Today is Earth Day – a day to celebrate and honor this big, beautiful, abundant, and nourishing planet that we live on. It is about promoting environmental awareness and taking responsibility for protecting and loving the planet that supports all of our lives. We can easily take for granted the majesty, generosity, and importance of mother nature, especially in a time that is so focused on technology and ideas. This may sound like a cliché, but the structure and details of our daily lives frequently does take us out of connection with the world around us. We are often indoors; focused on a computer or a project of some kind. We live in our heads and on our treadmill of tasks, forgetting the bigger picture of the world around us. But, whether you live in a small town or a big city, the earth is always under your feet, the trees are always creating the air you breathe, and the abundance of natural resources are always supporting your life and well being.
So…when was the last time you just sat outside and admired the beauty of the natural world? How long has it been since your heart was full of gratitude and wonder because the place you were sitting, biking, or walking in was just so awe-inspiring and breathtaking? Maybe this is the day to get outside and play? This is a pretty amazing planet, full of all sorts of great stuff: countless plants and animals, natural wonders, bodies of water, mountain ranges, deserts, caves, wind, fire, metals, nutrients…this planet is brimming with vitality and splendor. And we are extremely fortunate to be a part of this magnificent ecosystem. So why not take a day, a week, a month, a year to celebrate how fortunate we are and to honor this beautiful planet that takes such good care of us.
I think it’s important to note that Earth Day is about awareness, community and celebration; not shaming people, or pointing fingers, or beating ourselves up for not being good enough. This day – the anniversary of the birth of environmentalism – is a great opportunity to reset and reconnect with what is important to us as a global community and as individuals living in harmony with the world around us. Just as we might on our own birthday, it is a time to take stock of what is and isn’t working, what we want to let go of from the past year, and what we want to create in the year ahead. Take a moment today to set an intention about how you want to connect to and care for the world around you.
It is no surprise that Earth Day was born under, and continues to be celebrated during, a Taurus sun. A fixed earth sign, Taurus is strong, steady, and sensual. After the burst of life and new ideas that came from the Aries sun and the opening into springtime, Taurus comes in to channel this raw energy into practical action. We plant our seeds, fertilize them, and patiently nurture their growth. This is true in both a physical and metaphorical sense. Plant your seeds literally, and also plant and nurture the seeds of your life – your ideas and intentions, your projects, your connection with your family, your creativity…whatever matters in your life that you want to continue growing and feeding. In a time when our senses are heightened and the reality of the material world is in the forefront, Earth Day inspires us to spend more time outdoors and to create intention and structure around how we want to nurture and support our world. Tune into that earthy Taurus energy, focus on the practical, delight your senses, and take a stand for what you value. Taurus can be extremely stubborn, which can actually be a plus when you want to get something done! Tenacity is a valuable quality when it comes to making big changes in our lives, including global environmental transformation. And this Earth Day, we get a special boost from an Aquarius moon – bringing innovation, vision, and a little rebellious/revolutionary thinking. When the moon is in Aquarius, there is an emphasis on social and political matters. This moon is idealistic and values the collective. So be ready for new ideas, alternative thinking, and the urge to connect to a greater cause. This is a time for new philosophies and global collaborations (check out the Earth Day website to see what people are doing around the world: http://www.earthday.org/greencities/earth-day-2014/ )
Enjoy your Earth Day! Take this time to connect with what really matters to you and allow yourself to get creative in how you want to support and impact this amazing world we live in. And then get together with some friends and celebrate!
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