Get Out!
by Melissa Johnson, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2010
Originally published in the Orange Cat Newsletter
There are hundreds of way to kneel
and kiss the earth.
Rumi
Rumi got this right -- there really are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the earth! This summer, get creative with ways to combine your love of the earth with care for our bodies. Enjoy these activities with your kids!
ARTS, CRAFTS AND POETRY: Draw pictures; write words; make collages; do a dance -- to tell the story of a plant, a rock, a patch of sunny ground, or the squirrels & birds in the trees. Frame the pictures and words. Or make a book. Display them in a special "celebrate the earth" place in your home.
LISTEN: Lie on the earth -- in your yard, at the park. Feel the solid ground. And listen. How many different sounds do you hear? How many are nature sounds? What other sounds do you hear? Try this at different times of days. Does the ground feel different? Do the sounds change?
EAT MINDFULLY: Cook together! Prepare a meatless and/or organic meal. Dance while you set the table! Sing while you chop vegetables or fruit. Laugh! Eat mindfully -- appreciating and commenting on the colors, tastes, smells, textures of the nourishing food you have prepared.
VISIT A BOTANICAL GARDEN: Explore the science and wonder of growing things. Many museums and botanical gardens offer free admission days. The LA County Arboretum and Botanical Garden is free every third Tuesday of the month. The Huntington Library & Botanical Garden is free the first Thursday of the month. Call ahead for required advanced tickets.
Please note: Nothing in what you find here should be construed as medical advice pertinent to any individual. As is true with all written materials, and especially information found on the internet, you must be the judge of what appears valid and useful for yourself. Please take up any questions you might have regarding the content of this website with your psychotherapist or physician.
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Copyright © 2011 by the Institute For Girls' Development, A Psychological Corporation.
