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CONNECT TO THE EARTH
Earth is where I live. She is real. She helps me see better. There is a special place I can go.
Sometimes it's a mountain, or maybe the beach. Here I can breathe. I don't feel scared anymore. I can relax.
I lay with my stomach on the ground, I don't feel sad, or mad, after I lay down on her.
– by Maria Yraceburu, creator of “CONNECT TO THE EARTH”

 
In December, I decided to sit down and write a children's book, and within days my friend, Jill Stevenson, who is an Experiential Learning public charter school art teacher and visionary artist, agreed to dream the illustrations to life.

Through the years, both Jill and I have been involved in introducing nature's ways to young and old alike. I grew up in nature and learned so much through the ancient earth wisdom of Native America, that when I hit college, I was already working with autistic children, women surivors of incest and pstd veterans by taking them out into nature and facilitiating moments of self discovery and healing.

This year, within our extended family community we've had at least a dozen young boys around the age of 10 diagnoised with autism. I listened to adults who can't play and who are terrified in nature pondering what's happened in our world, and where we are headed.

If the future is going to look different than the present, we need to return upcoming generations to relationships with the planet, imagination, compassion and conviction to be solid in who they are, confident in their voices, and our ability to listen. For more than 50 years, my mission individually and through our non-profit Yraceburu EarthWisdom, has been to combine the best of the past, with the best of the present, to educate and bring everyone home to an awareness of the fragility and power of life on this planet.

Just as my work through Yraceburu EarthWisdom and WorldWide Women's Circle is helping community members with empathy, insight and moral courage, I am working to grow a generation of open-minded, curious and compassionate leaders of the future through the power of story and connection.

Looking back
Imagine if you will… take a moment to think back to your childhood play: a great time of fantasy, playing spontaneously. Think of a specific moment, perhaps a day with your "imaginary friend." What were you doing? What were you passionate about?

Now imagine if there had been someone who had taught you about fairies, how to watch nature and literally immersed you in that dynamic interplay. Imagine what it would have been like to have nature support you and help you understand life changes, help you find your own answers and stand strong in your voice, and help you see how you fit into the world.

From these first early days, the direction of CONNECT TO THE EARTH was cast, featuring simple eco-psychology and indigenous concepts in a child's voice, our book validates a wide range of ways to connect to nature that not only bring joy in the reading, but also in the action.

In February we introduced our CONNECT TO THE EARTH FACEBOOK ACTIVITY GROUP, which puts out things to do over the weekend in a colorful and hopeful celebration of childhood.

In September, we launch the book at a time when the importance of connection in our daily lives has become so much more than just a buzzword.

In the months that we've been preparing, we've been honored with endorsements from many people, including the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Santee School District, Stephanie Pierce, Ed.D., "The book provides several entry points for children to think and wonder about their relationship to nature."

Looking ahead
As the book campaign begins, I feel a renewed sense of purpose and passion for the work we are doing with CONNECT TO THE EARTH.

Today, as racial slurs, ptsd and naturephobia surge, it is more important than ever before that we raise our children to be open-minded, planetarily aware and compassionate citizens; and to be the next generation of empathetic leaders.

With CONNECT TO THE EARTH, we have started designing School Emissary Packets to make programs easily available, furthering our commitment to opening children’s hearts and minds and making them stronger than ever before.

In a few short months since it's completion, we have been in discussion to put books into four schools, from Maryland to the San Francisco Bay area up to Alaska, and to our home bases here in San Diego for me, and in Truckee for Jill. With the help of our educational liasion Denise Peters and Emissary Project Coordinator Elizabeth O'Hara Yager, we're making it our collective goal to raise $200,000 to put 10,000 books in schools by Summer 2019, at no cost to the schools.

We are in a world where everything is possible
In the words of my friend Brooke Medicine Eagle, “What a wonderful offering – will help get kids started right!” As Alberto Villoldo, PhD says “Connect to the Earth is the guide to everyday beauty and grace in your life. In our times when we have become deeply disconnected, Maria offers us an indispensable compass and a treasure map to recover our natural birthright.”

As part of our community, you are in the “live in a world where all things are possible”. If you believe in CONNECT TO THE EARTH’s mission, you have “your life grounded in the future”. Each time you help to put a book into a child’s hands, you make a difference. You are educating and expanding young minds and helping to create our next generation of leaders.

Together, we’re driving a movement to open children’s hearts and minds by connecting them to nature.
And together, we are part of something more powerful than we can be on our own.
Power up, let's do this!
 
Maria Yraceburu
earthwisdom elder, author & teacher
http://www.connecttotheearth.com