Earth Spirit Living:
Bringing Heaven and Nature into your Home
by Ann Marie Holmes
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Review by Allie Knowlton
Ann Marie Holmes’ comprehensive book provides the reader with creative and practical ways to honor our partnership with the Earth. She describes herself as an “earth intuitive” and in every section of her work, she offers encouragement for anyone of us to use our intuition to strengthen our relationship with the physical space in which we live. Her passion flows from her conviction that the natural world holds information for us that can help us live healthier, happier and more successful lives. To support to us, she presents specific tools, tips, and exercises to sharpen our instincts and abilities to recognize and work with the energies in our homes, offices and backyard.
The author offers her information in an organized, detailed and reader-friendly way. The book encourages the reader to either focus on one section of interest or follow one in more in depth. Whichever approach the reader chooses, they will reap the benefits of the author’s personal experiences taken from her eighteen years of consulting with contractors, designers, homeowners, and renters. She has used her expertise for homes that were not selling, rooms that no one wants to spend time in, and to support greater productivity or harmony in work environments. In addition, she has helped to find to solutions to encourage a flow of energy on a property being intentionally developed in harmony with the local earth spirits.
As a shamanic practioner, what I found exciting was the author’s description of nature intelligence and nature's invisible pattern/blueprint. She sees that each physical form in the natural world has such an energetic blueprint. The author's work draws from her experience and relationship with Dorothy MacLean, a founding memer of the Findhorn Community who is a poineer in communicating with aspects of nature. In her work, Holmes confirms the role that nature beings hold in the energetic blueprint for a plant, animal, species or area. She observes that they are always weaving energy, reinforcing a disturbed points and responding to the changes brought about by humans. “The job of these nature intelligences is not to prevent change nor to react to changes with distress, but rather to maintain health and harmony by adapting to changes in ways that stay true to the blurprint, keeping the patterns of life force clear and flowing.”
Holmes suggests several specific ways for us to connect with nature beings which she calls “attunements”. These begin by selecting a setting where you will not be interrupted. This can be indoors or outdoors and in a rural, urban or wilderness area. Holmes suggests the process begins with taking breaths. One follows with relaxing, releasing thoughts and using our imagination to ground through the earth or floor. Then we allow ourselves to feel gratitude for the earth and wait to receive the feeling of the Earth’s response. We can extending an invitation to the local earth spirit or deva to meet with us. We can ask that spirit a specific question, noticing any impressions such as experiences of joy washing over us. Then we are free to take action on any information that is received. This is just a small example of the suggestions Holmes presents for us to connect with nature beings.
As a shamanic practitioner, we use the shamanic journey process to expand consciousness for the purpose of connection. In addition to the above described methods, we use a repetitive sound like a drum, rattle or music to support our ability to perceive the messages the spirits of place want to share. An example of this happened recently in our lives. Our next door neighbor built a large barn adjacent to our driveway on the south side of our property. We were deeply disturbed by losing our precious view of the Royal River, just two houses down the street from us and for the impact on the area's nature spirits. We were concerned about the disturbance this enormous building had upon the middle world spirits (what Holmes refers to as the energetic blueprint) As a result of my concern, I asked to meet with a middle world spirit from our land.
A male hummingbird immediately arrived in my journey and agreed to assess the situation. After a thorough trip around the area, Hummingbird reported that a maple tree on our land and a spruce tree belonging to a neighbor adjacent to the new construction were reweaving the spiritual fabric. He told me that our prayers an offerings were contributing to the reweaving. Hummingbird also reported that the spirit of the apple tree that was cut down for the new barn had chosen to contribute its energy to an aging apple tree in our backyard. In gratitude, I tearfully I thanked the Hummingbird who joyfully reminded me it would be returning in physiclal form very soon!
Holmes’ book offers many wonderful ceremonies to work with nature spirits. These ceremonies include ancient rituals many of which are drawn from her Black Sect Tantric Buddhist tradition. However, people of every spiritual tradition who want to work with the spirits in their homes, work place, and the earth will find this book both enjoyable and useful.
- Allie
Earth Spirit Living- Bringing Heaven and Nature into your Home Ann Marie Holmes
Atria Books 1230 Avenue of Ameerica
New York, NY 10020 ISBN# 13-978-1-58270-150-9
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