The environment is the first gift every sentient being receives. The environment exists before we come to life. We develop an awareness of it as we regain consciousness. Therefore, it is perceived as the second gift. Without the environment, life is not possible. From the moment an embryo develops inside the womb, environment plays a crucial role nourishing and influencing both development and growth.  The environment is, thus, one of the seven gifts.

The environment has a direct impact on growth and development.  In 2007, the Ecological Society of America published the results of research conducted on the effects of contamination on aquatic life.  The study analyzed a variety of stressors to determine wildlife sensitivity to aquatic contaminants such as pesticide. In amphibian populations, the exposed embryos and larvae were observed. Tadpole growth was delayed following exposure to pesticides. The study concluded that an amphibian community is sensitive to low-level contamination events, which may result in greater vulnerability to predation.

If this is the case in amphibians, imagine a mother exposed to severe stress and contaminants during her pregnancy. Such stresses impact both the mother and the embryo.

Dr. Bruce Lipton is a world authority in the field of epigenetics and author of the New Biology. After years of research, he concluded that environment, not heredity, is responsible for most changes at the cellular level.

Despite large amounts of qualitative and quantitative data on the role of the environment, this gift is often unappreciated. There is nothing romantic about the environment. The environment is essential for the survival of any species, from plankton to human beings. The environment allows us to access the elements: water, air, earth, metal, aggregates, wood, and fire.

Our bodies are composed primarily of water. Water makes up 55 to 75 percent of our physical body. Without water, life cannot be sustained on planet earth. All aerobic organisms, including human beings, need oxygen to live.  Earth provides the soil and nourishment to grow produce, fruits and pastures needed to feed the animals we consume. Wood, rocks, and aggregates provide us with shelter. Metals are essential in the construction of a variety of tools and technologies. The energy of the sun allows plants to perform the process of photosynthesis. Through this process, plants release the oxygen we need to breathe and stay alive. Everything is related to everything else. Bottom line, without the environment life is not possible.

The gift of the environment is often unappreciated and misunderstood due to our lack of awareness of its vital role. It is essential for the survival of any species.

Uncontrolled sprawl results in the encroachment on the environment that sustains us. Our ability to survive in a determined environment is directly related to the carrying capacity of that environment. Carrying capacity is the largest number of individuals of any given species that can be sustained over extended periods of time in a particular environment. When the population exceeds the environmental capacity, sustainability is compromised.

Population alone is not sufficient to measure environmental impact. Some societies are sophisticated environment managers. These include native tribes living in the Amazonian Low Lands. Other societies are higher consumers of non-renewable resources and poor environment managers. While the former groups contribute to ecological balance, the latter contributes to ecological distress. Urban communities are the least efficient environmental managers. Large urbanized areas generate significant quantities of solid waste and pollutants, extract larger amounts of water from the environment, produce higher quantities of wastewater and contribute significantly to environmental unbalances and distress.

Another indicator is the level of consumption of food, water, and energy. According to the World Resources Institute, the caloric intake in the United States in 2003 was 3,754 calories per capita per day. The same source provides that the caloric intake in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the same year was 1,606 calories per capita per day. The higher the caloric intake per capita, the larger the amount of agricultural fields and water required to supply food for that population. Due to current consumption habits, the United States contributes more stress to the environmental infrastructure of the Earth than other countries with larger populations and lower consumption rates.

The Prairie’s Teachings

The gift of life and the gift of the environment are interdependent and interconnected. They are symbiotic spheres. These two gifts cannot be separated. Life depends on the environment. Without the environment, that is, oxygen, water, food, there is no life. It is as simple as that.

Imagine that you wish to have a juicer. You birthday comes. You are very excited opening your gift. You open the box and unpack the awaited juicer.

After taking all the parts out of the box and reading the fine print, you realize that some of the juicing components are sold separately. You cannot have juice without the juicing blade. Appreciating life without valuing the environment, or vice-versa, is much like having a juicer without a juicing blade. There is no juice.

Accepting that we are one with the environment is essential for our survival. It reaffirms our life purpose. No one can live without the environment. We require oxygen to exist and must drink plenty water and eat enough food to survive. What can we do to restore our connection and learn to coexist? We can change our habits!

The Prairie’s Practical Guide

Below are some of the Prairie’s recommendations. As you practice these, you will reenact your connection to the Earth and restore the symbiotic balance between your life and the environment in which you thrive. There is everything to gain. As you regain your connection and begin to understand the miracle of the environment, you will begin to flourish.

• Take walks barefoot on the grass in a nearby park or on the sand along the shoreline.
• As you walk, take deep breathes, become aware of the scents of grass, flowers, or the salty ocean breeze.
• Feel the energy thread that connects you to the earth.
• Sense its pulsating vibration.
• Draw it up your spine and awaken your Kundalini.
• Feel attuned with the sacredness of the environment and your sacredness.
• Celebrate earth day every day. Earth day is your day. Without the gifts, the Earth offers (oxygen, water, food, wood, metal, quartz, etc.) life as we know it would not be possible.
• You are an integral part of the Earth. By celebrating the environment, you celebrate yourself.
• Go on camping trips and discover nature.
• Hike and bike whenever you can.
• Take the time to pause and smell the flowers.
• Go on a bird watching trip.
• Sit against the trunk of a tree and feel how its roots connect to the Earth.
• Discover the magic of passing clouds and study the cycle of water.
• Respect, protect and enjoy the environment.
• Experience the outdoors.
• Look deep into nature and awaken your connection to its vibrancy.
• Appreciate the immensity of creation in all of its forms.
• The environment is everywhere! Dare to discover it wherever you go.
• Most importantly, the environment is within you. You are part of the environment. There is no separation.
• Be thankful for being alive and having planet Earth, such a beautiful place to live.
• Learn to live in harmony with your home, the Earth.

Title: The Seven Gifts: A Path to Bliss 
Chapter 2: The Gift of Environment
Genre: Self-help non-fiction
Author: Mariel Masque
Copyright 2015: All Rights Reserved (Including International Rights)