Confronting the Tipping Point

Our collective efforts at nurturing wellness for everyone are rippling out into the environments and communities we inhabit, adding a new dimension to the concepts of wholeness, vitality and longevity. Returning to nature’s embrace for healing, we swiftly learn how connected we are to her vast, yet intimate spaces and the importance to tread gently. These rhythms are vital, they resonate deeply within our cells … this planet is most certainly alive. Our co-evolution with natural cycles involves exchanging and learning from the wisdom of the whole. This idea that balance is effectively maintained by the self-regulation of intuitive feedback loops within and between the biosphere, the atmospheres and the oceans was introduced as the “Gaia hypothesis” by the 1970’s chemist James Lovelock to describe this beautiful example of sustainability and the ongoing cycles of birth, decay and rebirth that maintain a habitable planet.

We can relate to the pulse of the universe and the call of the wild; the heartbeat of our beloved Mother Earth echoes a visceral sense of who we are as human beings. The privilege and honor to view life holistically, a perspective many of us have felt the urge to cultivate, is better understood as the supportive and symbiotic relationship it can ultimately be.

Although our evolution as a species has been expansive in its mind-blowing technological innovation such as advancements in medicine and healing, the imbalance and tension between our ecology and our economy are taking a toll on ourselves and future generations as we continue to destroy precious land and forests to exhaust resources at a breakneck pace.

The current global forecast calls for an honest assessment and intentional shift to do better as consumers by stepping up as partners and stewards of our natural world. We stand at a crossroads, but fortunately, a dynamic surge of creativity has taken hold in the realms of clean, renewable energy sources and ongoing efforts to promote sustainable living.

Since 1970, April’s Earth Day has become a time to take a closer look at the perils and the projects at hand, confronting where we have overstepped boundaries and offering practical ways to live more simply, with less toxic outcomes. This issue offers a plethora of examples for conscious living that exemplify the compassion we have for ourselves and our world.

Each of us has our own gifts and interests, questions and collaborations that are already brewing. We trust that our shared visions can merge into the creativity, efficiency and harmony that will continue to renew ourselves and our world.

Namaste,

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by Marc Laucks

Having observed sunflowers for years, I recognized that this one was a true standout. I see many metaphors in my photos; here I saw acceptance and gratitude. I first noticed this flower at dusk, but decided to wait until the next morning to capture it. As it turned out, I was disappointed because the flower had changed. I accepted that I missed the first opportunity and that the sunflower was now beautiful in a new way. I am still grateful for its gift of inspiration.

See more of Laucks’ photography and connect at MarcLaucksPhotography.com.