June 2, 2016 by IdealisticRebel

What is the Importance of a Tree?

A few days ago, when I went to the Light Center because I was ill, I was thinking about the mountains. The trees were soaring over head and the air was so clean and fresh. I thought about how amazing it must have been to have traveled here 100-200 years ago. I was looking at the trees and wondering how long they had been there. Below are some of the pictures I took.

Veterans of Foreign Wars asked the government to set aside a fitting stand of trees to the memory of Joyce Kilmer. Kilmer was both a WWI soldier and a poet. He is remembered most for his nature poetry and his poem “Trees.”

Trees

I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet

flowing breast.

A tree that looks at God all day

And lifts her leafy arms to pray.

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair.

Upon whose bosom snow has lain.

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

—Joyce Kilmer

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Evergreens. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2014

“Let my mind bear sweet fruit and

fragrant flowers,

as this tree is planted of the soil of Thy spirit.

—with branches downwards:

I see Thy hand

blessing me

—-rising upwards.

in the night:

My heart stands in waiting and hope

as the trees stand through the darkness of night.”

—Hazrat Inayat Khan

The trees give us clean air and shade in the summer. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

“How wonderful, O Lord, are the works of your hands!

The heavens declare Your glory,

the arch of sky display Your handiwork

In Your love You have given us the power

to behold the beauty of Your world

robed in all its splendor

The sun and the stars, the valleys and hills,

the rivers and lakes all disclose Your presence.

The roaring breakers of the sea tell of Your awesome Might,

the beasts of the field and the bird of the air

bespeak Your wondrous will.

In Your goodness You have made us able to hear

the music of the world. The voices of loved ones

reveal to us that You are in our midst.

A divine voice sings through all creation.”

—Jewish Prayer

The trees seem to scrape the sky. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

April 22, 2016 by IdealisticRebel

Earth Day

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Magnolia blooming in Black Mountain, NC. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2010

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The Atlantic Ocean at twilight. Photographed and copyrighted by Barbara Mattio 2009

This is a compilation of prayers about healing Mother Earth.

They are from many different spiritual paths. All prayers rise to heaven and all prayers are known to God. There is not just a certain religion whose members pray and receive answers or attention.

In this world, every prayer counts, and we are One Family living on One Mother Earth. Let us, all pray, whatever words come from your heart and soul. I hope you will see that the meaning of the different prayers is all the same.

“Let us be united,

Let us speak in harmony,

Let our minds apprehend alike.

Common be our prayer,

Common be the end of our assembly,

Common be our deliberations.

Alike be our feelings,

Unified be our hearts;

Common be our intentions,

Perfect be our unity.”

— From the Rig Veda

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“It is up to us to receive and transmit our Torah.

It is up to us to see that the world still stands.

May the time be not distant

when nation will not lift up sword against nations,

neither shall they learn war any more.

They shall beat their swords into ploughshares,

for the earth will be filled with the wonder of life

Then shall we sit under our vine and our fig tree

and none shall be afraid.

—Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro

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“Cattle browse peacefully

Trees and plants are verdant,

Birds fly from their nests

And lift up their wings in your praise.

All animals frisk upon their feet

All winged things fly and alight once more—

They come to life with your rising.

Boats sail upstream and boats sail downstream,

At your coming every highway is opened

Before your face the fish leap up from the river.

Your rays reach the green ocean.

You it is who place the male seed in woman,

Who create the semen in man;

You quicken the sun in his mother’s belly,

Soothing him so that he shall not cry

Even in the womb you are his nurse.

You give breath to all your creation,

Opening the mouth of the newborn

And giving him nourishment.

——-From the Pharaoh Akhenaten’s ” Hymn to the Sun”

“Water flows over these hands.

May I use them skillfully

to preserve our precious planet.”

—Thich Nhat Hanh

“Be praised my lord because our sister

Mother Earth sustains and rules

us and because she raises

food to feed us : colored flowers

grass.

Be praised my lord for those who pardon by your love

and suffer illness and grief

Bless those who undergo in silence

the poor for whom you hold a crown

Be praised my lord for Sister Death-of-Body

whom no man living will escape

And pity those who die in mortal sin

and everyone she who minds you

bless: no second death

to bring them hurt.

Oh praise my lord and bless my lord and thank

and serve my lord with humbleness

Triumphant.”

—Saint Francis of Assisi

“All living beings; all our relations.

We pray for ourselves and all persons;

for the ducks, loons, penguins, eagles and

sparrows:

for dogs, cats, monkeys, elk and earthworms;

fish, mussels, deep-diving whales;

eucalyptus and cactus, fir and roses; all our relations.

Guide us to true peace and security;

grant us protection and freedom from all

bondage;

help us to be free to be ourselves, with

respect for all.

Enfold us in the clear light of safety and

warmth and wholeness.”

—Hazrat Inayat Khan

Bahama water garden. Photograph taken and copyrighted by Barbara Mattio 2013

“The soul of the whole of creation is one, the life behind all those ever-moving phantoms is one. Meditation on this truth and the awakening to it will harmonize the condition of the world.”

—Hazrat Inayat Khan

We are all One Family in the eyes of the Beloved

May 1, 2015 by IdealisticRebel

The list of the Unarmed killed by Police keeps growing

What I’ve found out in the days since the murder of Freddie Gray is that people are being killed every day by police in America. A friend has told me that there is a least one such death a day.

Looking for more information about this, I found this video, which documents the deaths of unarmed people killed by Police in 2014. Most of these deaths were not reported on the news, and yet they were killed at the hand of police.

It’s important for all people in America to be aware of two things:

People from EVERY race are being killed by police
This is being largely being kept a secret

If it weren’t a secret, more people would be marching and protesting and maybe we could make a change to this horrific trend.

My condolences go out to the families and friends of all these victims. May they rest in peace.

May our country give them justice, however long it takes.

February 24, 2015 by IdealisticRebel

This is Not the Way to Peace

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Lagos, Nigeria (CNN)

An American missionary in Nigeria has been kidnapped in what authorities call a “purely criminal” act.

Kogi state Police Commissioner Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi says five men kidnapped the woman from her workplace and are demanding a ransom of 60 million Naira ($301,500).

The Free Methodist Church has identified the woman as the Rev. Phyllis Sortor, a missionary based at the Hope Academy compound in Kogi state.

Kogi state is located away from the areas where Boko Haram operates, making it likely that the kidnapping is not related to terrorism. But there is also the possibility that an offshoot group could have kidnapped Sortor, or that she might be sold to another group. Police have not said if they suspect a certain group or band of criminals.

Sortor was kidnapped on Monday, Ogunjemilusi said.

The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria and the FBI have been notified of the incident, the Free Methodist Church said.

Sortor runs a nongovernmental organization that educates nomadic Fulani children, the police commissioner said.

According to her biography on the church’s website, Sortor is the financial administrator of Hope Academy.

“A special friendship with a clan of nomadic Fulani has given Phyllis the opportunity to open additional schools for Fulani children and their parents,” the website says.

The commissioner said five men scaled the wall of the school where Sortor’s office is and “whisked her away,” jumping back over the wall and fleeing to the nearby mountains.

Two of the men were masked, and they fired shots into the air to scare people away during the kidnapping, Ogunjemilusi said.

CNN’s Christian Purefoy reported from Lagos and Mariano Castillo wrote the story in Atlanta. CNN’s Shawn Nottingham contributed to this report.

It is my prayer that this missionary and the 100 Christians taken by ISIS will be released. If not may angels surround them

January 31, 2014 by IdealisticRebel

Prayers For Healing Mother Earth

The Atlantic Ocean at twilight. Photographed and copyrighted by Barbara Mattio 2009

This is a compilation of prayers about healing Mother Earth.

They are from many different spiritual paths. All prayers rise to

heaven and all prayers are known to God. There is not just a certain religion

whose members pray and receive answers or attention.

In this world, every prayer counts, and we are One Family living

on One Mother Earth. Let us, all pray, whatever words come from

your heart and soul. I hope you will see that the meaning of the

different prayers is all the same.

“Let us be united,

Let us speak in harmony,

Let our minds apprehend alike.

Common be our prayer,

Common be the end of our assembly,

Common be our deliberations.

Alike be our feelings,

Unified be our hearts;

Common be our intentions,

Perfect be our unity.”

— From the Rig Veda

“It is up to us to receive and transmit our Torah.

It is up to us to see that the world still stands.

May the time be not distant

when nation will not lift up sword against nations,

neither shall they learn war any more.

They shall beat their swords into ploughshares,

for the earth will be filled with the wonder of life

Then shall we sit under our vine and our fig tree

and none shall be afraid.

—Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro

“Cattle browse peacefully

Trees and plants are verdant,

Birds fly from their nests

And lift up their wings in your praise.

All animals frisk upon their feet

All winged things fly and alight once more—

They come to life with your rising.

Boats sail upstream and boats sail downstream,

At your coming every highway is opened

Before your face the fish leap up from the river.

Your rays reach the green ocean.

You it is who place the male seed in woman,

Who create the semen in man;

You quicken the sun in his mother’s belly,

Soothing him so that he shall not cry

Even in the womb you are his nurse.

You give breath to all your creation,

Opening the mouth of the newborn

And giving him nourishment.

——-From the Pharaoh Akhenaten’s ” Hymn to the Sun”

“Water flows over these hands.

May I use them skillfully

to preserve our precious planet.”

—Thich Nhat Hanh

“Be praised my lord because our sister

Mother Earth sustains and rules

us and because she raises

food to feed us : colored flowers

grass.

Be praised my lord for those who pardon by your love

and suffer illness and grief

Bless those who undergo in silence

the poor for whom you hold a crown

Be praised my lord for Sister Death-of-Body

whom no man living will escape

And pity those who die in mortal sin

and everyone she who minds you

bless: no second death

to bring them hurt.

Oh praise my lord and bless my lord and thank

and serve my lord with humbleness

Triumphant.”

—Saint Francis of Assisi

“All living beings; all our relations.

We pray for ourselves and all persons;

for the ducks, loons, penguins, eagles and

sparrows:

for dogs, cats, monkeys, elk and earthworms;

fish, mussels, deep-diving whales;

eucalyptus and cactus, fir and roses; all our relations.

Guide us to true peace and security;

grant us protection and freedom from all

bondage;

help us to be free to be ourselves, with

respect for all.

Enfold us in the clear light of safety and

warmth and wholeness.”

—Hazrat Inayat Khan

Bahama water garden. Photograph taken and copyrighted by Barbara Mattio 2013

“The soul of the whole of creation is one,

the life behind all those ever-moving

phantoms is one. Meditation on this truth and the awakening to it will

harmonize the condition of the world.”

—Hazrat Inayat Khan

We are all One Family in the eyes of the Beloved

November 8, 2012 by IdealisticRebel

The Sacred Writings for Mother Earth

The trees are our guardians.

The concept that Mother Earth is sacred is not a contemporary one. Through the millenniums all spiritual paths have written, repeated and taught sacred prayers and thoughts about our earth. Some are filled with praise or thanksgiving. Some are requests for the needs for the earth and the people. Some are just being aware of the beauty of Mother Earth.

Over time, people have used Earth Prayer to maintain and return to a vivid relationship with the Earth. Sometimes, we just have an appreciative heart for our food or our water. As all of the grateful thoughts and prayers, Gathas or verses we read during our meditations rise to the Heavens we look for forgiveness for the injury we have done to our planet and request healing to reduce the damage.

“The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep!
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep!
People are going back and forth
Across the door-sill where the two worlds touch,
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep!
—Rumi

“All life is your own,
All fruits of the earth
Are fruits of your womb,
Your union, your dance.
Lady and Lord,
We thank you for blessings and abundance.
Join with us, Feast with us, Enjoy with us!
Blessed be.
—Starhawk

“Holy persons draw to themselves all that is earthly.”
—–Hildegard of Bingen

“I entrust myself to earth,
Earth entrusts herself to me.
I entrust myself to Buddha,
Buddha entrusts herself to me”.
—Thich Nhat Hanh

“May the axe be far away from you,
May the fire be far away from you;
May there be rain without storm,
Lord of Trees, may you be blessed.
Lord of Trees, may I be blessed.”
——Hindu Prayer

“When you walk across the fields with your mind pure and holy,
then from all the stones, and all growing things, and all animals, the sparks
of their soul come out and cling to you, and then they are purified and become a holy fire in you.”
—Hasidic Saying

“Bless Adonai
who spins day into dusk
With wisdom watch
the dawn gates open,
with understanding let
time and seasons
come and go;
with awe perceive
the stars in lawful orbit.
Morning dawns,
evening darkens,
darkness and light yielding
one to the other,
yet each distinguished
and unique.

Marvel at Life!
Strive to know its ways!
Seek Wisdom and Truth,
the gateways
to Life’s mysteries!

Wondrous indeed
is the evening twilight.”
—–Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro

“Goodnight God
I hope that you are having
a good time being the world.
I like the world very much.
I’m glad you made the plants
and trees survive with the
rain and summers.
When summer is nearly near
the leaves begin to fall.
I hope you have a good time
being the world.
I like how God feels around
everyone in the world.
God, I am very happy that
I live on you.
Your arms clasp around the world.
I like you and your friends.
Every time I open my eyes
I see the gleaming sun.
I like the animals—-the deer,
and us creatures of the world,
the mammals.
I love my dear friends”
—-Danu Baxter, Four and a half years old

“Teach your children
what we have taught our children–
that the earth is our mother.
Whatever befalls the earth
befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.
If men spit upon the ground,
they spit upon themselves.

This we know.
The earth does does not belong to us;
we belong to the earth.
This we know.
All things are connected
like the which unites one family.
All things are connected.

Whatever befalls the earth
befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.
We did not weave the web of life,
We are merely a strand in it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.”
—-Chief Seattle

Carolina Beach, NC; Photo by Barbara Mattio

September 11, 2012 by IdealisticRebel

In Memory

I just wanted to send my prayers and continued support to the survivors and family and friends of all of those who were killed when we were attacked on 9-11, 2001. These last years have been horrible, I am sure and your courage and struggle is noted by a loving country. The victims in all three attacks were heroes and heroines in the eyes of the American people. I know they are gently being held in the love of the Divine. My prayers are added to all of the prayers of all people, despite nation or religion. Blessings to all.