September 1, 2024
How are you all? I haven’t led a hike in a few years. For our upcoming hike, Sebene wrote these stunning questions for exploration:
– How will we heed the decision of indigenous communities who insist that land acknowledgements aren’t sufficient?– How will we forge a connection to the Earth that goes past concepts of possession and extraction (even leisure extraction) to ones of reciprocity and stewardship? – How will we domesticate a restoration of relationship to nature?
As I’m considering these questions, asking permission and making choices come to thoughts as a place to begin. I first encountered the observe after I was studying to present tree meditation and solo retreat instruction from Johann Robbins, who realized it from a Mexican indigenous elder. Anytime earlier than you’ll be able to work together with a dwelling being, as a tree is, it’s essential to introduce your self, share your intention, and ask for permission. If we arrange a tent and keep in a single day in a forest, we scan the atmosphere of the campsite and ask for permission. We ask if we will be granted shelter right here for the night time and ask for blessings for cover and security.
This easy act modifications our orientation in the world. It brings in humility and reverence. It acknowledges that people aren’t the middle of the world and the one dwelling beings. When we go mountaineering and tenting, harvest a plant, or use plant medicines, we’re interrupting current life cycles. Asking permission helps us acknowledge that. If we take one thing, we reciprocate—taking solely what we want and giving again in return. It’s an orientation towards mutual care. Once we obtain, we categorical gratitude and make choices. It’s relational as an alternative of extraction. It forges a sacred bond that Robin Wall Kimmerrer speaks of.
Just lately I realized from an indigenous plant drugs healer that we ask permission even after we are the caretakers of vegetation in gardening or farming. The act of asking permission provides us a pause to ponder our relationship with the being in entrance of us and guides us in understanding our influence and obligations. We ask, “Am I the best particular person to do that? Do I’ve the information to do that?” and “How will taking this flower, plant, mushroom, or seed have an effect on the encircling beings?”
And the way will we hear the solutions? In my expertise, it’s an lively really feel. We tune into an intuitive listening that comes from the physique: a way of ease and leisure could sign permission, whereas rigidity could point out in any other case. And making choices will be something from giving water to the vegetation and bushes, to energetically and verbally sharing gratitude.
Be a part of Sebene and I on the BIPOC hike as we really feel into the vitality of the autumn and discover these practices and questions – registration is closed on Thu. 9/5. As well as, I’m beginning a brand new spherical of Soul-Centric Midlife course beginning in November at New York Perception and registration is now open.
Might you journey nicely into the autumn, as we tune into the season of harvesting and letting go.
Blessings,Lin
p.s. I’m excited to share with you that I’m becoming a member of Spirit Rock’s Group Dharma Management Coaching Program (CDL7) from 2025 – 2027. This program is devoted to nurturing the subsequent era of dharma leaders, cultivating them to information and encourage numerous, multi-generational, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural communities.
This program contains 5 retreats over two years and prices ~$14,000. To assist cowl these bills, I’m internet hosting a GoFundMe marketing campaign. No contribution is just too small—each donation is deeply appreciated.
Photograph: Nature Mandala, New York Perception Household Gathering, Central Park, August 2024