Earth Sanctuary – micheleplumbstowell.org

159. No Spoilers, Finishing the Good Place

“It turns out life isn’t a puzzle that can be solved one time and it’s done. You wake up every day, and you solve it again.” (Chidi Anagonye, The Good Place

I literally sobbed my way through the last episode of the sitcom. As a nation bereft of spiritual understanding (no offense), the entire premise of the Good Place has exposed us to religion, philosophy, and spirituality. Fear not. I am fairly certain that you can watch all four seasons and miss that entirely, or slide through and avoid rethinking your mortality.

When I opened my computer this morning, a picture of the forest in Earth Sanctuary randomly popped up on the screen. Randomly. There is no random. Ever. I pondered, then looked closely, and truly observed the picture.

The forest in the Earth Sanctuary, and the forest through the arbor in the show resonate as particularly similar! I suppose evergreen forests tend to have dirt floors, ferns, and a variety of trees, so they all share a certain ambiance. It is my mind that is illuminating the similarities to make a point.

In life, and in death, we walk the path. We saunter through the garden arches, and into the varying levels of existence.

I am facing another arch. Tomorrow, I restart the journey down the path of chemotherapy. I don’t remember how to do this. Last time, three sessions led to a traumatic emergency surgery. It also elevated me to a “no masses” resolution.

Tension. Fear. Mortality. Urgency. Resolve. Acceptance. They are all here, cluttering the mind, waking me for predawn rambling.

“It turns out life isn’t a puzzle that can be solved one time and it’s done. You wake up every day, and you solve it again.” (Chidi Anagonye, The Good Place)

156. Honoring our Creations

The world is sacred. What we make in it is sacred. Perhaps the meals that we cook and the clothes that we wash and the pet hair that we sweep should be seen the same way

An Indigenous tattoo artist told Nyasha that he refused to pen dream catchers on the skin. He wondered who would want the negative to be caught on the surface of their body, anyway.

But the messages call to us. I see dream catchers at the dollar store, and I can hear the longing and see the beauty. But they are not personal, and not spiritual.

(You can make anything shine with the Eternal when giving your love and appreciation to it, however. So if you are super attracted to the hot pink feathers and white, machine cut lacing on a dream catcher at the fair, it will be your love and your higher self that transport that “Made in China” version into something of internal significance.)

I feel so honored to craft dream catchers for the people in my life. But oddly, I also have a bit of guilt for burdening the unsuspecting with something they may “have to store or hang” just because it is a gift.

If you have a handmade or spiritual gift from someone that needs to move along, think of a way to create a prayer or honor the item in its transformation. Especially if it is worn, instead of throwing it away, you could hang it in the wind outdoors, or bury it in the ground ceremoniously. Think of it like Tibetan prayer flags, sending the love out around the planet… or like Indigenous prayer ties, sending the prayers up to the Creator.

If it is in good condition, you could re-home it with someone who loves it or recreate it into a piece of art of your own. Goodwill isn’t ideal here. I am trying to consider how I would feel about one of my creations landing at Goodwill. I would rather they were hanging in a tree at Earth Sanctuary or in a park. Maybe that is unique to me personally.

The world is sacred. What we make in it is sacred. Perhaps the meals that we cook and the clothes that we wash and the pet hair that we sweep should be seen the same way. How can we honor our own efforts and the devotion of others? That is a living prayer in itself.

151. Jesus Land

My Earth Sanctuary Memorial Tree reminds me of the cedars in Dad’s yard. When I was standing outside of the house, staring at the trees, it made enormous sense. Nyasha asked me recently, “Don’t you want your ashes to go to Jesus Land?”

I don’t think that’s legal.

When we were kids, the clump of trees outside the back door was particularly dense. There was a trail that went through the middle of it, if you ducked down. The effect on the inside was something close to being sheltered, hugged by the trees. It is where the Bull Dog fell into the cedar stump, where Mic AND Mark fell from 40 feet up. We called this place Jesus Land.

Not only was Jesus Land an appropriate moniker because Mic and Mark survived, but also because it was our ritual burial site. All of the pets, eventually coming to a physical end, were buried in Jesus Land. It is sacred space.

It still has a few cedars, now a half century older. The lower part is open, and the fence is visible. Old growth does that. The ground shadow area grows less and less dense as the forest matures. Humans may have cleared a bit too.

My ashes in Jesus Land? If the house is still in the family, that’s a rocking great idea. There will be plenty of dust to spread around to multiple locations, and it completes a cycle… just don’t tell the real estate people. Not great for the property value!

145. In the Eye of the Dragonfly

“…Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. I seek strength, not to be greater than my friend, but to fight my greatest enemy, myself. So when my life fades, as the fading sunset, may my spirit come to you without shame.” (Lakota Chief Yellow Lark)

Walking toward the pond on the Wetland Trail, you will find a handful of peaceful experiences in the Earth Sanctuary. Several rock sculptures greet you on the travels toward the Labyrinth. After winding through the twists and turns of the salal web, focusing on your spiritual contemplation, you might then meander down to the Spirit Rock, removing your shoes and stepping to the edge of the pond for a prayer.

Michele meditating in the labyrinth at the Earth Sanctuary, Langley, WA

We read one together. “…Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. I seek strength, not to be greater than my friend, but to fight my greatest enemy, myself. So when my life fades, as the fading sunset, may my spirit come to you without shame.” (Lakota Chief Yellow Lark)

Blue-eyed Darner dragonfly (Aeshna multicolor) male. Pacific Northwest. Summer. . — Blue-eyed Darner dragonfly (Aeshna multicolor) male. Pacific Northwest. Summer.

I have been seeing dragonflies, not as visions, but in life. They come toward me in parking lots, soar by in the backyard. A dragonfly art print hung from the wall of the Airbnb. A pillow on the bed was adorned with a colorful, oversized version.

And then, in prayer, we stood face to face with the biblical symbol of transformation and renewal. It was the Equinox. The insect hovered in front of us, flew a few loops, and hovered again. She was alert, watching, listening, a part of the prayer. Balance, renewal. I think there may be a theme emerging!

Let the games begin. I am ready to leave the last six months behind. We all are. So much gratitude to the dragonfly for delivering the message of the Eternal!

142. Picking a Tree

I’m both perplexed and want to burst out in rolling laughter. I don’t care. I really don’t. I thought that choosing the spiritual location for ashes was a gift in itself, but I can choose a tree to represent me as well.

The Earth Sanctuary representative, Chuck, wrote several responses to my questions about choosing a tree from that particular forest for my ashes to “rest”. It all seems so silly, the way we talk about decomposition of the body, or placement of the ashes. Living as human is temporary. Being the true core of your being is permanent.

Red Cedar Tree is known as the “Tree of Life” Photograph by Tim Bray

The body is disposable, and far more recyclable than a plastic milk bottle.

Apparently, when we visit Whidbey Island in the next two days, I can stop in to the Earth Sanctuary and pick a location. I’m both perplexed and want to burst out in rolling laughter. I don’t care. I really don’t. I thought that choosing the spiritual location for ashes was a gift in itself, but I can choose a tree to represent me as well.

I think an evergreen is more my style than a deciduous leaf tree. Something successful, that stands tall enough to see the sun, and creates a lot of oxygen to support the mammals. A hemlock? Known for its poetic poison. A fir? So, so, so many cones. The fir trees rain thousands of irritating cones on the lawn at Dad’s house every year. But in the forest, that is food, for the earth and for the small animals.

Today, before I am actually walking in the space, I think that the answer is cedar. The cedar tree is the spiritual representative of the north, of the elders, of those who have gone before us. It is the regional representative of longhouses, canoes, ropes and baskets.

The red cedar is known as “the tree of life”. Life continues. When I have stepped into death, I continue. I am here now. I will, in a sense, be here then.

“As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be…” (the Glory Be).

138. Just Dump the Body

Although “dump the body” sounds like a movie line, that is about the exact amount of caring that I have about the remains of my earthly dwelling place. Cremate me and dump the body.

The wound is not healing. It impressively went to a verified four centimeter depth (or lack of depth) on Tuesday, and was back to seven again today, Friday. Regardless of how many times I ask “What else can I do?”, and get the answer, “You are doing it all”, I know there is a missing piece.

Something hidden needs to be healed. Something else needs to be completed. Where are the loose ends? What bows need tying? Completion.

The wound vac is off. I am cordless and empowered! The skin around the wound is dancing with joy (as it hated the wound vac and spent the entire time covered in rashy boils). Today I can feel its joy.

After a few tears of exasperation, I pushed a bit of completion.

Nyasha and Conrad legally witnessed my signature on Death with Dignity paperwork, that will likely be round filed because of my longevity. I called and left a message for Julie that it’s in the mail. Check.

And I booked a trip to Whidbey Island, another visit to the Earth Sanctuary and Langley, before my next wound packing appointment. In checking whether Earth Sanctuary has full access during Covid 19, I made an amazing discovery, my final resting place.

Although “dump the body” sounds like a movie line, that is about the exact amount of caring that I have about the remains of my earthly dwelling place. Cremate me and dump the body.

Earth Sanctuary provides the perfect ground… and they will mix the ashes with appropriate soil, and either sculpt me in to the spiritual nature preserve, or accompany those of you who want to add me to the ambiance! This is exciting. Another big box CHECKED.