Each moment offers the possibility of remembering the way home, our human place of balance and harmony within the vast web of life. Each child born invites us to turn in the direction of a new way, a new world balance, so close and yet seemingly so far… What will it take to remember?

All living beings enter life with a blueprint for unfolding and growing toward maximum becoming and actualization. To do so requires a set of circumstances, a response from the receiving environment that answers these innate instructions. In nature, we can observe the unfolding of a spider, a bird, a fox, or an oak tree according to their design. No external instructions are provided, patterns are inborn and carried forth, generation after generation. Barring any interruption, the young will be delivered into an environment which will provide for optimal growth through all stages of life into fruition and actualization.

Human Actualization is the full becoming of our species’ universal as well as unique individual qualities, living at the core of each one of us. Actualization assures a grounded and open being, prepared to fully meet the world according to the native design of the species, within its ecological niche, in the larger circle of life.

It has been said that the only species that forgets its “original instructions”, as many indigenous cultures name this inborn blueprint, is humankind. We can remember, though, by bringing our humble attention and deepening gratitude to many indigenous cultures on the planet that always have carried and celebrated this knowledge, and still do, at an impossibly high cost to themselves as they continue to hold the medicine bundle of the species, the sacred knowledge of the web of life that must not be sacrificed. We will be helped to remember by witnessing the universal song of beauty that still sings through the clouds of trauma and loss, theirs as well as our own.

For a balanced future to come into existence on Earth, we would be well inspired to follow these instructions as parents, teachers, healers, extended families and extended human communities.

- Miriam Dror, "Original Instructions for a Thriving Future to be Possible," a webinar sponsored by Science & Non-Duality - https://www.scienceandnonduality.com/webinar/natures-blueprint

A child should be allowed to take as long as she needs for knowing everything about herself, which is the same as learning to be herself. Even twenty-five years if necessary, or even forever. And it wouldn’t matter if doing things got delayed, because nothing is really important but being oneself

- Laura Riding, American poet, critic, novelist, essayist and short story writer

A poet is somebody who feels, and who expresses his feelings through words

This may sound easy.  It isn’t

A lot of people think or believe or know they feel — but that’s thinking or believing or knowing; not feeling. And poetry is feeling — not knowing or believing or thinking

Almost anybody can learn to think or believe or know, but not a single human being can be taught to feel. Why? Because whenever you think or you believe or you know, you’re a lot of other people: but the moment you feel, you’re nobody-but-yourself

To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are

- Edward Estlin Cummings, also known as E.E. Cummings, e.e. cummings, and e e cummings - an American poet, painter, essayist, author, and playwright

Children need good enough nurturance in order to flourish. Here are four ways:

1. Verbal Nurturance: Eager participation in multi-demensional conversation. Generous amounts of praise and positive feedback. Willingness to entertain all questions. Teaching, reading stories, providing resources for ongoing verbal development.

2. Spiritual Nurturance: Seeing and reflecting back to the child their, her, or his essential worth, basic goodness and loving nature. Engendering experiences of joy, fun, and love to maintain the child's innate sense that life is a gift. Spiritual or philosophical guidance to help the child integrate painful aspects of life. Nurturing the child's creative expression. Frequent exposure to nature.

3. Emotional Nurturance: Meeting the child consistently with care, regard, and interest. Welcoming and valuing the child's full emotional expression. Modeling non-abusive expression of emotions. Teaching safe ways to release anger that do not hurt the child or others. Generous amounts of love, warmth, tenderness, and compassion. Honoring tears as a way of releasing hurt. Being a safe refuge. Humor.

4. Physical Nurturance: Affection and protection. Healthy diet and sleep schedule. Teaching habits of grooming, discipline, and responsibility. Helping the child develop hobbies, outside interests, and own sense of personal style. Helping the child balance rest, play, and work.

- Complex PTSD, From Surviving to Thriving, Pete Walker LMFT Berkeley (adapted)