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Healing Water: a Beltane Message
| Posted on May 1, 2014 at 9:30 PM |
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 These past months have been challenging for many. All around me people are making choices and some are making changes in their lives while others are facing serious illnesses. Some are drawn into drama and some are keeping themselves grounded by being more isolated. I know in my own life, things have changed drastically and while there are still signs of the old, so much that is new has come into my life. I feel different although I'm still exhausted quite a bit. Winter was a long one and Spring is behind it's normal timetable in our area. I think this is a reflection of the world around us. Things seem slow to manifest even though many of us have painstakingly and relentlessly done our work. At times we continue to be tested with regard to our beliefs and our faith, working tirelessly toward our goals while maintaining our intentions and convictions. And yet it's so hard sometimes. It seems as though we are continuously being challenged with new obstacles, new options and new situations to cause us to persevere and push on. It's gets tiring though. There is nothing that is set in stone, no outcome that is inevitable and nothing that is assured these days. We simply have to be flexible, stay open minded and move forward. Staying in fear is not an option if you want to make things happen in your life and move past limiting beliefs. This Beltane I was reminded by a friend of the tradition that is behind this celebrated day, it is that of water and giving thanks for its many virtues. The ancient Celtic people would typically honor their wells and sacred springs because they knew that without this life giving force, they would perish. In recent years, we've come to understand so much more about water and its ability to hold memory and patterns. It is one of the strongest substances on Earth because it has the ability to wear away at stone, adapt to the environment and fill the space it finds itself in, and it also has the ability to take life away in it's absence and it's presence.  If you have too much water energy in your life with regard to your home and it's supporting land, you will have an excess of emotions in your life. I know because I've lived in two homes that had this type of energy and it was/is very challenging to live with. Nevertheless, water signifies communication, flow, flexibility and strength. You just need to recognize why it is in your life and learn to harness and work with it in the right way. The way that you do this is by adding grounding elements to your home in terms of rocks, pottery, plants and trees and earthy colors. These vibrations will offset and balance out the excess of movement and water energy in your life. Water is very healing to me despite the fact I have a lot of fire energy in my nature. I've had to learn the lesson of water in some of the most difficult ways, but water has taught me so much about land energies and imbalance and why they exist. When we try to work against the natural balance of things in Nature, we are met with opposition. While initially our intentions will seemingly work, if we do not allow the natural flow of water in our life, it will manifest itself in a variety of ways. In Nature, when we plug up a natural water source, it becomes stagnant and murky and the surrounding area suffers. So too, when we resist our natural tendencies and inner knowing, we become frustrated and angry and sometimes even sick, especially when we do not communicate our true thoughts and feelings. Water is the blood of Nature and of this planet. When it is not allowed to circulate properly, it's energy builds up and builds up until it is released-- because it cannot be contained. That simply goes against the very nature of which it was intended. The same can happen in your own life when you suppress your emotions and do not speak your truth-- anger and resentment build and ultimately your body will become stressed and diseased if you do not honor yourself.  This Beltane, honor the water within you and around you by blessing it's miraculous qualities and abilities. There are so many things in life that we take for granted until we lose them. Don't have regrets. Honor yourself and our natural world today by living in alignment with your highest purpose and being true to yourself.Beltane Blessings! 2014 Copyright Awen Environments/Clarissa Harison. |
Trusting Your Intentions
| Posted on March 1, 2014 at 10:57 AM |
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 Daylight savings time is almost here and Spring is right around the corner, but appearances can be very deceiving. Snow is on the ground and more frigid temperatures are expected. Even though I'm well aware of the cycles of Nature and can see some signs of Spring like budding trees and songbirds returning, it's often easy to be mislead by appearances.Even when the ice on the surface of a river seems motionless, beneath it the water is flowing and it won't be long until the ice starts to crack." -- Denise Linn Our efforts do not go unseen and there is a kind of certainty to the rhythms of life and Nature, but sometimes when we're experiencing challenges and exhausted by our daily routine, we have a tendency to overlook all that we've accomplished and the intentions we've put out in the world. Things do not usually manifest overnight, but we'd often like them to and that's why many stray from the course when things become difficult. I once worked for a boss who would change the direction of his business plans, if he didn't see immediate results. This, as you can well imagine, just created chaos for me and the other employees. Working for him was a great lesson for me however, because I knew that if I focused my intention and put forth my creative abilities, the results would eventually appear and they did. It didn't matter for me when he changed direction, because I knew that what mattered most was the intention I put into my work and not the outside influences that constantly sought to redirect me.  We're being tested regularly these days. People are pulled in a wide range of directions and we encounter them on a daily basis adding to our already stressed lives. It's easy to get drawn into drama, frustrated by people's inefficiencies, and caught in a discussion that only pulls you further from your centeredness. Putting out fires, persevering when someone tells you something isn't so or cannot be done, and maintaining focus when all you want to do is throw in the towel, are challenges we are all facing today in a myriad of ways. What I've learned recently is that in a moment your outlook can change, in a moment what someone's telling you can make or break your day, and in a moment things can look optimistic when yesterday they seemed hopeless just because someone had the wrong information and passed it on to you. So beware and stay focused. Trust yourself and your instincts. If something doesn't seem or feel right, figure our why and persevere. The Earth is changing and we are changing with it. Things may look bleak before they look better, but you can trust that renewal and new life is just around the corner, along with new opportunities and experiences. Spring Blessings! 2014 Copyright Awen Environments/Clarissa Harison. |
Snowflake's Story: a Look at Aconite
| Posted on January 15, 2014 at 8:14 AM |
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 Sometimes animals cross your path and you truly wonder whether their visit was just to help them recover or there's a more profound message in it for you. This story is one such experience. The first week after the 2014 New Year started out with a polar vortex that not only hit this region of WNY very hard, but many areas throughout the country. It's times like those with such extreme frigid temperatures that make you wonder how wild creatures even survive at all, but somehow they seem to manage. Sometimes though, a helping human hand makes all the difference.The second day of our blizzard had me letting our dogs out and filling bird feeders amidst -6 degrees Fahrenheit and intense winds. The birds were anxiously waiting for anything that would help them make it through the extreme temperature. It was the coldest weather I'd experienced in this region in years. We Western New Yorkers are typically pretty tough, being used to this kind of weather and somehow we always seem to make the best out of the situation, but this was intense weather. That morning as I moved toward a feeder hung near one of our honey locust trees, I saw a bluejay covered with snow and seemingly lifeless. His eyes were closed and the only thing that seemed to indicate some life force was the fact one of his feet was tightly clenched into a fist. Somehow I sensed there might be hope as I scooped him up in my gloved hand and brought him inside. My son was home from school and I told him to warm the bird against his chest in the event he might still be alive. I went back outside to continue with my morning activities. When I came back in, my son told me the bluejay was still alive and breathing. I told him to keep the bird warm until he noticed more life and I gave him a flannel pillowcase to wrap the bird in. Ordinarily a heating pad is used in wildlife rehabilitation, but I knew in this instance, it was the connection with a living being that this bird needed, even if that being was human and perhaps maybe because he was human. As I had hoped, my son's warmth and heart intention to bring this bird back from the brink of death, was exactly what this bluejay needed.  After some time, I thought the bird might be ready for some medicine, so I tried giving the homeopathic remedy Aconite in a syringe with some water, but his mouth was tightly clenched shut. Instead I rubbed some Rescue Remedy on his head as the vibration on the skin is often enough to calm an injured animal. After about a half hour, my son called me from the other room saying the bluejay had put its beak around his finger. I knew it was time to give the bird the Aconite it needed to help recover fully from the shock of nearly dying. I'd seen various songbirds and mammals recover quickly from the shock of being hit by a car, after being given Aconite, which is the vibrational imprint of the flower Monkshood. Aconite is the remedy for shock and works well in extreme cases with wildlife and people. For some reason the medicine of this plant works with the trauma of shock held within the body and acts like a key opening a lock. It can even be used for injuries in the past. I checked the bluejay and decided he was warm and alert enough to be given some Aconite since his eyes were now open. Because his beak was wrapped around my son's finger, it wasn't difficult to get a syringe in his mouth. The bluejay swallowed and I knew we just had to wait now. Again, this is one of those moments when you see the power of homeopathy in full force because you know wild animals don't respond to placebos. It is unfortunate that those who do not understand homeopathy criticize it as having a placebo effect, because I've seen it work in a variety of situations with wildlife and my son when he was a toddler. This time, within minutes, the bluejay seemed more vital and looked like he was ready to be transferred to a recovery cage. It was obvious that continuing to hold him would only invite more stress.  So I transferred the bluejay to his cage and put some sunflower seeds and peanuts in a dish for him, with another dish of water and Rescue Remedy. Several hours later he was already eating and looking like he was ready to continue living the life of an energetic bluejay once again. His recovery had been nothing short of miraculous for us.Much to our surprise, he even managed to temporarily escape from his cage while putting in more food. The flight however, quickly tired and stressed him, and at that point it wasn't yet clear whether this was due to a low overall energy or just the stress of our trying to catch him. It was probably a little of both, but it was obvious he wasn't yet ready for release and the weather was still brutally cold, so release wasn't even an option yet. My son decided to name the bluejay "Snowflake" although I thought "Blizzard" might have been more appropriate. I gave Snowflake another dose of Aconite and waited another day. There's a fine line in wildlife rehabilitation between releasing a wild animal too soon before they are ready to be on their own and keeping a wild animal in captivity too long which can also kill them due to stress. It's always a tough choice for me and many others who help wildlife. This was no exception, but I waited a few days and I decided to release him exactly 48 hours after I had brought him in from the cold. Although it was still a cold day, the temperature had increased somewhat and the sun was shining brilliantly. Snowflake immediately flew to the top of our old maple tree and obviously enjoyed his new found freedom. I had no doubt in my mind, we had chosen the perfect day for his release.  I know that my son will always remember the day we saved a bluejay from the bitter cold during the Blizzard of 2014 and I know I will too. My son learned that sometimes things aren't always what they appear to be and sometimes, even when things seem hopeless, you might just save someone's life if you try. I also know that it's not always the outcome that matters, but the intention and the care that we give to someone in need that counts in the overall scheme of things. Although I know that wild animals die everyday out in Nature, I think it's worth the effort to help a creature in need when they cross your path.The same day we released the bluejay, I found a tiny Chickadee frozen in the snow not far from our beehive and another bird feeder. It saddened me that I didn't find this tiny songbird at the right time. Chickadees are one of my favorite songbirds because I love to watch them and admire their high energy, strength and resilience during the coldest of winters. I know I was not meant to find this little one. It was his time to meet the Creator. Two wild birds and one blizzard with two completely different outcomes. Divine timing in life is everything and sometimes... so is seizing the moment. Blessings of Gratitude! 2014 Copyright Awen Environments/Clarissa Harison. |
Beyond the Visible
| Posted on November 6, 2013 at 2:24 PM |
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"Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." --Albert Einstein, "The World As I See It" There are times when it may seem that very little or absolutely nothing is going in the direction that you would hope. Despite your best efforts, things do not appear to be falling in place as you had planned. That's when you need to let go and focus on what uplifts your spirits and makes you feel connected. Maybe you need to dance with abandon to music that you love or take a walk in the park or on the beach and just feel the beauty and power of Nature. Sometimes just spending time with a child or an animal companion can make all the difference. Finding joy and peace in those moments is key to moving past a seeming standstill. Sometimes we are being held back for a reason. The timing just isn't right and other things need to happen before what you desire comes to pass or perhaps something better manifests itself. Trusting this process is a huge part of remaining grounded and not falling into the abyss of frustration and despair. We don't always know what's best for us or the sacred contracts we may have made before coming into this lifetime. Yet there is a grand perfection that exists, if we can just be patient, listen and be aware. Often times while working with animals I have had to hold them back to keep them safe in order to ensure their complete recovery before being released into the wild or even outside of a cage into my home. I can feel their frustration as their desire for freedom to do their own thing is great. Nevertheless, I know that were I to release them when they desire, it is very likely that more harm could come to them or their chances for survival would be lessened.  I think the Universe and the Creator do the same thing. They guide us when we are lost and hold us back when we would make wrong decisions or plunge into something that is not in our best interest. Divine perfection exists when we allow the flow of life to manifest in its own time and allow ourselves to be guided by the sometimes very subtle nuances of Nature and Spirit. Sometimes a chance conversation with a stranger can bring the greatest of insights and clarity.I can't say that I have all the answers as I struggle with these very things each day while facing this changing world, but my faith is strong and I'm confident that the way will be shown to me at the appropriate time regardless of which situations I may encounter. I've simply done far too much work within all aspects of my life to give up on what I know to be true and how I intend my future to be, to go back to an old way of being or doing though it may seem easier or more comfortable at times. The waves of adjustment continue as the Earth goes through her growing pains releasing unbalanced energies via earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters. With every movement of the Earth we are affected by the shifts in energetic grids across the planet. Don't think that an opening in the Earth's crust thousands of miles away is not having an affect on you or a wildfire on another continent, because it is. And if you're prone to sudden bursts of emotion and irritability or extreme exhaustion, know that as the Earth releases pent up energy, so are you. Each person feels these changes in their own way. Now, more than ever we need to focus on what brings us joy, what uplifts our spirit and what makes us stronger and our energy more vibrant. If you are finding yourself being dragged down by discordant energies and the chaos or drama of others, find a way to bring yourself back into alignment with Nature and your true sense of self. Everytime we do something to keep ourselves grounded, we are helping this planet and the planetary shifts taking place. Be a lighthouse amidst the storms or a tree that bends with the winds but anchors itself firmly, don't go running after that which you cannot save because it will not serve you.  I believe that 2014 will bring new insights, greater opportunities and also many challenges as we face our intentions, our outmoded ways of being and living, and we all become clearer as to what we want out of life. Find renewal in the silence of the night and strength in the warm rays of the morning sun. See the sparkle of the crystalline essence of a snowflake and plant your seeds of awakening in the sacred space of your soul. Now is the time to release old patterns and prepare for whatever you feel is significant. Trust that your choices will determine your future.Blessings of Clarity! 2013 Copyright Awen Environments/Clarissa Harison. |
Bee Feng Shui: the Energy of Space
| Posted on September 7, 2013 at 11:01 AM |
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 I've been thinking lately about how my interests and my work through out the years went from working inside the home with regard for the energy of space to where my focus is presently, which is outside with the land. This has been an ongoing process for quite some time, but yesterday when someone from Myanmar found my site using the key words "bee feng shui," I just had to explore this idea and write about it. I've written on feng shui and I've written about bees, but I've never written about how they relate to one another. I doubt that many people have made a connection between the two, but there is one and the principles are at what I believe to be the very foundation of our survival here on this planet. It has been said that humans will not survive on this planet more than four years, if the honeybee should disappear. That's a scary thought given the honeybee is in tremendous peril at this particular moment in our planet's history. Whether or not it would be that quick remains to be seen and I hope we never find out, but there's no doubt the loss of our pollinators would change our food supply as we know it, as well as the energy of our natural world.So how does the honey bee relate to the energy of our homes and spaces? Although I've loved seeing bees in action for quite some time now, it's been over a year since I began working with them intimately and observing their activities and behaviors as a caretaker of two beehives. The insect kingdom in general has taught me a great deal about my own personal energy field and now the high energy honeybee has brought me to an even greater understanding of the dynamics of this planet and our own personal spaces. I truly believe that it is our relationship to all insects that is the key to our survival as a human species. In actuality, the insects do not need us, we need them and it's time we all changed our attitudes and stopped treating them as insignificant. Honeybees and insects in general are all finely tuned to the invisible strands of energetic grids that run through this planet. You may not be familiar with them or you may choose to deny their existence, but ancient cultures knew about them and managed their societies accordingly. The Earth has natural and man-made electromagnetic fields that run through the planet and we also have this energy flowing through our bodies. Rudolph Steiner has discussed the significance of formic acid in his numerous essays on Nature. Formic acid is the building block of life which connects us to the cosmos, revitalizes the soil and it is something that the insects bring to this planet and maintain. Ants, wasps and honeybees are among those insects that revitalize an area by creating formic acid, without which we apparently would not be able to exist and it also has a spiritual essence to it according to Steiner.  So, by their very nature, these insects are injecting a form of acupuncture or feng shui treatment of the land to enliven it. They are opening up channels of dead or stagnant energies and allowing the energy to flow on this planet, revitalizing the area with high vibrational frequencies. Subsequently, this energy will also then flow into the adjacent land and your home. Those who have been bothered by bees, wasps or ants building colonies inside the structures of their homes, have no doubt experienced other problems related to energy stagnation within their lives, though it's easy to find fault with the insects. Unfortunately, though their efforts might be noble and instinctive, the insects usually suffer the fate of their own demise when pesticide contractors are brought in who only exacerbate the underlying issue of imbalance of the land and energetic frequency of the home structure. The owners of these homes never really understand what's going on at a core, energetic level.Feng shui (wind and water) is about the flow of energy through our homes and through the land. If this energy becomes stagnant or blocked, disease and disharmony results. You cannot have a chaotic, stagnant or disease ridden property and not be affected mentally, emotionally and physically. The two go hand in hand. Obviously, those people who are drawn to living in cities with high energy frequencies and loads of activity and people, are more subject to a wide variety of influences some of which can be quite chaotic or destructive and yet if the inherent energies of the cities are positive and life enhancing, it can also generate a very positive influence to those who dwell there. Too high of a vibration is not good and too low of a vibration is not good. Just being in the country does not necessarily imply a better energy, if the inherent energies of the surrounding land are unbalanced or toxic with negative histories. In truth, all of the Earth is sacred and even those seemingly negative environments have the potential to be transformed by human thought and behavior with the help of Nature. The honeybees in particular, because of their work as a community, show us how everything is related. Their work and very being corresponds to the sacred geometric pattern of the hexagon, a six-sided figure where there is no wasted space. All is equal. And so it is on this planet. In truth, no life form or existence (including rocks, inanimate object or human creation) is insignificant, as it all came from the same source and works as a collective on this planet. The links cannot be broken because they all work together and even something that seemingly does not have consciousness, originates from some form of energetic force at it's very basic level. That is why the energy of space is so important because all things affect us at an energetic level-- human interaction, the natural world and the spaces we inhabit.  The honeybees teach us how to work toward a common goal and to take something of one form and to transform it into something more beautiful and life enhancing. The honeybee brings more beauty and nourishment into the world and creates a healing nectar for all life forms, while transforming toxic patterns and behaviors into something positive through their very vibration and activities. When you work to transform your personal space, you do the same affecting the environment around you. It's time to restore the sacred to everyday life because truly our own spaces and spheres of influence are the only ones we can control or be responsible for. The rest is subject to the choices and influences of others, the outcome of which has yet to be determined.Bee the Blessings You Seek! 2013 Copyright Awen Environments/Clarissa Harison. |
Bee Swarming: a Message of Rebirth
| Posted on August 6, 2013 at 1:10 PM |
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 This morning I went out to check my original beehive and found that half of the bees had swarmed with the old queen. The steady streams of workers were no longer there, though I could still see bees inside the hive. Although I never witnessed the swarm, I knew something had changed and I felt like a piece of me had gone with the bees. It had been over a year since they had arrived and interestingly, today is a new moon in my sun sign of Leo. Somehow I cannot see this as a coincidence, as my birthday is also next week. This original hive was my initiation into the realm of bees. They taught me how to overcome my fears through working with the hive, they taught me about the mistakes I made along the way (and there were many) and they taught my son and me how to develop a love and respect for beekeeping, though it is not an easy art as it requires time, patience and dedication to get it right. It truly is about being a steward and developing a relationship with the bees and not about 'having' or exploiting them. Had I known how much it entailed, I probably would never have gotten involved. It's like that with many things in life, but in your heart you know that what you're doing is what you're supposed to be doing and you continue because a love gradually ensues and it envelopes you as each day your relationship grows and you look forward to it's existence and you can no longer imagine life without this passion. The bees have become my allies in so many ways. They have taught me my priorities, how to conquer my fears and how to be prepared during these tumultuous times. Each step along the way has been like a milestone toward a better awareness of the beehive and how it functions in unison as one being comprised of many collaborators each fulfilling an important role. Though I'm saddened by the loss of half of my bees from my original hive, I am also happy and concerned for their welfare as they venture out into the unknown searching for a new home. I'm told they have three days to find one, otherwise they perish.  Gunther Hauk explains this process so well in his book "Toward Saving the Honeybee." Contrary to what has been done in the last century and the ways of modern beekeeping practices that often seek to exploit the honeybee, swarming is a natural process that is necessary to maintain the well being and vitality of the hive. Ironically, just when everything is fine at home, the food is stocked and the bees might be able to rest on their laurels, a new queen is created and half of the colony leaves with the old queen in search of a new home. This is in sharp contrast to what we as humans strive for and live out during our existence on this planet. And yet, perhaps the bees' message is even more relevant during these times of upheaval and change-- searching out into the unknown, into territory that is at times both exhilarating and terrifying not knowing what you will find. Simply knowing that this is how it needs to be. Gunther Hauk and Rudolf Steiner talk about the swarming of bees as a rebirth of the hive. In essence it truly is when you understand the complexities and perfection that exist within a honeybee colony.  Interestingly, the swarming of my bees was part of a series of experiences I had involving both my original hive and a second hive that I acquired as a result of a swarm that we captured one evening hanging from one of our pine trees. At the time, I thought this swarm was my own, but later I came to see that it had probably been from a nearby property that also had bees, as I could tell that my original hive was still intact and the bees in the second hive were much more docile. So, this past weekend I had to correct a mistake that I had made with my second hive-- that of not being prepared. I did not have additional beekeeping supplies ready in the event of a swarm and so when it happened, I was scrambling to put things together having to borrow supplies from a mentor friend and buy new ones. Because the main hive box was not my own, I would eventually have to switch this out with my own and that's what I did this weekend with trepidation because it meant taking everything apart and reorganizing the bees by myself. I had to do it alone because my son was away on a trip and my mentor was also unavailable. What ensued was rather complex and unexpected. Amidst opening the hive and seeing the queen for the first time since I had begun beekeeping, I was so intensely focused on what I was doing and keeping the queen and workers safe, that I completely lost track of time. I became one with the beehive. They were part of me and I was part of them. It was as though I had gone on a shamanic journey, though I did not set out with this intention. Yes, I was functioning as a normal human being going through the activities of beekeeping, but at some point which I think was upon encountering the queen, I went into an altered state of consciousness and remember little from what happened thereafter. I just know that when I had everything rearranged and reassembled, I had no recollection of many of the things that I had done. As I spent time in my gardens, for several hours thereafter, I could not remember what exactly had happened to me.  Simon Buxton talks about altered states of consciousness achieved while working with bees in his book "The Shamanic Way of the Bee: Ancient Wisdom and Healing Practices of the Bee Masters." It is a profound book and one that at times is difficult to conceptualize and understand, if you have not experienced anything similar. It is nevertheless, a delving into the mystical and complex world of bees that we as humans have yet to understand fully. Though I do believe that ancient cultures once understood the honeybee much better than we do today. The honeybee has long been revered for its ability to work in such complex unison and produce such a 'nectar of the Gods' from within it's own body via the perfection of Nature and the beauty, complexities and high vibration of flowers. I have spent a great deal of time observing the bees in my gardens and I can say that the relationship that exists between bee and flower is truly a love affair as I have ever seen. The fervor with which the bees gather pollen and nectar is really quite interesting to observe as they both depend on one another for their very existence-- the bee to create honey to feed its queen and colony, and the flower to perpetuate it's life cycle. What can we as humans create, if our very survival depends on it? And so, my experiences with the bees have come full circle. I have experienced the joy of capturing a new swarm to create yet another hive to pollinate our gardens and offer us the rich golden rewards of honey-- gifts of which I have given to family, friends and neighbors. And I have also experienced the sudden anguish and sadness over losing part of a hive due to my inability to attend to the needs of the hive in a timely manner by not providing them with adequate space for their colony.  Did I error greatly by not putting on another hive box in a timely manner or was the rebirth of the original hive meant to be to serve as a signpost for a new life that is beginning for all of us-- the bees on their journey with their beloved queen and I having completed a year of honeybee stewardship and many, many years of healing the lands where I have lived, ready to face what new surprises lie before me in this ever changing world.Blessings on Your Journey! 2013 Copyright Awen Environments/Clarissa Harison. |
A Look Back: Taking Inventory of Your Landscape
| Posted on June 13, 2013 at 6:36 PM |
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 Sometimes it's hard to see the progress we've made when we're constantly putting out fires or simply trying to get through our daily routine of responsibilities. As humans, we seem to always focus on what still needs to be accomplished, rather than what is. I think it's vital, however, to reflect periodically on what you've accomplished and take the time to truly see the progress that's been made from several years back, a year ago or even a few months ago. I know I have to do this on occasion to remind myself of how the energy of my landscape has shifted and how much I've changed in my awareness. Despite the heavy rains we've been experiencing in our area this year and the accompanying flooding and frustration it can create, I'm constantly reminded of how when we first moved to our home just over three years ago, there was barely a flower in sight, Now we have gardens everywhere and many new trees and plants are starting to anchor a new life force on this land. They are also transmuting the toxins that existed in the soil that once smelled rancid. All the white pine and fir trees that had existed when we arrived, were either dead or dying due to excessively wet land and an imbalance of energies. Now when I walk through our backyard, I feel like I'm in a wildlife sanctuary or tiny park. As a gardener, I'm constantly thinking about what still needs to be done or re-arranged, although so much has healed. I'm also proud of what I've accomplished in so little time. We've also just installed our second bee hive, after catching a swarm the other day. The vibrancy that these little beings bring to the landscape is visually apparent in the difference from last year to now. I also love seeing them busy in our gardens, knowing how they are enlivening the land and our lives.  My gardens have been such a metaphor for my life in so many ways. They have grown with me, struggled with me and portions have died at times, just as I have died to my former self and sought new ways of being, discarding what was no longer useful or part of my awareness. I have also had to make choices as to what I chose to keep in my garden and where my boundaries are. Weeding has become a way of eliminating all that which I no longer need in my environment. While I don't believe in the noun weed as they are only plants that are unfamiliar or unwanted to most people (a very individual concept), I do believe in the verb of weeding and I realize how it becomes symbolic for caring for yourself and what you've created. This year has been all about maintenance and creating balance, whereas in previous years, I was totally focused on creation.The first half of this year has already been filled with challenges which, while I was going through them, exhausted me sometimes to the point of overwhelm. Nevertheless, as time passed I came to see the value of those experiences and how they taught me to express my boundaries, see things in a new way or persevere despite the physical and emotional exhaustion I was feeling. These moments can be priceless sources of inspiration and transmutation, if you allow them to be. My gardens have been my source of solace when I felt filled with anger, despair or sheer overwhelm. Just the sounds of the birds and seeing the grasses swaying in the breeze, has often brought me back to a point of stillness and knowing that all is well and exactly the way it should be in this moment. And just as sometimes you have to allow a garden to do it's own thing and trust that Nature knows the direction she's taking, you also have to believe that the direction you're being lead in and the challenges you face are preparing you for better things. Moments spent appreciating your landscape also build a solid foundation for the energy of your land, as it is a co-creative process requiring our individual efforts and the collaboration of Nature. We cannot always see the results of our actions, but it is our intention that matters. Our mistakes will be overlooked or reflected back to us so that we can learn what we need to in order to make different choices next time. Gardening is such a great way to see and experience what works and what doesn't-- what feels right and what is uncomfortable and no longer in resonance. This is a continual process of shedding layers like peeling an onion and it is part of the changes this planet is going through.  Despite what at times may seem like an endless battle in this changing world, it's so important to spend time viewing your accomplishments from a point of reverence. The world is moving so fast now that it's easy to overlook what stands before you, but take the time to truly feel and know how your environment has changed. Feel the vibrancy of that which has healed and that which is in transition. Know that despite the fact there may still be challenges for the future and things to overcome, so much has transitioned and healed throughout this planet and continues to do so. Our efforts do not go unseen and despite their seeming futility at times, it is the intention and the process that matters in the overall scheme of things. To me, nothing is more gratifying than to see a landscape transform, whether an indoor or outdoor environment or that which is our own sense of being. Cherish your accomplishments and your efforts for they do matter. Blessings of Inspiration! 2013 Copyright Awen Environments/Clarissa Harison. |
The Laws of the Universe: A Test of Faith
| Posted on April 13, 2013 at 11:33 AM |
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 Because I'm highly sensitive to my environment and live in alignment with Nature, I feel the Earth rhythms more acutely than most. Each time there's an earthquake or some other natural or man-made disaster, I've begun feeling strange a few days in advance. It's my internal cue that something is up again. I don't always know what it is, but I feel the shifting of the vibration of the planet. We are all affected by shifts in consciousness and planetary disasters, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. The anger and fears of others can quickly spiral into your own negativity, if you're not careful.As the Earth goes through her rebalancing process, the shifts in consciousness continue and the results become more apparent depending on where you are in your level of awareness. The old ways are dismantling and making way for the new. All that which is not in alignment with the Earth is being revealed so that we may take the proper actions to right the wrongs that affect us all. No individual or corporation is immune to the Laws of the Universe. One thing that has become more obvious to me is when things that aren't 'right' get balanced in terms of universal energies and it can happen in a variety of ways. In other words, something that seems unfair to you, suddenly gets straightened out through no major action of your own. I experienced two completely different incidents that drew my attention and caused me to think about how eventually things get balanced out, even when you choose not to act or have no control over a situation. The first occurred while I was shopping with my son at a local grocery store that normally has a pretty friendly environment. I was about to enter in the check out line behind a woman who was almost finished, when a man walked up without a cart whom I thought was her husband. When I moved in closer, he suddenly called his son from behind me and asked him to bring their cart over. I point blank asked him what he was doing and without waiting for a reply, went off to another aisle. I forgot the entire incident as I paid for my groceries and left.  What's scary is there's people out there who are so stressed out that they can make a really big deal out of nothing, not recognizing their own inappropriate actions. These incidents will only increase as tensions rise around the world and energies become increasingly challenging. The only thing you can control is your own reactions to people like this. A completely different scenario involved my son's intramural hockey team at a local boys' club. The season started out promising, but as weeks went on, the team began losing because inevitably children from the other teams would not show up and my son's teammates would either have to play on the other team or an adult would have to play goalie for the opposing team. While I know the point of these games is to have fun and learn to support others, it does become disheartening as your team continues to lose seemingly through no fault of your own. Finally during a playoff game, all the team members showed up and my son's team won as they had deserved. Although they didn't win the championship, they at least were recognized and validated for their abilities at the end of the season. While both of these incidents were relatively minor, they nevertheless represent to me a powerful force within the Universe that affects all life and actions generated by humans. Sometimes the things you want the most don't come to pass, but then you are graced with something even more amazing than what you imagined. As long as we are clear about our intentions and make choices based on integrity and authenticity, we can be assured that things will work out exactly the way they are supposed to in accordance with the Laws of the Universe.  Blessings of Faith! Copyright 2013 Awen Environments/Clarissa Harison. |
Restoring the Sacred to Western New York: a Story of Spiritual/Material Conflict (Part 3)
| Posted on March 26, 2013 at 12:01 PM |
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 This story is part of a series. It is recommended that you refer to Part 1 and Part 2 of this trilogy before reading the following (photo of Chautauqua Lake, NY by Matt Roginski Photography above).Consciousness and human intention are things that are greatly influenced by the geography of an area, but an area is also simultaneously influenced by the intentions of its inhabitants. We only know that which we are taught, unless we choose to move outside that realm into the unknown and learn to trust our intuition and inner guidance. Human intention is a powerful thing and it is the guiding force behind many a success and failure, whether at an individual or community level. As mentioned in prior posts, the knowledge of geomancy and sacred Earth energies was known by many ancient scholars who at some level passed on their knowledge and traditions to the Europeans, particularly the Freemasons who came to this country. There is increasing evidence now that the Freemasons built and also influenced many sacred structures around the US, leaving behind various signs of their beliefs and knowledge of the cosmic influence on architecture called archaeoastronomy, which has been practiced for thousands of years throughout various cultures and civilizations. Scott Wolter, a forensic geologist from the History Channel's documentary program "America Unearthed" has been presenting much of this information on the influence of the Freemasons in the US, providing evidence to support the idea that much of history is not as we've been told.  I think that evidence of an underlying knowledge about Earth energies and ley lines is evident throughout much of WNY. The Chautauqua Institute located on the lands surrounding Chautauqua Lake in WNY, was created in 1874 by Lewis Miller, an Akron, Ohio inventor who was father-in-law to Thomas Edison. Miller sought to create a utopian community "devoted to the highest ideals of the spirit and the intellect." Some would think his choice of land for such a utopian society a mere coincidence, however, I do not. Throughout history there has always been this connection that people have made between architecture and a link to the cosmos, or spiritual energies from the heavens connecting to the Earth and an understanding of the need to locate structures and communities in certain areas (photo of Chautauqua Institute above). The Chautauqua Institute has still maintained its original intention which was that of a pursuit of higher learning and spiritual awakening and the radiance of the healing land energies there is still evident when walking through this community with its carefully created structures and well cared for gardens. Though it does seem to be more of an elitist community of homes as it was originally intended, it is also open to the public and still draws people from all over the world even today with its cultural and educational programs. A wide range of scholars and progressive thinkers have visited these grounds and there is even a miniature replica of the city of Jerusalem created on the property. I'm confident this is not a random placement, but symbolic of sacred Earth energies existing in the area. A second location in the Chautaqua area that is significant is Lilly Dale, one of the first spiritual communities that was created in the WNY region of Cassadaga Lake. This community was originally created by two women in the late 1800's and is today still devoted to metaphysical topics, spiritual studies, as well as developing psychic abilities. This community was created during a time of tremendous spiritual activity within the WNY region, with various religous and spiritual groups seeking a place to practice their individual beliefs throughout the area.  Although many may criticize a gathering of psychics and question their validity, a tremendous amount of progressive and inspirational teachers from around the globe have gathered and taught at Lilly Dale throughout the years and continue to do so every year. The underlying concept there is the connection to the realm of spirit and a belief in something greater than the material world. The old growth forest which is part of this community is inherently sacred and powerful, and I believe the message of spirituality from this location once again is not an accident. There is undoubtedly a history of strong spiritual patterns existing within WNY.Chautauqua Lake, unfortunately, has succumbed to tremendous problems with contamination from pesticide, fertilizer and sewage runoff, resulting in excessive algae. The surrounding region is also relatively poor relying mostly on the tourism industry which has been affected by these contamination problems. What do most of the areas within WNY mentioned in this story (see previous posts) have in common? They are all areas of powerful and sacred Earth energies, however, some through heavy development and their misuse, desecration and/or subsequent blockage of natural harmonious Earth energies, have become areas of economic decline, crime, poverty, disease and/or various forms of hardship. Others, because of their spiritual intentions continue to carry on today with their work and bring light and awareness to this region.  I believe that the more powerful an area in terms of it’s natural existing Earth energies, the darker and more negative the experience of living there can be if the integrity and right use of these energies is not upheld by it's inhabitants and those in control of the natural resources. The land becomes increasingly more negative when toxic chemical and nuclear waste has been buried in these areas, or water has been built upon and/or redirected, as the Earth struggles to breathe and restore balance. Also, some areas should never have been developed with mundane activities, but rather imbued with a continuous spiritual reverence because they are too powerful for daily life and are easily contaminated by human thought and actions.If you happen to live in one of the areas whose natural Earth energies have been distorted by human intervention and lack of awareness, despite your best efforts, your life will most likely be impacted negatively by the underlying energy of your community and city depending on the toxicity and imbalance of the land. Each person's experience will vary depending on what your soul resonates with and your particular need to resolve patterns within your ancestral DNA. Sometimes the more you try to improve your situation, the more you may struggle and seemingly lose the battle, but in truth it is all a path toward self awareness and your body's need to restore balance. I've seen incredible challenges that clients have had to overcome while living on various properties around WNY, some which were once part of large estates which represented a history of misuse of power within WNY. In terms of exposure to geopathic stress (toxic Earth energies), the more your body is compromised vibrationally on a continual basis, the more you will seek out unhealthy patterns and locations that will continue your negative experiences, so it becomes a negative spiral of events unless you recognize these patterns and learn to overcome them. A healthy, vibrationally balanced individual will generally not be attracted to unhealthy situations or geopathically stressed areas unless they are conscious of what needs to be done and willing to work to restore the area to balance as part of their path in life. Dr. Ernst Hartmann, who spent 30 years studying the affects that land energies have on the immune system, has been quoted as saying "individuals placed above an area of geopathic disturbance soon lost the ability to defend themselves against harmful bacteria that previously they were able to withstand."  If you put the pieces of the puzzle together, after a while you stop believing in coincidences and start recognizing that dire economic, disease and societal patterns existing within a city or region have a root cause. In the case of WNY, I believe it is a history of land desecration in it's many forms, both unethical business practices and also physical destruction of the environment, that contributes to the problems that many people experience while living in WNY. Though we may consciously have had nothing to do with decisions that were made throughout the history of a city, we are still affected by their consequences at an energetic level. I believe it is our destiny, as well as our karma, to work through and resolve these societal patterns within our area, by recognizing them within our own lives (photo of Darwin Martin House, Buffalo, NY by Matt Roginski Photography above). I've heard countless numbers of stories from clients, friends, acquaintances, and even random people I've met who experienced tremendous challenges and often even tragedies while living in this region. Some had left and later returned to the Buffalo area in their later years. Often times their misfortune directly coincided with their return to this region, many encountering all forms of challenges, as though this cloud of darkness hovered over the region of Buffalo and the feeling was palpable as soon as your plane descended upon the airport or your car approached the region. I've also known of several geomancy teachers who came from other parts of the world and immediately became overwhelmed and exhausted from the energy of the Buffalo-Niagara region, due to their heightened sensibilitiess and often times they even experienced their own challenges during their stay. Some locals, who have been born and raised here and never left, have experienced nothing but hardship and illness. Eventually you believe it's the norm and that life is meant to be a struggle because that's what you've grown up with and all you've ever known. Once you're in the negative spiral, it takes a tremendous amount of effort and awareness to break it. That is often where faith comes in and a recognition of the meaning behind life lessons. Recognizing that life is meant to be so much more is part of the road back from being a victim to creator of your own destiny and thriving in a changing, challenging world. These challenges are increasing on a daily basis around the globe as the Earth works to restore balance.  I can write about this all now because I have recognized the patterns, as I reflect on my own life since moving back to WNY and especially my experiences while living in one particular town several years ago. For me, my most profound heartwarming, creative and spiritual experiences have occurred right here in WNY. It's very possible that my creative abilities and level of environmental and spiritual awareness would never have developed to the same degree, had I remained in a fast paced, high energy city like Washington, DC for the remainder of my life and continued in a career that did not fulfill me. I will never know for certain, but I believe in my heart I know the answer. Although my life became challenging shortly upon my return to WNY, I also started moving in the direction of who I always was and not the person I thought I should be, as I began pursuing my passions. Though it often happened in profound and unusual ways, it wasn't until I moved to the town of Alden that I was met with all forms of challenge and frustration that included health, career, personal and financial issues that kept me constantly on my feet and often overwhelmed me to the point of exhaustion. I even had a close call with death in the first home when I went into anaphylactic shock while gardening and was rushed to the emergency room. Given what I knew about how our environment affects our wellbeing, I worked hard to transform the energies of both homes during those years and restore balance to my life. In the first home, I felt the energy was a time bomb waiting to explode because the land had so much debris that had been buried there and the historical patterns had not been positive. One of the previous owners had prematurely died suddenly, another had suffered from cancer, and another had lain collapsed in the house for days before someone had found him. One bad thing after another happened while we were living in that house, and yet I felt a strong heartfelt connection to the land and a desire to heal it. I learned a great deal while living there, but it was a tremendous challenge. In the second house in Alden, I knew more about how to work with Earth energies, but still I moved to a new level of understanding because the situation was very different. Despite what I knew, my worked seemed all to no avail, as anything that could have gone wrong did, as soon as we moved in to this house. I continued to work intimately with the land and gradually things improved, but it would seem that there was always something that would crop up to challenge my faith and resolve (photo of Aldinger Farm Sunflowers, Alden, NY below).  After several years, I eventually made the decision to move when we discovered our neighbor had been killing our pets and other animals in the area out of rage and lack of respect for animals. I realized I had to speak up about what was going on when others were afraid to or chose to look the other way. I later learned that I was not alone in my struggles in Alden, as I would eventually come to find out by talking to other people who were living or had lived there. This eventually led me to conclude that there was something inherent in the energies of the land that attracted such misfortune and ill will from neighbors (see Earth Energies: What is Your Home Telling You?). There was something that appeared beyond the scope of my immediate control over my home environment and the principals of feng shui or geomancy as I had come to know them.Interestingly, Alden is also home to the Wende Correctional Facility which is a maximum security prison housing over 1,000 inmates. It was also very close to the neighborhood where I was living at the time. The land where this facility was built was originally donated by the Otto Wende family to Erie County to be designated as a public park. While the land initially became a farm to feed correctional inmates in the Buffalo area, it eventually was decided to build a housing facilty for prison inmates in the 1920s. Although the facility does have a productive horticulture program which contributes to beautifying public spaces, there is no doubt that the energy and consciousness of such a facility has affected the overall energy of the area of Alden. People who think they are not consciously affected by working in such a facility are mistaken. There is also the fact that the original intention of the Wende family for the donation of this land was eventually completely disregarded and contrary to the original desires of the owners. Nevertheless, I have never seen more passionate people, as during the town of Alden's attempt and eventual success in preventing a Walmart from being built on natural wetlands adjacent to my neighborhood during those years. It was a definite step in the right direction toward maintaining the integrity of the land of Alden and preventing further contamination of it's natural existing water source, by preserving the integrity of one of five aquifers in WNY that lies beneath the town of Alden. I became seriously involved with preventing this development when a neighbor who initiated the campaign, approached me in 2006 to help him with his efforts. Sadly this man died suddenly of a heart attack shortly after the developer pulled out of the project and our mission had been accomplished.  I'm confident that much of the hardship, disease and malaise that exists within the WNY region is related to the contamination and redirection of natural water sources. When you understand what Dr. Emoto's experiments have shown about the energy matrix of water, it's not hard to conclude that chemical and nuclear contamination of the surrounding land, and not allowing the water to purify itself through natural land elements and methods, has had a profound effect on this landscape and the consciousness of its inhabitants. Even the flow of water coming from the Niagara River into the Falls has been artificially manipulated for many years now, changing a natural flow of energy to the area, thereby decreasing its life enhancing power. Christopher Bird, author of The Divining Hand discusses the Chinese belief that the Earth is like a human being and water's significance is expressed in his statement "Passing to and fro out of sight, the hidden veins of water served, like the bloodstream of animals, to remove impurities from the body of the Earth...and to deposit curative minerals within it. The Earth's circulatory system was matched by an ever-undulating network of currents in the atmosphere." This understanding is integral to the true foundations of feng shui. The aim is to seek healthy sheng chi (energy) and avoid unhealthy sha chi. If you are surrounded by ill will and mal intentions by neighboring properties, your own life will be tremendously affected because of the constant flow of water energy through the land and into your home. These black streams of sha chi can course through a property and can wreak havoc in your life. The Russians and Austrians have also done a great deal of research on this concept of water carrying information and holding negative vibrations, and I believe it's relevant and was substantiated by the experiences I had. I could just not dismiss them as coincidental, after what I'd gone through and what I knew. Water can have tremendously healing qualities if it is vibrationally clear, but it can also have the opposite effect if it comes into contact with negative intentions and toxins. It is also a life giving force which cannot be denied and can no longer be taken for granted (see movie on global water crisis. Though at the time it was extremely challenging living in both houses, I am now grateful for all that I experienced and overcame there. These experiences enabled me to view life from a much different perspective and I learned to fight for what I believed in and develop an inner strength, faith and resiliency that deepened my spirituality and connection to Nature. I also gained an understanding of the nature of Earth energies and water to such a greater degree, as I began to recognize the profound physical and energetic contamination that is rampant throughout WNY. Since we are surrounded by water in its many forms, this is highly significant in terms of the vibrations held in the land energies here. There are patterns here in WNY and within all of our lives. It is up to each of us to discover and understand their meanings.  Cities carry their own unique energy and depending on where you’re living and what you’re experiencing, I'm confident that if you're being challenged, this is what you have chosen at a soul level to move past your trauma in this lifetime and any ancestral issues (see Patterns: Overcoming Ancestral Trauma) held within your DNA. Your home can either provide you with a safe and life enhancing source of security and inspiration or it can seemingly be your worst enemy draining the very life force out of you by creating all forms of mental, emotional and physical stresses on your well being. This is becoming increasingly more prevalent as the Earth goes through changes. Understanding the energies of the land you have chosen to live upon, is the beginning of changing your circumstances and living a harmonious, healthy, joyful life. Knowing the history of the town or city you live in, is an important part of changing the future both individually and collectively (photo of Guaranty Building, Buffalo, NY by Matt Roginski Photography above).We are all linked to a huge web of energy that covers this planet. Learning how to recognize the history and the patterns such as those present in WNY is the first step toward healing this planet and your own life. A home and its occupants can only be as well as the land that exists beneath their dwelling. Restoring and enhancing the energies in your own environment is key to creating balance in your life. Buffalo is not alone in it's challenges, as there are many similar former manufacturing cities around the world which are currently suffering from a similar predicament and those in areas such as Chernobyl or Fukishima that have been facing a far more severe challenge. I think the answers lie at an individual level for all of us. Though the circumstances appear daunting at times, focus on one's individual self and environment can ultimately have far reaching effects for all of us.  It is my sincerest hope that other countries follow the initiative of Ecuador who has now given constitutional Rights to Nature (Pachamama) to prevent further environmental degradation of their country. Ecuador's courageous movement led by it's own indigenous President and people serves as a symbol for other countries to follow in the forthcoming years. The Rainforests of this world are desperately needed to anchor healing energies for this planet on a global scale. Without them, this planet will surely die and humankind with it. For those living in areas where the land has already been desecrated, it's important to know that all can be healed. The plants, technology, and awareness required to restore balance, heal the soil and water, as well as ourselves exists, but it requires a combination of spiritual and physical work on everyone's part-- right relationship with the land and an understanding that this planet is a living being and we need her.How do we integrate our need to create economic development and prosperity while maintaining respect for cultural and architectural achievements, and the right use of natural resources? I believe the answer lies in working alongside Nature by understanding it's inherent characteristics and perfection, as well as developing technologies that harness these natural existing energies while utilizing sustainable, ecological methods. No one benefits in the long term when land is desecrated, least of all our children or descendants. Healing and restoring the sacredness of all life to the area that we live in through our actions and intentions is paramount in these changing and tumultuous times on Earth. We simply cannot continue the same patterns and expect different results. You also cannot simply run away from what challenges you because these patterns will follow you wherever you go. Unknowingly you will be drawn at a soul level to similar patterns of dis-ease in your next choice of home regardless of it's geographic location, unless you resolve these energetic patterns right where you are and then you can move on. Recognition and understanding are the keys to opening the door and initiating healing. Holding a higher intention for restoring the sacred energies of WNY or wherever you may live, is the key to transforming the well being of this planet.  The answer lies within each and every one of us to restore the sacredness to the land that we occupy, and in so doing, create joy and wellness within our lives and communities, as well as for our descendants. Piece by piece these parcels of land will connect both physically and energetically, eventually restoring health and well being to this planet we call HOME. We cannot wait for institutions and organizations to take the initiative to clean up the mess made by industrializaton and development, we need to clean up the mess within our own domain. Take care of yourself and your space, however large, small or insignificant your home may seem and wherever it may be, and imbue it with your intentions and love, and make it SACRED ONCE AGAIN.Blessings of Earth Wisdom! For a different prospective of the Earth view the movie "Overview." References and Further Information: Dr. Mercola, Should You Protect Yourself From Earth Radiation? Copyright 2013 Awen Environments/Clarissa Harison. |