The Convent for the Order of the Holy Mother is located in a small, suburban town 60 miles outside of Detroit. Over 250 acres of land, including a small lake, a corn field, and every type of tree imaginable, it’s not what I thought a convent would look like! It was beautiful! It was serene. It was an ideal location for self-searching black women on spiritual retreat! At first, I felt a little uncomfortable going to a convent. I wasn’t a Christian. Most nuns are white. I still had a tendency to use four-letter words. And where was I going to smoke? However, once I set foot on the property, I knew that something miraculous was about to take place.
It was early Saturday morning when my spiritual Sister and I began the workshops. “Creating a New Reality”—that was our goal. For six hours, Shaheerah and I taught about the power of the mind, the value of the spirit, and the wisdom of God. We conducted meditations, visualizations, and soul-freeing exercises. A mother who had not spoken to her son for six years came to realize that she would see him again. A woman who had never spoken in public stood up and gave a ten-minute speech about the pain in her life! A woman who had come to the retreat by mistake and knew no one in the group decided to stay! One by one, people began to realize their beauty, their power, their connection with the Creator! We cried about it! We sang about it! We made a miracle scorecard! At the end of the first session, we had chalked up 15 miracles! It was time for dinner.
I decided to take a walk. It was a beautiful day. The grass was freshly cut; the pine, oak, and elm trees offered shade from the sun. The energy was flowing through my body at 75 miles an hour! I needed to be grounded, to get centered. I walked to a large, open field where the earth seemed to meet the sky. I lay on the ground in spread-eagle fashion and began to pray. I had been lying there for about ten minutes when I realized I wasn’t alone! There seemed to be a misty fog hovering over me! There was a sweet smell in the air and a cool breeze. I wanted to open my eyes, but I couldn’t. Suddenly, my stomach did a somersault as if I had just plunged down the first hill of a roller coaster! The fog became denser, and I could feel it on my skin. Now, I was scared!
As I began to breathe deeper, I heard the voice: What do you want? It was a heavy, deeply male voice. It was gentle but stern. My mind was fuzzy. I couldn’t figure out if I was asleep or awake. I could feel the sun shining on my skin, and, although my eyes were closed, I could see the fog. I heard it again: What do you want?
“Oh s—t, God is talking to me!”
I knew I had gone over the deep end! Then I felt bad for cursing. Suppose it really is God? Now I’ve cursed at Him! But why would God be talking to me? I don’t believe this s—t! God is talking to me! The sweet smell was lingering under my nose! I could hear my heart pounding in my ears! My eyes were closed, but I could see everything! I wanted to turn my head to actually see, but I couldn’t move! “You’re crazy!” I told myself. Then I heard myself saying, “God is talking to you.” Then the voice came again. This time, it was louder, firmer, and right in my ear! What is it that you want?
My mind was both blank and flooded with thoughts at the same time. What are you supposed to say when God asks you what you want? All of the spiritual theory I knew went right out the window! I was struggling to figure out what was happening. All of my self-value and worth issues were staring me in the face! Why would God take the time to talk to me? Here I was, a lowly human, trying to do my spiritual work, struggling with my own issues, and God, Himself, was talking to me! How did I know this was real? Somehow, I just knew it, and it scared me half to death!
Did I ask God for a cure for AIDS? No! Did I ask God for the secret to a wholesome, prosperous life? No! Did I ask Him to eradicate poverty? Racism? Did I speak to God about my feelings regarding the abuse of women and children? No! I had been praying for more than 30 years for all the things I thought were politically and spiritually correct. I had prayed for clarity, guidance, and understanding. I had children who needed protection, friends who needed help, and clients who needed salvation.
And then the voice came for the fourth time: What do you want?
I responded, “A car!”
I was embarrassed for myself. How could I waste this glorious opportunity? As soon as the words were out of my mouth, everything became frightening still. I thought I was dead, but the voice came back.
What do you believe about a car?
Oh, God, now what do I say? The words rolled off my tongue. “I believe you need money to get a car.”
You don’t need money to get a car. All you need is an idea. A car is simply an idea in your mind. Your mind is in My mind. All I do is create ideas. You bring my ideas into the world.
I couldn’t speak!
The voice came back: If you keep your mind stayed on My mind, you can have anything, because all things are My ideas. You are an idea in My mind! You belong to me!
On a very, deep level of my being, it all made sense. If God is the source of all life, then everyone and everything belongs to God. The thought crossed my mind: “Well, how come we can’t get things together?” The answer came quickly.
Your ego is in the way and sends you on a search for things you already have! Still your ego, and keep your mind on Me.
The fog lifted. My eyes opened. I knew it had been real!
I sat up slowly, trying to make sense of it. The earth beneath me felt alive. I could feel it pulsing. The trees seemed to be watching me. There were several birds walking within 12 inches of me. I could hear the sound of a waterfall that I could not see. I tried to stand up. I was floating! I could smell the flowers. It seemed as though I could see for miles. I felt a peace and stillness within myself that I could not explain! When I finally stood up and turned around, I noticed a 20-foot marble statue of the Virgin Mary! She was looking directly at me! My heart jumped. I shut my eyes. When I opened them, the statue was gone. Six months later, with a $37,000 student loan in default, an overdrawn bank account, and $15 in a savings account, I was given the title and keys to a new car! When I changed my mind, my ideas, my beliefs, and the circumstances of my life changed.
The Creator has placed at our disposal a wealth of natural energies that are willing and useful healing tools. We need only ask, and the help is there for us.
Trees
These mighty friends are elemental symbols of wisdom. They are tangible signs of transformation and growth. Trees are receptive and energizing. They stand as symbols, representing and demonstrating our endless source of supply. Imagine that every leaf on every tree represents an idea, a possibility. Imagine that every tree you pass on the streets or roads is a demonstration of the things you can be or have in your life. There is no shortage of possibilities in life, and every possibility is within your reach. We can also talk to trees, particularly elms and oaks. Weeping willows are eager receptacles for our sorrows—they take our tears and transform them into beauty! Trees are a solid support system.
An excellent clearing ritual can be performed at the foot of a tree. Dig a small hole in front of the tree or near the roots. Lie flat on the earth and talk directly into the hole. Talk as though you were speaking to a person. If you are expressing pain, sorrow, fear, and so on, tell the tree exactly what the cause is and how you feel about it. If you are making a request, be specific. Talk about the situation, what you are feeling, and propose an outcome. When you have fully expressed yourself, re-cover the hole. Ask the tree to take your concerns and turn them into something beautiful! Another simple clearing process is simply to sit on the earth with your back against the tree and talk out your concerns. Whenever you download your difficulties into the earth or at the foot of a tree, always thank the tree and leave an offering—pennies, a flower, fruit, or a prayer. In essence, you are paying for the work the tree will do.
Rivers
Rivers are the sweet waters of the universe. They represent the energy of Venus, the planet that rules the energy and flow of love and money. The river is always flowing as a representation of the movement of love, wealth, community consciousness, and emotional well-being. Rivers attend to the day-to-day flow of life: how we respond to it and how we overcome the challenges we encounter. Rivers encourage us to learn how to flow with the tides of life.
Sitting on a riverbank, talking aloud about your emotions, is an excellent cleansing ritual. Releasing and clearing emotions about relationships should be done at the river. Praying for specific information, direction, and guidance can also be done at the river. When praying or meditating at the river, it is helpful to ring a small, brass bell while you are praying to clear and uplift the energy. When you are done, leave an offering of honey or yellow flowers. The offering of honey can be poured into the river while you are ringing the bell and praying. I would encourage you to taste the honey before pouring it so that the words you speak will be sweet. You can also leave an offering of five pennies, five nickels, or five dimes. The number 5 represents the energy of the river. It is the number of family, flowing energy, and fulfillment. It is important that you never throw garbage into the river, nor should you leave any discarded items at the riverbank.
Oceans
The ocean is the ultimate “Mother Force” of the universe. Like the amniotic fluid that nurtures life, the ocean is a supportive, protective, nurturing, and healing energy. You can take all of your troubles to this Mother. She is an enduring source of strength!
Like all mothers, the ocean energy is primarily concerned with health. For us, that translates to mental, physical, and spiritual health. Meditation and prayer at the ocean is one of the most powerful and effective healing tools at our disposal. The ocean is littered with the bodies and spiritual energy of African ancestors! They live because the ocean supports life in many forms. When you go to the ocean, be humble and respectful. Do not wear shoes, fancy clothing, or makeup. Make your prayer with outstretched arms. Always take an offering of fruit, molasses, blue cloth, or silver coins. Leave your offering at the water’s edge.
The ocean is the best place to cry. (The river can also take your bitter tears and sweeten them.) When you cry at the ocean, Mother will wash away the source of your tears. Be very mindful of what you ask for at the ocean’s shores because these things will ultimately shift or change. Once you have shared your concerns with the Mother, you may recognize people, conditions, and situations leaving your life. It is important that you resist the temptation to fix, change, or hold on to them. The Mother cannot heal or transform your concerns if you get in her way. Because the Mother energy of the ocean represents intuition, once you ask her for assistance, you will intuitively know what to do and how to do it.
Mountains
If you want peace, mental clarity, tranquility, and understanding, go alone to a mountaintop. When you want to forgive or be forgiven, dress in white and go to a mountaintop. For evolution, quick resolutions, and instant mental illumination go to a mountaintop. It is there, in the heights of the mountains, that the Father resides! For these purposes, it is not necessary to scale Mount Kilimanjaro. A simple road trip through the mountains or a weekend of solitude in a cabin in the mountains will suffice.
Taking a ride through the mountains is a powerful mental-clearing ritual. Find a quiet place where on the side of the road where you can look down and see a countryside. Take a single coconut, hold it in the center of your forehead, and speak your prayer or concerns aloud. When you have finished, place the coconut in a well-nestled place and leave it. (The coconut would not be considered an unwanted item because it is a natural element.) Once you have spoken aloud, spend 20 to 30 minutes in silence, eyes closed, with the palms of the hands turned upward. End your prayer/meditation with joyous thanksgiving. Never tell anyone what you’ve asked for and never ask for it again! Mountain energy is a slow energy. However, it is the most precise and concrete energy available to us on the planet.
Fire
Fire creates the direct link for communication between man and the Creator. It is a powerful cleansing way to release energy into the universe. Fire carries a vibratory presence that permeates the tangible and intangible energies of the universe of life. It represents illumination at the spiritual level and transformation on the physical level. With candles we can use fire for illumination and transformation in our everyday lives.
Candles add vibration to the prayers we offer and the requests we make. The body of the candle holds the thoughts; the flame sends the thoughts into the universe. The color of the candle represents the energy we desire to create. The flame of a candle carries that energy upward and outward. Candles are strongly recommended for those of us who lack the discipline to repeat the same prayers/affirmations daily, as well as those of us whose faith is strong enough to ask for it once and then surrender our attachment to the outcome.
I have discovered that my greatest outcome has unfolded when I charge a seven-day pull-out candle. These are the large candles that come in a glass jar. When you have a specific request or situation that requires healing or transformation, hold the wax candle in your hands while you pray or speak about it, and then place the body of the candle back in the jar. In this way, your thoughts and your energy are captured and held by the candle wax then released into the universe as the candle burns down. As with anything spiritual, you get out of it what you put into it! When “charging” your candle, be relaxed, be clear about what you are asking for, and be positive. (Note: Always keep a lit candle in an open, stable location. The higher, the better. Place your burning candles on a saucer or in a shallow bowl filled with water.) Select the color of candle that vibrates the level of energy you wish to attract (see below).
Color
Color represents the wavelengths of light that emanate from or reflect an object. The vibratory effects of color emit energy, and influence the mind, emotions, and energy in the atmosphere. Color sends a message and draws upon the energies of the universe. The decor of our homes, the clothes we wear, and even the food we eat carry the vibratory effects of color. We can create and dispel energy by the clothes we wear, because they radiate the energy of our being. Choose your colors carefully so they are attuned to what you feel or what you desire to draw to you.
Color: Vibratory Principle
The richer and deeper the tone, the stronger the vibration of the color.
• Red—passion, courage, connection, survival
• Orange—energy, dynamic force, fertility, motivation
• Yellow—mind, intellect, optimism, personal will
• Green—love, prosperity, success, versatility, supply, forgiveness
• Blue—inspiration, religion, devotion, healing, artistic ability, vision
• Purple—high spirit, holy, divine radiance
• Brown—stability, sustenance, practicality
• Pink—universal love, tenderness, innocence
• White—clarity, innocence, wisdom, strength
• Black—absorption and destruction of negative energy
Returning, Returning, Returning to the Mother of us all.
— from “Returning” by Jennifer Berezan
What I Know Now
The physical earth represents the physical body.
It is our responsibility to walk harmlessly on the earth.
Every element and aspect of the earth offers
and provides support for healing and evolution.
Wallowing in the Mud
One of my favorite places to visit is Sedona, Arizona. The sight of those huge, red clay mountains transports my mind to total peace and my spirit to heights difficult for me to establish in any other environment. In Sedona, the air seems cleaner than any other place I have been. I love to walk along the flowing rivers and sit in the quiet of the valleys between the mountains. Whenever I visit Sedona, I collect rocks—huge, beautiful rocks. On my last trip, I collected so many rocks I had to ship them home, which cost over $200. I am not ashamed of spending that much money for a box of rocks; they allow me to keep a piece of Sedona with me forever. The rocks live in my garden and remind me of the beauty and power of this God-created space.
I love dirt. I love the way it smells and the way it feels in my hands. I frequently lie on the earth, digging my fingers down beneath the surface, resting my face against the coolness, a practice I associate with lying against the Mother’s breast and listening to her heartbeat. In Native American culture, the earth represents the Mother. It is characteristic of the warmth, comfort, and security we all need and seek in life. The earth has a hard exterior and soft interior. It holds what Native cultures call Turtle Medicine. Like the turtle, the earth’s movement is slow, persistent, and determined. Its progress is measured by slow, methodical steps that always yield powerful, positive results like the seasons that govern the planting and harvesting of crops. It would do us well to honor and follow the earth’s lead, planning our lives in alignment with the seasons.
As the earth moves, it gives rise to cleansing time, growing time, flowering time, harvesting time, and renewal time. We call these times summer, winter, spring, and fall, without a true understanding of how the earth’s movement and energy influence the ebb and flow of our experiences. What I know now is that winter is the time for us to rest and renew. The cold, frost, and snow encourage us to slow down, go within (physically and spiritually), and rest. Spring is the time for us to awaken and plant. With a rested body and soul, we can plant the seeds of our vision with new actions and behaviors. Between spring and summer we have the flowering and growing time, the natural unfolding of all we have planted. Summer is when we ripen and reap the rewards of what we have planted—mentally, emotionally, and physically. Fall is the most appropriate time for us to evaluate and cleanse. This is the time to reflect and release those things and those people who do not support our growth and healing. Although we have a close affinity to the earth, few of us have an understanding of how our lives and personalities are influenced by the seasonal characteristics of the earth’s movement and nature. As a result, in today’s world, many of us live chaotic and imbalanced lives. In essence, we are out of order.
In the Bible, the book of Genesis is the story of creation. It reveals the step-by-step process employed by God for the creation of the fullness of the earth or life as we know it today. From nothing, God called everything into being, including light and dark, water, plants, birds, animals, and the human being. Beyond the religious interpretation, there is important symbolism behind the creation process. Genesis is a directive for how we are to live on the earth. God spoke and things came into being: This reminds us of the power of our words. Everything God spoke into being had a purpose: This is a reminder that we must use our words and resources to create purposefully. Creation is a function of vision and intention. I particularly love the part that reads: “He rested.” This first book is a reminder that speaking positively, creating intentionally, and resting periodically is a powerful way of living on the earth.
Coping with Critters
Over the years, I have frequently ignored the power of the God-given creation process. I have been overcommitted, overworked, and totally disrespectful of the signs and wonders the earth provides to keep my mind, body, and soul balanced. The good news is, I now know enough to recognize when my life is out of balance. The bad news is that I have frequently ignored that information. One year, however, I made a faithful attempt to help myself find clarity and balance. I was physically exhausted, mentally bewildered, emotionally drained, and teetering on the brink of financial ruin. Drawing on my Native American ancestry, I knew it was time for a Hanblecheyapi, a vision quest—a ceremonial retreat of fasting, prayer, and meditation—where I would examine my soul, seeking guidance and direction in life. A vision quest is one of the seven main rites of many Native Nations. A traditional quest is usually undertaken during teenage years; however, it can be taken at any time with the guidance of a teacher or Medicine Man to restore balance in your life. As a solitary journey into the wilderness to commune with the earth and nature for the purposes of personal growth, a vision quest will bring you face-to-face with your inner self, the good and the not so good.
It was the dead of winter when I called my teacher requesting his support for my quest. I arrived on the reservation in South Dakota to discover that winter in the plains has a completely different meaning than winter in the city. It was –15 degrees during the daylight hours. No one dared to guess what it would be at night. Warfield, my teacher, decided that I would do the entire quest in the Inipi, the sweat lodge. He gathered six men from the community who had volunteered to gather the rocks and build and keep the fire burning for my quest. I was humbled to tears to know that these men, who did not know me, would endure such inclement weather to support me in my time of need. It was a reminder that the earth and those connected to it will never fail us.
I entered the lodge with nine elders who came to pray for me. When the first seven stones were placed in the pit of the lodge, the heat forced me to remove my sweatshirt and pants. One by one, the elders sang and prayed for me, my vision, and my future, as soft tears streamed down my face. By the time they were done, there were 21 stones in the pit that gave off a beautiful amber glow in the pitch-black darkness. The heat was intense. I would guess that by the time the initial two-hour ceremony was complete, the temperature in the lodge was at least 110 degrees. I also knew that it would not stay that way. Warfield gave me my final instructions, and he and the elders left me to pray and sweat alone.
The lodge was warm and toasty for a long while. Then, as the rocks in the pit cooled off, I could feel the bitter cold seeping from the earth. During the ceremony I had taken off all of my cold-weather clothing, which I now could not find in the pitch-black darkness. Wrapping myself in the available towels and blankets, I spent so much time bracing myself for the anticipated onslaught of cold that I could not pray. Once the cold set in, I was no longer seeking a vision; I was protecting my physical body from the frigid temperatures. I could hear the fire crackling outside the lodge. I knew there were rocks on the fire, and that at some point, one of the brothers would come to place those hot rocks in the pit in the center of the lodge. They did not come fast enough. Once I started shivering, my future was not the issue. Mentally, I began to prepare myself to freeze to death in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
As I sat in the lodge shivering, I tried to pray. I tried to meditate. I tried to ignore the fact that I really needed to pee. I failed miserably at all of the above. I laid down. I sat up. I rocked back and forth, side to side. The lodge was so dark, I really couldn’t see anything, and every few moments, I blew out through pursed lips to see the frost of my breath. I kept remembering Warfield’s last words to me: “Stay inside. Do not lay the pipe on the earth. Let the Mother nurse you back to peace.” Was I supposed to pee in my clothes? In the lodge? Was I supposed to go outside near the fire and pee on the sacred grounds? My mind was spinning, my bladder was filled to capacity, and I didn’t hear anyone approaching the lodge to help me or save me except the coyotes that were howling in unison right outside the door of the lodge.
Although I had been specifically instructed by Warfield not to drink anything for at least 24 hours before entering the lodge, I had been disobedient. I had been fasting from food for seven days when I took the flight from Maryland to South Dakota. The pressure of the flight made my mouth so dry it felt like my tongue was covered in fuzz. I knew it was wrong, but that physical experience overwhelmed my mind and led to a conscious act of disobedience. I guzzled down a 16-ounce bottle of water on the plane and another eight ounces walking through the airport. In fear and shame, I didn’t bother to mention this to Warfield. As a result, he did not have the opportunity to give me proper instruction. I was about to pay a huge price for my disobedience, and, in the process, I would learn a powerful lesson.
I am not sure how long I had been in the lodge when I felt forced into making a drastic decision. Either I would pee in the sacred lodge, or brave the subzero temperatures and the coyotes to pee near the fire. I decided the latter made more sense as long as I did not put the sacred pipe down. It, I thought, would protect me from being eaten alive by the wild beasts that had gathered outside.
Realizing that there were rocks somewhere in the lodge that I could not see, and that were possibly still hot, I felt around the earth for the edge of the lodge. Pulling at the blankets and other coverings that had been secured over the lodge to keep it airtight, I also discovered that the ground was frozen. My bladder was demanding that I find my way out quickly or run the risk of sitting in wet clothes that would surely freeze. Pulling and tugging, I lifted the lodge covering high enough to look out. I could see the glare of the fire blazing and two eyes staring back at me. Clutching my pipe, I retreated into the lodge. Crawling along the edge of the structure, I moved what I thought was a reasonable distance and pulled up the coverings in this new location. Now, I was directly in front of the fire; I figured that if I went out here, the coyotes would probably not approach me. Still clutching the pipe, I lay on the earth and slithered through the small opening. Dressed in a tank top with the bottom half of my body wrapped only in two yards of African print cotton, I made my way out of the lodge. Crouching low to the ground, I surveyed the landscape for a suitable place to relieve myself. What I saw were multiple sets of eyes to the right, to the left, and directly in front of me. It scared me so bad, I peed right in front of the lodge, staring into eyes that were close enough for me to touch.
I knew enough not to make any quick movements, so I stilled my body and my breathing. Somewhere within me I realized that it was below zero and I had very few clothes on. Still, I dared not move. I closed my mind, clutched the pipe, and began to pray. When I did, I felt the warm tongue of a wild coyote lick my face. As the tongue moved across my cheek, I prayed and cried—for how long I do not know. Then, suddenly, I realized that I was not afraid, nor was I in danger. Every prayer I had ever prayed for guidance and protection flooded my mind. I opened my eyes, stared deeply into the fire, and continued to pray. I felt warm and clear and peaceful. Slowly, I lowered myself to the ground and slithered back into the lodge, where I covered myself with the blankets and went into a deep sleep. I was awakened by Warfield’s voice. It was daylight and a day later.
What I know now is that we can become so attached and addicted to our physical senses and comfort that we dishonor, disrespect, and ignore the natural movement and symbols of the earth. The number one addiction of the human race is control. When we cannot control a thing, we fear it. We fear the unknown, we fear change, we fear risk, believing that if we cannot control an outcome, we may not be able to avoid some unknown harm or danger. Each of these things brings us face-to-face with our perceived weaknesses and limitations. In these moments we forget our connection to God and the earth. We discount or ignore our oneness with all things. We doubt ourselves and imagine the worst possible outcome rather than faithfully calling upon and relying on the guidance of our spirit, which is available at all times in all situations.
The demands of the physical body and senses can be overwhelming, creating a sense of urgency that no amount of prayer seems to quiet. Driven by our physical senses, we will say and do things that take us further away from the very thing our spirit yearns for: a closer connection to God, God’s love, and God’s protection.
Honoring Mother Earth
The physical earth as we know it is changing, and so are we as the earth’s inhabitants. Along with the global warming of the planet, we as human beings are contributing to and experiencing the influence of the earth in ways that were once considered impossible and implausible. Many of us are recognizing our connection to our planet and promoting lifestyles that support or advance an ecofriendly co-existence between humans and the natural elements. What I know now is that, from a spiritual perspective, we are being forced to awaken and change.
Several years ago, I adopted a policy of harmlessness. This means I do not kill anything. I do not swat or stomp bugs; I do not litter; and I endeavor to remain mindful of the costs of advancing my physical comfort. For several years, I stopped eating meat. Unfortunately, my body rebelled, and I was advised to add organic poultry and fish back into my diet. Living a spiritually grounded and empowered life does not mean we must move to a mountaintop and exist on a diet of leaves and bugs. It does mean that we must be conscious of how our demands and behavior impact the environment. We must learn how to respect the ebb and flow of the earth. We must contribute to the proliferation of life. We must make peace and order priorities in our lives.
I live in a remote area of Maryland where farms still exist. I am often sad to see the number of townhouses and condos built on the land that was once inhabited by God’s creatures. Road kill has increased while, at the same time, the massive homes that were built are being foreclosed on. Somehow, we must find and restore balance, realizing and embracing behaviors that honor the purpose and intelligence of nature. Strengthening our inner connection to God strengthens our inner connection to all things. Nothing is separate from anything else; the connective consciousness of life is everywhere. What we see and experience around us is the manifestation of an invisible creative process that occurs within physical bodies, senses, and personalities. With these things in mind, we must remember that the earth supports and assists us in the ever-evolving process of life. As such, we owe it to ourselves and to God to respect and honor the bounty of the earth.
While we all cannot live in a mountaintop villa, at the shores by the ocean, or on a farm, there are things that we can do that will support the reestablishment of peace and order on the earth. Our speaking, for example, can change from violent to peaceful. We can use the horns of our cars to warn other drivers rather than to bully them out of our way. We can use trash cans instead of sidewalks to dispose of our fast-food wrappings. We can request paper instead of plastic at the supermarket. What I know now is that every little bit counts, and while everyone cannot do everything, we can all make an effort to honor the Mother for all she gives to us.