An Elder Speaks... The Ecology of Heart

"As I have journeyed here upon the Earth in this lifetime, I have seen the many developments our society has made, first as we were making great gains in our
scientific understanding of Nature while consuming it, and then, gradually,
putting our knowledge and technologies to use as we regenerated the land and
waters while rebuilding our human society in an equitable and just way.

It was a necessary and hopeful turn of events. And while the knowledge and technologies directed our transformation to happen in this way, there was something else that made it possible... a change of Heart.

Now, a 'change' of Heart isn't even really the most descriptive way to understand this, though you catch my meaning by it. More simply, what made it possible was... Heart.

Early in my years, I heard the story of the Kogi Tribe, Indigenous Peoples living in the Sierra Nevada of Columbia. They had retreated high in the mountains when the Europeans first came, preserving their Traditional Way of Life, and only in the late 20th century did they first begin making contact with peoples of the modern culture.

To the Kogi, other than one other tribe they had encountered living in Guatemala, the remainder of the world was dead, living as dead spirits upon the Earth. Why was this? Because they were not living within their Hearts, and the Kogi considered living in the Heart to be the essence of what it is to live a human life on the Earth.

This had me so intrigued! As the years went by, I began the arduous journey of discovering, caring for, and awakening the Heart. When it really began to come alive with the light of intelligence was when I started my work with the plants, especially the wild, medicinal plants.

And so, I say, your Heart is the most influential, 'the loudest', the most comprehensive part of your environment, wherever you may be. To all of the creatures, plants, and elements that surround you, it is your Heart that has the most impact upon them, that communicates with them most directly, clearly, and completely. For you, the feelings, impressions, and meanings that you receive in your Heart, they are the communions from your environment most valuable, pertinent, ... and wonderful!, that you could ever be aware of.

Whatever place or time you may find yourself in, whatever circ**stances dire or bountiful, whatever your relations be, joyous or in conflict, know that your Heart is present with all of these things, and that the knowledge and choices that come from your Heart will always bring you deeper in to the experience of Life.