Food from the Sky

After moving to Florida, my family started joking that avocados were the “zucchini of the South.” Up north, at a certain time of year, people’s gardens produce so many zucchinis they have a hard time finding homes for all of them.

As it turns out, avocados are only one of the luscious treats that literally fall from the sky here in Florida. We also have loquats, mangos, coconuts, carambola, and papaya.

Just the other day I ate a papaya that I grew myself. In my front yard is a papaya tree laden with fruit. When we first moved here a little over a year ago, a neighbor gave me a small papaya tree – just a stick to put in the ground, really. I made my daughter’s boyfriend dig the hole for it. I didn’t expect much.

Now I see what a gift a fruit tree really is. The tree has grown tall and is producing shade, fruit, and admiration from the neighbors.

I actually didn’t have the courage to eat the fruit myself. I am trained to only eat things that come from stores. My friend was happy to try one of my papaya for breakfast. When it didn’t kill her, I decided it was worth a shot.

I am sure there was a time in history when most people had the experience of eating something we grew with our own hands.  Now, this is a rare thing for many of us.

The sense of satisfaction and connection to the great cycle of life that comes from eating food directly from the tree is immense.

Here in Florida, we have corrupt politicians and crazy news stories. We also have food that grows year round in our yards.  Living in Florida can be a struggle in some ways. There are things, like papaya trees, that seem to make it worthwhile.

Elementing

A few months ago I posted about the new trend of "Earthing." Earthing is a practice of consciously connecting to the Earth. In that post I recognized the importance of making that connection, but was dismayed for two reasons. First, I hate it that we have grown so apart from our planet that we have to teach people to do what should come naturally to all of us. Second, I am always suspicious of New Age fads. Connecting to the Earth shouldn't be a fad; it should simply be part of life.

Today I have another point to make. Not only do we need to connect to the Earth; we need to connect, both physically and spiritually, to all the four elements.

I can't imagine that we would call connecting to Fire "Firing," or connecting to Water "Watering." Firing, watering and airing all mean something else.

But just as we need to make a conscious connection to the Earth, we need to connect with Fire, Water and Air.

I've often wondered if some of our common addictions might be exacerbated by our lack of connection to the four elements. If we could dance around a fire every night would we still feel the urge to smoke? If we could skinny-dip in a lake, river or ocean every day would we still drink too much?

Every day in our modern world there are many ways to connect with the elements. Burn candles, fly a kite, and take a shower. We do these things anyway. If we do them consciously, we will make that important connection to the elements. By making that connection to all four elements we will be more balanced, happier and healthier.

Metaphysical Footwear from Juil - A Shoe Review

In the 1980s I often used medical tape to affix crystals and gemstones to my body. I wasn't alone in this pursuit. Chi Pants developed a design of pants that actually had a quartz crystal sewn in near the root chakra.

To this day I believe that the laying of crystals and gemstones onto the body can have a positive effect on health, wellbeing, emotional balance and spiritual attunement.

After mining crystals in Arkansas a couple of times I became uncomfortable with the mining process and its devastating effects on the planet. I decided since all the stones came from the Earth one could simply connect directly with the Earth and gain their benefits.

I guess I've always been a tree-hugger.

Recently I heard about a New Age fad called Earthing. I posted about it on this blog. In some ways I was happy that people were remembering the value of connecting with the Earth. In some ways I was upset by the commercialization of it, the faddy nature of it and the fact that they called it "Earthing."

Then I discovered Juil, a company that makes shoes for men and women that use copper to enhance the connection with the Earth.

I love to be barefoot but it's not always practical. The idea of comfortable shoes that would help keep me connected to Mother Earth seemed brilliant, and, yes, just a wee bit hokey. But I am the girl who taped crystals to my body. Copper in my shoes is not a huge leap for me.

It was hard to choose between the sandals the clogs. Since I live in Florida I went with the sandals, specifically the Napa sandals in black and burgundy.

Juil footwear is available primarily on-line. My sandals arrived quickly and came in a lovely box with an interesting carrying bag. The sandals have five little round copper discs at the toes and another at the heel.

I am usually a solid size eight, but my new sandals were very tight - definitely too small. Juil was very kind and quick about getting me a size nine, which fit well.

After wearing the sandals for a couple of weeks I have to say I am happy with them. They aren't inexpensive, but they are very well-made. The foot bed is covered in leather and very comfortable. They feel good on my feet. They don't flex at all, which some people might not like but doesn't bother me. And they still look new after a few weeks of hard Florida wear.

But the big question, of course, is this. Do I feel more grounded and more connected to the Earth when I wear them? Actually, yeah, I do. I feel more focused, too - a benefit of being grounded.

Metaphysicians say that copper is a conduit and amplifier, which is how it can conduct the energies of the Earth. Copper is thought to be of specific benefit to the root chakra; the chakra that grounds us.

As high-end sandals go my Juil Napa Sandals are as good or better as others I have tried - Birkenstock, Earth Shoes, etc. The grounding copper works for me. I have spent years attuning myself to the energy of gemstones and minerals. Someone less attuned may or may not feel the benefits, but they would be benefitted nonetheless.

Earthing

I have just recently heard about "Earthing." I don't know whether to be happy or sad.

"Earthing" is a new healing technique that involves…wait for it… lying directly on the ground or walking barefoot in order to connect to the healing energies of the Earth.

Apparently naturopathic science is discovering what Pagans and hippies have known for years. The Earth's energy heals us. Having that validation should make me happy, I suppose. Except that I don't need validation for an obvious truth.

What I feel is disgust that people can take a normal human behavior, brand it and market it. I feel the same disgust that we as a culture have grown so far away from our planet that this even needs to be a thing.

Of course New Age marketing geniuses have found a way to monetize Earthing. You can now buy an "Earthing Bed" that has a special cord through which energy supposedly transfers from the Earth to your bed.

Cue even more disgust here. Our planet is not chic yoga pants, shoe-magnets, a high-tech water purifier or a juicer. "Earthing" cannot become just another New Age fad.

I live in a naturist community. I am "barefoot all over" most of the time. I connect with the Earth every day. I go to the beach and lie naked in the sand. Beyond that, I'm a Pagan. It is my religion to connect with the Earth. I am glad, really glad, that people are waking up to the power of the Earth and the travesty of our modern-day disconnection from the Earth. I'm sad that someone had to tell them (or sell them) what they should have innately known.

In 2005, Richard Louv wrote a book, Last Child in the Woods, which hypothesized a modern malady "Nature Deficit Disorder."

Louv suggested that since modern parents are afraid to expose their kids to nature our nation is beginning to suffer a complex collective anxiety disorder.

I hate to think that my kids were the last generation to run through the woods, eat sun-warmed berries off a bush, sleep in a tent and skinny-dip in a lake.

In the 1960s there was a "back to the Earth" movement. As a child those concepts immediately appealed to me. In fact, that movement was probably responsible for forming me into the skyclad hippie witch that I am.

And now it turns out that those who took a different route are suffering, and their prescription is to connect their bodies to the Earth.

I am not looking forward to hearing all the New-Agey fad-followers talking about how they are going to go Earthing after yoga on Tuesday. But the fact is I hope they actually do. They need it, and so does the planet.

I'll do my own bit of marketing here. If you are looking for a great place to go Earthing, try your local naturist park or nude beach. And maybe don't call it Earthing. Maybe just call it going to the beach.