“When the inner joy Mother Teresa spoke of, the joy of
compassionate service, is married to a practical and pragmatic
drive to transform all existing economic, social and political
institutions, a radical and potentially all-transforming holy
force is born. This radical holy force I call sacred activism.”
~ Andrew Harvey, author and activist
Eirich. “Even though Thunder’s pack was ing room in 1996. Within 12 hours, she
nowhere near the garden, they felt his received her first call, from a frantic,
passing and wanted to say goodbye and frightened woman who had hidden her
wish him well on his passage. This is what pregnancy from everyone she knew. To
it’s like for humans and animals to live in date, Project Cuddle has helped rescue
a quiet, meditative space where, undis- 663 unwanted babies. “No baby deserves
turbed, we can feel their essence and they to die before having a chance to live,”
wildlife sanctuary and retreat center on can feel ours.” says Magnusen, who understands the
the western slope of Grand Teton Nation- desperation of girls and women who can
al Park, near Driggs, Idaho. “Earthfire was Contact Susan Eirich, Earthfire Institute, be in labor while still denying that they
built to expand our sense of connection P.O. Box 368, Driggs, ID; 208-456-0926; are pregnant.
with all living beings,” says Eirich, “and
EarthfireInstitute.org. This tireless activist imagines herself
to contribute to what we believe is the in the place of every abandoned child and
unfolding story of the transformation in Debbe Magnusen, Activist is inspirationally refueled each time she
humanity’s relationship to the community
for Abandoned Babies
sees a newborn baby crying safely in a
of life.” hospital. “For me, God is in every person,”
Grounded by her daily interaction Debbe Magnusen felt bereft after hearing says Magnusen, whose biggest lesson from
with foxes, bears, wolves, lynx, bobcats, about an abandoned baby found suffocat- Project Cuddle, now operating nationally,
cougars, coyotes, buffalo, badgers and ed in a trash bag close to her Costa Mesa is the grace to be nonjudgmental. “I’m
other animals cared for at the Institute, alive,” she maintains, “so that I can uncon-
Eirich seeks to help her own species ditionally love every scared girl or woman
share in the indescribable beauty of the [who comes to me] through her ordeal.”
human/animal eye-to-eye and heart-to-
heart connection that she and her small Contact Debbe Magnusen, Project
staff experience. A moment-to-moment Cuddle, non-crisis 714-432-9681 or info@
spiritual practice of communing with ProductCuddle.org; crisis hotline 888-
nature and listening in the silence for 628-3353.
something larger gifts Eirich with an abil-
ity to give words to thoughts and ideas As we begin a new decade, let us see
that come from a deep inner place. “The new opportunities to take fresh action on
directive that comes from the silence the issues we are most passionate about.
within is different and evolves in a way With our collective vision and potential,
that I wouldn’t plan for if I was only Debbe Magnusen we can go far in meeting today’s chal-
working from the intellect,” she explains. lenges and making the type of impact
One of the best stories that poign- that Robert Kennedy envisioned in 1996:
antly conveys the sacred animal/hu- home in California. As a compassionate “Each time a person stands up for an
man interaction experienced at Earthfire woman who had already fostered more ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others,
involves Thunder, a 17-year-old wolf than 30 drug-exposed babies while raising or strikes out against injustice, he or she
that laid for several days unconscious in two biological children, Magnusen chose sends forth a tiny ripple of hope. And
the wildlife garden, beyond the sight of to channel her anger and frustration into crossing each other from a million differ-
other wolves, ready to slip away to the constructive action. ent centers of energy and daring, those
spirit world. The vet knelt beside Thunder “As a foster mother, I had always ripples build a current that can sweep
and stroked his fur as he gave a merci- hoped that unwanted babies would be down the mightiest of walls of oppression
ful injection. In the second that the once brought to me,” she recalls. “But it didn’t and resistance.”
strong and regal wolf died, as his soul occur to me until that moment that no
passed from his body, all 30 wolves at one knew where I was or that I wanted to Linda Sechrist is a freelance writer and
Earthfire gave up their grieving howl. rescue their newborn.” the editor of Natural Awakenings’ flagship
“The vet was shocked to feel the The insight led her to create a 24/7 magazine in Southwest Florida. Connect
sound resonate within his body,” recalls crisis hotline in her Orange County liv- via 239.434.9392.
34 Broward County
http://FtL.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com
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