The Mary Christopher Podcast

Celtic Morning and Evening Prayers ~ Week of January 25 2026   Most of us are familiar with the text in the New Testament where Jesus is asked by the Sadducees and the Pharisees what is the greatest commandment.  Jesus responds, saying Love G~D with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul.  Then Jesus continues, saying, “Love your neighbor as yourself”.  He goes on to say, “all the Law an...

What a Mess!  It seems our American Experience has turned upside down!  Food and other basic expenses are up, and continuing to go up!  Political alliances are being bought and sold!  American debt continues to climb, and is rising faster than ever, apart from the pandemic.  What a Mess! We are living through very stressful times!  When we have ongoing stress and especially increasing stress level...

If you are considering starting a garden to grow vegetables and a few fruits this Spring, here is a guide that explains how the ground beneath your feet shapes the health of your garden, your food, and your family.  Remember, our health starts in the Soil !!!  

Supporting your yard, wildlife, and your health… January might seem like a “quiet” month outdoors, but it’s actually one of the best times to do simple and basic, healthy activities that improve your yard, support wildlife, and set your garden up for a strong growing season. These activities get you moving in the cool air which is beneficial for body, mind, and spirit while directly benefiting (1)...

Some years ago when I was living in Lincoln, Nebraska, I worked at the University of Nebraska Planetarium.  I loved working there.  I did research, helped write programs, and did presentations.  Our Christmas Star program was one of the most interesting, especially for grade school and middle school young people.  And, their teachers loved it as well. The 30 to 40 minute program focused on what co...

Celebrating all our wonderful holidays this time of year is a great opportunity to “Count Our Many Blessings”.  Why would we want to do this?  What benefit would we have from actually counting “our blessings”?  And, which blessings would we count? All good questions, for sure.  I would suggest counting the Blessings we have from Creation.  Blessings like Fresh Air, Clean Water, Bird song, fertile...

Our Lady of Guadalupe — A Story from Tepeyac The morning air on Tepeyac Hill had always felt different, a little cooler and quieter, as if it carried memories of the people who had once climbed it with offerings. Long before churches were built in Mexico, this hill had been sacred to the Indigenous communities in the Valley of Mexico.  For generations, they had honored Tonantzin, on this special h...

The Beautiful, and Very Busy Life of Leaves … There’s something quietly comforting about leaves - the way they flutter in a soft breeze, brighten up a yard, or paint the world with bursts of color every fall.  But behind their appearance, leaves on trees and bushes are some of the hardest-working little factories in nature.  Their daily activities keep our air clean, our soil healthy, our planet s...

Why Does Leaving the Leaves Matter for Birds and Bees and Other Tiny Creatures in Your Yard? Keeping fall leaves on the ground - or gathering them into quiet leaf piles - is one of the simplest and most beneficial ways to Care for Creation! Leaves are not “yard waste.” They are Winter Homes, excellent Food Sources, and Protective Blankets for thousands of species who depend on those resources to s...

Season of Gratitude    Caring for Creation by Mary Christopher   Many of us know that in the Celtic spiritual tradition, all Creation is considered sacred. From the tiniest bug to the tallest Giraffe and the largest Whale in the deepest ocean, all of Creation is Sacred.  All Human Beings, regardless of their place of birth, the color of their skin, or the sound of their voice, are Sacred!  Our eye...

Great Question !!! We Care about Creation because all our Fresh Air, Water, and Food, including our fruits and vegetables, come from Creation!  Fortunately for us, Creation is always doing its best to provide Fresh Air, Water, and Food!  Everyday, Green Leaves and Green Grasses are continually absorbing CO2 (carbon dioxide) and generating clean, fresh Oxygen for US!  We could call that the Daily M...

Most of us remember seeing Dragonflies when we were growing up.  I grew up in SW Oklahoma, and I don’t recall seeing very many of them along the creek or by the stock tanks.  However, whenever we visited my aunt and uncle, who lived on a farm in the middle of Virginia, I saw plenty of them!  And, I was fascinated!     There was a lovely creek that ran through the property, about a mile from the ho...

As we move through Fall to Winter and the temperatures continue to drop in north central Georgia, our backyard and woodland feathered neighbors will have a difficult time finding enough to eat.  We know part of the reason is the continued loss of habitat, along with fewer reliable seed sources.  Birds are hgh energy and need access to reliable sources of healthy seeds, possibly fall or winter berr...

A scientific look at what’s happening in the U.S.   And, why it matters for farms, beekeepers, and all of us who Care about Creation. The short story in simple words … Across the United States, we’ve been losing birds—quietly, steadily, and in very large numbers. The best nationwide studies show that North America has lost about 3 billion birds since 1970. That big number comes from radar, long-ru...

Roots & Shoots: Growing Youth Leadership Around the World When I try to imagine a greener and healthier world, I usually think of Roots & Shoots ~ Jane Goodall’s inspired youth movement, growing hope from local to global.  In the early 1990s, Jane Goodall quietly planted this idea.  Today it is growing in dozens of countries, with thousands of groups and tens of thousands of young people w...

by Mary Christopher, Caring for Creation Series Jane Goodall was born, April 3, 1934, in London, England, and grew up by the seaside in Bournemouth with her parents and younger sister, Judy.  Jane loved animals.  She spent hours watching birds and insects in the countryside with the family’s dog, Rusty.  At an early age, Jane had the ability and patience to sit quietly and watch insects, birds, an...

Challenges and How We Can Help Hummingbirds? A Fragile Journey Despite their strength and beauty, hummingbirds face enormous challenges. They live close to the edge of survival every day. Their small size means they need constant food, water, and safe shelter. Even a short shortage of nectar or insects can be devastating. When it’s time to migrate, many species undertake journeys of thousands of m...

Tiny Birds with Astonishing Abilities Hummingbirds are among the most unique and fascinating creatures in the natural world. Weighing less than a nickel, they are built for aerial mastery. Unlike most birds, hummingbirds can fly forward, backward, sideways, and even upside down for short moments. But perhaps their most extraordinary talent is hovering. Their wings beat an astonishing 50–80 times p...

Hummingbirds Flying South Through Georgia (Fall) What’s Happening Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the primary species moving through Georgia in late summer and fall. Adult males are first to leave—most by late August—followed by females and juveniles; by October, the vast majority have moved on toward Mexico and Central America. Georgia also enjoys a “second hummingbird season” as western species (...

Fall Migration Through Georgia Fall migration of birds and butterflies begins as monarchs, warblers, hummingbirds, and many other species journey southward from Canada and the northern states through Georgia, heading toward Florida, Mexico, and beyond. Timing Through Georgia Monarch butterflies begin their southward migration starting in September and October, with many arriving in coastal Georgia...

Caring for Creation and the Celtic Tradition  Back in the good ol’ days, meaning when I was growing up in the previous century as a “Baby Boomer”, I remember that people prayed for crops, for the health of their cattle, for a generous pecan harvest, and for people they knew in their community.  I know we still pray for people in our now widespread communities who need our prayers.  But, I don’t kn...

Every autumn, one of the most astonishing natural events unfolds right above us.  Yet many of us barely notice. Monarch Butterflies, with delicate flashes of orange and black wings, make an epic journey that stretches from Canada all the way to the mountains of central Mexico.  It is almost unbelievable that something so fragile could be so resilient.  But year after year, these tiny travelers fol...

Thinking About Going Native for Pollinators in Your Yard? Caring for Creation by Mary Christopher Do you know about the many benefits of growing native plants in your yard or garden? I know so many people who dream of a front yard that’s alive with color, texture, and movement, rather than a monotonous lawn that needs constant mowing and trimming. The good news is, it’s possible to create a space...

With all this “political noise and chaos” we are not hearing much about “Taking Care of Our Planet!”.  I know for many people having anything to do with the environment or ecology just does not seem relevant right now.  I have noticed this with some older people who grew up in the 50s, 60s, or 70s.  I also know there are numerous well-informed “older folks” gardening and taking good care of the la...

A Keystone Species is one having a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance. Its removal would cause significant changes to the ecosystem, potentially leading to its collapse. Essentially, they play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and diversity of their environment.   Outsized Impact: Keystone species have a greater impact on their ecosystem than their n...