If you listen to the news you can be left feeling powerless as wars constantly rage around the Globe and natural habitats are polluted or destroyed. We have to believe that it is possible for the Planet to flourish into the New Age and for people to live in peace and harmony with each other, whatever strife the media portrays. We cannot be of assistance to the Planet if we allow ourselves to be sucked into feelings of despair and desolation.

Creation starts at the level of thought and each one of us can choose to think life affirming and beautiful thoughts for our Planet. It is up to us to hold sacred the vision of a bountiful Earth that we share with all our relations. The Earth is not here for humans alone, it is home to our animal, plant and stone brothers and sisters, not forgetting the devas, elementals and other beings who usually go unseen by humankind. If we hold a positive vision of what the Earth could be, we can move towards this reality.

Ideas for Earth Healing
We can perform actual, physical, Earth healing. We can pick up litter, plant trees, feed birds, hang nest boxes, create nature friendly habitats in our gardens and communities. There are wildlife organisations in many places that would be happy to recruit new volunteers if you’d like to work with others.

We can aim to ‘tread lightly upon the World’. Being more thoughtful about your ecological footprint on the Planet is worthwhile. The potential for making a difference as a conscientious consumer is huge. Are you aware of food miles? Do you purchase Fairtrade products where possible? Do you recycle as much waste as you can? What about biodegradable packaging? Recycled goods? Sustainable resources? Organic gardening?

We may think that our individual actions and decisions are unimportant, but the effects are cumulative and collectively we are powerful. The more people that make conscious purchasing and lifestyle decisions based on helping the environment the more Governments and industries will notice and respond to consumer demands. Ultimately they need us!

On a more spiritual level we can connect to sacred spaces where we may more easily talk to the Land. We may find a sacred space in Nature, such as a holy well, a natural spring, a special tree, a cave, or a stone circle, or we can make our own sacred spaces, creating a medicine wheel, a peace garden, an altar, or a shrine. Sacred spaces are places where the energy is heightened and the barriers between the material world and that of Spirit are thinner. It is easier in these places to contact the spirits of the land and perform healing ceremonies or ask for their guidance.

Our intentions are powerful, so don’t underestimate the value of positive visualisation and sending healing to places that need help, whether that be because of natural disaster, war, pollution or environmental desecration. Your energy will reach that place and combined with the many thousands of others sending peaceful thoughts and healing it will make a difference.

Altars can give us a focal point for our sacred work. You could also create a shrine for Earth Healing in your garden. Suitable objects to place on an Earth Healing altar or into a shrine might include Goddess figures such as Gaia or Kwan Yin, or a spirit of Nature such as the Green Man or Cernunnos. Representations of faeries and angels, butterflies and birds are also appropriate as are other natural objects such as flowers and shells.

Check that you have represented the elements. Earth may be represented with crystals and stones, fire with candles or a fire bowl, air with incense or feathers, water with a dish of water or a fountain. You might want to commit to a daily or weekly time when you will sit at the altar or by your shrine, light a candle and say prayers or mantras for the Earth.

Tibetan monks have a long tradition of creating and hanging prayer flags decorated with images and prayers to be carried around the World as blessings on the wind. Tibetan Prayer flags are relatively inexpensive to purchase, but you can also make your own prayer flags and draw or write your heartfelt wishes for the World on them. Unbleached calico is a good cloth to use and you can choose the shape and size of your flags and how you’d like to decorate them. You can draw pictures or symbols, write single words, affirmations, mantras or prayers. Use markers that won't run in the rain!

When you have completed your flags sew them onto a fabric tape and hang them where they can catch the breeze and take your blessings out into the world. This makes a lovely community or school project with each person designing their own flag to be added to the whole. I made a lovely string of prayer flags with my students and we hung them up outside on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 to send our blessings of peace, healing and harmony out on the breeze.

Sandra Ingerman's Medicine for the Earth has inspired many to perform Earth healing ceremonies.