Brave Creatives for Mama Earth
An honoring song for Earth Day, plus a 5-minute practice to empower your voice
It’s Flourishing Friday, my friend. We’re here to tame the Monkeys of Fear (perfectionism, procrastination, people-pleasing, etc.) so we can express our brave, authentic voices. If you have an allergy to speaking about your strengths or dreams, today’s 5-minute Brave Creative practice is for you. Plus, singing with the Seal people 🦭 of the Salish Sea.
When I sing by the Salish Sea, harbor seals often pop their adorable heads up to look at me, curious. “Hello, friend.” While swimming and singing this week, my vocal vibrations attracted a baby seal. She swam within arm’s reach, so close I could see her beautiful markings. Then Mama’s head popped up about ten feet away.
My heart beat fast. Mama is six feet long. Seals are typically not aggressive, but what if Ms. Seal decides I’m a threat and takes a chunk out of my haunches? I backed away towards the shore, singing, sending love to the seal family who share these waters.
Our voices have power. Your voice is magnetic energy. We connect to others (and other species!) with our words, our vibe, our humor, our love, and our truth.
Yet many of our voices are clamped down. Many of us carry epigenetic fears of sharing our full voice. It can be dangerous to speak our truth. Even with the risks, some of us need to dance with these edges, so we can step into our full expression. (Today’s 5-minute practice (below) invites you to speak truth about your powers.)
After years of healing the wounds that stifle my voice, I sing daily for the Salish Sea, the “place of clear salt water,” the lands of the suq̀ʷabš1 nation. Indigenous cultures make offerings to the earth and the elements; I offer spontaneous love songs for Mama Earth (while picking up every scrap of trash I can find). I wasn’t raised in an Earth-honoring tradition, but this form of activism shows how ritual can rewire our cellular memories of ancient ancestors who sang for the Earth. It feels good to give back.
How do you celebrate Earth Day?
Let’s imagine a reciprocal relationship with our Mama. If Gaia is conscious,2 may she know she’s honored (despite our modern ways that harm her waters, her body, and all forms of life). May we expand our perspective beyond ourselves. May we show up and demonstrate our response-ability to her.3 May we shift from an extraction mindset (take, take, take) to gratitude, and commit to lessen our impact. In a time of worry and despair for the future,4 it’s empowering to claim your voice now, for love.
Your Brave Voice Matters: The Microphone
Today’s 5-minute practice empowers your true voice, so you can speak up for yourself, and the collective. This video features my ridiculous alter-ego Queen Poopicina, who shares the ‘Holy Sh*t’ 💩 version of the tool and a spontaneous song (or, you can follow the steps below).
The Microphone: How can I empower my voice?
BREATHE deeply. NOTE: You may prefer a private, quiet place for this tool.
ENVISION picking up a microphone. FEEL its weight in your hand. Flip a switch to turn it on.
SAY "Testing 1-2-3." IMAGINE hearing the sound of your voice amplified.
COMPLETE these 3 phrases out loud:
“Today, I am proud of myself because...”
“I am grateful for...”
“What I really want is …”NOTICE how it feels to speak your truth out loud.
REFLECT, turning off the mic. “My voice is...”
Make it Real: Find your true voice and liberate it
EXPLORE: Write or share your 3 statements… (in the comments?)
CREATE: Stand up and speak your statements aloud 3 times, as if making a proclamation.
MANIFEST: This week, practice these 3 statements every night before sleep (each day offers a fresh opportunity to connect with these brave statements).
🗣️ You’re invited. Please step up to the Mic…
Have you ‘met’ a seal (or other marine mammal) in the wild?
Does your throat ever clamp down when speaking something tender or true?
Do you celebrate Earth Day? How?
Fill in the blanks: “Today, I am proud of myself because...”
“I am grateful for...”
“What I really want is …”
Thanks for speaking with your full, true voice. 💝 Please forward to a friend who wants to expand her voice (or celebrate Earth). Thanks for clicking the heart or adding a comment, which helps us share our brave creative longings. 🙏🏼💗🙌🏽
More to come,
“Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove, has been hallowed by some sad or happy event in days long vanished.” - Chief Seattle, 1854 (Suquamish Nation website)
Gaian Earth-centered belief system is “…the perspective that you should honor the Earth, reduce or soften the human impact on the earth, and to be respectful of all life on earth.”
Activism takes many forms. Let’s use our voices to write letters, speak up, show up, and take steps to reduce our footprint.
breaks it down for us:
Thank you so much for the mention, Christine!
I tried the exercise and suprised myself with the strength of my voice! I loved your singing, so meditative and calming and spoke to my soul today (as well as the seals!)