The Mary Christopher Podcast

You may have guessed it already, depending on how much you know about Beavers!  Most of us did not grow up around Beavers.  There were no Beavers in SW Oklahoma where I grew up.  But, I was always fascinated with them and with their ability to build dams and lodges and raise families! I also admired them for their swimming ability.  It always looked to me like they were having a good time.  Probab...

When we look around the world or watch the news or talk to friends or family, we often hear about turmoil, disagreements, warnings of disaster,  or other distressing news.  When we hear about so much chaos and disappointment, it can deeply affect us.  We can become cynical and lose our faith in the future.  Or, in some cases, people may just give up.  This is not a good situation!    So, what can...

Whenever we pay attention to or take care of the World of Nature surrounding us, then we are caring for Creation.  When we take care of the birds and the bees and the grasses and the trees and the water and the soil and every bit of Nature all around us, that is practical spirituality. Human beings live on this lovely gem of a planet because of photosynthesis, and rainfall, and chlorophyll, and re...

One of the challenges we face in our “modern world” is our loss of connection to Creation.  We live in houses shaped like boxes with running water and air conditioning systems that we can set to any temperature we prefer.  We have running water for washing, bathing, and cleaning.  We no longer have to dash to the outhouse or look under the bed for the chamber pot.  And, thank goodness for all thos...

What Is So Important about Monarch Waystations? Each fall, hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies migrate from the United States and Canada to mountains in central Mexico where they wait out the winter until conditions favor a return flight in the spring. The monarch migration is truly one of the world's greatest natural wonders yet it is threatened by habitat loss at overwintering grounds in...

Caring for Creation anytime is Caring for Ourselves and for those who will come after us.  Human lifetimes are not very long in terms of the life span of Earth.  We are totally dependent on this lovely little planet for our health and well-being. Without Fresh Air and Clean Water we would not last very long as a species.  Plus we need good soil to grow our food.  Most of the time we don’t pay any...

During Mother’s Day and into the next day, I kept thinking about all of us living together on this planet we call home.  Here we are, sharing this 3rd planet from the Sun, trying to get along and having difficulties doing that.  In the midst of all our difficulties, we often forget that our continued survival depends on how well we care for this lovely jewel of a planet. In order for us to survive...

When We Care.   When We Take the Time to Share, Amazing Blessings Happen!  by Mary Christopher   One of the most basic blessings of being part of a community is the Blessing of Opportunity.  When we participate in religious or spiritual communities, we are offered many opportunities to share or respond to another person’s immediate need.   We may have gained enough trust to be asked to help someon...

This is a replay of an inner peace, guided meditation from Sunday, December 15, 2024. Sometimes I do take my own advice and get good results!  In this case, I spent at least an hour in a beautiful meadow, looking at all the tiny wildflower blossoms springing up due to a recent rain.  I have an excellent nature app called Seek on my iphone.  I took photos of at least 12 tiny blossoms or leaves.  Th...

If you are interested in having native plants in your yard or garden this Spring, then you need to look for Native Plant nurseries in your area.  These very special nurseries grow their plants from seed.  The seeds are from native plants that are found in your area and are already adapted to the soil and weather conditions. These local nurseries are growers.  They aren’t buying plants from wholesa...

Every day we are getting better and better at Caring for Creation!  We are becoming more and more aware of the beauty, symmetry, and wonder of Creation!  And, we are paying more and more attention to the Blessings we experience every day. One of the amazing events we have every year is the double migration of Monarch Butterflies.  If the spring Monarchs leave their Winter Home in Mexico and move n...

Pollen is a fine powder produced by certain flowering plants when they reproduce.  During the spring, summer, and fall seasons, it's released into the air and picked up by the wind, which brings it to other plants to fertilize them.  Plants that are fertilized produce seeds with similar or identical DNA so when those seeds germinate in the soil, they produce a similar plant!  Creation is so Amazin...

This is our inner peace guided meditation for April 6, 2025.  We have had another exciting or depressing or too exciting or “you fill in the blank that works for you”.  I'm ready to move to a small cabin in the woods and hang out there until the shouting is over!  There are aspects to this whole political situation that are so frustrating for me.  One of the things that bothers me the most, is how...

Beneficial Bugs and Native Plants ~ Caring for Creation On Saturday, March 29, we had a Pollinator Gardening Event at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  This is the first event on gardening or native plants at St. Dunstan’s.  We had no idea how many folks might show up.  We also had growers from 2 Oklahoma Native Plant Nurseries ~ Across the Prairie and Life Affirming Farm. We fil...

This Saturday, March 29, I was one of 3 speakers at a Caring for Creation program hosted by St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Karen Watkins, a Master Gardener, talked about Pollinators and how to recognize and protect them. Sarah Cross, who runs Across the Prairie native plant nursery, spoke about all the benefits of gardening with Native Plants.   I talked about Caring for Creati...

During the week, I usually talk to several people about pollinator gardens, heirloom vegetable seeds, or native plant nurseries.  Then toward the end of the conversation, I usually say, “Here are 2 or 3 great resources for help with your new garden project.”  And, I name the state Native Plant Society, the Master Gardener Program, and the Department of Agriculture extension offices.  At that point...

Now for the Global Weather Report … Creation Continues to Work Just Fine !!! Humans, however, seem to be having difficulty getting along.  I wanted to mention that in case you had not noticed.  And, we seem to be sinking to new lows on the “Love Your Neighbor” scale!  However, I am not giving up on Humanity, but I am increasing my prayers and meditations. Again, this week, I am struggling with my...

This year Spring officially arrived at 5:01 am EDT (2:01 am PDT).  For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, this is marked by the arrival of the Spring Equinox.  It signals the Fall Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. Equinox translates from Latin as “equal night” or “equal day, equal night”.  This happens when the Sun is positioned directly over the equator, so we have approximately 12 hours o...

This past week we had high winds, high pollen counts, and at least 100 Wildfires all over Oklahoma!  There are still fires going, but no high winds today. My allergies kicked in and I got behind on my podcasting schedule.  I did get the podcast done, but not the notes.   Here is the podcast without notes.  My allergies are better, but I am not taking my daily walk. Have a great week and take reall...

Caring for Creation ~ Spring Is Almost Here!   Spring is almost here!  We are having warm and pleasant weather.  Are you already planning your Spring Garden? If you are considering a spring or summer garden, this is the perfect time to figure out what you need to get started.  If you haven’t had a spring or summer garden for a while, or ever, it is a good idea to start with a “Pollinator Garden”. ...

One of my teachers from the late 60s was Murshid Samuel Lewis, one of the very early Sufi teachers in this country.  During that time he was teaching primarily in San Francisco.  Murshid Sam was my first Sufi teacher.  What I learned from him has been an ongoing blessing!  He was a mystic, a spiritual teacher, an amazing gardener, and, of course, a Sufi dancer.  So many people were blessed by his...

What do Sunflowers need to grow? Sunflowers need plenty of Sunshine, at least 6 to 8 hours of Sunlight per day!  As you know, Sunflowers are heliotropic which means the blossom follows the path of the Sun from east to west every day.  Then, at night, the blossom or head of the plant rotates back do it is facing the rising Sun next morning.  Sunflowers definitely need access to sunlight most of the...

News Update:  The world of humans is still not very functional and a bit crazy.  Many people seem to have lost their sense of humor, as well as their “good sense”. Creation, on the other hand, is still working just fine. When the world seems to be crazy and getting more so every day, I look for a way to focus my attention and do some good in the World.  For at least 3 months I have been working on...

Sunflowers are called Sunflowers because they follow the Sun!  The “head” or the top part of the sunflower follows the Sun as it moves across the sky from the eastern horizon to the western.  All Sunflowers do this.  And, they follow the Sun before they even bloom! Sunflowers begin their day with the top of the plant facing east.  Then, as the Sun moves from east to west, the top follows the Sun. ...

Early this morning, while I was still asleep, one of the wonderful people in my advanced meditation class sent the following message to everyone in the class.  This quote is the first text I read and it shaped my perception for the whole day, in a wonderful way!   This quote is from the book My Grandfather's Blessings by Rachel Naomi Remen.   "Days pass and the years vanish, and we walk sightless...