Day 68 – A Fistful of Soil

Growing up, My grandma insisted that I play with my friends, without shoes, so that the soil touches my feet and hands –“Soil will oil” she would say. I would then come home every evening and shower. That habit continues. It’s amazing how these things get so deeply  etched. And I also remember the other parents looked at me, often in poorly disguised disapproval. Tsk Tsk . I didn’t mind.

Soil is such a symbolic thing in so many ways. A lot of Soil (not soiled) memories come up

When I used to be in sports before a race or start of a kabbadi game, everyone would touch the soil and put it on the forehead. I also did it. Never really knowing what that meant – Today I know it as an act of reverence and seeking strength, protection and blessings from the earth.

Or when, I got hurt and scrapped my elbows or knees, which was quite often, and my grandma would put wet mud in some leaf, a makeshift bandage, and that was that.

Or when, we spent hours with my hands in the earth, digging and loosening the soil in our garden, so that they can breathe. They being plants. I would often wonder why do we do this – First ‘set’ the mud around the plants, and then after few months dig it, and set it all over again. I learnt it was done, so that the loosening would make room for the roots to breathe, allow water and light to reach down and make movement easier’. And help the Plant Grow deeper, taller and healthier. I realised after all these years, I am still doing the same thing , this time with my work with people.

Or when, the first rains were announced by the Earthy scent of water touching the parched soil. I learnt recently from my friend Rajesh, there is a word for it “Petrichor”. I used to have strong urge to eat that mud. I suspect I still do. Tsk Tsk

Today, when I think about Soil and its significance, its role I can see and appreciate all those years with the earth so much more. And feel utterly grateful. I never had any problems with Insects, ants, mosquitoes biting me. I had never really thought of why. Maybe they also remember.

When I saw, at my grandad’s  funeral after the coffin was lowered everyone threw a fistful of soil in the grave – “Dust thou art and to dust thou returnest” –  I think I understood.

“Essentially, all life depends upon the soil… There can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved together.” – Dr. Charles Kellogg, Soil Scientist 

The soil is a storehouse for all the elements plants need to grow: nutrients, organic matter, air, and water. Soil also provides support for plant roots. When properly prepared and cared for, soil can be improved each year and will continue to grow plants forever. There are hundreds of visible and invisible things that help something Grow.

I learnt, Preparation of soil is the first step before growing of crop. It helps to turn the soil and loosen it to allow the roots to penetrate deep into it. The loosening of the soil helps in the growth of several soil microbes, earthworms etc., which enrich the soil with humus and other essential nutrients.

In a conversation with a colleague, just yesterday, in the context of working with a Leadership team, we were talking about “Preparing the Soil” .

Hummm. Soil, Earth, Ground, Terrain, Terra-firma, field – so many ways we refer to it – daily. And not really contemplate about it. I am amazed at how often we doze off in life.

These metaphors often reveal so much about how deeply the soil is a part us, as we are a part of it. We speak of “Growth” in so many contexts, Individual, society, profits, teams, organizations, thinking, relationship and so on, and yet, How come we don’t talk about Soil, as much. That which holds nourishes provides support.

“We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot.” 

Leonardo Da Vinci

The “Soil” gives us Literally “Everything” – food, minerals, ore, shelter.

Just for a moment if we pause and look around, everything that we see has come from the earth. The building materials of the House, the clothes we wear, the fuel we use, the food we eat, the air we breathe, the phones we use. And yet we don’t talk about it and rarely even think about it much. Perhaps it is so omnipresent that we take it, the Earth for granted.

“To be a successful farmer one must first know the nature of the soil.” – Xenophon, Ancient greek philosopher 

Personally, whenever I need to process difficult emotions, and just feel held and at home. I literally put my bare hands and feet, in the soil, there is something very comforting about touching the earth, and letting it touch you.

I remember a story from the Bible. That Jesus tell his disciples.

This metaphor of planting seeds, is true in many places. Often words ideas images messages are like seeds. The quality of the seeds, the care, the process, the water etc all these things are important, but the often overlooked and under-appreciated part of the process of healthy growth, not just growth – is tending to the soil.

The soil in case of people, is often their inner terrain. If the inner soil is NOT ready, not loosened, not free and moist – the seeds, of ideas thought feedback will not take root and don’t. They fall, like in the parable, on rocky or thorny ground, with no moisture. And and get torn, trampled or dried up.

I have found the “timing” of something therefore plays crucial role in whether an idea, a suggestion, or thought takes root or not. When input or feedback or suggestions, no mater how “correct” and crucial is given without paying attention to the “soil, and readiness – It is covertly or overtly rejected. In poor soil conditions, no matter how much “right  nutrient and water” is provided. Things simply don’t grow to their “potential”.

Hurrying up this process is detrimental. Often I have seen “seeds” getting wasted. Because timing and readiness was not paid heed to.

“To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Soil work is Soul work. It needs love, patience and a readiness to “get our hands dirty”. We have in our language made it a “Bad thing”. We even use the phrase to Soil something, as in to make something dirty. Dirt is not dirty, I want to scream some days. We think Soil is dirty..we are made of soil and so..I am sure you get the drift. And no wonder then, the Soul work has been made to disappear and become obsolete.

Maybe we need to think about, the impact of calling soil, dirt or handling soil  – “getting hands dirty”. Are we then letting the “dirty work” be done by somebody else?

Not all the ‘work’ is or needs to be visible and articulated. Soil does not really claim a stake in the ‘growth story“. It just merely silently holds space. Peaceful in the knowing that the bow that bears fruit eventually will bow down.  Nature does not hurry anything. It bids for its time patiently.

Perhaps we must stop to wonder, in any myth, in any culture, history, past or present , at the heart of Wars was also some issue with the Land. Does that not tell us something about it’s importance – Its role in potential Peace. When we touch it we touch millions of years of history, and the foot prints and get strength from it.

“The Nation that destroys its Soil, destroys itself – Theodore Roosevelt

To know the soil is to know where we come from and where we will go to. Both inner and outer Soil, bears a record or everything that has happened. From the colours of holi, to the blood that is shed, to the tears, all kinds, where else do they go?. And yet it still hold us and gives us. If our soil is rich we are rich. And vice versa.

We are all part of this healthy web of life nourished and maintained by Soil. The Latin word humus means soil. The words human, humility and humus all come from the same root. When humans lose contact with soil, they are no longer humans. In a land where farmers die, how can we live?

I find it intriguing in the words Soil and Soul – The difference is I and U.

Perhaps that is what we need to learn. To bid for the right time, while continuing to do the Soil-Soul work. The times are slowly bit surely changing. I can feel the soil changing. It is turning from black to brown to deep red.

Oh Soil

The fragrance of the Soil
Somehow is more tenderness
to Me than the fancy
fragrance of the Flower.

The strength and sensitivity 
of life held in the Soil lets
off waves of passion of a 
difference sort. Passion not
of a person but of my
species that has gone insensitive 
to all that nurtures it
and absorbs it at its end.

As I walk barefoot, I break down
with Passions so profound
that it defies all descriptions.

Oh’ Soil, My life

Sadguru