Sane in the city

[Alison Sinclair]

Here are a few ways that I've found it possible to keep balanced and grounded in an urban environment.

- For many years I kept a herb garden, and then suddenly due to work found myself living in places where it was no longer possible to grow a garden. I found that aromatherapy and use of essential oils were a great substitute as a way to access the healing power of nature, without a physical garden. I recommend studying a bit about aromatherapy and finding ways to incorporate essential oils into your life, whether through massage, scenting rooms, beauty treatments or whatever. They can really uplift and relax the spirit.
- the making of a small altar with a stone to the North, a cup to the West, a feather or other symbol of Air to the East, and wood to the South (fire), and perhaps a candle in the middle (careful of flames, not to be left unattended or in enclosed spaces) representing the sacred can help us to find greater harmony with the natural world. Also small items found in parks etc. such as leaves, pebbles, flowers, etc. or even images can help provide a focus for prayer and meditation. This can be incorporated into a wardrobe or cupboard if no other spare space is available.
- remember that the energetic imprints of earlier times are still present in and on the land, even if not physically. So the great forest, and other primordial expressions of nature are still available if we can take some quiet moments to sense them.
- Paying attention to the creatures of nature can help. For example, I work in a large building with many people. When I attuned to bee medicine, I came to realize that these are kind of hives, and we humans are also part of nature. Other medicines can also help in the urban environment, eg Hare and Fox can help us find pathways to locate what we need and escape danger, ant medicine can help to attune to the work a day world; birds can help us to rise above limitations in the environment to see a broader picture.

copyright Alison Sinclair 2009

[Alison Sinclair]

Hi, Boldylocks, thanks for your great ideas. eg Dandelions are some of my favourite plants too. :)
I moved out of the city about 3 years ago, partly to be closer to the earth, and I must say that I feel much better for it, and so do our two dogs. However, the other day someone asked how people can cope living in the city, so I put some ideas together, then decided to post here. I think its good if we can try to share some info. reasonably frequently.
I am about to embark on getting a completely new garden where I live and am pretty excited about this. i think it was at least in part due to the inspiration of the elves that I decided to do this.

[Boldylocks]

Thanks for posting that! Alot of people these days live in apartments and high rises, so this is ideal for them to get back in touch with the natural world!

Do you have a Window in your apartment? --- or even if you get one of those full spectrum lamps if the window hardly brings enough light in.

Buy a big plastic pot- and some Potting Soil- and order a bag of organic fertilizer and earthworm castings.. (One good catalog that has that stuff is "Spray N Grow" ) to occasionally enrich the soil every so many months.
Grow some herbs in the pot-- and also a pot of cherry tomatoes,etc! You can grow them inside your apartment near a window, or lamp with a full spectrum light bulb. You can use your imagination -- even grow a pot of grass and dandilions :-) Dandilions are very hardy and if you trim the leaves from time to time, you can add in your salads. The leaves are extreemly nutritious.

When watering --use Spring Water, or filtered water using one of those Brita Filter pitchers. Or you can let sit the standard tap water in a jug for 24 hours to let the chlorine evaporate.

If growing these things in your apartment-- when you are outside, you can send a mental thought out to the Faerie Kingdom to "come on in" and help your herb garden!

Hugs