TUNING IN WITH THE EARTH

My child comes home from his evening play. ‘Hands dirty? Shoes full of muck? Soiled clothes?’ , and the voice gets louder and louder… If the tree felt, my root is getting dirty, we would not see flower and fruit. The soil is a living force an intelligent force – an inherent component of my body and my child’s body too! (And I thought I was intelligent - with my inability to dig my hands in the soil of our motherland). 

Recently I took a workshop with 7th graders on ‘Soil’ as the subject. Sitting in the locked up areas of our homes, my mind was reeling – this subject has to be an experiential teaching – amidst the green fields and farms. And now a lock down? Then I thought - The children should at least touch, smell and feel the element that I am talking about. So the online class was about sitting through the first half of the lesson with their feet and legs embraced in wet mud. Sharing their experiences of that mud after the session was mind blowing! 

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR RAPPORT WITH EARTH? 

80 percent of your health and your child’s health is dependent on how connected they are to the earth. Here are a few tips: 

1. Walk barefeet on the earth for a few minutes prior and post your meal. You will notice that the food integrates best in your body with this addition. 

2. Engage at least 30 minutes of your day with your fingers dipped inside the mud. It will earth your body. 

3. After decades scientists have found out that earth has antidepressant properties. When the body comes in contact with mud, it releases endorphins (happy hormones). 

4. Nerves of the feet touching the ground develops stronger leg muscles, and better sense of cognizance. It also reduces the risk of heavy injuries in case of any sudden impact the body may go through. 

5. Cooking in mud pots causes enhances the minerals and vitamins integration with food which are easily absorbed into the body at the time of digestion. 

6. Being with earth re- organize the 5 elements (panchamahabhut) within yourself 

7. Apart from the above, soil, is the very source of existence. It is the provider of nutrition. It is our shelter. 

MAKE A DIFFERENCE – A LIFESTYLE 

Your genetics are directly proportionate to the soil strength. With the use of chemicals and pesticides, our soil and our health is under tremendous risk. When we go out on nature walks with friends and family, be conscious of: 

1. Saving your seeds and planting them outdoors. 

2. Tree plantation 

3. Support the farmer 

4. Avoid plastic intakes 

5. Be conscious of the soil 

6. Just let the soil replenish itself 

7. Manage your waste well 

8. Stop pesticides. 

9. Encourage natural farming! 

Tell your friends and tell others about the wealth we possess. And Mamma, next time don’t shout at us when we come rolled in the mud!