Archive for November, 2015
The Great Transition
By Peter Molenaar 403 - 221 BC”¦ The newly developed cupola type furnace emerged like so many mushrooms upon the land. Masses were rallied to the stacks”¦all available iron was to be sacrificed between layers of glowing coke (i.e., coal). Such was the Warring States Period in Chinese history. June 1979”¦ I would survive Smith Foundry”'s last “cupola campaign.” After which, under an environmental mandate, the beast was put to sleep. A new electric furnace was to draw its power from a coal-fired plant some distance away. Actually, Mother Earth was seen rolling her eyes and shaking her head. 2015”¦ “When the Clean Power Plan is fully in place in 2030, carbon pollution from the power sector will be 32% below 2005 levels,” so says the EPA. (32%?!) Meanwhile, Xcel Energy has announced plans to cut carbon emissions, by 60%, mainly by switching from coal to natural gas. (more…)
Circle of Healing: a CHAT of the Backyard Initiative
Who is the ”˜Circle of Healing”'? The Circle of Healing Practitioners Community Cultural Health Action Team (CHAT) is a collaborative of Backyard Initiative practitioners including but not limited to complementary healers and elders who are representative of different cultural traditions, conventional health professionals and community care givers. Members of this CHAT come together as practitioners interested in creating a more formalized network of people (Circle of Healing) around Backyard residents to provide better information and support for healing and reflection about the message ”˜dis-ease”'. This network serves both the community receiving care and the healing practitioner community in the area of the Backyard Initative. The Vision The vision behind the Circle of Healing Practitioners CHAT is grounded in cultural health practices and ways of knowing that honor the reciprocal and holistic nature of healing. In order to meet the health needs of the [...]
Harvesting the Balance of the Autumn Equinox
Photo Credit: Susan Gust As we reach this season, we have to take time to see what has come into maturity. As we look at ourselves in the mirror we can be honest about the lessons we are harvesting from the growing seasons of spring and summer. Autumn is a time for us to begin to find our balance again. As the planet begins its tilt away from the sun we must begin to ask ourselves; what are we titling towards or away from in our daily lives. As we study the balance of this season we study the balance within ourselves. The days and nights are coming into balance with each other. As you look into the evening sky during this season notice how the moon and the sun are sharing space together. This is a powerful message for each of as we prepare ourselves for the dark time associated with the birth of winter”'s coming sun. As we take in the lessons from this time of year remember what you planted in the spring and remember what it took to nurture it through the summer. Consider the [...]
