Earth in Peril

I have lived in many places, done quite a potpourri of work, and have known many unique individuals. Amidst the variety that spiced my life an integral part of a significant period of time was writing in journals. This started on San Jaun Island in Washington State in 1975. Through good times and hard times I wrote almost daily for over 20 years, recording observations, thoughts, feelings, dreams (both the nighttime and the aspirational varieties), and experiences; both physical experiences and some more etheric experiences.

Life is a trip. Amidst the uncertainties, during this journey, I have tried to at least be aware of what is going on around me and what is going on within me. Using entries from my journals and elaborating on them, I have put together writings that make up this book.

These writings on our earth in peril consist of ideas, reflections, and feelings on the theme of mistreating our planet. It is about our physical body's home planet, my personal love for it, and a sharing of insights as to why we mistreat it, as well as emotional reactions to what I see happening to the earth.

I was born in Seattle and grew up just north of the city limits which at that time was mostly woods. Growing up playing in the woods, among the evergreens, streams, and swampy meadows, along with the wild huckleberries and the stinging nettles, the appreciation of Nature was a natural thing; something I was a part of – not an intellectualization of ecopolitics. Love of the earth was in my blood as I grew up and lost my innocence and became aware of what was happening to her. As an adult my mind saw it as my body and soul felt it.

Earth in Peril is about ethics and values. But maybe most of all, sensitivity; which is to say awareness of our environment and all that that implies. Our sensitivity to what is going on around us has to do both with how open our physical senses are and with our attitude. At best, neither are biased or numbed by becoming "used to" the way things are; this is hard because we quickly learn to accept and adjust to new conditions; probably an instinctive aid to survival.

When one is sensitive, disharmony is experienced as well as harmony. Sometimes it's difficult, in light of how much disharmony there is now on this planet, to remain sensitive. But I must validate what I observe, what I feel. One reason I choose to stay open is because I have a strong desire to be able to be a little naive and act as if things were in harmony and as if I can take the simple liberty of being free; acting freely. In fact, the words naive and native come from the same Latin root, nativus. Natural.

Although some of the writings do suggest possibilities, this is more from the gut, than it is a preaching of a solution; it is offered to a world in need of taking the time to stop and smell the roses. My hope would be that what I've written will compel the reader to think about how they feel, act on and react to those feelings, ask questions, and speak their truth. Together, as we become more and more fully alive, I believe the Truth will out.

I dedicate Earth in Peril to my parents whose good hearts and integrity gave me the opportunity and freedom to enjoy a childhood free of stress, allowing me to be appreciative of the world and the abundance of Nature around me. And to my brother, who shared it with me.