The Earth Speaks... COMING SOON!

OVERVIEW

The Earth Speaks, In the Garden

     For decades, horticulturalists, botanists, biologists, scientists, ecologists, psychologists, philosophers, mystics, spiritual teachers, theologians, poets, have proclaimed the significance and healing powers of nature. Frontiers in Psychology reported that the study of the impact nature has on human health started in 1970. (1) Since then, a multitude of studies have consistently demonstrated the health advantages of nature, garnering increasing attention and evolving into a cultural movement rich with groundbreaking information. The science behind what we’ve known for years is now supported by evidence that nature and humans are radically interconnected; and today we’re finding out even more. The Oxford Journals stated, “Public health strategies are yet to maximize the untapped resource nature provides, including the benefits of nature contact as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations.” One of the untapped resources that nature provides is that “the earth speaks!” (2)

     Our planet is a living and visual storyteller that reveals a divinely written instruction manual for successful living, if only we would recognize it. The Earth speaks, and it speaks for itself, without integrating the opinions, rules, regulations, and religions of man. It does not produce updates or revisions. The universal language of nature cannot be re-written, regulated, manipulated, or misrepresented. It is multi-cultural, multi-lingual, reaches to the far ends of the universe, and is a teacher of all nations. Whether you live in the United States or a third world country, nature is a universal language that everyone can understand, no matter what nationality, age, profession, political persuasion, sexual orientation, income, location, or religion; and is designed for the collective well-being of all humanity. It holds no secrets, but serves notice, broadcasts, and proclaims its messages in real time, so turn up the volume.

     The Earth is a living and breathing masterpiece that functions much like the human body. Its rivers and streams are the veins and life-giving blood flow of the Earth; the wind is the breath of our planet; the trees and the plants are the lungs that keep Mother Earth breathing; and the center core of Earth is like the human heart that bounces back and forth based on pressure and fluctuating temperature on the surface. The earth also offers life-sustaining food, water, oxygen, medicine, and raw materials for our survival. So, if the Earth physically functions much like the body, and provides everything humans need to live; then why “in the world” wouldn’t the Earth supply the wisdom and instruction we need to live, survive, and thrive in it? Nature contributes to our quality of life on the outside and on the inside.

     Learning from nature does not require a scientist, psychologist, or theologian, it needs no filter or interpretation, which can dilute nature’s clear directives. Nature is not cryptic regarding its life-application strategies. True motivational lessons of the universe are no secret, can be seen by everyone, in living color, and do not require a vivid imagination. Life lessons can be found in the garden, an acorn, dandelion, root, tree, and even in the gardening techniques used to grow and maintain the garden. Have you ever witnessed a green plant growing in the middle of concrete or a flower springing forth amid a brick wall? It signifies that we can also grow, thrive, and bloom in the most difficult of circumstances. We can even bloom between a rock and a hard place! Nature gives us visible and tangible illustrations whereby we are surrounded with wisdom for successful living, as well as messages of hope, help, and inspiration. Allow me to show your readers how to build their foundation, plant seed, destroy weeds, cultivate their dreams, bloom, produce fruit, and drop a harvest for future generations, both in the garden and in their lives.

     The Earth Speaks teaches from a different perspective and is more empirical rather than theoretical in its observations. Today’s nature books give great examples of the connection with humans and nature using the biological processes of the plant, but my book teaches that we are the plant. While they bring the reader into a closer relationship to nature, The Earth Speaks bring them into a closer relationship with themselves. Many books teach the practices of forest therapy, forest bathing, nature meditation, tree hugging, horticultural therapy, grounding, and earthing for clarity and peace. The only assignment required from my book is to follow nature’s lead. So, while other nature books continue to prove the positive science behind the mental and emotional effects that nature has on the brain, my book will help the reader to turn those positive feelings into action. I explore different aspects of the garden as a metaphor for success, with one common goal, human growth. Anything that grows requires action, you can’t just seek out, look at, meditate over, pray, admire, exercise in, or worship a seed; you must plant it to unleash its power. Readers can benefit from the whole of nature by experiencing the psychological healing benefits from other books while learning and applying the life application principles that nature imparts from The Earth Speaks.

     Using nature as a textbook for teaching is not new or New Age. In the past, great spiritual writers and thinkers from all walks of life and faiths understood this truth. The genius Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist, once said, "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Martin Luther, German theologian writes “God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.” George Washington Carver, American agricultural scientist, stated, “I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we only will tune in.” Today, people need hope more than ever. Humans are suffering from new illnesses, economic hardships, relationship issues, food insecurity, global threats to the environment, crime at an all-time high, school shootings, wars across the land, and let’s not discuss our leaders and the government. Depression is on the rise. In 2019, adults ages 35 to 45 experienced the highest increase in mental health diagnosis, an increase of 31% since 2013. (3) In any given year, depression affects 18 million people in the US and over 300 million worldwide. (4) And finally, our churches are experiencing a decline in membership. The New York times reports that in a Gallup poll, only a minority of adults in the United States belong to a church, synagogue or mosque and that in 2020, membership was down 70% since 1999. (5) People are looking for answers and the mission of The Earth Speaks is to give them by exposing the embedded messages in nature to help them find their divine purpose, raise their vibration, and help them align with their highest frequency.

     Our earth is the optical road map provided for growing and finding one’s purpose in life that will also serve as a journey for self-discovery, personal growth, and transformation. Nature shows us that the purpose of every living and breathing thing is to grow, thrive, and bloom. Once the reader recognizes that the earth serves as the holy grail for successful living, they will automatically have more respect for the environment. If readers enjoy inspiration from nature, they will love the life applications lessons from our earth. My hope is that it will spread seeds of hope to the reader that blossoms into more productive, successful, and fruitful lives. The goal is to provide motivation, inspiration, and information that will not only encourage the reader to reach down-to-earth and plant wonderful gardens that breathe life back into the earth; but more importantly, back into themselves.

References:

1. Frontiers in Psychology
   https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01389/full
2. Oxford Academic
   https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article/21/1/45/646436
3. American Psychological Association
   https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/11/psychological-impacts-collective-trauma
4. Hope for Depression Research Foundation
   https://www.hopefordepression.org/depression-facts/
5. New York Times
   https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/23/opinion/christianity-america-religion-secular.html