Our Own Eden

My husband and I returned to live in the little town we left after eight years of travelling and living elsewhere, exploring places where we might like to settle. One of our criteria was that the weather must be better than the cold, gray, wet winters of the Pacific North- West. We found that to live in the places where the weather was better, there was a lot to be sacrificed as far as the lifestyle we were accustomed to. It meant we had to live in a crowded, busy, noisy city to make a living. We decided to return to Canada and create our own Eden where we could live in harmony with nature.

In our neck of the woods, there are beautiful lakes, old growth forests and a still pristine coastline. There is a sense of ease here and the feeling that the elementals have made this their home. The lifestyle here is not for everyone, some folks feel lonely and cut-off from the glamour and cultural offerings of the city. We chose to live here, as it is easier to stay connected to our own inner rhythms without the interference of the psychic noise of the city.

In the old traditions of the East, it is said that when man lives in accordance with the principles of heaven and earth, then the four seasons and the elements will also work together harmoniously. Then there is no fear, and human beings enjoy the bounty of the earth, its beauty and greenery. But if humans violate the laws of heaven and earth, then chaos rules and natural disasters, starvation and all forms of suffering proliferate. Humans destroy the ecology at the same time that they are destroying each other. Clearly our world as it is, is an indication that man is in violation of the laws of heaven and earth. In order for change to happen, it behooves each one of us to make change on a personal level before healing can return to our beloved earth. We need to honor the sacredness of our human connection and our connection to the earth. We need to revisit the values of kindness, gentleness, honesty and generosity with those whom we interact with and with ourselves.

We can each reconnect with nature to nurture ourselves no matter where we live. In many urban areas, city planners are making the effort to retain green spaces and revitalize public gardens and parks. In a city apartment, it is possible to grow plants on a windowsill or patio or indoors under lights. Caring for something alive is a way of opening our hearts to love, and in return we receive the gift of beauty and wonder. We can again tune into our own rhythms when we reestablish our connection with nature. We can each create our own Eden in our own surroundings and walk in beauty, inside and outside.