fall equinox

“Autumn’s grain is spring’s seed: paradox surrounds us with ripening wisdom. If we lose hope, remember that Hope has two daughters to support our balancing acts: Anger and Courage. Instead of passive hope, embrace radical willingness.” ~ excerpt by Oak Chezar © Mother Tongue Ink 2019

"Too easily, we lose the path of Beauty and Spirituality."

Winter Ross at Ceremonial Visions

What seeds did we plant in spring that are now ready for harvesting this autumn? As badge carrying rebels, advocates and dissenters wonder | wander | women are actively raising our voices and joining groups and communities that honor and respect the natural rhythms and cycles of our earth.

wanton urban ugliness

It was extremely upsetting and heart wrenching to watch what our little barrio has been up to this whole month. While the rest of the world was more concerned and careful about being better guardians of our land, Union City, New Jersey is chopping down all its grand old trees. 

Mountain Road, Union City NJ

Along Palisade Avenue and its side streets our big old trees and their cooling canopies are gone. All the toxic carbon dioxide they trapped is now released in the environment. Our community lungs are dead and gone. In anger we call out to our elected city officials and raise our voices against this atrocity. 

logging sled, 1890s

No notice was given, no better choices were offered. They were all cut down and the sidewalks repaved in cement. Our mailboxes are littered with flashy fliers from Mayor Brian Stack, encouraging us to complete our census forms and register to vote. Ironic really when they so obviously did not listen to us about keeping our grandfather trees. 

It takes courage and perseverance for humanity to exhibit more care and concern for our natural environment - especially when we are going against the tide. Why should human self interest and economic greed trump this? Cities continue building huge unnatural and toxic towers and mega structures that pollute and cut our air and light. 

churning a tree into chips

Why is there so little care or concern to adapt or adjust for a very real climate crisis that is already upon us and growing worse each day? Aren't we all putting ourselves at risk by refusing to address the elephant in the room? 

world-renowned intellectual, activist and

political dissenter Noam Chomsky

In the USA fires and hurricanes rage on, growing worse each year and even in the midst of this pandemic. Yet the focus is still on big business and keeping a reeling economy going rather than restoring the environment to its natural balance.

California fires (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Deep in the Amazon rainforest the local tribes are facing the same troubles as global institutions raze and pillage their environment for corporate gain and profit.

Coringa, illicit gold mining site on Baú indigenous land (Lucas Landau/The Guardian)

In the Philippines where we were born and raised, the Lumad indigenous people are being displaced, harassed, and killed just for protecting their lands and the environment from extractive mining companies.

mining operations on Lumad land

Other places in the world suffer too where dissenting voices are not heard and not enough is being done to protect our biodiversity and natural environment. Let us hope the powers that be wake up soon enough to take effective action.

world natural catastrophes 2019

In the meantime, we can do whatever possible as individuals and concerned citizens of Earth. Plant healthier and better seeds for a brighter future.

Here are a few helpful links:

Join the Global Climate Strike

Listen to the science and join the movement

Register and vote wisely

global day of climate action - join us on Sept 25