Inspiration from Climate Change

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the World Peoples Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth. The conference was held in Cochabamba, a small city in Bolivia, where the Water War took place in 2000.

Unfortunately the vast majority of the publicity and attention that was given to this event focused on the interesting opinions expressed by the Bolivian president Evo Morales during the inaugural speech, regarding chickens, plastic and Coca Cola; diverting from the importance of what actually took place during this historic and symbolic global event, where people from all over the world congregated to speak of our environmental crisis and what can be done to reverse or stop Climate Change.

I feel blessed to have witnessed and experienced this 4 day conference, where 17 important and specific topics where discussed concurrently in work groups with the intention of drafting a document to be presented to the UN in Cancun this December, specifying what the People want, in regards to the care of our Mother Earth.

Beyond any expectations of what may actually happen with these requests, my experience of this event lies in the beauty and love which all the participants have for our planet. Thousands of people from all over the world, gathered to express their love and respect for our Earth, with the intention of shifting the way Earth, our Mother is being treated. I didn’t hear in depth scientific explanations regarding why Carbon Dioxide/Monoxide, etc is causing catastrophic damage to our atmosphere at a rate of blah blah blah… instead, I heard over and over again, Earth (Pacha) is our Mother (Mama), and we must protect our Mother, because without our Mother we seize to exist, not the other way around.

This voice resonated amongst everyone their, where differences in color, race and nation no longer divided, but united in harmony and love for our Mother Earth. 

I feel deeply inspired by this experience, and feel it will shape in some way the manner in which I grow my Social Enterprise. Its not just about seeking materials or processes which are friendlier to the environment, it has now become about seeking ways in which I can choose to show my love and respect for Mother Earth, in what I do and how I am.  I realize this is a huge commitment, however in light of the past and how it has not served our Mother, I feel its time for huge commitments. 

What are some of the commitments that you can  make today to show your love and respect for our Mother Earth?

Click here to go to the official World People's Conference website

What inspires me about working with incarcerated women

I love presenting my team of knitters with a new design for them to make, at the moment we are working on our new Cardiwraps, made in Baby Alpaca. When they are presented with a new design, initially they act nervous and express concern, doubting their ability to do it. We go over the instructions carefully, exchange ideas of how to best work the design, negotiate a wage that is fair and works for them, they express their concern once again just in case I didn’t hear it the first time; and off they go. We have worked on many new designs and they are not only able to make them, but make them beautifully excelling their own expectations of what they are capable of. They have yet to realize how talented and smart they are, I am here to remind them.

Why this group of women holds such a dear space in my heart is hard to say. What I do know is that they inspire me with their will to survive and ability to laugh and smile. Despite their limited freedom and living conditions they seem to be aware that they are free to choose their state of being and attitude. I am always greeted with a smile and appreciation for the work we do. They have shared that knitting brings them peace, I hope they know that the peace they are feeling is coming from within them, and has always been their regardless of their circumstances.

Working with these women brings me great joy; I am grateful to have broken away from my past conditioning and trusted my own heart. It is within the echoes of the heart, where our song resides. Learning to listen is the first step, and by far the hardest. However once we open ourselves up to listening to the echoes, the song little by little starts to make sense and alas… in a matter of time we re-member the words and the rhythm so clearly it almost seems strange to not have noticed it before. In that moment there’s no turning back, the song becomes us and our heart is free to be and lead once again. The mind is a powerful tool, to be used in service of the heart, once we align to this, things seem to easily fall into place. 

Everyday I awake, and am marveled by the life I have chosen and created. Everyday a fear of some sort wants to be heard, and on most days I remind myself to allow my heart to lead the journey and trust that there is no-thing to fear for when we follow our heart, we are authentically living in complete alignment with our purpose and universal birth right.