A good foundation for life: this was an earlier post, but the truth is eco feminism and Goddess history are inextricably linked so this is a good study for developing consciousness period. I've added a few new books.

What an interesting term - ecofeminist. The truth is true ecology - that is - deep ecology can only be feminist. The term feminism itself is sooooo misunderstood and has "cooties" now, as if somehow the need for a radical womyn's deconstruciton of every cultural institution and ideology is no longer required.... as if.. patriarchy has somehow been dismantled. But for me, there is no separation between a practice of ecology, feminism, mindfulness, conscious being. There is no balance between nature, and humans, between gender, races, and classes without consciousness and once you start down that path, beware. Because I find I seek with a vengeance, congruency in all its glorious shining. Meaning that what I eat, my work, my play, my art, my words, my circle, my service - bascially everything I practice in speech, thought and deed - body mind, spirit, privately and communally should be overall integrous, truthful, thoughtful, and ecologically and mindfully sound.

Now I'm struggling with it as much as the next person, but I'm painfully aware how human beings are embarassingly, destructively self centered and greedy and small - but I know that is in our covered over state- but when we are in our true essence - we are compassionate, simple, humble, service oriented and just one small part of the integrated wholistic rainbow web. So I know where I want to go and its all about daily practice.

As for resources - what can I say, the power of words in books, has the power to radically alter everyone one of your synapses and cells in your brain towards and evolution of the self, so I can offer you a beginning bibliography to get you started. As for online, the best resources are keyword searches for books. And I'll throw in a few of my fav websites too.

Some of these books are the founding mothers so to speak, who woke us up and turned the whole paradigm of knowledge on its head. Others have pursued the paths they roughly pointed to and there are sooo many wonderful inspirational books to read. On the practice side some important personal level actions you might explore are:

your diet - where do you shop for food, how is the food you consume produced, what methods and what consciousness? who is controlling food sources, where do your apples, milk, lettuce, etc. come from? do you eat primarily whole foods - that is foods in their natural state, that are seasonal and local, or are you hooked on processed non-foods?

connected to food is of course health - explore healing when sick wholistically, with rest, fresh air, whole foods, quiet, sun, herbal allies.

your water - where does your local water come from? find and discover the natural resources that source your local water supply. who owns your local water supply? where are the natural streams, seasonal year round and what is their cycle. do you use a de-chlorination filter on your shower - what kind of water do you drink - how much? how much do you personally waste.

deeply connected to that is your local sewage and water reclamation plants.
what do you personally put down the drains - your shampoos, your hair dyes detergents, if you garden, pesticides etc? how is sewage managed, treated and directed back into the water table in your locale?

visit your local dump or landfill it is a radical field trip. then try to make as little waste as possible - how many things do we buy covered in plastic wrap??? plastics of all kind are bad, bad, bad, how can we buy and consume less. are you committed to recylcling everything? think about using things longer and not making arbitrary impulse purchases.

your earth - even if you live in an apartment, do you know the names of the trees in your neighborhood, local birds, local floral and fauna? its a blast to get easy guide books for local birds, trees, herbs etc and then walk around getting to know the touch, smell, feel and energy of different plants. listen, they have voices. get your hands and feet in soil regularly even if this means sharing a little bed of earth with a friend at their home or in a community garden. Make being on and in earth and nature a necessity - part of daily life, like breathing. Do you know and visit the wild spaces in your local, are you involved in local land use planning public meetings? how long can you walk quietly in the woods or a meadow or on the ocean just listening to your breath and the voice of nature?

Your blood and your sexuality - what is your relationship with your body's cycle of blood, have you studied/practiced/explored blood mysteries do you love your body?? have you ever bled on the earth? have you ever given yourself a menstrual rite? have you ever had an orgasm? have you been sexually harassed, abused, raped? have you forced yourself our allowed your self to be sexual when you didn't want to? do you feel safe when being sexual? do you honor and trust your bodies messages about desiring sex? how have you loved, healed your yoni - your sexuality, your sensuality?

Your body - how have you internalized cultural ideologies about your body, shame?, objectification? hatred? how powerful is the belief in you that your highest value is your ability to attract a male or female, or be sexually attractive? do you eat well, sleep well, love well, how do you care for this sacred vessel that manifests your spirit's path in the world? do you spend more time on makeup and looks than prayer, meditation or reading? do you honor you body as temple? does your partner? what messages have you internalized from the culture of your family or origin about your body? have you ever done a ritual blessing of your body? do you trust your body?

your relationship with women - do you have a circle of women - a sisterhood? do you compete with other women, have you developed a trusting exchange with a number of women peers in your life? do you have older wise women for counsel? what is the relationship with your mother - sisters - grandmothers, aunts. Do you know the life stories of your mother, grandmothers, aunts? have you ever betrayed another women for a man? been betrayed by another woman for a man? if your are lesbian, have you betrayed another woman for a woman or vice versa? would you trust a woman to have your best interest at heart? can you have another woman's best interest at heart? do you call yourself a feminist?

your breath - how can we become free of the crazy attached minds we have. i'm big on breath meditation learning to free my mind from its attached stories, of her fault, his fault, he said, she said, if only they this if only I that, why can't this, etc., constantly rehashing and trying to control everything, when in fact we have no control over anything accept how we choose to be each completely new and original moment.

your service - how can we become service oriented instead of "me" oriented? i think sometimes i attempt to fill the existential angst of being impermanent, through consumption, but really helping to end suffering and ignorance are sooo much more wonderful to experience.how can we be vessels of integrity, compassion and healing for the rift between humanity and nature - between humanity and spirit? how do you allow yourself to be rightly situated by contributing to the wellness and peace and happiness of all beings? what are you grateful for and how often do you practice gratitude?

prayer, contemplation, gratitude, humiliyt, service and slowing down and silence are extremely powerful tools in your hands right now. practice them.

Bibliography in no specific order:

Foundations:
Politics of Women's Spirituality: Charlene Spretnak
Weaving the Visons, Patterns in Feminist Spirituality: J. Plaskow, Carol Christ
Great Cosmic Mother: Monica Sjoo, Barbara Moor
The Chalice and the Blade: Rianne Eisler
Sacred Pleasure: Rianne Eisler
Of Women Born: Adrienne Rich
Reweaving the World, Emergence of Ecofeminism: I. Diamond, G. Orenstein
Radical Ecology: Carolyn Merchant
Blood, Bread & Roses: Judy Grahn
When God Was A Woman: Merlin Stone
Women and Nature: Susan Griffin
Gyn/Ecology: Mary Daly
Primate Visions: Donna Hathaway
Circles of Stone by Joan Dahr Lambert
Circle of Stones: Woman's Journey to Herself by Judith Duerk
Women, Culture, Politics: Angela Davis
Feminist Theory: bell hooks
The Yoni: Rufus Camphausen
Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets: Barbara Walker


Ecofeminism:
The Earth Path: Starhawk
Ecofeminism, Women, Culture & Nature: Karen Warren
Ecofeminst Philosopy: Karen Warren
The Death of Nature, Women, Ecology & Science: Carolyn Merchant
Earth Care, Women & the Environment: Carolyn Merchant
Reinventing Eden: Carolyn Merchant
Gaia & God: Rosemary Radford Reuther
Integrating Ecofeminism Globalization and World Religion: Rosemary Reuther
Ecofeminism: Maria Mies, Vandana Shiva
Ecofeminism & Globalization: Heather Eaton
Healing Wise: Susan Weed
Webs of Power: Starhawk

Consciousness & Deep Ecology:
Deep Ecology for the 21st Century: George Sessions
Permaculture: Bill Mollison
Buddhism & Ecology: Mary Tucker, Duncan Williams
Buddhism & Deep Ecology: Daniel Henning
Beneath the Surface: Earnie Katz
Sacred Land, Sacred Sea, Rapture of the Deep: Dolores La Chapelle
Ecology, Community, Lifestyle: Arnie Naess, D. Rothenberg
The Miracle of Mindfulness: Thicht Nhat Hanh
The Path of Emancipation: Thict Nhat Hanh
EVERYTHING BY PEMA CHODRON - Her cd' listening library is a can't do without!

Blood Mysteries:
Blood, Bread & Roses: Judy Grahn
Whitewash: Liz Armstrong, Adrienne Scott
The Curse: Karen Huppert
The Wise Wound: Penelope Shuttle, Peter Redgrove
Her Blood is Gold: Lara Owen
Blood Magic: Gottleib and Buckley


Seasonal Passages/Rituel
Wheel of the Year: Pauline Campanelli
Ancient Ways: Pauline Campanelli
Circle Round: Starhawk
Spiral Dance: Starhawk
Ariadne's Thread: Shekinah Mountainwater

Online:
My favorite Shamaness in Music and Ritual
Carolyn Hillyer www.seventhwavemusic.co.uk
Starhawk www.starhawk.org
Susan Weed: www.susanweed.com
Global Exchange www.globalexchange.org/

www.motherjones.com
www.moveon.org/com
www.pacific.net/~mec/LINKS/*links.html
www.envirolink.org/
www.permacultureactivist.net/
www.scorecard.org/
www.permacultureactivist.net/

good key words for web, amazon or other book search
ecofeminism
deep ecology
gaia theory
feminism and nature
radical feminism
religion of the goddess
women's studies
herbalism
permaculture