EarthWise

"Meredith, you hold in your hands the means to balance the earth's ecology," the Old Kokopelli said, indicating the pipe and pouch. "Everyone who breathes this smoke will become EarthWise." The others held up their pipes with the sacred herb to demonstrate.  

"That is what I hope for," Meredith said, gladdened by their response.  

"What if people don't want to be EarthWise?" the Soul Child asked, growing fidgety from all the adult talk.  

"Anyone who prefers to turn off this knowledge may do so by blindly returning to their old ways," said the Old Kokopelli, unruffled.

Once Awakened

"Please describe EarthWisdom for us," said the Old Kokopelli. The others in the circle adjusted their positions around the fire to hear her better.

Meredith painted pictures with her words. "Once awakened, EarthWise people will perceive the truth about the world. They will feel the living land beneath their feet. They will see the fires burning in the rainforests. They will smell the pollutants in the air. They will taste the chemicals in the water. They will hear Mother Earth crying out for help."

"I feel that way now," said the Soul Child. The restless child could sit still no longer. She jumped up, ran over to the slender Kokopelli and tapped her on the head. She then skipped around the circle tapping each of the others in turn between their antlers.

Meredith wondered at her familiarity, but the Kokopelli took it in stride. 

Consequences

"EarthWise people will become aware of the consequences of their actions upon the environment. They will suffer pain if they use too much energy, so they will use less. They will feel choked up if they discharge too many gases, so they will discharge less. They will see the impact their actions will have on the next generations, so they will preserve the environment for the future," said Meredith. 

"What if they don't care about the future?" said the Soul Child, tapping Meredith on the head.

"If people insist on destroying the future, even my dream cure cannot prevent them, but at least it offers them the chance to see what's going on and change before it's too late." She raised the chanuga to her lips as if to smoke it. The Kokopelli raised theirs also, and when Meredith lowered her pipe to express further sentiments, they lowered theirs as well.

New Generations

"The new generations will face the challenge of discovering ways to calm the weather, undo global warming, restore the ozone layer and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. It will be a great challenge, but one we can win. Then life will go on for many millennia on earth.

"All this is what I have dreamed."