“For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love." - Carl Sagan

Personal, Grassroots, National, and Worldwide. The 3 Step Reciprocity Cycle really does apply to the micro and macro. Today, let's explore the full spectrum. Then chose the thing that you can do.

Acknowledge Earth Is Our Home

In the aftermath of something like Hurricane Helene, the "What can I do?" sense of overwhelm can be exasperated. Our sense of safety is put to the test. The stability of home we crave is shook. And this is where I believe returning to a sense of relationship is once again vital. How can we nurture one another and this planet both immediately and into the future?

Well for many in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, immediacy is key. If you have direct connections, I encourage you to support them. If not, here's trusted sources I pulled from. The first 3 are focused on grassroots and local programs that have intimate connections and networks.

CERF+

Serving craft artists through emergency relief, preparedness, education, and advocacy

Personalized and connected FB lists pointing towards local organizations who are better able to be on the ground at this time.

Mia Hetenyi and Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine

Finally, local NC News Station WFMY2 has a list of vetted organizations that are already in action in Helene impacted areas. Donating money to these organizations helps increase their abilities and reach. While donating supplies is helpful, many organizations are currently requesting funds first, in order to help meet immediate, basic needs and until they figure out exactly what supplies will be most needed.

Discover Your Earth Archetype

As I continue to work on long term efforts to shift the cultural footprint toward a reciprocal relationship with nature, I'm working on at least 10 different things. Applications. Grants. Podcasts. Executive Producers. Impact Partners. Film Festivals. Illustrations. Audiences. And more...

Such is the life of a creative entrepreneur.

But what I'm currently finding curious is the ebb and flow of the journey of thoughts and emotions that join me on the ride.

For example, after stewing on how to give direction to illustrators to do trials to decide who to work with into the future for the creation of the Earth Archetypes drawings...I felt confident. Using AI for inspiration. Pulling from real life people I knew. Collecting images. Deciding on symbolism. A-has on the yoga mat, I felt ready to make magic. When the first trial came in, I saw an obvious misunderstanding and was able to give all 4 an updated bit of news to guide the process. Yet now as the samples are coming in...my heart is sinking. The concrete creativity is not matching the goals. Sooo....

I let it sit yesterday while I plunged into a grant. One that I've been noodling on for a couple weeks now and collecting critical information from key partners and examples. And earlier this week, I sat down with specific questions and deliverables needed which allowed me to finalize my outreach to partners and fully articulate the vision with well aligned grant goals. It felt like a wonderful balance of my creative mission and ability to organize creative energy.

Now today, I have a couple key conversations that will point me in the "What's next?" for those projects. Who knows where that will lead? And what emotions may stir.

But I do know that I will return to the illustrations...feel the fear...look at the work...and allow myself to grow into the next evolution of the process -- whether that's deemed "success" or "failure."

My, oh my... the process of relationship.

Join me?

Work Together in Community

Perhaps you've heard of the EarthShot Prize. It's been around now for a couple years and is a great example of working together as innovators, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and advocates.

Taken directly from the website's about page (to make sure we are all on the same page)...

"Inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot” challenge in 1962 to land a man on the moon within a decade, The Earthshot Prize was launched by Prince William in 2020 to search for and scale the most innovative solutions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges.

Change is not yet happening fast enough or at the scale we need. Levels of climate anxiety and despondency are high and political interventions are happening too slowly.

Despite all these challenges, we are optimists. We see genuine pathways to an era of regeneration and abundance.

We want to unleash the urgent optimism required to accelerate and scale the environmental innovations that will repair and regenerate our planet.

Our challenge to the world is based on five Earthshots – simple but ambitious and universal goals for 2030 developed in collaboration with leading environmental experts. They are Protect and Restore Nature; Clean our Air; Revive our Oceans; Build a Waste-Free World; and Fix our Climate."

And this year's 15 finalists (3 in each category) have been announced. So if you are looking for a dose of inspiration, check out their stories.