Update

I want to thank all of you who have sent messages–as well as those of you who are just reading and not responding. For those of you who have given me suggestions for the blog, I want you to know that I am working on an actual website www.juliabutterfly.com in which many of your suggestions will be incorporated.

Sometimes I wonder how much good jotting down thoughts and experiences really accomplishes. Sometimes I get really inspired, and other times, not so much. Every so often, I get comments from people, that let me know something I have written has made a difference for them. And I think that is why I find myself back at a keyboard again. Whenever my time comes for me to transition from this physical plane, I want to have experienced life to its fullest, and my prayer is that somehow, my life will have been a contribution. I question a lot–including myself. I wonder sometimes, what does it all matter? And then at the end of the day, I know that what matters most to me is integrity, love, joy, and service. I can’t help but want to serve–even if it is in small ways.

Part of my dream actually includes making lots of money–so I can give it away. If you have any solid ideas on ways I can generate green energy (my name for money) for good causes, please let me know. I love directing funds to the groups on the ground who are making such an incredible difference in their communities and in the world.

That’s my brief update for now. 

More to come.

May sunshine remind you of the miracle of being alive on this tiny little island spinning in space.

julia

Back to England

So, as I was saying before I so rudely interrupted myself back in the Exciting Europe entry, I had a fabulous trip that also included a visit to the Eden Project in Cornwall, England.  The Eden Project is literally a human experiment in what it means to recreate Eden on Earth. What would it look like? How can it be done–even in areas that have been completely devastated? These questions fueled a small group of people to take on creating a center that would help answer them.  And, thus the Eden Project was born.  You can go to www.edenproject.com to learn and see more.  It truly is a spectacular project. They took an old abandoned clay pit mine that was leaching into the watershed and turned it into a “Wonder of the World.”  They had to figure out how to stabilize the shifting sand, utilize the water constantly seeping into the pit (it is under sea level), create temperate and tropical Biomes, and more–all while finding ways to translate the experiment and experience to the general public in a way they can understand, be inspired by, and take action from.

I was truly inspired by the visit.  I, also, really respect that they highlight that their tropical Biome is the world’s largest tropical rainforest… “in captivity.” It moves me to see people so honestly acknowledging that the work we have to do to restore our relationship to this planet will require interactions that are not always as we might envision in an idealic, “perfect” world. We have to find ways to merge the best of ancient wisdom from our past with the new, emerging technologies of our present.  Hence, conscious evolution.

So that is a very brief synopsis of an all day adventure.  The people of Eden Project are so dedicated and wonderful.  Spending time with them, I felt their love, commitment and passion for what they do there. They, also, have a commitment to modeling sustainability.  And even though I saw that there was big room for improvement on these levels, I also,saw that they are open to and actively working on growing this aspect of who they are, and what they do.

 

Happy Spring!

julia

 

 

 

A Poem Because Someone Requested More Poetry

Life, Death, Life, Death

 

Life is so short. 

Life is precious.

 

I take a breath in.

I let a breath out.

 

All life is

Is breathing.

 

And then one day

We exhale…

 

 

 julia butterfly hill  June 2007

Exciting Europe

 Europe has been such an incredible trip.  I currently sit in a hotel in London in the Knotting Hill district.  There is an all organic store around the corner called, Planet Organic.  It is wonderful to walk into a store where you don’t have to search for organic because that is all they carry.  Many of the restaurants in this district—including pubs—have numerous vegetarian and vegan selections as well.  It has come a long way since I was last here a few years ago.  For so many people to be aware of vegetarians and vegans is an exciting sign of change.

 

Italy was beautiful and magical beyond what I could have expected.  In Parma we were given a private tour of one of the oldest original theatres that is still in operation.  It was built for Marie Antionette, Napoleon’s wife.  Marble floors and pillars, beautiful frescoes on the ceilings, and seat boxes covered in plush velvet transported us right back to that time.  We were told that the seats reserved for the poorest at the very top of the 5 story building is actually where the harshest critics sat.  The poor would often have to wait for hours outside for a seat, and if they ran out of room, then oh well.  So by the time they made it inside, after spending their hard earned money, they really were vocal about their likes and dislikes. (I have a feeling I would have been right there with them : )  

 

I was invited to Parma by a women’s organization called, ADA.  Every year they give an award called the Golden Mimosa to a woman who represents the advancement of issues they believe are vital to women.  The award is actually a beautiful gold pin with the leaves and flowers of a Mimosa tree.  It is always hard for me to accept awards because I know I am just one of millions of people giving their hearts, souls, minds, and lives to contribute to the world.  But I also have learned that it is important for these groups to be able to acknowledge what they care so deeply about, and awards are one of the ways they have of doing that.  It was an humble honor for me to receive this award from this group of women—most of whom are over 50 years old.  I accepted the award on behalf of the women worldwide who make such sacrifices for their children, the Earth, and all life.

 

I toured the Ecological Panel plant for the fourth time.  They make panels for IKEA and other particle board furniture manufacturers out of 100% recycled waste wood.  If they were cutting down trees to make the panels, they would be cutting down 10,000 trees a day!  They use a non-formaldehyde-based resin glue and their panels have zero off-gassing.  It never ceases to amaze me, no matter how many times I have seen it.  And each time I go, I learn something new.  It so incredible to tour a factory whose founder lives on site.  It is almost unheard of in the world to have the CEO’s and Businessmen involved in factories and production actually live on the site of the factory because of the amount of pollution that most create.  The Ecological Panel plant is so clean that about the only thing that leaves the factory is recycling and steam from a power-generating facility.  You can go to www.ecologicalpanel.com and then click on flag for the English translation.  It is very inspiring. 

 

We then went to Damanhur.  Damanhur is the most incredible human community I have ever been to.  It is based on art; a spirit and nature-based, non-religious philosophy; sustainability; and innovation.  This community blew my mind.  They originated in 1975 as a group who built 8 sacred art temples, all under ground, and all by hand.  The temples are always evolving as new ideas and creativity come through.  One of the temples houses the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world with over 25,000 pieces of glass.  Damanhur is committed to research as part of their mission, so they spend about 60% time on research and 40% time on production.  Damanhur community is now about 600 people full time and 400 people part time.  They have family groups called “nuclei” which are made up of 15-20 people in each family.  Each group family focuses on a certain aspect of the needs and research of Damanhur.  For example, one group focuses on food production.  They make their own olive oil, wine, cheese, and grow their own vegetables, as well as network with local farmers in surrounding areas to supply what they are not able to produce.  Another group family focuses on sustainable energy.  Most of the Damanhurian houses use solar for heating and energy.  They also have a company that sells sustainable energy solutions to outside communities.  Another group family is focused on the art of Damanhur.  The community is a constantly evolving artistic project—not just in the limited sense of things like painting, sculpture, and stained glass, but also in the way they organize the community and in projects and business.  Another family focuses on caring for their Sacred Woods and plants.  Of course, they were my favorite!  : )  I could spend hours and pages going on about Damanhur.  But instead, I HIGHLY recommend that you go to their website to get a tiny taste of the magic of who they are and what they do.  I plan on going back and spending even more time with this incredible community.  Check out www.damanhur.org

 

There is so much more to write about my trip to Europe, but as I am already so behind on posting this one, I will save the rest for another time.  Please do check out the websites for Ecological Panel and Damanhur, and then let me know what you think.

 

Here’s to Creative, Spiritual, Ecological, Effective, Self-Expressions!

 

julia

Thanks for writing!

This is a quick response to those of you who have written.  Thanks so much for writing me with thoughts and feedback.  Keep it coming.  Links to videos on YouTube are coming when I have my site up and running (give me a few months.)  In the meantime you can go on to www.circleoflife.org site, click on the Julia Butterfly Hill link and there are some links to some audio and video I have done.  I will definitely post some recommended books, videos, etc…  of others.  I am off to Europe for the next three weeks and will post some thoughts from the road.Thanks again for writing.  I am especially interested in creating dialogue that furthers thought and action. Love, julia b 

A piece I wrote recently.

Long lines. Stern brows.  Haggard faces.  Curt replies.  Welcome to the world of airline flights in America.  I laugh and smile.  It is infectious.  Welcome to the world of being creator of our perceived reality.  Both worlds are equally true.  All realities exist simultaneously, and it can be overwhelming, frustrating, confusing, and deeply sad.  It can also be peaceful, joyous, beautiful, and loving.  So much of it lies in perspective. 

 

We live our lives as if our perspectives, beliefs, and morals are what is fact for the world.  When in actuality they are only fact to us.  This is not to say that we should not have these feelings and beliefs.  Rather, it is just a window to allow us to see where freedom and liberation lie for ourselves. 

 

For example, when someone is acting in a way that I find annoying or frustrating, if I follow the path that says, “Wow, are they frustrating or annoying!” I am then imprisoned by that thought.  When I get that I am the creator of my reality and take responsibility for the fact that I am the one choosing “annoyed” or “frustrated”, all of a sudden a whole new world possibility opens up.  In this space, I can actually choose being amused or being deeply compassionate; whatever serves my peace and freedom most in the situation.  This is a milder example, but let’s transfer the same idea onto dropping bombs in Iraq, and witnessing thousands of innocent people killed.  Everything in me cries out against this injustice.  I see the pictures of the mangled children’s bodies, and deep sobs feel like they are going to split me into a million shards.  But the minute I go into making wrong, being judgmental, and making others evil for what they are doing, any opportunity for peace or love is quickly destroyed.  All of a sudden, I can only experience frustration, anger, and other thoughts and feelings that allow me no room to continue experiencing the miracle of life even in the face of such atrocities.

 

People say, “But shouldn’t we be outraged!?”  And my response when I drop deep within myself is, “What good will the outrage serve?” and, “Do I have to have outrage in order to be inspired to take action?”  For myself the answer is, “No.”  Not that I do not have moments of outrage and even anger, but I do not choose to live my life from this place.  When I feel these feelings emerge, I quickly remember that I am the one creating these feelings, and from this place I choose what will bring me the most freedom, peace, and joy in the moment.  Choosing love, compassion, and even joy does not mean that I approve or condone something that is happening.  It means that I recognize that what is happening is what is happening.  And that’s it.  All meaning about what is happening is the meaning I ascribe to it.  In this space, I am truly the creator of my reality. 

 

I know this is easier said than done.  And I know there is a certain amount of privilege in my being able to say these things—after all there are no bombs dropping in my neighborhood currently.  But what I keep coming back to in my life is that if I want to take empowered action in my life and in my world, I have to constantly look at what gets in my way of doing so.  Where in my life am I allowing circumstances, and my reactions to them, control or constrict me?  Can I face the atrocities in my world with love and peace; not only in action, but in thought as well? 

 

If my experience in the bustling airport today is any sign, then “Yes!” continues to be the most empowered choice I find.  I choose what is happening because it is what is happening.  Resisting it doesn’t make it change.  Should have, would have, could have doesn’t change what is so; it only torments my mind.  Standing powerfully in what is so, I then can choose what I create from that space.  In this space, I choose powerfully including if it directs me to stand against violence in the world, because first and foremost, it creates the ground where I choose to stand for love and act through love. 

 

I am human, so I make mistakes.  I fall short of my commitments.  There are deep, dark nights of my soul where I rage at what hurts my open heart so deeply.  And then, I breathe through it, let it go, and once again choose love as the place from which I stand and act.  This is not an ultimate truth.  For me, it is just about constantly looking for where I can create more freedom, joy, and love in my life and in the world.  I know that the only way to have these things is to BE them and live them.

 

May we all live love with every thought, word, and action… especially when it is difficult.

 

Love,

 

julia butterfly hill

Hello world!

  Hi There!  Welcome to my extremely amateur blog site.  I am working on developing ways to communicate with the world without having to be on hundreds of stages a year.  Let me know what kind of things you would find interesting, and I will see what I can do.