Taking vows

A vow is generally seen as a solemn undertaking to achieve something or to act in a certain way. In other words, a serious commitment.

Two people getting married take a vow to “love and cherish”.

Such as Gav and Jo did this past weekend at Windgrove where 80 adults and a scattering of children watched the ceremony within an encircled chapel of silver peppermint trees.

Looking closely at the feet of the bride and groom, one can only notice that despite all the fine fabric adorning their bodies, bare earth was making contact with bare feet. This simple act grounded their love for each other with a love for the earth. Their vows of love for each other were more real for the fact that they understood that if they were to have a happy and long life, a healthy planet was a prerequisite. And, a healthy planet, like healthy children, is only possible if it is loved.

The day after the wedding a different group of 13 women arrived at Windgrove ostensibly to learn basket weaving techniques from the aboriginal woman Harri. With a workshop title of: “Sharing Care and Sharing Country”, however, it was understood that more would be on offer than just plaiting sagg grasses.

Like the wedding, the weavers heard, appreciated and acted upon the importance of “walking the talk” of a commitment to loving the earth in all its wild diversity.

This is not New Age wank. For the earth to house six billion humans something has to give. We can begin to learn what this might be when we all take personal vows to cherish the air, water and soil that is our home.