11 Simple Ways to Create Beauty in Your Environment
Our planet is beautiful, but it’s also in trouble. With rising pollution and global warming concerns, along with extreme weather patterns, it’s clear that Mother Earth is suffering. And many of us want to do something about it.
There are lots of ways to create beauty in the environment. And we’ll talk about 11 powerful yet simple ideas to do that. But before we can do that, it’s important to first create a positive mindset shift toward Mother Earth.
Why “saving the environment” might be the wrong mindset
It’s important to save the environment, but even this mindset can get in the way. That’s because it keeps a wide divide between us and the planet. For example, if we look at people and the planet as separate and objective things, it promotes this idea of man-versus-wild.
What’s more, it creates identities that no longer serve us. It promotes the idea that in this world, human beings are more powerful than Mother Earth and can (and often do!) dominate her.
But it’s high time we challenge ourselves to adopt a different mindset. Instead of “saving the environment”, what if we tried to connect with Mother Earth instead?
Why it’s important to connect with Mother Earth again
The revered Buddhist monk, Thich Naht Hanh, believes people should look at themselves and the planet as one and the same thing, and not as separate entities.
Hanh teaches, “You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside you. Mother Earth is not just your environment…So, breath in and be aware of your body, and look deeply into it and realize you are the Earth, and your consciousness is also the consciousness of the earth.”
When we believe we are deeply connected with Mother Earth, the environment isn’t some “thing” we get to manage and manipulate. It’s something to love and respect. Having this awareness can help us look at the planet with new eyes.
As Hanh says, “When we recognize the virtues, the talent, the beauty of Mother Earth, something is born in us, some kind of connection, love is born.”
Replace “saving” Mother Earth with “loving” Mother Earth
Having love for Mother Earth can really infuse all of our environmental acts with positive healing energy.
The bestselling author of Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert shared that she didn’t write any of her books with the intention of “helping” people. Instead, she followed her creativity and did what she loved. And in that way, she ended up helping people.
She writes in Big Magic that “Whenever anyone tells me that they want to write a book in order to help other people, I always think, ‘Oh, please don’t. Please don’t try to help me.”
It’s not that Gilbert is against helping people. It’s just that it’s better to act from a place of love. When you do, you are infinitely more “helpful” than when you act out of obligation or because you “should” do something.
And this just might be the best mindset when it comes to our environment. In fact, maybe we’re not the ones who ought to be doing all the saving. Maybe it’s time to admit that Mother Earth can save, protect and care for us.
The truth is, there are many simple ways to create beauty in our environment, but the best place to start is by reconnecting with Mother Earth on a spiritual and energetic level. Then, we can truly create – or perhaps more accurately – finally see and recognize the beauty that’s already in our environment.
Here are 11 simple ways to create beauty in your environment
- Spend time in nature without any technology
It’s frustrating trying to spend quality time with someone who’s always on their phone, isn’t it? So, when you spend time in nature, leave your phone behind. This allows you to notice Mother Earth in ways you never have before.
- Meditate on a god or goddess
There are many gods and goddesses who represent different aspects of nature. For one thing, there’s the Greek goddess, Gaia, who’s the personification of Mother Earth herself.
Then, there’s also Artemis, the guardian of the forest. These are only two of the countless deities that represent different aspects of nature. And meditating on them, or getting to know them better, can give you a fresh and inspiring perspective on Mother Earth and all her glory.
- Sit outside
As a child, did you sit on your grandmother’s lap, as she bounced you up and down, or sang to you? Maybe it’s time to admit that we’re really children in the care of an ancient mother and that we need to sit down more often.
But this isn’t just metaphorical. Earthing is a practice where you literally connect with the earth by either sitting on the ground or walking barefoot in order to connect to the earth’s natural energy. In fact, doing so can reduce inflammation, pain, and aging, as well as free radical damage.
- Acknowledge the natural wonders around you
We’re all attracted to different things. For some, it’s a sublime mountain range. For others, it’s the cheerful flowers lining the sidewalks.
So, if something strikes you or takes your breath away, don’t keep it to yourself. Instead, send that energy to the natural wonders around you.
You can thank the flowers for gracing your walk and adding beauty to your life. And the same goes for fragrant lilac bushes, fresh morning air, the shade of a big oak tree, the reflective qualities of a nearby lake, the cooling and cathartic character of summer rain, or the constancy of the sun.
- Mindfulness and meditation
You can create beauty in your environment by practicing mindfulness (spending time outdoors without technology) and meditation. Maybe that means taking your yoga practice outside. Or, offering a prayer to your favorite god or goddess. Maybe that means sending gratitude to Mother Earth and her wonderful characteristics, too. In short, how can you be more fully present to Mother Earth?
- Savor your food from Mother Earth
Do you remember how Hanh said we should see ourselves as connected to Mother Earth and not separate from her? A wonderful way to remember your constant connection is in the food you eat and drink.
Nothing beats a mother’s home cooking, and Mother Earth is always offering us something delicious to eat. For example, when you sip your favorite tea, remember that this a completely free and natural gift from Mother Earth. The same goes for your favorite fruit, vegetable or grain, etc.
- Visit an orchard or local farm
Another reason why we’re so disconnected from Mother Earth, and see our planet as a separate entity is because we have very few opportunities to really see it. Instead, we get our food sliced, diced, packaged and prepared.
So, why not visit a farm or orchard and see where your food really comes from? It’s one easy way to marvel at Mother Earth’s fecundity and abundance.
- Bring plants into your home
You may not live near a park or forest, but no worries. You can bring plants into your home. It’s a wonderful way to create beauty in your environment. What’s more, Mother Earth offers many healing benefits through her plants.
For example, lavender can help cultivate mental calm. Fragrant jasmine is believed to attract more love and money into your life. And plants, in general, can help purify the air throughout your home, too. And if you’re attracted to a specific house plant, give it a place in your home. You never know, maybe you need its healing energy.
- Incorporate crystals throughout your living space
Mother Earth houses many beautiful and powerful crystals. And when you place them throughout your immediate environment, you connect with the healing energies of our planet.
There is an abundance of information out there regarding crystals and healing gems. But for now, here are just a few examples to prick your interest.
Citrine is a vibrant orange stone and it attracts wealth. Rose quartz is a gentle pink color and attracts love. Black obsidian helps to neutralize negative energies. And there are so many more crystals that support you and your physical and emotional needs.
- See the world through Celtic eyes
In Celtic wisdom, everything in the natural world has a spiritual essence. It’s something known as “animism.” You can think of every natural object animated with spirit.
For ancient Irish cultures, it wasn’t that there was a god or goddess for the trees, and then the actual trees. Instead, the trees themselves were spiritual, like the sacred Bíle trees. Or, Lú, the storm god.
If animism doesn’t resonate with you, you can also consider the Christian approach, according to the tradition of St. Francis. He is famous for his love of nature, and his Canticle of the Sun is a beautiful love song to all of God’s creation.
And even though St. Francis sits within Christian tradition – seeing God, man and nature as separate things – he still connects everyone together in God’s love.
In his famous canticle, St. Francis sings of Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brothers Wind, Sister Water, Brother Fire, Mother Earth and Sister Death.
- Learn about spirit animals
It’s easy to sing along with St. Francis about the beauty of the sun and moon, but what about the things you’re not so crazy about? For example, do the weeds in your front yard bother you? What about worms and spiders? Not a fan of cats? What about snakes?
The thing is, we move through life with beliefs and opinions that can keep us from getting to know Mother Earth better.
Now, that doesn’t mean you have to write a canticle about Brother Worm and Sister Snake, but is there something you can learn from them? In fact, when you explore spirit animals, you can challenge your beliefs and even change your mind about different creatures.
These are 11 simple ways to create beauty in your environment. Many of them can help you see yourself connected to Mother Earth in a loving relationship.
The magical thing is that once we make these mental shifts, we don’t really create beauty. Instead, we finally recognize the beauty that’s already there, and we can fall in love with Mother Earth all over again.
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