Our Sacred Earth

At this moment our planet is facing the worst crisis that my boomer generation has ever seen. Due to the aggressive spread of COVID-19 the entire world has come to a stand still, with zeros added daily to the number of dead, people unable to be with their dying loved ones as they take their last breath, and doctors and researchers still unable to get ahead of this stealthy virus. Healthcare, delivery, service, and other essential workers are working extreme hours to keep us safe while struggling to find personal protection equipment to keep themselves safe. At the same time all this heartbreaking devastation is taking place, we see reports of wildlife roaming areas where they were earlier hindered by humans, a surge of fish and sea creatures in otherwise polluted waterways, and satellite images of pollution dissipating over entire continents. It is a weird and wonderful juxtaposition of dystopian devastation and utopian awakening. It looks as if the earth put a stop to everything so it could rejuvenate itself. 

We humans have been abusing earth’s resources for our own benefit to the point where these are dwindling, disappearing, and the results are crippling repercussions worldwide including climate change. This involves numerous outcomes including unusual and forceful weather patterns, rising temperatures and oceanic levels, forced migration of animal populations, and reduction of biodiversity in nature. Our domination and exploitation of the earth’s wealth to increase our own, is stripping away its ability to replenish itself.

During the past 4 years, I’ve been very involved with social practice projects revolving around basic human needs formulated by the United Nations in 2015 into the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Some of these goals include Zero Poverty, Clean Water, Quality Education, Peace and Justice for All, and Gender Equality. Every goal is an essential component of a sustainable community that progresses and grows prosperously without compromising the poential for future generations to do so as well. Goal #13 is Climate Action, an intentional effort to control climate change and its consequences to humanity and the planet. 

In 2019, I created and presented a production entitled Sacred Earth Stories, connecting ancient earth mythologies with current climate issues. Often, ancient mythologies can offer some insights into present day situations and force us to think about them with new found understanding. My journey into connecting specific mythologies about the earth to present day climate issues evolved over the past few years after previously exploring themes around equality, poverty, and peace. 

Some people question why climate change should even be something we should focus on when there are far more pressing issues like hunger and poverty to solve. But really, aren’t they all related? If we care for our planet by planting crops, tending to natural habitats, and living close to the land rather than forging into indiscriminate development by taming wildlife and destroying green spaces, perhaps we can tackle numerous issues together. And in the end, if we don’t have a sustainable planet to pass on to future generations, will it all matter anyway?

For me, looking back at ancient mythologies provides some perspective and even offers some sort of reassurance that natural phenomena--even really devastating ones--may be following some recurring pattern and greater purpose in shifting our consciousness. Perhaps we must re-examine our relationship with Mother Earth and analyze our role more closely. Is the earth here for the sole purpose of fulfilling OUR needs? Or must we find our place in this vast biosphere so that we can also fulfill its needs? These are certainly questions worth examining. 

Valerie M. Hudson, a Texas A&M University professor and one of the authors of Sex and World Peace, poses another interesting question. If we had anthropomorphized the planet as a male figure instead of the female Mother Earth, would our relationship have been any different? Would we, as humans, have been more likely to refrain from abusing and neglecting the planet? Would we have respected Father Earth and heeded his warnings? This is an interesting thought that of course, brings up a whole other essay topic of gender attitudes. 

COVID-19 and its sheer ability to wreak havoc in our seemingly normal lives is as if the earth is unleashing her power. In the ancient Hindu treatise, Rig Veda, first appears the Dashavatar, a set of stories about Lord Vishnu taking on various forms in order to save the world from evil forces. In the third story of the set, a power hungry demon named Hiranyaksha, seeking complete power and domination over the world, kidnaps Mother Earth and entraps her under watery depths. As she cries out with pleas for help, Vishnu transforms himself into Varaha, a tiny boar that eventually grows into a gigantic, tusked boar that dives into the waters and saves Mother Earth from her plight. The story ends with an image of Mother Earth lifted high above peril in perfect balance on the tusk of the savior boar, an animal born of her own womb. And dramatically, Varaha kills Hiranyaksha, who attains salvation since he entered death at the hands of Vishnu himself. 

As I mentioned earlier, as someone who finds meaning and symbolism in mythology, perhaps this fantastical story can be viewed as a metaphor. Perhaps we are Hiranyaksha, the human species that is greedy, power hungry, and oppressive. We have been holding the planet hostage as it’s glaciers melt and ocean's rise to become watery, unfathomable depths. And perhaps Vishnu’s tiny boar is the elusive virus, which has now grown into this gigantic tusked beast that has brought death to so many and literally brought humanity to a screeching standstill. And as we continue to grapple in a war with this wild pandemic, the earth is rejuvenating itself, as flora and fauna come to life without human interference. 

On a personal level, as we social distance at home, I still watch daily news updates almost like a surreal dystopian movie unfolding in front of me until I remember that this is reality right now. Real people who were someone’s daughter, son, sister, brother, or lover are reduced to numbers we see on exponentially rising charts and graphs quoted by talking heads. Entire countries are on lockdown and frontline healthcare, delivery, and essential service workers are working 24/7 to keep us all safe. The battle with the tiny, powerful virus is well under way. Will we pay attention and find some meaning in all this madness? I am still struggling with that myself, but this story gives me hope. Perhaps our Mother Earth will find balance as we discover how to live from a  place of gratitude rather than greed.

What meaning can we derive from this tale? I see a huge lesson for us, for humanity as a whole. There must be a shift in our collective consciousness as a result of this extenuating circumstance. We must become more introspective and spend time looking inward for answers to our insecurities and existential problems. We must re-examine our need for power and greed. We must live closer to the land in sustainable communities instead of supporting a capitalistic, use-and-throw society. We must become more respectful and honor Mother Earth as we discover a new role in a mutually nurturing relationship with her. All this is easy to project as a dreamy utopian future but will we actually be able to do this? Time will tell. In the meanwhile, I find myself appreciating simple age-old practices of lighting a lamp, burning frankincense, setting aside time for yoga, chanting, meditation and cooking regular, nutritious meals. Rituals can be grounding during uncertain times like these. I hope that Mother Earth is able to reawaken herself enough that the virus will dissipate soon and we can all get back to a new and improved normal.