We are symbiotic with Gaia. 
We are not separate from each other—humans and the earth.
We are not separate from the planet we live on. 

It is about more than recycling, or living green, or finding green energy, or ending climate change, or supporting ways to live in ecological soundness. Of course, these are all tremendously  important! 

But from a spiritual perspective, it is also deeply important that we love. 
We love Gaia, with our full hearts. 
We say this over and over, as prayer to the earth. 
We are fully grateful, for the gift of living on this planet. 

If you have not grounded yourself lately--gotten out into real nature, and truly connected—it is time to do that today. 

When we love the earth, we love with our whole hearts. 
And she, of course, hears us. 

If we are grateful, if we give thanks—does this make us "good"?
Does this mean we are further on the spiritual path than someone else?

No, it does not. 

Remember: there is no hierarchy of souls.
One soul is not "good" while another soul is "bad", regardless of our actions here on earth.
All souls are perfect.

That's the Divine part of us. But in the earthly, worldly, day-to-day part, the part where our very Divine soul inhabits our very earthly human container, being grateful can help us on our path. 

Gratitude helps, because it lifts vibration. 
When we raise vibration, even if just for a moment, we become aware. 
When we become aware, even if just for a moment, we remember who we really are. 

Whenever you are deeply grateful for your human experience—the good, the bad, the all of it—you open your consciousness a little bit more. 

Over time, you start to live in grace. 

What happens when we create ritual? 
When we use fire, sage, sound or scent to represent our spiritual intention? 
When we mark an event or understanding in a serious and meaningful way? 

What I have found, is that ritual creates magic. 
It is the clearest way to let the Universe know that you are deeply, deeply grateful. 
It is taking a moment in the fabric of the Universe—sliding between the layers and levels of all the dimensions—and recognizing what a great gift it is to be here. 

If you have not created ritual lately, it might be time. 
You can create ritual to say thank you, or you can create ritual to remember, or you can create ritual to release. 

There is no special way to do it, either. 
Fire, sage, sound and scent are common markers. 
But you can do whatever works for you—it is a creative, unique process. 
Perhaps a ritual is waiting for you today. 

When we arrange our life so that our priority is "being" instead of "doing", everything changes.

It doesn't mean we give up our responsibilities, or we stop working toward goals that are meaningful to us. It doesn't mean we stop doing what needs to be done.

What it does mean, is that we begin to treat our "beingness" as something of value. 

Downtime isn't dumb. 
Relaxation isn't lazy. 
Slowing down isn't a character flaw. 

To "be here now" means to treat every single moment with appropriate awe and wonder. 
It's ALL part of the experience. 
Not just the "doing" part.

The more you can be intentional about making space for "being" in your life, the more joy you will experience. And this is what we are here for. 

What do you find meaningful in your life?
What really matters to you? 

If you ask most people what matters to them, you might expect these answers: 
"My family matters most."
"My relationships matter most." 
"My work matters most." 
"My health matters most." 

Of course, all of these are very important—they are worthy of mattering. 
And yet what's not on this list, might be what you find the most important of all: 

How you experience this lifetime. 

Not the way you think about your experiences. 
Not the narrative or story you tell. 
But how you experience life, moment to moment to moment, every moment as Now. 

If you have a chance today, to engage in a Now moment that is breathtaking in its beauty and wholeness, how wonderful would that be? 

Put in the simplest terms: Gratitude brings us to grace. 

No matter how we are feeling, what we are thinking, or how miserable our life seems to be, the moment we turn our attention to gratitude, everything changes. 

We physically change—we deeply relax. 
We emotionally change—we become flooded with feeling. 
We intuitively change—we open to awareness. 
We spiritually change—we connect with everything.