Belonging to the Earth

The earth is not a possession but a partner. Loving the land teaches how to love self and others with more clarity and humility. Ancestors lived this wisdom. They cultivated soil and spirit with equal care. Black and Native people shared techniques, stories, and reverence—not out of theory but survival and mutual respect. The land sustained life, and that truth was honored. Waste, hoarding, and domination were rejected as violations of moral boundaries. Patience was learned from the rhythm of the seasons. Enough is produced when cooperation guides human behavior. The spiritual legacy of creation care remains urgent. Values like restraint, gratitude, and responsibility are not optional. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. These teachings endure. Belonging to the earth is a spiritual fact.

Go now with the knowledge that
we are part of the earth and it is part of us,
and live in harmony with all that lives.

(inspired by bell hooks, Belonging; Sister Thea Bowman, Shooting Star)