3rd Stepping Stone
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The Physical
The physical aspect of the Third Stepping Stone is the Saegoah finding three native wild plants of each major group (Herb, Shrub, & Tree) that naturally grow together in the same environment; and harvest seeds from these plants and grow them all together in a large pot or a terrarium, ensure that the shrub and tree are compatible for this. Do not grow the same plant that you've grown in the First or Second Stepping Stone, as this deprives you from learning new valuable lessons.
Prior to harvesting the seeds of these plants. Learn as much as you can about the environment they grow together in. These environments can be anywhere between sunny and dry to wet and dark or a odd mix of sunny and wet or dry and dark. Is the soil acidic or basic? If they are then you need to ensure the soil in the pot is as well.
After two years of growing these pants together, you may then transplant them into their appropriate environment.
Do not get discouraged if the plants you grew die, they have returned to the earth and have given its gift of fertility to it, allowing the cycle to begin again. Remember, there are no mistakes - only lessons. So make it a lesson to take with you when you begin the cycle again. By continuing on this journey of caring for the primary life form, you will gain much wisdom and appreciation.
Prior to harvesting the seeds of these plants. Learn as much as you can about the environment they grow together in. These environments can be anywhere between sunny and dry to wet and dark or a odd mix of sunny and wet or dry and dark. Is the soil acidic or basic? If they are then you need to ensure the soil in the pot is as well.
After two years of growing these pants together, you may then transplant them into their appropriate environment.
Do not get discouraged if the plants you grew die, they have returned to the earth and have given its gift of fertility to it, allowing the cycle to begin again. Remember, there are no mistakes - only lessons. So make it a lesson to take with you when you begin the cycle again. By continuing on this journey of caring for the primary life form, you will gain much wisdom and appreciation.
The Psychological
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The psychological aspect of this Stepping Stone is the Saegoah becoming open to diversity. Being first aware of diversity, and to then become able to separate yourself from favoring one group over the other, in turn accepting diversity (this excludes groups that are intentionally harmful and dangerous in human society).
Accepting diversity is to achieve the virtue of Impartiality. In achieving this, you will become impartial to every and all groups. Not just different human groups, but different species as well. You may find yourself favoring the cute and cuddly creatures and exotic creatures more so than the common creatures that surround you, like pigeons, or the not so attractive creatures, like invertebrates. For creatures and groups you find yourself being repulsed by or automatically dismissing for whatever reason, learn all you can about them. Find some characteristics of the creature, or goals of a group that you can agree with, or at least understand the purpose of.
You don't need to agree with anything a particular group does, just understand their position and know what their intentions are. Most groups are well intentioned and have many great individuals who are involved in these groups. It greatly aids in personal growth to get to know these people personally and be able to then know the true nature of the group, rather than being someone looking in from the outside not knowing the true depth of a group. In doing so you will begin to see common goals among all groups, even if it is just one thread in the tapestry. Try listing what these commonalities are.
When it comes to other creatures, learn their role or niche in the environment they live in because each creature has a very influential impact on the environment that surrounds them. What would happen if that creature no longer existed? Would that local environment become sick as a result, or just become less efficient in transferring energy? (please follow this link to learn more on transferring energy in ecology)
Learn about each species that surrounds you. How do they connect?
Try testing this out by looking around and choosing one thing whether alive or not. How does this connect to something else? Who or what has influenced it? How do you connect to it?
With the plants you are growing in this step, try to see the connections they have with their native environment. They will then serve as a reminder to strive to achieve this virtue.
Going through the information provided on the Scientia (knowledge) section would be of great aid in this stepping stone. If you haven't already, watch the entire Cosmos series available here, and take the Ehoah Bioregional Quiz here. After taking the quiz, take the time to properly answer all of the questions in full. Reading A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson is highly recommended for expanding our grasp on our relationship and how we've come to obtain our knowledge of the world.
It is recommended that you express gratitude in this step as well - ask yourself of each different group or creature what are you most grateful for.
Accepting diversity is to achieve the virtue of Impartiality. In achieving this, you will become impartial to every and all groups. Not just different human groups, but different species as well. You may find yourself favoring the cute and cuddly creatures and exotic creatures more so than the common creatures that surround you, like pigeons, or the not so attractive creatures, like invertebrates. For creatures and groups you find yourself being repulsed by or automatically dismissing for whatever reason, learn all you can about them. Find some characteristics of the creature, or goals of a group that you can agree with, or at least understand the purpose of.
You don't need to agree with anything a particular group does, just understand their position and know what their intentions are. Most groups are well intentioned and have many great individuals who are involved in these groups. It greatly aids in personal growth to get to know these people personally and be able to then know the true nature of the group, rather than being someone looking in from the outside not knowing the true depth of a group. In doing so you will begin to see common goals among all groups, even if it is just one thread in the tapestry. Try listing what these commonalities are.
When it comes to other creatures, learn their role or niche in the environment they live in because each creature has a very influential impact on the environment that surrounds them. What would happen if that creature no longer existed? Would that local environment become sick as a result, or just become less efficient in transferring energy? (please follow this link to learn more on transferring energy in ecology)
Learn about each species that surrounds you. How do they connect?
Try testing this out by looking around and choosing one thing whether alive or not. How does this connect to something else? Who or what has influenced it? How do you connect to it?
With the plants you are growing in this step, try to see the connections they have with their native environment. They will then serve as a reminder to strive to achieve this virtue.
Going through the information provided on the Scientia (knowledge) section would be of great aid in this stepping stone. If you haven't already, watch the entire Cosmos series available here, and take the Ehoah Bioregional Quiz here. After taking the quiz, take the time to properly answer all of the questions in full. Reading A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson is highly recommended for expanding our grasp on our relationship and how we've come to obtain our knowledge of the world.
It is recommended that you express gratitude in this step as well - ask yourself of each different group or creature what are you most grateful for.
End Result
The end of the stepping stone is reached when you have:
- A mature house plant grown from seed collected from a native variety in your region that is healthy and vibrant
- A mature and native herb, shrub & tree grown from seed (need not be planted outside yet)
- A full grasp on your bioregion and interrelations with the cosmos
- Sincerity, Gratitude, and Impartiality
Over time with practice you will begin to see one group or creature and see how they connect to everything else in an instant. You should find yourself seeing everything being part of everything else by the end of this stepping stone. At this point you have become Impartial, mind you this virtue does need to be reawakened now and again to remind yourself of our connections and similarities, as when time goes on this awareness fades.
It may take weeks, months or years before completing the third stepping stone. But once complete, the other stepping stones will come to you easier through your experience. If you skip past a stepping stone to the next, you will have a harder time achieving the next one and each following that due to not having a foundation to build on, and not fully understanding the message. Reading ahead may also cause confusion as to what is being taught, losing the value of the lesson.
- A mature house plant grown from seed collected from a native variety in your region that is healthy and vibrant
- A mature and native herb, shrub & tree grown from seed (need not be planted outside yet)
- A full grasp on your bioregion and interrelations with the cosmos
- Sincerity, Gratitude, and Impartiality
Over time with practice you will begin to see one group or creature and see how they connect to everything else in an instant. You should find yourself seeing everything being part of everything else by the end of this stepping stone. At this point you have become Impartial, mind you this virtue does need to be reawakened now and again to remind yourself of our connections and similarities, as when time goes on this awareness fades.
It may take weeks, months or years before completing the third stepping stone. But once complete, the other stepping stones will come to you easier through your experience. If you skip past a stepping stone to the next, you will have a harder time achieving the next one and each following that due to not having a foundation to build on, and not fully understanding the message. Reading ahead may also cause confusion as to what is being taught, losing the value of the lesson.
Copyright Rua Lupa 2011
