THE HEART OF THE EARTH IS LOVE
(article published in Inner Realm Magazine, April 2014)
By Grandmother/Bishop Lygia Maciel De Castro
Elder Sun Fire White Buffalo Spirit
For My Dear Brothers and Sisters of Planet Mother Earth
Since I was a child, I have cared deeply about all life on our Planet.
I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and grew up in Erechim, a small town. My family were farmers of pure organic good food. We planted wheat, alfalfa, vegetables. We made four different kinds of flour from wheat and my Italian Grandmother baked delicious breads outside in our brick oven. When the bread and rolls were ready, we loaded baskets to share them with needy families in our neighborhood.
Neighbors and immigrants from all over the world were welcome at our home. Some came with just the clothes on their back—no identification, no immigrant status. We didn’t ask where they were from. We knew they were Polish, Italian, German, Jewish immigrants from the wars in Europe. As a Tupi Guarani/European descendant, embracing and learning about many cultures, even in school, made me feel completely in love with my Mother Earth. That’s why all my life I’ve taken extreme effort to let people know we must take care of our planet.
There's no need for any Child to go hungry, or die of malnutrition in any part of our World, no need for people to be homeless. Wars and conflicts only create suffering and destruction, but also destruction of Mother Earth’s beautiful magnificent body. We know that when we drop any bomb, anywhere on this Planet, the whole World suffers tremendous consequences.
Mother Earth does not belong to us—we belong to Her. She deserves to be treated with love and respect by all human beings because She takes care of ALL creatures who live outside and inside Her. She provides food and water and so much more for every living creature, including us humans. So, my dear Brothers and Sisters, we really are one community, one people, one heart and one world—and one universe. Which brings me to what I am doing now.
I listen to those who have good news and great sense to help me help you and help us live better on a healthy planet for the next 7 generations to be happier and make Mother Earth happier. My indigenous Tupi Guarani Grandmother took me on many vision quests bringing me home safe and sound, and her teachings had a great impact on me. The love and respect for the visions of the Elders of this planet guided and connected me toward all the Elders I know in this country and throughout the world. Their teachings are vital for the whole of humanity. I am blessed to be able to hear them and put their teachings into practice.
For me, especially now, and since 2012, the Mayan prophesies, created around six thousand years ago, have been one of the great revelations for our time. Speculation has been made that the destruction of the world is imminent, but this is far from being the truth. It is a message of caution, alerting humanity to be more gentle and kind to one another, more caring of the Earth, and its inhabitants, the wild creatures, and humans. If we do that, and work toward peace within our hearts and minds, sending love throughout the entire universe, we become one with Earth and ourselves. As we follow this marvelous journey, then yes, my dear Brothers and Sisters—we are one.
The next 7 generations of children on this planet will be the new stewards. I invite you to listen carefully to the Elders. If we apply the lessons, we all benefit, and humanity shall be different, and that much better.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bishop “Grandmother” Lygia Maciel DeCastro is a wise woman and native elder whose life bridges the worlds of the four directions. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she was initiated into the world of midwifery at the tender age of seven years old, raised by a family of midwives and farmers who generously shared food and clothing with the needy in their community. Surrounded by a large and loving family, her mother, aunt and grandmothers, trained her in the art of herbology and midwifery.
Every Sunday at Cherry Hill, Central Park by the Bethesda Fountain, at 10am, from the first Sunday of Spring to the first Sunday of Fall, Lygia facilitates the art of PanEuRhythmy Sacred Dance (www.PanEuRhythmy.us).
Contact: [email protected] / (516) 724-3677
Website: https://www.facebook.com/lygia.decastro
(article published in Inner Realm Magazine, April 2014)
By Grandmother/Bishop Lygia Maciel De Castro
Elder Sun Fire White Buffalo Spirit
For My Dear Brothers and Sisters of Planet Mother Earth
Since I was a child, I have cared deeply about all life on our Planet.
I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and grew up in Erechim, a small town. My family were farmers of pure organic good food. We planted wheat, alfalfa, vegetables. We made four different kinds of flour from wheat and my Italian Grandmother baked delicious breads outside in our brick oven. When the bread and rolls were ready, we loaded baskets to share them with needy families in our neighborhood.
Neighbors and immigrants from all over the world were welcome at our home. Some came with just the clothes on their back—no identification, no immigrant status. We didn’t ask where they were from. We knew they were Polish, Italian, German, Jewish immigrants from the wars in Europe. As a Tupi Guarani/European descendant, embracing and learning about many cultures, even in school, made me feel completely in love with my Mother Earth. That’s why all my life I’ve taken extreme effort to let people know we must take care of our planet.
There's no need for any Child to go hungry, or die of malnutrition in any part of our World, no need for people to be homeless. Wars and conflicts only create suffering and destruction, but also destruction of Mother Earth’s beautiful magnificent body. We know that when we drop any bomb, anywhere on this Planet, the whole World suffers tremendous consequences.
Mother Earth does not belong to us—we belong to Her. She deserves to be treated with love and respect by all human beings because She takes care of ALL creatures who live outside and inside Her. She provides food and water and so much more for every living creature, including us humans. So, my dear Brothers and Sisters, we really are one community, one people, one heart and one world—and one universe. Which brings me to what I am doing now.
I listen to those who have good news and great sense to help me help you and help us live better on a healthy planet for the next 7 generations to be happier and make Mother Earth happier. My indigenous Tupi Guarani Grandmother took me on many vision quests bringing me home safe and sound, and her teachings had a great impact on me. The love and respect for the visions of the Elders of this planet guided and connected me toward all the Elders I know in this country and throughout the world. Their teachings are vital for the whole of humanity. I am blessed to be able to hear them and put their teachings into practice.
For me, especially now, and since 2012, the Mayan prophesies, created around six thousand years ago, have been one of the great revelations for our time. Speculation has been made that the destruction of the world is imminent, but this is far from being the truth. It is a message of caution, alerting humanity to be more gentle and kind to one another, more caring of the Earth, and its inhabitants, the wild creatures, and humans. If we do that, and work toward peace within our hearts and minds, sending love throughout the entire universe, we become one with Earth and ourselves. As we follow this marvelous journey, then yes, my dear Brothers and Sisters—we are one.
The next 7 generations of children on this planet will be the new stewards. I invite you to listen carefully to the Elders. If we apply the lessons, we all benefit, and humanity shall be different, and that much better.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bishop “Grandmother” Lygia Maciel DeCastro is a wise woman and native elder whose life bridges the worlds of the four directions. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she was initiated into the world of midwifery at the tender age of seven years old, raised by a family of midwives and farmers who generously shared food and clothing with the needy in their community. Surrounded by a large and loving family, her mother, aunt and grandmothers, trained her in the art of herbology and midwifery.
Every Sunday at Cherry Hill, Central Park by the Bethesda Fountain, at 10am, from the first Sunday of Spring to the first Sunday of Fall, Lygia facilitates the art of PanEuRhythmy Sacred Dance (www.PanEuRhythmy.us).
Contact: [email protected] / (516) 724-3677
Website: https://www.facebook.com/lygia.decastro