Do What It Takes
Awaken Refreshed And Be Stirred Into Action
The Heartwood Path can move you in any of the following ways: from fear to love, from ignorance to knowledge, from indecision and stagnation to willfulness, from striving in lust to arrival in bliss, from dependence to interdependence, from ineffectiveness to effectiveness, from worry to peace, from egoism to selflessness, from despair to joy, from no place to some place, from detachment to belonging, from deception to truth, from toxicity to purity, from apathy to care, from alienation to bonding, from financial insecurity to financial freedom, from disease to health, from domination to partnership, from self-improvement to environmental improvement, and from environmental improvement to self-improvement. Each of these movements will be addressed later in this series of substacks. By its end you will be awakened refreshed and stirred into action.
Do what it takes to awaken refreshed and be stirred into action.
Congratulations for making it this far. This path is designed to make you happier. It is also adding a new dimension to the environmental movement.
For the most part, the environmental movement focuses its attention on saving the Earth one place at a time (like Yosemite Valley in California or the Meramec River in Missouri, for example) or one resource at a time (like the air through the passage of amendments to the Clean Air Act or wildlife through the passage of conservation funding, for example). Those who follow the Heartwood Path, while recognizing the importance of saving places and resources, add a pivotal new dimension to the environmental movement: they undertake a spiritual odyssey focusing on saving the Earth one person at a time.
The Heartwood Path can move you from fear to love, from dependence to interdependence, from ineffectiveness to effectiveness, from worry to peace, from egoism to selflessness, and from despair to joy.
Like environmentalists, eartHearts—those who follow the Heartwood Path—concern themselves with air, but when eartHearts do it they are adding to the consideration its mystical and metaphorical aspects, particularly those that relate to helping with personal wellbeing.
Searches for personal wellbeing often reveal deeper truths about humanity. Here are some mystical and metaphorical aspects associated with this quest:
In mythology and literature, personal wellness can be described as an epic quest known as the hero's journey. This archetype involves facing obstacles head on while dealing with inner demons before ultimately realizing transformation and self-realization.
The Heartwood Path can move you from apathy to care, from alienation to bonding, from self-improvement to environmental improvement, and from environmental improvement to self-improvement.
Alchemy represents a journey toward inner transformation and spiritual enlightenment, while in personal wellbeing terms this transformation involves turning negative experiences or qualities into opportunities for positive growth and self-discovery.
Metaphorically, cultivating one's personal wellbeing can be likened to tending an internal garden. Just as gardeners nurture plants to flourish, individuals must also cultivate qualities like self-awareness, compassion, and resilience so as to foster peace and harmony within themselves.
Mysticism refers to this period as a spiritual crisis or period of intense suffering that precedes spiritual awakening and renewal. Individuals searching for personal wellbeing may encounter their own "Dark Night of the Soul", experiencing moments of despair or existential questioning which lead them to profound insights and personal growth.
For individuals to experience full health and happiness, personal wellbeing involves delving deep within themselves to find hidden truths, unresolved emotions and untapped potential that lies dormant within themselves. This journey of self-discovery can be seen as exploring uncharted territories within themselves to lead towards increased understanding and acceptance.
Like the mythical Phoenix, who rises from its own ashes after being consumed by fire, personal wellbeing may require going through periods of upheaval or crisis followed by renewal and personal growth.
Those who follow the Heartwood Path undertake a spiritual odyssey focusing on saving the Earth one person at a time.
Spiritual traditions often speak of an "inner light," or divine spark within each person that represents their innate wisdom, resilience and capacity for love. Cultivating personal wellbeing requires connecting with this inner light and letting it illuminate and guide our path forward.
Mystical traditions often refer to the sacred union between opposites - such as light and dark or masculine and feminine energies - as an essential step toward wholeness and integration. Personal wellbeing typically involves accepting all parts of oneself; both strengths and vulnerabilities alike must be accepted and integrated for optimal well-being.
To practice conscious breathing, commune with nature, breathe in self-acceptance, and breathe out self-judgment.
Mystical teachings emphasize the value of living in the present moment without attachments to either past or future events, cultivating personal wellbeing through anchoring yourself to this eternal now where true peace and contentment abide.
Participating in life can be seen as participating in an interdependent web of forces and energies that influence experiences and relationships - this dynamic dance should be met with openness, flexibility and grace so as to experience its benefits more fully and lead to increased harmony and satisfaction in personal well-being.
Overall, personal wellbeing encompasses multiple dimensions that reflect its journey of self-discovery, transformation and spiritual awakening. By engaging in these aspects, individuals can deepen their knowledge of themselves while creating more peace, joy and fulfillment in their lives.
