Luminous Heart Reiki & Massage

I really enjoyed this thoughtful podcast by Rebecca Campbell about being in right relationship with nature, particularly in regards to the tools of spiritual practice.

From the show notes: “Like many, I began working with incense early on in my spiritual journey, and yet it wasn’t until I really began working with plants and the earth and unpacking my relationship with them that I understood it and began to appreciate it in a meaningful way. For example, the burning of sacred plants such as white sage is one that has become quite problematic in spiritual communities. It has been commodified by those who are not of the culture it is sacred to, and as a result this Sacred herb is now endangered.”

We all need to do what we gotta do to eat, but when it comes to placing fresh flowers (possibly heavily sprayed with pesticides and flown in from tropical locations) on our altar or burning incense (possibly laden with petrochemicals) while meditating, hopefully we can be more discerning. How can we utilize tools in the name of spirituality while being mindful of their effects on the earth and all her inhabitants?

There’s no need to judge ourselves for what we didn’t know in the past. We don’t know what we don’t know! All we can do is make the best decisions moving forward with the information available to us.

Even if you don’t listen to the podcast (less than 35 minutes), I hope I have planted a seed that will take root and you’ll begin to consider how your choices affect the web that connects us all.