Wow, this is, for me, a very abstract concept to grapple with! I’m trying to ground this question into thoughts I can deal with. It is difficult …. Did I know that my husband loved me? Do I know that my family loves me? Do I know that there is a God that loves me?
Do I know that my land loves me?
In terms of semantics, no, I don’t know any of these things. How does one know things -Truths? Insights? Convictions? Faith? All these things come from within. I do know that I love this land where I am currently able to work and walk and play upon. But, as for being loved back? Hmmmm. A bit out of my grasp to know.
I have referred to “feelings,” about this land, my home. Basically, I don’t trust feelings. Many times, I feel like I love. Occasionally, I feel like I don’t love. Many times, I have felt loved. Occasionally, I have felt very not loved. But even on my walk-abouts, I have never had the feeling that “my land loves me,” even when I am not worrying with land problems (e.g., weeds, flooding, winds, etc.). I suppose that may be due to not having expanded my recognition of Consciousness much beyond the sentient beings of the Animal Kingdom.
Recently, in my readings, I came across a concept that helps me to evade this question for the time being, (the question being far too abstract for me):
“I know myself within the abundance and diversity of life upon the Earth and celebrate our kinship.”
The Lakota Sweat Lodge
Chief Archie Fire Lame Deer & Helene Sarkis
Perhaps if I continue to reflect and confirm the Chief’s concept, I may come to the feeling that “my Land loves me"; that the Earth loves me ... that God loves me. For now, this is enough … “it is good.”
