Video: Revolution 4 Evolution Webinar

Blog, Deep Ecology, Ethics & Whole Community, Our Vision, Wellness & Spirtuality | September 29, 2011

 On September 19th, Susan had the pleasure of speaking to the Revolution4Evolution.  You can view her webinar above, and read her thoughts and suggestions below on how you can get involved, too!

 “The animals of the planet are in desperate peril and they are fully aware of this. No less than human beings are doing in all parts of the world, they are seeking sanctuary.” ~ Alice Walker, Selected Writings

 Each morning Jean and I meditate with the help of a wild animal. For the last year it has been Cucumber, the Little Wolf that Could, who insists on being with us.  We begin with asking the animals and plants and trees and land to lend us their presence and their unique wisdom…and then we call out an invitation to any human souls who are seeking a connection with the animal world and would like to share their unique and special selves to enrich our endeavors here. And then you expressed interest!

 I am late in this letter because we had an animal emergency and when that happens Jean and I stop everything else. Uintah , a very shy wolf whom we were never able to touch, had a mysterious type of colic and we have been working through the nights to help save him.  For the first time he has let us touch him. Life threatening illness has helped pierce the veil between humans and this wolf -he has asked for help and let us in. They so want to live.

 Ways to help: Nature and Animals

 We have so few structures or institutes in our culture that help support clear and deep thinking related to the natural systems that sustain us. We need to start to restructure our society to support us in our search for deeper connection which will result in different values and actions.  We are each struggling, often alone, with enormous pressures against us – inside our own brains, partly wired to focus on the immediate, and the outside pressures that reinforce that instead of spending some time with eternal values as the basis for our existence.  

—Slow down inside. It is not possible to be mindful if we are rushed, stressed, harried. Breathe and notice the incredible life forms and beauty around you . Let them speak to you. We cannot hear the subtle and lovely voices and wisdom of other living beings without allowing ourselves to be quiet.

 —Give a 10% tithe of your time to support the systems of life that sustain us. Giving money is not enough. We each need to take personal responsibility to do something for our planet and the living beings without a voice that live upon it.

 —Practice mindfulness ; encourage it in others; from local sacred activism mediation or discussion groups. A few minutes reflective practice in the morning will help us not get so lost and driven. Encourage meditation in the schools.  I heard of a school in Colorado that is based on meditation  and the students are doing remarkable things We need more of that.

 —Practice mindful eating, thanking the living forms that are giving their lives for us be they animal or vegetable and being aware where they came from.  Help develop a course in school on where food comes from.  Not political – just factual. There is no “free” food. Anything we grow and eat takes from some other living being in some way, from the space, water, soil and land we use to grow it and all the systems it takes to get it to our table. We need to practice and teach us to be respectful and not wasteful, taking only what we need.

Jean & Huckleberry Bear

 —Support organizations that are trying to save land for the animals – without land and space there is nothing and our love for the animals alone does not help them.  There are many – you can research them or contact us for a list of some of the most active but a good start is wild.org or the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.  Both focus on wildlife corridors.

Ways to help: Earthfire

 —Help us grow our community and take the vision we have out to the world any way you can.  Send  people to our website, our Facebook page, You Tube channel, Twitter feed and our blog.  We would welcome your comments and stories, photos and experiences.  We also have an online chat community through Ning at earthfireinstitutecommunity.ning.com.  Please e-mail us at earthfire@ida.net for details on any of this.

 —Help us with ideas and places we should connect with and let them know about us.

 —Send us ideas for retreats or retreat leaders; great books and videos for our library.

 —Send us ideas  or contacts for places where I can speak.

 —Our two biggest needs are fantastic staff, and funds. We are looking for an understudy assistant director and animal handler to work with myself and Jean to ensure continuity . These people have to be committed and realistic. We also need funds to be able to pay them . We need to continue improve the enclosures for the animal, especially play gardens for the bears.  To donate, please go to http://earthfireinstitute.org/support/.

Susan Eirich

 I look forward to what we can help make happen together.

 With love to all of you from myself, Jean and the animals of Earthfire.

 Susan

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Cucumber: A Wilted Wolf

Animal Story, Animal Tales, Blog, Wolves | September 14, 2011

Cucumber was wilted.

It was different this time. After her two near-death experiences during which she worked her way into becoming a House Wolf, she thrived on her special status. When her status became threatened because another sick animal required special care and occupied our tiny living room, she learned how to manipulate us through pretend near-death experiences. But now she is older –going on her 14th year, and the wilting felt different. As if she were defeated.

The cause of the problem was two-fold. First Firefly, a tiny little black fox-rescue from a fur farm ousted her because she needed intensive care, but we could at least move her out each day so Cucumber could come and visit and be loved – though she was only too well aware of the enraptured attention that the charming Firefly was receiving. But then came a traumatized little coyote pup. Though Jean could, with great care pet him and play with him, any attempt at “capture” by picking him up or putting him in a carry cage was out of the question if we ever wanted to have a relationship with him. So, he roamed free in the living room until we could build an outdoor enclosure for him. And that was that. Cucumber was relegated to being outside and she didn’t take it well.

Retreat host, Polly Klein, giving Cucumber Reiki. Copyright Earthfire Institute.

If you casually looked at her you would be tempted to say she was just very old. But, if so, it was a sudden aging. She just drooped. She lost weight.  She hobbled. She was listless.

We called the vet, Summer, who knew her well inside and out, having done the two surgeries and helped shepherd her through to health again. Summer could find nothing wrong. She did blood tests. They looked like those of a healthy young wolf.

We didn’t know what to do. It was as if the fight had gone out of her. All those years of being born a runt and being a half-sized wolf in a world of fierce competition; finding a way to dominate wolves much larger than she; of leaping off waterfalls when no other wolf dared; of working herself into the house and then, when ousted, getting back in through pretend near-death experiences, had sapped her energy. She just couldn’t do it any more.

This time it felt real. She didn’t have as much fight, There was no (well, little) attempt at manipulation. I thought she was in the process of dying. Jean brought her down to meet a retreat group to give her a last chance to shine and communicate what she was so good at. They looked at the hanging head, drooping tail, with concern and pity. She stood there passively as they tried to help her with healing hands and therapeutic touch.

After a month of this, she looked so bad we called Summer in again, asking her to check if there was anything at all we could do – perhaps her previous intestinal surgeries were causing her trouble? More tests, examinations, x rays – all looked fine.

Cucumber receiving her morning love from Jean. Copyright Earthfire Institute.

So, though it was a poor substitute, I had an idea. I started to bring her in to the office cabin early every morning before working hours for special hand-prepared breakfast treats, and loving from Jean and myself. It wasn’t the house. The ugly coyote has not been ousted and she wasn’t total queen anymore. But at least she rated special, personal attention and connection. 

I am happy to report that she is recovering. It hasn’t been instant like during the “near-death” times when she recovered overnight once she was back in the house. She has not bounced back to her full self. Age and many battles do take their toll and it has been different this time. The wilting was real. She had been devastated. But there is light in her eyes once again, and there is a bit of spring in her step when she walks to the office, or sees her arch enemy, my malamute Talkeetna.

It seems we have no more leeway. Regardless of other distractions and responsibilities to other animals, she needs her special attention for the rest of her life, with no further abandonments or disappointments. We will have to be very very careful of her feelings now. Fortunately, taking care of her is a privilege and delight, and what she gives back is beyond measure.

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Video: Revealing the Hidden Essence of EFI

Art & Creativity, Blog, Seen Thru New Eyes | September 7, 2011

CalArts Student Manuel recorded this mini whirlpool during the CalArt residency at Earthfire Institute last July.  The music was done by CalArt student Jxel. This wonderfully creative video starts slowly and out of focus. As it gradually comes into focus the music changes and you begin to hear the sounds and essence of Earthfire. Enjoy the surprises as it unfolds, as any good discovery does.

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