Other Nations
By Rose De Dan
We share this world, Pachamama (a Peruvian Quechua word meaning Mother Earth), with species seemingly vastly different than ourselves. Many of us feel a loss of connection, a distancing from the natural world that surrounds and maintains precarious toeholds within our cultivated, civilized areas. And so we bring the natural world into our homes—plants, fountains, other species (dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, fish)—to share our space with us. And we do this because it makes us feel good, perhaps not consciously realizing that what we seek is a return to balance, harmony, and connection with all our relations.
The phrase "all our relations" is Native American in origin, and means all living beings, but with a difference, for indigenous cultures recognize the force of spirit in places that Western civilization does not. Spirit can be found in the Standing Stone People (oldest beings, the bones of the Mother, Pachamama), the apus (mountains), Mamacocha (the oceans, water as blood of the Mother), the Tree People (the plant kingdom), the feathered, the finned, the furred, the scaled, the creepy crawlies (insects, spiders, etc.)—all our relations—all of whom participate in the dance and cycle of life upon the belly of Pachamama, our Mother Earth. Divided into separate land masses and nations our human populations increase, as does our awareness of our interdependence—where one nation’s actions can have a huge impact on global economy or upon the environment of neighboring nations—so to do our actions have impact upon the Other Nations—the different species that share this world, our neighborhoods, and our homes—other species who sometimes suffer greatly from a lack of our understanding or concern about their needs.
This forum will address the larger question of how we may tread more lightly and consciously upon Pachamama by focusing on articles designed to enable us to better understand, communicate, and support all our relations as well as ourselves. We feature articles on better nutrition, foods and natural supplements for your companion animal, tips on animal communication, guidance on understanding behavioral issues, alternative healing therapies, assistance for the aging animal, environmentally friendly approaches to daily life, animal related legal issues, the nature of animals in our society, animal helpers, etc.
It is time to stop waging war on the Other Nations, or at the very least holding ourselves separate; time to come to an understanding of our place in the natural cycle, and to learn to be in this place and time harmoniously. When we establish connection with the animals that share our homes we also establish connection with the larger universe and hence ourselves.
View beautiful "Unheard Voices" greeting card, framed print or coffee mug at http://www.cafepress.com/reikishamanic.
Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki & Shamanic Healing, Reiki Master Teacher, shamanic initiate in the Inkan Medicine tradition, and animal communicator, specializes in natural healing for all species (humans not excluded) in partnership with her dog and cats in Seattle, WA. She offers private sessions and ceremonies for businesses, humans, animals and plants, and teaches Reiki classes. Reach her at 206-933-7877 or www.reikishamanic.com.
©Rose De Dan 2005. All rights reserved.
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