The Mary Christopher Podcast

We Love All Pollinators and Pollinator Gardens !!!

Several weeks ago I went to a local Native Plant Society “Seed Swap”.  I had a wonderful time.  I left with a blue paper bag full of carefully labeled pollinator plant seeds, a 2025 Soil Conservation Calendar as well as color-coded pages that showed the best time to plant each pollinator.  I also collected several excellent handouts about planting for Monarch Butterflies.  And, I won a brand new garden trowel !!!  
Several weeks before that I found 3 “free” books in my neighborhood library.  These were All about Alternative Pollinators, The Complete Book of North American Butterflies, and The Beginners Guide to Bats !!!  I scooped up those books and took them home.  All very exciting for learning more about how to care for Creation!  I started reading All about Alternative Pollinators because we know the Honey Bee population has been diminishing for many years.  We also know we need Prodigious Pollinators to have sufficient food production.
Honey Bees are certainly prodigious and they are struggling to survive!  The increased use of insecticides and herbicides is one of the main reasons for the decline of Honey Bee populations.  No matter how diligent and watchful Beekeepers are, their bees can be easily exposed to toxins.  This is because Honey Bees often fly 1 to 3 miles per day to reach flowers with the most pollen and nectar.  In their travels, they may cross fields that have been recently sprayed with toxins!  Or the spray from neighboring fields or even crops 2 to 3 miles away may reach the hives.
A large, healthy Honey Bee colony can have as many as 50,000 adult bees!  The Queen Bee can potentially lay as many as 1,000 eggs per day!  And, all these baby bee larvae need protein-rich royal jelly for the first 5 days in for them to thrive!  Royal jelly is a creamy, yellowish-white substance produced by honey bees.
Nurse bees feed royal jelly to larvae for the first three days after hatching.  Royal jelly is also fed to the developing queen bee throughout her life. This diet can allow the queen bee to live up to five years, while worker bees typically live for about 45 days.  The hive is kept busy gathering nectar and pollen to feed the queen and the growing larva!  If the worker bees are exposed to any toxins, the entire colony can be wiped out in a matter of hours!  Beekeepers, anyone who uses bees for pollination, and those of us who love honey are seriously committed to caring for the European Honey Bee. 
There are alternative pollinators.  They do not live in hives and they do not produce honey!  But they do pollinate!  And, they are not well-known.  These pollinators include Bumble Bees, Mason Bees, the Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee, Sweat Bees, and the Shaggyfuzzy Foot Bee!  These bees are usually solitary and may live underground.  They are difficult to detect, but they can be encouraged to live in your garden or your yard by studying their habits and by growing their favorite plants.
This is a great time of year to put in a Pollinator Garden that will flourish and produce blossoms in the Spring.  There are great resources for gardening.  Look up your state’s Native Plant Society.  Do a search for city community gardens, your state Department of Natural Resources, or check with the Nature Conservancy or Sierra Club.  They are often a great resource for referrals.  Once you start looking, you will probably find all kinds of great resources!
We are looking forward to seeing your Personal Pollinator Garden this Spring !!!

We Are the Ones ... Inner Peace Guided Meditation for Sunday February 9, 2025

Welcome to another Sunday evening meditation as we continue through a very dramatic period in our lives.  As I was working on this podcast, I remembered the 70s.  I thought about the drama and intensity of protest marches, the homeless people in the big cities, and, of course, the Veterans from VietNam.
Those of us who were in the Order at that time, usually remember some of our "adventures" during Street Mission.  We had the Filmore Center for homeless men as well as Raphael House for homeless women and children.  I have always been so proud of our service wherever we were stationed.  I am confinved that our service "saved us" from having too much "spiritual arrogance"!  Since many of us were in our 20's or younger, we probably had enough arrogance already.  I know we have continued by finding ways to serve wherever we live.
We seem to be in a similar dramatic polarization now, more than most of us could have ever imagined during the 70s.  Once again, we are probably the ones we have been waiting for.  Thanks to Science and Technology we understand so much more about how meditation and spiritual practice work within us and for us.  Also, there is more and more excellent research showing the social effect of spiritual practices!
We know the Buddhists and other traditions spend hours sitting quietly, focusing on Compassion, or Loving Kindness, or Inner Peace.  The intent is to embody those qualities on a cellular level.  When we can repeat that kind of focus over days and weeks, our whole system resonates with those qualities.  As we move through the world, "humming" with Inner Peace or Compassion or Loving-Kindness, we are literally transforming the "mass mind".  This is the reason I remind us that "a rising tide lifts all boats".
We have the training and we have the experience and the skill to "raise the frequency", to increase coherence in the world.  In other words, " We are the Creators we have been waiting for ... "!  There are many other groups around the world doing this work wherever they live.  On Wednesday nights, I meditate with a group of people who have done at least one of Dr. Joe Dispensa's weeklong retreats.  And, they know how to move some energy !!!
As we all know, humans are wired for survival which means some part of our awareness is always keeping an eye or ear out for some creature or some other human who might want to eat us.  This "wiring" also makes us vulnerable to "conspiracy theories" or videos of racial violence that are programmed to go directly into our subconscious!  Yikes !!!  
Here is where our wealth of spiritual practice and service is paying off.  We have the ability to go within, find the Inner Peace or Compassion, and rest there, allowing that frequency to resonate, filling and transforming our cellular structure.  This is why we do these meditations!!!  And, this is why "We are the Creators we have been waiting for ... !"

Caring for Creation and Gardening!

Did you know that the Netherlands is the 2nd largest exporter of produce in the World !!!  China is number one in the world for produce, including grains.  India is near the top of the list as well.  The United States is usually at third.  The Netherlands does not have the land mass to grow as much grain, but they grow potatoes, onions, lots of vegetables, and some grains.  
Their main exports are vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and aubergines.  They are also the largest exporters of tulips and tulip bulbs!  Most of their vegetables are grown in hothouses, many using geothermal energy.  Growers in the Netherlands have upgraded and modernized all their production to become the 2nd largest exporter of produce in the World !!!
Following World War II and the devastation in Europe caused by that war, farmers in the United States were growing the grains that fed the world for several years.  Farmers that I knew when growing up, were quietly proud of the wheat and oats, and other grain crops they grew to feed the world.  The years immediately following WWII were bummer crop years on the Prairie.  In addition, many people had gardens that produced tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and watermelons at the very least.  Everyone, including Family Farmers, was eating well!
Now, much of our produce, including fruit, is shipped for miles to get to the stores.  Every year there are fewer and fewer Family Farms or orchards owned by a family.  We are relying more and more on Corporate Agriculture!  We know that most corporate businesses are run to generate as much profit as possible.  We also know these corporations usually have higher expenses than a family farm.  The corporations are paying for large and expensive planting and harvesting equipment as well as shipping or trucking costs.  Often the food costs more than it might if it were grown “locally”.
Because our food production has become more centralized, there can be major shortages of fruits and vegetables due to extreme weather or the massive fires that burned in California.  So, what can we do …
The Answer is Simple !!!  We can grow some of our own fruits and vegetables!  So many people in the U.S. have yards that are currently known as “lawns”.  There is often good soil under that lawn and adequate Sunlight most of the year.  More and more people are using some part of their yards for raised beds or even greenhouses.  Many communities have developed excellent community gardens where families can rent 2 or 3 or more raised beds for vegetables if they don’t have room where they are living!
In many areas of the country, people can sign up for a specific quantity of fruit from local orchards before harvest.  Everyone comes out ahead.  The orchards are supported and families know where their fruit is coming from and how it is raised.  Another advantage is that people get to know each other!  Community Gardens build Stronger Communities.  And, children learn first-hand where their food is coming from.  They also can learn how to grow food!  Parents have learned that children will eat what they grow, even Brussel Sprouts !!!
We can feed ourselves, at least with basic vegetables.  Often, when people discover the Joy of Gardening, they add strawberries, blackberries, even apple and peach trees to their gardens!  People who garden and raise at least some of their own food, usually feel more secure.  Research has shown that “gardeners are usually healthier, happier, and much less stressed” than people who do not garden !!!  Amazing !!!  And, nothing tastes better than a ripe tomato, sprinkled with salt, right from your own garden !!!
This is the perfect time of year to plan and develop your garden.  There are many resources in every community for gardening.  Most state agricultural departments and ag colleges have plenty of information, as well as knowledgeable people who are ready to help.
We can be more independent, resilient, and healthier, all from having our very own gardens !!!  We will have stronger and healthier communities as well !!!
 
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, 
breathing practices, and building personal resilience.  
Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities. 

"I've Got Love Like an Ocean ... " Inner Peace Guided Meditation & Podcast

"I've got Love like an Ocean in my Soul."
 
During this past week, I have been wondering about our current cultural upheaval and all the political posturing.  I am aware that the turmoil we are experiencing did not happen overnight.  It has been in the making for years.  Those of us who came of age in the 60s and 70s felt those times were very difficult and threatening.  Many people put their lives on the line for social justice or to end the war in Vietnam.  I don't think any of us could imagine the kind of polarization and drama that we are experiencing now.  Nor could we have imagined the role that "news channels" or social media would play in our lives.
 
There seems to be so much emphasis on excess, such as how much wealth, or how much power can one person accumulate in their lifetime?  How much is "Enough" for any one person or any group to grasp and hold onto?  How much is "Enough" for anyone ever?  We could say that most of us have "enough stuff", given the number of storage units we see everywhere.  
 
I have been wondering what is the antidote for this human craving for more power, more money, more land, more crypto, more whatever.  This is especially curious since we are not able to take Anything with us when we leave this planet.  So, what is it in the "psyche" of humans that drives us to want more and more and more ...
 
I do not have an answer, but I did have an interesting sort of answer from my Saturday morning meditation.  As some of you know, I like to start my morning meditation as I am waking up.  As soon as I am aware that I am "waking up", I begin my heart breath practice.  My intention is to be gently awake and slide right into my meditation.  Most of the time, this works the way I want it to work.  This Saturday morning, as I was moving into the meditation, I heard a verse from an old Afro-American spiritual that goes back at least as far as the early 1800's. 
 
The line I remembered was "I've got Love like an Ocean in my Soul".  During the day, I repeated this line to myself or hummed it quietly.  After a while, I realized that this was like saying a Buddhist mantra or Sufi invocation.  The cadence was very similar.  Needless to say, I was delighted with the rhythm and the reference to Creation throughout all the verses!  And, it worked on my whole system like a mantra!
 
So, I decided I would add "Ocean Wave Sounds" to the end section of our Sunday Inner Peace meditation.  You can use the Ocean Wave Sounds or the verses from the spiritual, whichever you prefer.  There is a bit of "noise" where I switched to the wave sounds.  So, my apologies in advance ... !!!  I'll get better with the tech part of this podcast, for sure.  Let me know how you like having "Nature Sounds" for the meditation part. 
 
Have a Wonderful Week and take really good care of yourself.  Thank You for everything you are doing every day to make this world a better place for Everyone.
 
And, remember to Breathe ... Mary
 

Caring for Our Neighbors and Creation by Helping with the California Wildfires

On Labor Day weekend in 2011, the Spicewood Fire in western Travis County destroyed 45 homes and scorched almost 6,500 acres.  There were other fires in the Austin area at the same time.  The worst was in Bastrop County where flames spread to homes scattered among the trees in and around Bastrop, burning nearly 1,700 homes and businesses and claiming the lives of two people.
 
At that time, I was the Facilities Manager for the Pedernales Fire Department and an EMT.  The Spicewood fire was in our district.  It burned very quickly and traveled fast due to the long-term drought.  All our Firefighters and EMS were fighting the fire.  Within a few hours, Firefighters with equipment from departments north and west of us began arriving.  The Auxiliary went into high gear, bringing food, water, and other supplies to our 2 stations that were south of the Pedernales River.
 
We were not able to reach the station across the river due to the fire.  However, we were in touch by radio and cell phone and knew they were okay and fighting fire.  We knew they were in a relatively safe position, but none of our vehicles could get to them for several long hours.  
 
The fire lasted for 2 to 3 days due to our extended drought.  Clean-up took a lot longer.  One of our major expenses was the repair and replacement of equipment.  That included repair on the engines and hose, replacement of all kinds of tools, and replacement of the Firefighters' protective clothing.  There was a long list of repairs and replacements.  
 
During the fire, we were extremely fortunate to have very thoughtful and generous neighbors.  They began monetary donations immediately, brought cases and cases of water to the station, and anything else we needed.  We published a "needs list" on our FaceBook page shortly after the fire started.
 
This is what I learned from that experience with a wildfire.  The major expenses began after the big blaze was out and the fire was no longer dramatic.  Firefighters were still patrolling the burned areas, looking for smoldering trees or logs, anywhere there might be potential for the fire to restart.  Everyone was exhausted, and we needed to keep working the fire ground.  Firefighters from other counties needed to get back to their departments.  Because of the devastating fire in Bastrop County, east of Austin, we had difficulty getting some parts and equipment for repair and replacement.  And, we were very fortunate and had tremendous support from all our local businesses and neighbors.  
 
Our fire was dangerous and expensive, and we recovered over time.  I can't even begin to imagine what it will take or how long it will take to recover from the fires in California.
 
The need for donations and all kinds of support continues long after the fires are out.  I am including links for 3 foundations/charities that will put your donations to good use.  I am also looking for organizations that will focus on re-foresting and re-planting following the fires.  I will list those next month.  
 
You may have your favorite foundation or charity that is working on recovery from these fires.  I have included World Central Kitchen because they always show up for disasters and do such a great job of feeding people!  Just remember, when the fires are finally out, the real work of recovery begins.  Thank You for your contributions, your generosity, and your prayers !!!
 
Here are 3 links for contributions that will make a difference.  Check them out and contribute where it feels right for you.
 
Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
 
Episcopal Relief and Development
 
World Central Kitchen California Wildfires

Inner Peace Guided Meditation for Sunday January 26 2025 7 pm PST, 8 pm MST, 9 pm CST, 10 pm EST

Once again I have stepped from "civilization" back into Creation. And, I am happy to report that Creation is working just fine, all by itself! While humans are thrashing about, jumping up and down, and calling each other names, Creation is hummmming along, having a wonderful time being Creation.
 
Today I am sitting in a park in Tulsa, Oklahoma, enjoying the quiet, soaking up the symmetry, and watching Canadian geese soar back and forth over the park. And, I am sitting in my truck, keeping warm since it is still cold here. I do love the "quiet of winter" which often makes it easier for me to find that place of Inner Peace within.
 
I am looking at the limbs of an oak that are spread out against the grey sky in the amazing pattern that we find in similar trees. As I let my attention focus on the tree, the trunk, the big limbs, the smaller limbs, and then the very small limbs, I begin to relax. When I focus on Creation, I am reminded of the balance, the symmetry, the precision, the range of color and gentle motion all around me. After a few minutes, I take a deep breath and remember that I am part of Creation. I remember that my entire experience as a Human Being is always part of Creation!
 
All too often, we get so caught up in the "busy-ness of ourselves" that we forget the essentials. We forget to look around us for Beauty, for Symmetry, for amazing Sunsets, for the Kindness of Strangers. We begin to feel alienated from life and from ourselves. Unfortunately, when we feel alienated, we are vulnerable to negativity and cynicism. Not a good place to be ... ! This is one of the main reasons I step out of "civilization" and back into Creation as often as possible!
 
The only people in the park right now are a young girl, maybe 3 or 4 years old, and her very patient dad. She is having the best time ever, running up the hill to the playground and then down the hill to the parking area. Occasionally, she stops and looks back for her dad, telling him to "hurry up". She doesn't have a jacket on and is having a great time, running, running, running! I am sure she will sleep really well tonight.
 
So, if we want to sleep really well at night or be able to find that "place of Inner Peace" within ourselves, we might want to spend more time in Creation and a little less time in "civilization". John Muir said it so well ...
 
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as Sunshine flows into Trees. The Winds will blow their own freshness into you and the Storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." — Our National Parks
 
Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, join us as we rest in that place of Inner Peace whenever it works for you. As we relax and recharge, we are creating a place of coherence and healing that our Souls recognize. Remember, we are Blessed and we are a Blessing!
 
~ Mary Christopher

Nurturing the Seeds We Sow in the Soil of Our Subconscious

Nuturing Our Thoughts As Carefully As Gardeners Nuture Their Seeds
What if we considered our thoughts as carefully as Gardeners choose for their seeds?  All of the Gardeners I know, are so thoughtful and choosy about the seeds they sow.  They research seeds, using the internet as well as seed catalogues.  Most Gardeners share information about seeds and plants with each other.  And, they do this every year with patience and diligence!
Seeds need to be chosen for a number of qualities, including soil type, weather patterns, requirements for Sunshine, length of germination, need for moisture and the list goes on.  In other words, Gardeners are very picky and very thorough about the seeds they choose to sow in their gardens!
What if all of us, that would be all Human Beings, began choosing our “thoughts” with the same care and thoughtfulness?  What would happen?  How would we feel?  We know that seeds produce plants that produce vegetables, or fruit, or herbs, or flowers that attract Pollinators.  Do we pay attention to the “fruit” or the product of our thoughts?  What if we did?  
If we paid just a little more attention to the thoughts that we dropped into the “soil of our subconscious mind”, would we find the “fruits and vegetables more palatable?  Most of us know something about how our subconscious works.  To some degree we may be aware of the way our neurons respond to all our thoughts and feelings.  But, are we aware that our thoughts actually have tangible results … ???
Most of us understand that negative or angry thoughts can shift our mood, putting us into “survival mode” and generating chemicals that set us up for “fight or flight or in some cases, a freeze response”.  None of these survival responses are unhealthy in response to an actual threat.  But, given what great imaginations we have, human beings have the capacity to misread situations or misinterpret other people’s words or actions.  As a result, we often begin to generate some prime negative thoughts and feelings in a neutral situation.
Just like planting seeds in a garden, even our random thoughts and feelings may “take root” over time and produce an “unhealthy fruit or vegetable”.  We all have this experience, but we don’t usually connect our more negative thoughts or feelings with the result.
Numerous studies using all kinds of sophisticated technology, have shown that any “negative thought or feeling” can immediately generate “the chemistry of survival”!  The more we repeat those thoughts or feelings, the more deeply they are embedded in our consciousness where they begin to generate more “negative fruits”.
Once we think about thoughts and feelings being similar to seeds, it makes sense.  The good news is that we can do something about this pattern of unconscious thought.  In many spiritual traditions, this practice of carefully choosing our thoughts and feelings is known as “mindfulness”.  Even beginners with this process often feel the benefits sooner than they expect.  The benefits may include better sleep, improved digestion, fewer arguments with family or coworkers, and much less internal tension.
Suggestion:  as a personal scientific experiment, try paying a little more attention to your thoughts and feelings.  Begin by paying attention to those that are more “life-affirming” or choose thoughts less critical of yourself or others.  Then, over a few weeks, check to see how well you are sleeping, or how your digestion is doing.  Everyone’s response to their personal “survival response” is different.  Yours will be unique to you, of course.
Remember, we are not trapped in our thoughts and feelings.  We do have choice about where we put our attention.  So, for a few weeks, try being aware of your thoughts and feelings.  Be very picky about the ones you choose to nurture.  You may be pleasantly surprised with the fruits of your carefully tended garden.

Spiritual Practice as a Blessing ~ Inner Peace Guided Meditation

It is cold here in Oklahoma today and supposed to be colder most of the week!  Brrrrr … !!!  Grateful that I am not responsible for keeping cattle and horses fed this week!  Definitely a blessing ... !!!
We are aware of the turmoil, upset, and misinformation in the world.  It is apparent that some of the turmoil and upset is directly due to misinformation.  We are also aware that “misinformation” can be very difficult to refute.
We know that we are living through an era of very rapid cultural change.  We have been through historical periods of change before, but not at this “rate of change” or with such intensity.  Because of social media and technology, we are struggling with split-second images, sound bites, and information that is practically impossible to “fact-check”.
Why am I stating the obvious, once again.  Because we need an antidote to all this chaos.  That antidote is within us, closer than hands and feet.  That antidote is our own spiritual practice!  By spiritual practice I am referring to our ability to “go within”, to calm ourselves, and reside in the “quiet” that lives within us.  It is not hidden.  There are no magical words or phrases we can use to get there.  But, research has shown that using a heart breath or breathing through our heart center is a reliable method for getting centered and feeling coherent.  One reason that using a “heart breath” works, is because it is almost impossible to think ourselves into “inner peace”.
When we are surrounded by chaos, we do have the ability to find our personal path through the world using our inner guidance.  That guidance is always available, always.  We just need to take the time, get quiet enough, and listen.  When we are centered and coherent, we have the capacity to build a better life for ourselves and be a Blessing in the world.
There are many great and well-known examples of people who have done exactly that, based on their Inner Guidance.  And, there are hundreds and thousands of people, past and present, we may never heard of, who have made or are making a difference in the world.  If you are reading this, or listening to my podcasts, you are most likely one of those people!
Every global spiritual teacher that we have studied or know about has taught spiritual practices.  Every indigenous culture that I am aware of has some kind of spiritual practice.  Living in a culture with so many people glued to some kind of screen does not encourage spiritual practice!
However, we all know from our personal experience that spiritual practice works.  We also know that real change happens from within.  Most of us have seen that real social change happens from the ground up.  We all have numerous examples of this.  
We also know that where we put our attention is where our energy goes.  So, I am suggesting that after we are centered in that “quiet place”,  we focus on a few of the places where we have lived.  Many of us have lived or been “stationed’ in numerous places.  Let’s bless those cities or towns, lighting up the neighborhoods where we lived.  Let’s just “light up” the whole country, one neighborhood, one city at a time.
Just as Sunlight is a reliable “antidepressant”, Light breaks up old patterns, also heals, and illuminates spiritual pathways.  We know these practices work.  We have experienced this and seen it work, more than once!
Have a Wonderful Week, and when in doubt, just keep rowing.  I will meet you in the Peace of our Inner Sanctuary.  Many, many Blessings, always, mc