Root.
Earth Sanctuary Crucible
:::::: Courage & Curiosity ::::::
What is my vision for the large-scale change needed in my community or region?
Why do I believe I can help lead this change?
My vision is a two-fold inquiry. This post “Root” will have a twin companion “Roots” where I explore the other aspect of my two-fold inquiry.
This question integrates the razzle dazzle_covert approach I half stumbled upon, half developed in the seeding of Earth Sanctuary:
What would it look like if every community in the Great Lakes region were working to dismantle systemic oppression whether they are consciously aware of it or not?
——-— Proton —-——
Large scale change requires us all to work in tandem with one another. I know for myself, it often feels daunting; the challenge of creating synchronicity between communities who all vary in their (1) acceptance, (2) understanding, and (3) drive to dismantle inequities.
My curiosity, however, granted me an epiphany in a most unexpected place: organic soil science discourse!
When I listened to these experts discuss the issues and opportunities in this field, I was ASTOUNDED at the ways their dialogue mirrored much of the social justice advocacy I have witnessed in various Black and Native (read: Indigenous) communities.
I listened to 5-7 organic soil scientists across 3 different conferences and found the mirrors to Indigenous (Black and Native) social justice advocacy in the way they:
Visualized their data,
Circular, not hierarchical.
Described the role of the varying organisms in the microbiome,
Each had a role, and each role was necessary.
Explained the symbiosis of the microbiome,
Interconnected to one another. The health of one species determined the health of the entire system.
Boldly named and directly challenged harmful industrial practices.
Fungicide, pesticide, herbicide, GMO, agricultural runoff, etc.
This mirrored the way I hear Indigenous activists talk about anti-Blackness, anti-Nativeness, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, etc.
I found organic soil science and social justice discourses allegorical to one another.
Indigenous advocacy is SCIENCE.
——— Electron ———
I shared this epiphany with my then-colleagues. My former supervisor (she/her) reported back to me that she also found truth in this epiphany. We attended one of the virtual organic soil conferences together.
I turned my attention to her video to see her reaction during a presentation. I couldn’t contain my smile as she had a fantastic lightbulb moment.
Her face lit up, she burst out laughing (our mics were muted) and she spontaneously gave her hands a big *CLAP*.
In a team meeting some time later, she told our team with sincerity how much she appreciated my contributions.
She explained how making sense in the logical mind is one thing, but she knew when I was cutting to the Truth of a matter because she could, I quote:
“Feel it in (her) heart.”
——— Neutron ———
I used this ephiny to apply for a grant from a prestigious foundation. In fact, this application is the driving copy-paste force of this entire Earth Sanctuary series!
During the second round of applications, I was paired with a previous awardee of the foundation. They were a verified soil scientist, and were absolutely THRILLED I was talking about this!
They showed me global soil maps, and encouraged me to look at soil maps overlaid with other kinds of mapping: political demographics, economic status, health outcomes, “you name it!”
This mentor encouraged me to continue pursuing these threads.
“…we weren’t allowed to bring these connections into the classroom in my day. Many of us (soil scientists) saw it.”
“Many of us recognized the correlations between soil health and all other kinds of human outcomes.”
“To the Universities, it didn’t matter if the students wanted to learn; they didn’t want us talking about it. ”
This mentor went on to explain how they designed a collage course in the late 80’s that wove human relations and soil health together. The course brought forth the kinds of correlations I’m making here.
In the end, however, the University cancelled the course the day before classes, even though the registration was full.
Even though the students physically showed up - knowing it was cancelled - because they wanted to learn.
I will always remember this mentor’s parting words of encouragement and instruction:
“No matter what happens with this grant, I hope you keep going. Because you’re on to something BIG that my generation wasn’t even allowed to talk about.”
—— Nuclear Force ——
Those who know themselves to be on the Vanguard of an unprecedented transition in humanity;
Those who understand the necessity of this transition Here Now;
Those who believe that you, too, have blueprints within your own Self to offer humanity during this time of transition;
I am speaking to you directly.
The global challenges we seek to solve
the local opportunities we seek to create
the realities we seek to understand
within humanity
are literally imbued in the microcosm of the soil.Human relationships and soil microbiology are reflections of one another! The health of the soil mirrors the health of our human-human dynamics.
There is a simultaneous feedback loop between our relationships with one another and the composition of the soil beneath us.
These reflections are always occurring everywhere all at once.
The reflections between soil health and human vitality are reflected on ALL scales:
Personal
Genetic
Hereditary
DNA
RNA
Molecular
Atomic
Subatomic levels
And beyond.
Family
Communal
Planetary
Universal All Consciousness
The quality of our interactions with one another are biophysically imbued in the very body of the planet itself.
In order to fully perceive,
to grasp,
to internalize,
to be transformed
by what is reflected in this two-way mirror; we must listen to respond to Indigenous communities.
When we consider this double reflection between healthy soils and healthy peoples, we inevitably find that Indigenous people already knew this.
