The Rite Way Blog

The Fish in All of Us

If we save the children we save the fish, the waters and the planet.

The only approach that makes sense to me is an ecological one. In this we see what our ancestors saw, “that all things are related.” Mitakuye Oyasin… all things are connected - Schema, the primary prayer in Judaism, we are one with God and all that there is.

In almost all traditional cultures there are similar concepts of “oneness” and the interrelatedness of all things.

Here comes the Big Blue O.

So, right at the onset Kalani invites me to swim in with the Big Blue O. “I’m completely in.” I say. “You know the planet is made up of 75% water. And, humans are made up of 75% water. And, the content of saline in our water is the same as that of the waters in the ocean.”

There are no accidents and everything has meaning.

Kalani raises an eyebrow and smiles. Is he channeling this? I continue, “What if through the initiatory process and a rite of passage experience we can help children know about the water in them? And, we help them understand how to care for the water in themselves. This would lead to their own health and nutrition, among other things. And, then they can learn to care for the waters in others.” Mitakuye Oyasin. What a concept…. An ecological intervention in action. There’s more.

“So, now that we have the children thinking about water and how important it is. ‘cause they’ve come to know that they are mostly water, it’s not a very big leap for them to understand, appreciate and care for the waters on the planet. And, so, when we help children learn and care about the water in themselves and each other it lays the foundation for their deep commitment to care for all of the Waters.” Mitakuye Oyasin

Music speaks louder than words and can be a way to engage folks at the level of the heart. What a perfect medium for creating conversation on questions that matter related to youth development community regeneration, saving fish and the planet.

“Brilliant – lets do it,” Kalani says. What might be possible where the keel and rudder meet the Big Blue O?

If we save the children we save the fish and planet.

Olohana Foundation & The Center for the Advancement of Youth, Family & Community Services, Inc.
Hawaii & Connecticut - USA
thecenter@rope.org
www.rope.org & www.olohana.org