desire to dominate and to be in control, has led to the degeneration of the Earth’s resources and her people. It is deeply rooted in the way we run our governments, our schools and our businesses, where killing off the competition is the goal. But change is happening. We are making a new commitment to make a difference rather than make a killing. We are creating a new set of values based on appreciation, sharing, collaboration, tolerance and cooperation.

Cooperation is the key to our survival. Wherever we see these seeds of hope it is crucial that we are proactive in supporting the changes.

If you are not used to acting on your intuition, you often barely notice when you have an insight and disregard it if you do. Yet how often in hindsight do you wish you had acted on that flash of intuition? Despite centuries of social taboo, our sixth sense remains as bright and accessible as ever. We only have to acknowledge it is there and it is at our service, as it always has been, an integral part of our whole self.

To live in harmony with the Earth, we need to remember our connection to her. This book is dedicated to rediscovering and reawakening the journey of Love and respect for the awesome Wonder that is our Earth. In our hearts we then feel true inhabitants of our wonderful unique planet. We feel connected on all levels of our being. We rediscover the sacred in ourselves and in all that surrounds us.

Reviews

"Glennie Kindred started publishing hand-sown booklets on Celtic festivals with her own subtle insights and beautiful black and white illustrations in the 1990s. As more people have begun to appreciate her work, her reputation has grown and Earth Wisdom marks a departure, as it is internationally published. It is a gathering of her work and includes material on Celtic festivals and their signifance to us now, how to design your own celebrations and ceremonies, the sacred and healing properties of trees and herbs, the Tree Ogham, wood crafts, sacred landscapes and reconnecting with the spirit of the land, even sacred gardening... It is full of folklore, insights, practical exercises, and meditations with much new material.

What I like best about this book is that it isn't about running away with the fairies, it is about rooting ourselves in our landscape and culture, using our herbs and the yields of our native trees with wisdom and respect and reconnecting ourselves with the Earth's cycles. It's full of ways of becoming in tune with nature and reversing the trend of disconnection and despoilment. This is spiritual activism - how we can practically translate our awareness of the stillness and beauty of Nature into a sense of Oneness with the planet and its people as a whole and act from that place. Glennie has identified a quiet but determined global movement of people of all races and creeds who honor the Earth and wish to make peace by taking positive actions in their everyday lives. Glennie celebrates this movement and helps open its potent yet inclusive door to others." - Maddy Harland, editor of Permaculture Magazine.

"Whilst not normally one for style over content, this book has a charm all of its own. Those who know of her work already, will fondly remember the hand sewn A5 versions she produces. Earth wisdoms keeps to the author's environmental ethics, being produced on chlorine-free recycled paper. It is a delight to read a manual of projects to reconnect with the earth and its nature. From growing trees from cuttings, to making staffs and Ogham sticks, she also shares ideas for the seasons, ritual and more practical ventures.

The Author writes from an angle of actually doing rather that just writing about her subject, and this shows though in the down to earth presentation (no pun intended). Those who like Glennie's artwork will not be disappointed, it is generously sprinkled through out this book. Her distinctive line and black work are exceptional. Even with modern production this book still retains it's homespun charm. Please lets have more like this" - John Randall - Pentacle magazine.

"Everything about this book screams nature. From the earthy colours of the cover, to the chunky woodcut illustrations, to the overtly unbleached paper to the simple rustic hand written type used throughout. It's a book that's probably safe to eat and feels nice to thumb though.

Glennie Kindred's writing style is less about loading you with facts and more about getting you to slow down long enough to be inspired. The facts are relevant, interesting and well chosen and the writing style is very comfortable. The book equivalent of a well-worn sofa with big plump cushions. It's the kind of book you can curl up with at the end of a long day when you don't want to think too much but still want to learn.

The book manages to cover everything - from herbalism to earth cycles to healing energies to folklore and superstition - together with good practical exercises and things you can try at home. For newcomers trying to get started in the subject, it's heartily recommended" - Prediction magazine.

"A beautiful and gentle book for any with a sense of how our actions impact the earth, affecting the balance of nature. It serves as a reminder of the intelligence in all life and includes ways of experiencing the cycles of the season and our relationship with nature. In urging us to take positive action, Earth Wisdom is more than a comforting read; it's a call to follow your own personal spiritual and intuitive wisdom. Complete with enchanting illustrations, this is precisely what it says on the cover - a heart-warming mixture of the spiritual, the practical and the proactive" - Elizabeth Holmes - Brainwave Books.

"Glennie's books are always a joy and this one is no exception, it's a rich harvest from Glennie's already published books - and heaps more of course. Chapters about the Celtic festivals, designing ceremonies, crafts, sacred landscapes, folklore tree wisdom, meditations and practical exercises for a deepening relationship with the Earth. This is essentially about spiritual activism and our essential yet still neglected connectedness - the more we allow the beauty of nature to tough our hearts, the more deeply we feel the urge to nurture and protect it! There is such a sizzle of enthusiasm and passion and wisdom expressed here, you cannot fail to respond." - The Goddess And The Green Man - Glastonbury.

"Glennie Kindred has taken Nature, Love and Wisdom, and stirred well - the result is a truly lovely book. The first part explores earth wisdom and draws on both Celtic traditions and knowledge from Britain and Northern Europe. The second part of the book describes the festivals that mark the cycle of the year and provides practical ideas for making seasonal connection. For example, Glennie suggests you might like to make a Moon Garden - 'a place to sit in quiet contemplation and make a connection to the watery flow of your unconscious mind'. She suggests choosing silvery plants such as lavenders, silver thymes, sages and plants that will have white flowers that will glow in the moonlight.

Earth Wisdom contains information about herbs, flower essences, and lots about trees. Glennie explores the folklore, wisdom and uses of many trees, including Hazel, Rowan, Ash and Holly. She encourages us to express our creative power and connect with our potential for change and Love. The appendix includes references for inspirational reading, magazines, publications and networking solutions. All in all a beautiful book - Highly recommended." - Juno magazine.

"There are many forms of nature-based spirituality. Some people choose to follow initiatory pagan paths such as wicca or druidry, other prefer to find their own ways to connect with nature.

Earth Wisdomby artist, healer and teacher Glennie Kindred is aimed at those who perhaps don't want to sign up to any structured pagan religion, but nevertheless want to celebrate the changing seasons and honour the Earth in harmony with the phases of the moon and cycles of the sun. It shows how to do this in a way that is spiritual, but not overtly religious.

It is a lovely book, with gentle words and delightful pictures, that takes the reader on a journey to meet the spirits of the land, the plants and trees. It begins by explaining that all things are connected; that we are part of nature and can affect change on our environment.

Publisher Hay House says on its website: "This beautiful and inspirational guidebook from Glennie Kindred teaches us how to work with the natural cycles of the year. Comprehensive and accessible, it is an invaluable source of information for anyone wanting to learn more about tree lore, Celtic festivals, the five elements, Moon energies or simply how to make a deeper connection with the Earth."

Although it is aimed at beginners, plenty of those who already have some experience of paganism will still be able to learn a thing or two from this book.

Sections explaining such things as how to meditate, how to dowse and how to do traditional crafts including broom-making and willow-weaving are interspersed with chapters on lore associated with trees. The trees Glennie concentrates on are those associated with the Ogham – an early Irish system of divination and communication using the symbolism of different types of wood, that is also used by today's druids.

Through learning about trees and their mythology, symbolism and healing properties, we can become both more aware of the living world around us and connect with the beliefs of our ancestors.

The second half of Earth Wisdom takes the reader through the Wheel of the Year - the cycle of festivals for spring, summer, autumn and winter, including such things as Samhain and the Winter Solstice, that most modern pagans follow. The book suggests seasonal celebrations, suitable for people of all paths and faiths, and also ceremonies to connect with the Earth in a more spiritual sense.

But Earth Wisdom is more than just a lovely beginner's guide to nature spirituality, it is also a call to awaken our awareness of environmental issues. It reminds us that we can each help to protect the natural world we live in through our words, our deeds and our beliefs.

Hay House says on its website: "Our relationship to the Earth has changed. We have become more aware of how our actions can affect the balance of nature. Earth Wisdom is a potent reminder to appreciate the natural vitality, unity and intelligence of all life... This book inspires us to restore our own connections to the Earth, encouraging us to follow our own personal spirituality and intuitive wisdom. In so doing, it increases our potential for creating positive change in our lives and in the world!" - The Bad Witch's Blog

"This book manages to cover everything - from herbalism to earth cycles to healing energies to folklore - together with good practical exercises and things you can try at home. For newcomers trying to get started in the subject, it's heartily recommended." - Prediction magazine

"Excellent, in depth Work: This is one of the best books out there for those working with the cycles of the seasons, and how they relate to the spirit of the trees. Ms. Kindred incorporates wisdom and sensitivity to the cycles of the earth. I highly recommend it for those following an earth based spirituality. It is well worth it, and should be on the shelf for continued reference." - Hedgetiggy