Mother Earth, Father Sun

Since my son was a toddler, I have made up stories at night for him to listen to as he falls asleep. Each night, the stories are different and usually focused on something that he’s interested in at the time. Dragons covered in shimmering black scales, adventurous fairies, bear cubs searching for a mysterious magical clearing in the forest. He’s nine now, and asking new types of questions, interested in the inner workings of exhaust fans, and how we can feel both grief and ease when something living ceases to be alive. Naturally, the stories are required to shift as he changes. What is called through me now are stories with deeper symbolism and complex connections. He is ready now for these stories, and they’re ready to be told to him through me.

Mother Earth and Father Sun. Many, many Native origins stories mention some form of meeting and conspiring of Mother Earth and Father Sun. In the stories I am passing on to my son, they dance together, play, connect and create from a place of unconditional love. There is never rush or reaching. There is only pure joy to exist alongside another in this moment. A natural, organic evolution of life made possible through trust and ease. Each story is told slightly different, but ends pretty much the same- by mentioning that through the initial connection between Mother Earth and Father Sun, and each life form that was created from their many dances together, there is no living being, no matter how microscopic or ginormous, that is not connected and interdependent on another. This reminder struck a chord that has lingered within me for weeks, gnawing at my corners to be shared with someone else.

So, what are your practices to remind you of your inter-connectedness? Are they needing to be revised or updated? Maybe what has served you in the past is not quite filling your cup anymore?