Today is Earth Day, the one day each year we come together to celebrate the wonder of this planet we call home. Below are surfer Leah Dawson’s favorite ways to honor and appreciate Mother Nature. Most of them involve getting outside. That means you should read these, then ditch your computer, and get to the beach. That’s how Leah will be celebrating, and that’s what Earth Day is all about.
Surfing
When I enter the ocean each time, I put my hands in the water and thank the ocean for allowing me to become one with it. I often say a prayer of gratitude for keeping me safe and for the lessons I will learn from the session.
Touching Trees
Anywhere we go, we’ll sooner or later find a tree. The Native Americans call them “The Standing People” and that has always resonated with me. Trees carry stories, they give us oxygen, they utilize our natural world to live, and provide us life. I love to touch trees wherever I am, and say a brief statement of gratitude. With a deep breath in, I cant help but feel a sense of presence and appreciation for all that is when I’m standing at the base of a tree.
Walking Barefoot
To me, there’s no better way to ‘feel a place’ than to walk on its raw ground with my bare feet. When we do, we receive Negative Ions from the earth, which are vital to human health. This is our natural battery charger and we just have to utilize it.
Rocks and Crystal Collections
I always carry with me a small bag of stones and crystals that I have been given and collected. I feel a sense of grounding and protection through these stones. If I ever feel confused, disrupted, or out-of-tune, I hold my crystals in my hands and allow their energy to re-balance me.
Sand Therapy
Roll around in the sand and let it cover you from head to toe. I love the practice of feeling the particles of the earth all over my body. Each beach has different sand, yet unanimously the same powerful energy. With gratitude, I treat the sand covering my body as medicine, and I always feel refreshed after rinsing off the Sand Therapy.
