The Mary Christopher Podcast

Creation Is Working Just Fine ~ Caring for Creation March 23, 2025

Now for the Global Weather Report … Creation Continues to Work Just Fine !!!
Humans, however, seem to be having difficulty getting along.  I wanted to mention that in case you had not noticed.  And, we seem to be sinking to new lows on the “Love Your Neighbor” scale!  However, I am not giving up on Humanity, but I am increasing my prayers and meditations.
Again, this week, I am struggling with my allergies.  For the past 2 weeks, we have had a high pollen count which is very good thing.  And, there have been at least 100 wildfires in the general area of NE Oklahoma.  Many people have lost their homes and many more are in the process of recovery.  The winds and the ash from fires as well as the high pollen count have brought difficulties for those of us with “sensitive lungs”.  We are hoping for better weather and not as much wind this week!
Whenever I hear of Wildfires, regardless of where they are, I am always reminded of the Courage and Dedication of all the Firefighters, EMS personnel, Police and State Troopers who respond to these events.  I am also reminded of the Goodness and Generosity of Wonderful Neighbors and Friends who respond with kindness, food, shelter, and prayers.  Far too often we only hear “negative news” about people and events that are difficult and scary.  And, I know about the Goodness of Friends, Relatives and Neighbors from first-hand experience.  We are a nation of very good and generous people!
For the past several years, I have been deeply committed to sharing what I understand about mindfulness, meditation, and heart coherence.  I have also been very focused on Caring for Creation.  Some days the rising level of negativity in the World seems almost overwhelming.  But I am determined that “a rising tide lifts all boats”.  So, I will continue to share what I know and have experienced through my spiritual practice.  And, I will continue to remind us that our survival on this Earth requires our attention and care of Creation.  The Earth does NOT need us aboard !!!  We need to care for the Earth for Human Beings to survive. 
Here is our Guided Meditation for Sunday, March 23, 2025.  Thank You for all you are doing every day to make the World a better place for Everyone.  And, take very good care of yourself! 
Mary Christopher

Spring Is Here !!! Caring for Creation March 20, 2025

This year Spring officially arrived at 5:01 am EDT (2:01 am PDT).  For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, this is marked by the arrival of the Spring Equinox.  It signals the Fall Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.
Equinox translates from Latin as “equal night” or “equal day, equal night”.  This happens when the Sun is positioned directly over the equator, so we have approximately 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night (give or take a few minutes).
During Spring, the path of the Sun continues to move north, increasing the duration of Sunlight.  When the Sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer (latitude 23.5 degrees north), it has arrived at the point of the Summer Solstice.  This is the beginning of Summer for the northern hemisphere and is usually the longest day of the year (give or take a few hours).  On the Summer Solstice, the Sun appears to stop on its journey heading north and pause.  This is why it is called Solstice, derived from the Latin word SOL (Sun) and sister, “to stand still”.  After the Summer Solstice, the Sun appears to move south, back toward the equator and our days grow shorter.
This apparent “up and down” motion of the Sun is the result of the wobble in the Earth’s rotation of its axis.  Our Sun is not actually moving up and down on the horizon, even though it looks like that.  More on that in another article and podcast.  The good news for gardeners and hikers is that the hours of daylight are increasing and the weather is getting warmer!
We often have a late frost, meaning a hard or light frost that comes after the Spring Equinox.  So, it is a good idea to wait a week or two before putting any new seedlings out in your spring garden.  This is also a good time to get over to your favorite nursery to pick up any vegetable plants that you didn’t have time to start from seed.  You might also find a fruit tree or vine that needs a good home.  We usually prefer planting “heirloom” seeds or plants, rather than “gmo” or those that are genetically modified.  
Also consider picking up a few pollinator-friendly plants, especially perennials.  If you plant more pollinator-friendly plants, you will usually have more fruits and vegetables.  The more happy pollinators you attract to your garden, the more blossoms will be pollinated!
This is a wonderful time of year for a long walk in the woods or a day hike in the nearest county, state, or national park.  When we slow down and take time to walk in the woods, we are lowering our stress levels and becoming more centered and coherent.  Many people find they usually sleep better, meaning deeper and longer, after spending an afternoon in the forest.  In Japan, this is known as “forest bathing”.  The Japanese, the Germans, and the Koreans have all done scientific studies, showing all the positive results just from a few hours spent in the forest!
We will have a partial solar eclipse on March 29.  This is the first Solar Eclipse of 2025!  It will be visible in parts of North America, Europe, Africa, throughout Greenland, and Iceland, as well as parts of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.  March is going to be a busy month for all kinds of wonderful and healthy activities out-of-doors!
Remember,  if you are feeling too stressed, or just worn out with all the political chaos, step out of civilization and back into Creation for a while.  Creation is working just fine, and Spring is a great time to remind ourselves of all the Beauty and Wonder that surrounds us. 
 
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing practices, 
and the HeartMath program for Building Personal Resilience.  
She loves gardening and meditating with Trees!
 

Staying Present Even in the Chaos ~ Inner Peace Guided Meditation

This past week we had high winds, high pollen counts, and at least 100 Wildfires all over Oklahoma!  There are still fires going, but no high winds today.
My allergies kicked in and I got behind on my podcasting schedule.  I did get the podcast done, but not the notes.  
Here is the podcast without notes.  My allergies are better, but I am not taking my daily walk.
Have a great week and take really good care of yourself.  Mary

Spring Is Almost Here ~ Caring for Creation

Caring for Creation ~ Spring Is Almost Here!  
Spring is almost here!  We are having warm and pleasant weather.  Are you already planning your Spring Garden?
If you are considering a spring or summer garden, this is the perfect time to figure out what you need to get started.  If you haven’t had a spring or summer garden for a while, or ever, it is a good idea to start with a “Pollinator Garden”.  All gardens need pollinators, especially vegetable gardens!  So, if you start with a small or medium-sized pollinator garden, you’ll have pollinators already hanging around for your vegetable garden.
Remember, these gardens do not need to be large or complicated.  And, if you have a pollinator garden going, you are way ahead.  Pollinator gardens can have a variety of blooming plants.  Some plants like Butterfly weed bloom early in the gardening season, while others like Indian Blanket or Beebalm bloom midway in the summer.  Showy Goldenrod or BlueSage are late bloomers.  Having plants that flower in stages will invite Pollinators to your garden all summer!
There are so many kinds of Pollinators and we need all of them!  For instance, there are more than 4,000 species of Bees that are native to North America!  This includes Honey Bees who live in hives.  Many of the other Bees nest underground, in twigs and leaf debris, or even in dead trees!  These Bees are more often vulnerable because they are invisible!
Butterflies and Moths are excellent pollinators.  Butterflies visit our gardens in the daytime while Moths visit at night.  Hummingbirds and Bats are also reliable pollinators.  Hummingbirds prefer tubular flowers in bright warm colors, like red.  Beetles and other similar insects are reliable pollinators.  At least 40 % of all insects are Beetles!
We need to pay attention to all the Pollinators and support them because they have been losing habitat for years!  Fields and fence rows that were once covered with blooms have been plowed under for shopping malls and housing developments.  Fortunately, some very new housing developments include community gardens, and composting as well as yards planted with flowers specifically for Pollinators.  Unfortunately, there are very few developments that are this thoughtful and resourceful.  Just think, a world without Pollinators would be a world without Apples, Blueberries, Strawberries, chocolate, almonds, melons of all kinds, peaches or pumpkins !!!  That would be too terrible to even imagine!
You can help all Pollinators as well as any neighborhood gardens by putting in a Pollinator garden this Spring!  Even putting a few Pollinator-friendly plants in pots on your porch or in your backyard can make a difference.
If you have questions, look up your state Native Plant Society.  Most large towns and cities all over the country, have a Master Gardener Program.  These wonderful garden people would be happy to help you with your garden.  If you can’t find anyone to answer your questions or make suggestions, check with the Department of Agriculture office near you (USDA.gov) or go to their website.  They will know someone locally who can help you.  I know this because I have talked to all these people, asked loads of questions, and gotten excellent assistance!
Remember Honey Bees alone contribute to the production of many billions of dollars worth of crops every year !!!  This is why “We Love Bees and All Pollinators”!

Inner Peace Meditation ~ The Mystics Are Gatheri

One of my teachers from the late 60s was Murshid Samuel Lewis, one of the very early Sufi teachers in this country.  During that time he was teaching primarily in San Francisco.  Murshid Sam was my first Sufi teacher.  What I learned from him has been an ongoing blessing!  He was a mystic, a spiritual teacher, an amazing gardener, and, of course, a Sufi dancer.  So many people were blessed by his presence and his teaching.  
Somewhere along the way, I also discovered Rumi, the amazing Sufi poet.  I have used his poems in my classes for more than 25 years.  So far, I have found that everyone loves Rumi.  Whenever I am traveling, I carry a copy of The Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks.
Currently, we are in the midst of Ramadan from March 1 through March 29-30.  The followers of the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad are celebrating Ramadan.  Muslims believe the angel Gabriel revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad over 23 years, beginning in 610 AD and ending in 632 AD, the year of Muhammad's death.   
During Ramadan everyone who is able, fasts from sunrise to sundown.  This fast is followed by dinner with family, and friends, or at the local mosque.  This month is dedicated to prayer, charity, and community.  I decided to support my Sufi and Muslim friends during Ramadan by using some of my favorite Jesus quotes from Rumi.  The Sufis and Muslims revere Jesus as a great prophet.  Mary, Jesus’ mother is mentioned more often in the Quran than in the Christian New Testament!  So, we are definitely on the “mystic path” using Rumi’s poetry about Jesus!
 
From The Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks 
 
“There's a strong connection between Jesus and Rumi. I'm told a Christian church in Shiraz (Iran) has a quatrain from Rumi carved in stone over its door:
 
Where Jesus lives, the great-hearted gather.
We are a door that's never locked.
 
If you are suffering any kind of pain,
stay near this door.  Open it.
 
A sweet inclusiveness and healing mercy are felt around both Jesus and Rumi. The Friendship of Rumi and Shams has no parallel in the great aloneness of Jesus' life, but the relationship with children and with society's outcasts is very similar. Rumi showed deep consideration for the least-recognized members of his thirteenth-century Muslim small town. He would always stop to bow to children and old women, to bless and be blessed by them. One day an Armenian butcher, a Christian, was passing. Rumi stopped in the road and bowed seven times to him. Another day he came upon children playing a game. He acknowledged each as he would have an adult. And there was one little boy far away running across a field. 'Wait, I'm coming!' Rumi stayed till the boy had come close, bowed, and been bowed to.”
 
I also love the humor we find in Rumi’s poems.  This is a great example!
 
"I called through your door,
'The mystics are gathering
in the street. Come out!'
 
"Leave me alone.
I'm sick."
 
"I don't care if you're dead!"
Jesus is here, and he wants
to resurrect somebody!"
(Translations and text by Coleman Barks with John Moyne)
 
All the Mystics I know or know about are working diligently to help with the current crises happening around the World.  Most of us understand that a better world is being birthed, even with all this chaos and confusion.  This is one very good reason that we do our meditations and spiritual practices.
So, thank you for all the good work you do every day and for all the Blessings you carry into the World!  
Keep it up … !!!  And, do your best to keep your sense of humor alive and well … !!!
 
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing practices, 
and the HeartMath program for Building Personal Resilience.  
She loves gardening and meditating with Trees!

Growing Sunflowers Is Simple and Fun ~ Caring for Creation

What do Sunflowers need to grow?
Sunflowers need plenty of Sunshine, at least 6 to 8 hours of Sunlight per day!  As you know, Sunflowers are heliotropic which means the blossom follows the path of the Sun from east to west every day.  Then, at night, the blossom or head of the plant rotates back do it is facing the rising Sun next morning.  Sunflowers definitely need access to sunlight most of the day. 
And, they will also need water and fertilizer. 
Sunflowers have extensive root systems that help them reach the soil nutrients they need.  They prefer well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 to 7.0, like clay loam and silty clay soils.  You can test your soil to find out the pH level and whether you need to add nutrients before planting the seeds.  However, if you can see organic material in your soil, you can plant the Sunflower seeds without testing.
Once the second set of leaves appears, use a slow-release all-purpose fertilizer that you would apply directly to the plants.  This will speed up growth and produce larger flowers.  Sunflowers will also benefit from applying half the recommended amount of nitrogen during planting and the second half later in the growing season.  This is known as a split application of fertilizer.
You can begin planting Sunflower seeds directly in the ground after the last frost.  Sometimes the weather surprises us by having a very late frost.  But, get your seeds in the ground when you think you have had the last frost.  Trying to out-guess the weather is usually not very productive and can be frustrating!
You can sow the seeds directly into the soil.  Just poke a hole with your finger, drop in 2 seeds (in case one doesn’t germinate), and cover the hole.  You are done.  Then thin to one plant per hole if both seeds germinate.
Spacing is important.
For single stem Sunflowers, plants should be spread 4-9” apart.  Remember, the closer the plants are spaced, the smaller the blooms.  Closer is better if you are growing the blossoms for bouquets.  Plants spaced farther apart will produce larger blooms.
For branching Sunflowers, plants should be placed 12”-24” apart.  Usually 18” spacing works well. 
There are so many different sizes, shapes, and colors of Sunflowers that it is often difficult to make a choice.  Some will grow as tall as 6’ to 10’!  These will need some kind of support.  The taller ones can be grown along a tall fence or wall, using chicken wire for support.  Shorter Sunflowers usually have strong stems that can support their blossoms. 
 If you want to use some of the blossoms indoors in a flower arrangement, be sure to cut them off the stem before the flower petals open.  They will still blossom, and the blossom will last longer this way.
If you do use most of the blossoms in flower arrangements, be sure to leave at least 10% of the blooms on their stems.  They will open, begin to produce pollen, and then seeds.
Bees love the pollen!  Birds and other creatures love the seeds!  And, you can harvest some of the seeds for next year’s crop!  You can also save seeds to feed Birds, Chipmunks, and Squirrels during winter.  A well-tended Sunflower patch or field will produce hundreds of highly nutritious seeds!
There are so many varieties of Sunflowers, in so many sizes and colors.  Sunflowers are native to the United States, as well as Europe.  Before Ukraine was invaded by Russia, they were one of the main producers of Sunflowers in Europe!  In Europe, Sunflowers are used mainly for their oil.
Here are some examples of Sunflowers.  Have a Wonderful time selecting and growing Sunflowers.  Remember, they are easy to grow as long as they have lots of Sunshine as well as enough water and nutrients!
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing practices, 
and the HeartMath program for Building Personal Resilience.  
She loves gardening and meditating with Trees!

Being in the World and Making a Difference ~ Inner Peace Guided Meditation

News Update:  The world of humans is still not very functional and a bit crazy.  Many people seem to have lost their sense of humor, as well as their “good sense”.
Creation, on the other hand, is still working just fine.
When the world seems to be crazy and getting more so every day, I look for a way to focus my attention and do some good in the World.  For at least 3 months I have been working on a Pollinator Garden project with my friends at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church.  Part of that project is a Saturday morning program with the Oklahoma Native Plant Society, Yard by Yard Pollinator Gardens, and Okies for Monarchs.
In general, all Pollinators are having a difficult time finding enough plants for pollinating and for producing the next generation of Pollinators.  These 3 organizations are very active and committed to “saving Pollinators” and providing small or large gardens for them.
We need Pollinators far more than we realize.  And, our children and their children will need Pollinators as well.  We will always need Pollinators unless we want to pollinate our fruits, vegetables, and herbs by hand!  So, by focusing my attention and energy on increasing Pollinator Gardens, I am doing something useful for now as well as for the future.
The other advantage is gardening projects often get people working together, sharing their knowledge and resources, and getting to know each other!  That does not happen as much as it used to.  When people work together, they get to know each other better.  Also, gardeners tend to be generous, happy to share tools, produce, and their knowledge of Creation !!!  What could be better ?!?!
Also, remember the studies that were done in the last half of the last century about the Super Radiance Effect of scheduled group meditations for Peace in specific places for a specific duration.  One of the most well-known examples was the 1983 Jerusalem/Lebanon Peace Project.  In this case, trained meditators with at least 5 years experience doing meditations came to Jerusalem.  They lived all around Jerusalem and they meditated at a specific time where they lived every day for 2 months.
The data for the study was gathered from the military, the police department, hospitals, and local business associations.  They gathered numerical information from all these sources.
Here are the results during the 2 month meditation practice …
 76% reduction in crime
 Lower Death rate compared to previous years
 Increase in economic activity
This is now known as the Super Radiance Effect or the Radiating Influence of Peace Meditations.  During the past century, there were 53 similar research projects, all showing similar results.
There was a similar project done in Washington D.C. which was structured in a similar way.  That study showed a reduction in crime, as well as a reduction in cases brought to emergency rooms in the general area in and around Washington!
Our spiritual practices, our meditations, and our intentions can have a definite effect on our culture, especially during extremely chaotic times.  Also remember, we, the meditators, are the ones who receive the first benefits of these meditations!
Maybe this is one reason that Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of G~D and all things will be added to you.”  When asked by the Sadducees and Pharisees “Where is this Kingdom?”  
Jesus replied, “The kingdom of G~D is within.” (period, full-stop)
Maybe, that is a clue … !!!
In other words, the time we spend doing our spiritual practices is a pay-off for us and for others.  Remember, a rising tide lifts all boats!
 
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing practices, and the HeartMath program for Building Personal Resilience.  Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.

Caring for Creation ~ Following the Sun like the Sunflowers

Sunflowers are called Sunflowers because they follow the Sun! 
The “head” or the top part of the sunflower follows the Sun as it moves across the sky from the eastern horizon to the western.  All Sunflowers do this.  And, they follow the Sun before they even bloom!
Sunflowers begin their day with the top of the plant facing east.  Then, as the Sun moves from east to west, the top follows the Sun.  During the night, the Sunflower top moves from west to east, to be ready for Sunrise.  Scientists wondered what was the advantage to the plant by doing this.  After studying the plants using time-lapse photography, they discovered that Bees like to gather nectar and pollen early in the morning.  Also, Bees like brightly colored blossoms that are warm!
Bees also like to gather nectar and pollen early in the morning.  So, Sunflowers have “learned” to produce bright blossoms that are warmed by the early morning Sun.  When Sunflowers bloom, they can easily “capture” the attention of those early morning Bees.  This increases the pollination of all the Sunflowers and guarantees a bountiful crop of Sunflower seeds!
If Sunflowers are planted in pots and moved indoors under overhead lighting that does not move, in just a few days, the Sunflowers “forget” to move from east to west or from west back to east overnight.  Their movement is directly related to direct exposure to the movement of the Sun across the sky.
Science has also discovered there are specific plant cells on each side of the stem that take turns expanding.  Cells on the east side of the stem swell during the day and angle the plant in the direction of the Sun.  Cells on the west side of the stem swell at night, pushing the blossom back so it faces east by early morning.
Sunflowers have been growing and moving like this for centuries.  In many countries they are a major crop.  In 2023, the United States produced 2.26 billion pounds of sunflower seeds, down from 2.81 billion pounds in 2022.  In 2022, the world produced 54 million tons of sunflower seeds.  Russia and Ukraine produced the most sunflower seeds, together accounting for 51% of the world's total.  Argentina, China, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania are a few of the other leading producers of Sunflower seeds.  North Dakota is the leading sunflower-producing state in the United States.  In 2023, North Dakota produced 1.12 billion pounds of sunflower seeds!
Most sunflower seeds are processed into vegetable oil.  A significant portion of the oilseed harvest is used for birdseed production.  Birds love Sunflower seeds because they are rich in oil and supply carbohydrates as well as protein!  When hulls are removed from sunflower seeds, they are often burned for fuel.
Sunflowers are easy to grow and there are different varieties to choose from.  They come in many different sizes and colors, so you have your choice for planting.  They come in many heights.  The taller ones only require a simple trellis to hold them upright when they have reached their full height.  Next week we will discuss the best ways to plant, nurture, and harvest Sunflowers.  Tune in for more about these fascinating flowers.
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing practices, and the HeartMath program for Building Personal Resilience.  
She loves gardening and meditating with Trees!