Consumer Liberation: An Elder's Case for Trees, Tap Dancing, and Leaving Patriarchy Behind

00:00:10: This is Radically Alive Women's

00:00:12: Agecast.

00:00:16: You start with something small and it feels good, there's your heart... And then since it feels so good you try something else and eventually look what happens!

00:00:24: It's me full out blown up Full life.

00:00:31: I'm here with Ayona Connor.

00:00:33: Welcome to Radically Live Women Here on this agecast.

00:00:37: Thankyou Its nice to be here With you.

00:00:41: Yeah It's sort of an open conversation and let's see where it goes.

00:00:46: But the initial spark came that you were in one our workshops, And you'd let your dragon speak!

00:00:53: Your dragons said I'm an elder or something like that... Like i am an Elder & want to share what have got with younger women.

00:01:00: And then they say okay..I want your voice be heard too.

00:01:03: So I was surprised when learned that you are a Seventy-Nine and still engaging in transformation constantly, it seems like on this evolutionary journey and not putting up your legs in saying okay.

00:01:18: This is that.

00:01:18: now I'm just gonna...I don't know what TV or something.

00:01:22: so will you say something about yourself?

00:01:24: And maybe also your journey of being... Yes.

00:01:29: I've been an environmental activist for about fifty-eight years.

00:01:39: I just keep at it and even though things happen in life that kind of bring me down or out for a while, like come back because i'm love with the earth.

00:01:48: I have been far as long this second remember and i've been through lots different kinds jobs and my current passion is publishing climate change newspaper and more i interact with other people not just here, but especially in Africa.

00:02:09: The more I get enthusiastic about keeping going... Now at seventy-nine i do have these little health issues In the background and At this point I'm kind of annoyed that they consume a lot Of my time and energy.

00:02:27: But if I don't do them?

00:02:29: I won't have the energy to put towards the projects and do things with people I love.

00:02:37: So, I have worked often with high school students and college students... And i just find that they have so much wonderful energy!

00:02:50: Whenever I get a chance ,I try to speak about how I keep going .

00:03:00: There's really no stopping me for good.

00:03:03: I hope to live another twenty years or so.

00:03:06: So the self-care is really important and it's something that i have often pushed aside for my activism, and I realize that's not the right thing to

00:03:17: do.".

00:03:17: And then we'll read about our own health...and the health of Mother Earth....and the connections with the spirits of tiny, tiny cell in this whole magnificent operation.

00:03:37: And yet here I am in a physical body where can do things and talk to people and create my newspaper.

00:03:46: so much because i've had all of these fantastic experiences both as grassroots activists doing protests an air pollution inspector polluted place, all in all.

00:04:03: And then I ran a non-profit with my husband who's now deceased for thirty years and just have...I had seen so much!

00:04:12: I've read so much that i want to be able share it as gently as possible.

00:04:20: I don't wanna clover people over the head make them feel guilty but like take from where they are push along little bit gently and support them.

00:04:31: And that's what I enjoy doing, in most cases people appreciate

00:04:36: it."

00:05:01: heart most tenderly.

00:05:04: And they're the ones I work for more than anything else.

00:05:08: even now, after all these years i used to promote solar and wind enthusiastically...and now I realize that they continue to create this further destruction of earth whereas trees hold the answer.

00:05:24: so many our problems and especially if we're looking at climate change, but then with my fondness for African activists I like to support them in organic farming permaculture and things of the earth.

00:05:42: So when i'm looking around how will focus my energies?

00:05:46: it's a combination trees and gardening.

00:05:52: Those are real basic fundamentals of life, especially in poor countries where they don't have enough food.

00:05:59: And some of my friends are growing like food forests... ...in which the trees are providing fruit and nuts than medicinal.

00:06:08: so it's kind-of a way to embrace things that I think will do most good for people.

00:06:18: And I'm curious what you've noticed, because...I don't think we need to look to Africa in terms of people who have food.

00:06:24: When i look at the general public maybe yeah..i dont know so much about New Zealand but i imagine that also in the United States and Germany yes there is a lot of food But is it really food?

00:06:37: There's a lot junk for people to eat!

00:06:39: They get a lot from fertilizers into their body through supermarket foods.

00:06:43: But this real connection to food that comes straight from the earth and is full of nutrients, it's actually pretty poor in developed countries so-called developed countries.

00:06:54: What have you observed about that in your surroundings?

00:06:57: In New Jersey….

00:07:01: We have a farmers market with young couple who are farming organically And I always go there.

00:07:08: if they're my first choice Then in the bigger stores, we do have organic food available.

00:07:14: But I want to tell you more about Africa because their cultures are more tightly knit than mine here in America...I don't know what New Zealand is like but here in American.

00:07:29: it's kind of each for his own And you might see a pocket of people collectively growing food or community gardens here and there, but with the Africans that I know they embrace their entire community.

00:07:44: If they're growing food it's not just for their family Not just for friends It is for widows For orphans permaculture garden and bringing the teachers, parents, kids.

00:08:05: And everybody's working together.

00:08:06: so what I see over there is much more holistic not just as a project but way of life.

00:08:16: We don't have that here.

00:08:20: So when i publish my newspaper A lot goes to Americans and a lot it goes to Africans.

00:08:26: That about those are two.

00:08:28: one continent in country where most of my readers are, well you're in New Zealand so I have to add New Zealand.

00:08:36: But yeah that's... That's where my heart is.

00:08:39: it's like- My heart goes across the ocean!

00:08:43: I'm curious where in Africa?

00:08:44: Where in

00:08:45: Uganda and Kenya And Tanzania Nigeria Although i have other friends from other countries but my closest contacts Are In Those Countries.

00:09:03: I'm getting a lot from the Congo now, but they're so busy fighting the Civil War and trying to protect the indigenous people in their forests that... They are not really planting gardens.

00:09:14: But I am imagining them foraging whatever they can.

00:09:19: It's such horrible situation over there And i do have couple of friends who were at refugee camps.

00:09:27: One of them is in a refugee camp with over two hundred thousand refugees from about six or seven different countries.

00:09:36: My hope and my newspaper, it's to share these kinds stories wherever they hit.

00:09:42: Wherever somebody really can use them.

00:09:44: I have tried putting the contact information so that we could help each other out.

00:09:49: It seems like you care about creating network for connecting people?

00:09:54: Yes...

00:09:56: What does the role elder women in today's society?

00:09:59: or maybe even the potential role, because I think it is a kind of new territory for some cultures.

00:10:06: For Western culture to be reclaimed territory?

00:10:10: Yes!

00:10:12: I'm the oldest one and many things that go there being me... And my most fun one was my tap dancing class which i just started.

00:10:24: so Here I am at seventy-nine taking a beginner tap dancing although.

00:10:30: I've done it before and i'm going to be in the recital, you know?

00:10:35: I'm old and heavy not as quick footed young people but if they can see me up there maybe more grandmothers will come take tap dancing get some joy in life and exercise

00:10:50: So its doing.

00:10:51: what your love by that inspiring others.

00:10:55: something about the human connection happens anyway, if we're showing up or you are showing as who You Are.

00:11:03: And what is this?

00:11:05: What keeps you

00:11:05: going?".

00:11:08: Well... I already told you my love for Earth but really loved being alive!

00:11:16: I'm pretty healthy and have minor problems But they need to keep working on them.

00:11:26: You know, I might have been born this way.

00:11:30: If you gave like...I want to put this microphone To your heart of the love for life.

00:11:36: What is the tune?

00:11:36: what other work...?

00:11:37: What does your heart Have to say about loving life?

00:11:41: Well one Of my favorite songs Is Here Comes The Sun But that's not quite Quite it You Know.

00:11:50: Sorry to take a U-turn here but i'm quite A hermit and I don't have a TV And I Like Silence.

00:11:58: I do like to copy and paste links, to music that has a good beat.

00:12:05: And my heart heard a song... Oh!

00:12:11: ...I had a really tough time.... I have worked very hard because i've been screwed out of some of my social security money.. ..and I've worked on it for months and months and I just went into Social Security and they said yes you're gonna get back.

00:12:26: On the way home Don't worry, be happy.

00:12:30: Everything is gonna be

00:12:31: alright.".

00:12:32: So that's kind of like a theme song.

00:12:35: it's like don't worry too much.

00:12:38: do what you can everything will be all right.

00:12:42: yeah I once heard this song also by Baz Lerman who says worrying about as effective at trying to solve an algebraic problem but chewing bubblegum.

00:12:54: That's true.

00:12:56: The worry doesn't change anything.

00:12:57: Yeah,

00:12:58: and you know Elia I do a lot of spiritual work.

00:13:01: i mean i've done some with you.

00:13:03: And actually Anna Chloe Talked about your interview with her?

00:13:10: I loved it!

00:13:10: I watched three times.

00:13:12: she used the word cavitating...I thought what on earth is that?

00:13:16: So I looked at up in its bubbly.

00:13:18: It's like Bubbly..and just got this book today.

00:13:22: Its About Archie.

00:13:23: Archie.

00:13:24: Yes,

00:13:25: I love this.

00:13:26: I mean...I am ready to leave patriarchy behind like it has caused me a great deal of harm and thank goodness i have been strong enough And smart enough To evade some Of It and gone my own way?

00:13:39: I've been a rebel most of My life was not an easy kid to raise but I Leave.

00:13:45: you know things aren't right.

00:13:46: I'm Gone and Patriarchy isn't Right.

00:13:50: I'm leaving.

00:13:51: And not out yet because we're raised in it, especially here and now.

00:13:55: God we have Trump so... It's like a dynamite patriarchy here.

00:14:02: So anyhow..I do all this work Because things aren't right.

00:14:06: They are NOT Right.

00:14:07: Yet You know the more help myself The More i learn ,the more want to do.

00:14:12: that keeps me going as well.

00:14:16: That is valuable.

00:14:17: observation of tuning in here, like this doesn't work for me.

00:14:20: Okay I create something else and go somewhere else to not stay where it is actually abusive for

00:14:31: yourself.".

00:14:32: Right right!

00:14:35: I have a lot of stories that i can share too with people.

00:14:38: there's going to be a green fair.

00:14:45: One of my themes is consumer liberation, because especially here in America shopping isn't an addiction.

00:14:53: And I imagine creating a table like people are still buying bottled water and plastic... How could they?

00:15:01: ...and i have a carafe and a glass jar that put the water into it.

00:15:09: So there's a motto-I love!

00:15:11: Use It Up Wear It Out make it do or do without.

00:15:16: And in honor of my motto, here is my crappy-looking sleeve... ...of a really old shirt!

00:15:23: It's not useless I can still wear it.

00:15:26: and that's the kind of thinking i would like more Americans and other people to adopt because one of the worst problems I see with shoppers is fashionists Like they always have something new and stylish.

00:15:42: Terrible.

00:15:44: I know the cradle-to-grave scenario of anything.

00:15:48: i've been in the factories as an air pollution inspector, you start with digging up something from earth and transporting it then make into using energy once its made.

00:16:00: don't forget worker exposures to toxic substances in these factories.

00:16:06: package them.

00:16:08: some place has to store You know, it just goes on and on until you dump it.

00:16:14: And then most things last

00:16:15: forever.".

00:16:17: So that's the kind of lesson I like to teach because my background-because what i've seen...and studied toxicology as a nurse long ago when I was sitting there watching people die from cancer reading books such as Hazardous Waste in America or The Politics Of Cancer.

00:16:37: And all of this led me back to school when I was about forty, to take public health and environmental law.

00:16:46: It wasn't a law degree—it was certificate which enabled me have police power so that i could go into the factories and write violations...and our boss wanted us enforce every single violation we found.

00:17:01: The main problem in today's world is there may be good laws but they're not enforced…so what are they?

00:17:08: I come from a background of being a lawyer, having been a lawyer in one of my past lives and this lifetime.

00:17:14: And we need some rules and agreements and they may need to be enforced because there are people that just wanting to avoid everything or get underworld stuff.

00:17:27: At the same time what i'm interested is raise awareness so human beings make better choices themselves sometimes.

00:17:39: in New Zealand plastic bags were banned a couple of years ago or few years ago and yeah I think it may have been necessary but ideally i would like for humans to come to the conclusion, what am I doing?

00:17:52: This is my planet to live on.

00:17:55: If I use plastic...I'm killing their very place.

00:17:59: that I say I have children and love them.

00:18:02: I'm bombarding them with plastic.

00:18:04: We're just gonna kill the planet, very planet that my future generations need to live on.

00:18:11: if anything... There's no planet like this one we've ever found not seen anything like it may not exist!

00:18:20: I want people to wake up to the sacredness of this place and the sacredess themselves as guardians Of This Place.

00:18:27: Right?

00:18:28: Yes..I was doing a talk in high school About twenty-five years ago, I was in science class and my friend was the teacher.

00:18:41: And i did my whole lifestyle talk –I could talk all day about lifestyles–and at the end she asked her students what you learned today?

00:18:51: One young man raised his hand.

00:18:52: he put it ALL IN A NUTSHELL!

00:18:55: THINK AND ACT MAN, THINK & ACT.

00:18:58: THAT'S IT.

00:19:03: And I would include, feel think act.

00:19:07: Feel it!

00:19:08: Feel your heart.

00:19:09: this system has been so numbed down that people forget they are humans.

00:19:14: They run around like zombies machines like concealing machines and we're not.

00:19:20: We're Not That

00:19:22: Right.

00:19:23: i know.

00:19:24: Sometimes in me there's longing for elders True Elders who have Now, there's a difference between being old and being an elder.

00:19:34: And I'm still finding out about it but... It has got something to do with really initiating into adulthood through life stages and harvesting the wisdom of what you've experienced i think?

00:19:49: Being willing also hold space or look at younger generations and commune them like have communication.

00:19:59: So my longing for awhile to have elders in my life where I can like, share my vision.

00:20:06: I can share experience and there's a place for it to fall into because they're not trying know-for me but they've enough.

00:20:15: live experiences listen deeply.

00:20:18: There is a vastness of these things falling into and being recognized.

00:20:24: Not with the mind But be recognized somehow.

00:20:32: The main spaceholder shared that the guy who had initial vision would, from whom he'd taken over this space-holding.

00:20:39: He would have his dream or this vision of people all colour going into earth together and having ceremony there.

00:20:47: And so he took it to his elders.

00:20:49: It's called a kiva ceremony.

00:20:50: So...he took it for his elders.

00:20:53: they say what you saw was a Kiva!

00:20:56: What is a KIVA?

00:20:58: They said You will find out And I got goosebumps and i get them now because this is what elderhood for me.

00:21:04: It's like they're not giving him, This Is How it Goes, but they are recognizing that he has a vision of value in his path and needs to walk out about it.

00:21:17: That´s What I've been missing my life kind of this Elderhood Of People who have the foresight or back sight or whatever.

00:21:24: The Sight too For Things To Fall into for visions, dreams or pains in that it's not a one-directional way.

00:21:34: Elders need younger people to call forth the elderhood also – so reciprocal!

00:21:40: Yes

00:21:42: How does that land on you when I say all these things?

00:21:44: What comes alive and new?

00:21:45: Beautiful!

00:21:46: I don't have walking around dream recently but i had one long ago which was SO powerful And thankfully, I had enough paper at my bedside to write it down.

00:22:00: Do you want to hear it?

00:22:02: Yes!

00:22:03: John and I were already working in a lot of churches and universities together... ...and a windstorm came and we were spinning around... ...floating around and i was trying to get to him.. ..And what happened during the dream is that all buildings are made of recycled grey paper when they were crumbling And all the people were plastic, like Lego colored people.

00:22:30: Like blue green yellow red... All plastic!

00:22:33: The buildings are crumbling and nobody talked.

00:22:40: there was no emotions.

00:22:41: There is nothing of earth left Nothing.

00:22:45: John & I. we're looking for somebody to work with.

00:22:48: and dream went on one scene after another And finally, towards the end of the dream here comes a woman just bopping along through the damage.

00:22:58: I mean real human women with big t-shirt and some sort of motto on it... She's alive!

00:23:06: She wants to work with us like one person.

00:23:09: but you know we're turning into plastic.

00:23:11: people in buildings are not made.

00:23:13: they used to be there.

00:23:15: crumbling.

00:23:16: society is crumbling.

00:23:18: so this a dream I call, fifty years into the future.

00:23:22: Dream!

00:23:23: This is where we're

00:23:24: going.".

00:23:25: You know things like this do motivate me...I get real excited when i think of that dream and think..i gotta do what i can so it doesn't come true.

00:23:34: So thats really motivation was connected to your purpose or what you are choosing right now?

00:23:41: Yeah....and see it happening.

00:23:45: Plastic people, I mean sure they are.

00:23:48: There's a lot of them.

00:23:49: They're not quite alive.

00:23:52: Do you have younger people in your life?

00:23:54: Especially maybe younger women like these vibrant...

00:23:59: I Have grandkids and there is one-there's a couple of environmental friends i have who were younger..I don't have A whole lot Of young woman but think it the green fair.

00:24:10: we'll meet some.

00:24:11: I went to The Fair last year And talked almost everybody young teachers and their students with them.

00:24:18: So I was handing out my card, talking to everybody... And then I decided that should be here.

00:24:23: so this year i'm gonna be there

00:24:27: Again.

00:24:27: it's really important stay in connection with younger generations because otherwise for me its like detaching..I don't actually know what is happening for them.

00:24:36: It's a bit off the ground Because these are other people who will move Like.

00:24:40: This Is The Next Generation.

00:24:43: You Know about My Hard Divorce and how I was shattered afterwards, which is what your work has helped me with.

00:24:53: But i'm not on that all-way healed.

00:24:56: to tell you the truth...I am NOT as public as I want to be and as I can be!

00:25:03: I'm growing back into it gradually.

00:25:07: so even though I can imagine getting in touch with more younger people.

00:25:13: I'm not going gangbusters doing that right

00:25:16: now.".

00:25:18: And, yeah it's also... this is something i'm discovering for women as well and its so entrenched to me automatic thing of serving others, I do this for you.

00:25:42: And bleeding out like that and it comes in so many subtle

00:25:46: ways.".

00:25:47: It goes so quick to really be selfish!

00:25:51: We had a conversation with another guest.

00:25:53: we spoke about that.

00:25:54: I've discovered also other women living together as if they need to become really selfish.

00:26:04: honoring this year first.

00:26:05: This is the earth in a woman's body, right?

00:26:08: Like how do I tend to her first before I look out and see what can i do for young girls What Can I Do For The Old Women?

00:26:16: No!

00:26:16: like...what can you do for THIS universe?

00:26:19: That's

00:26:20: where I am.

00:26:21: Yeah great..I'm glad because then from there naturally we cannot not also be in service others but it comes form inside-out as a sort of radiance natural side effect because we are all connected.

00:26:36: Yes, it's easier to strike up conversations with people.

00:26:42: It is easy for you seems.

00:26:44: yes You know I'm starting to carry my business card around.

00:26:48: consumer liberation was my motto My website and it says I own a lifetime of activism or something like that.

00:26:58: And at first I was really shy about giving them out one by One.

00:27:04: I wasn't shy in a group, but i gave them out to the whole environmental commission.

00:27:07: The whole shade tree commission.

00:27:10: Whole group fine one-on-one with a stranger!

00:27:13: I started...I changed my approach from.

00:27:16: do you care about the environment?

00:27:19: To Do You Know Someone Who Cares About The Environment So That Like Takes The Pressure Off Of Them?

00:27:25: Would You Please Give Them My Card?

00:27:27: Well..i don't know if they do or how that goes, because actually only one person has gotten back to me in all this time.

00:27:36: And I met her at Barnes & Noble and the coffee shop like...I was talking to her.

00:27:42: so..that's good!

00:27:44: She is a young woman.

00:27:47: So basically yeah i just live my life you know?

00:27:51: I follow my moods.

00:27:52: if feel like talking with somebody then do it or not?

00:27:56: Yeah get a sense of its really simple.

00:27:59: And also, if every person lives a simple life their outreach is huge.

00:28:06: If we're willing to be... and that doesn't mean it's one size fits all but I don't know there's something about ...I recognize in me That i can look at things like this But you know its so insignificant or small Or something Like drink clean water Garden, it's not something you'd have a TV show about.

00:28:32: It was something quite private.

00:28:34: and yet these private decisions every day are what make up the culture for life then lives and people in communities.

00:28:47: so I noticed there is basic and simple about living a life close to nature.

00:28:53: that is also really powerful when we take off our stories of, We need to be doing something big and shiny.

00:29:02: And everybody needs to know about it.

00:29:04: I don't know this pressure.

00:29:08: there's big things in the small thing but its not true.

00:29:12: I get an impression from your life.

00:29:17: I enjoy life.

00:29:22: Right, and you know there's something fundamental about this environmental work in general.

00:29:27: You start with something small and it feels good There's your heart.

00:29:31: And then since if feels good Then you try something else and eventually look what happens.

00:29:35: It's me, you know full out blown up Full live at started just like pulling weeds, do you know?

00:29:43: Something a little So my sons wouldn't swim in the river where my former husband wanted to spray pesticides or herbicides, kill all the weeds.

00:29:53: No!

00:29:53: I'm pulling the

00:29:54: weeds.".

00:29:55: Yeah this was right thing to do.

00:29:57: okay now what do i do next?

00:29:59: It leads from one thing to another.

00:30:03: Thank you.

00:30:04: so here there's kind of advice.

00:30:06: invitation as a practice is Do The Next Thing With the next thing that feels good?

00:30:13: yeah Right.

00:30:13: Thank you, does anything else you want to say to finish?

00:30:17: Well only that I'm very grateful to you for doing your work and thank you for having me!

00:30:22: Thank You Ayuna.

00:30:26: Imagine

00:30:27: that you could become so radically alive That you would create not only the life that you love but also The culture that

00:30:36: comes through you

00:30:38: that Your being is designed To Create.

00:30:42: This Is What this age cast is about.

00:30:44: This is what the age cast aims to inspire in you as we listen right now, and it could be a daunting thing.

00:30:53: And daunting isn't a problem.

00:30:55: Daunting simply means... It's new?

00:30:58: It's scary?

00:31:00: Why not do that anyway?

00:31:02: This is where evolution lies.

00:31:04: Evolution is there when fear is.

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