Tree Planting at Luminary School in Nairobi’s Mukuru Slums (From the archives 2014)

On October 1^st, nine LHSG Kenya members Monica, Rashmeen, Mamta, Pratima, Bubbles, Cooky, Bindi, Sheela and I went to the Luminary Primary School to plant trees. We were joined by our LHSG Mukuru representative Josephine and the deputy head master of the school. Ten trees, mango, avocado, umbrella, oleander, pine, thika palm, bottle brush, yesterday- today- tomorrow and two Hibiscus, had been transported to the school the day before by the kind courtesy of Rashmeens’s van. We arrived at the school to see our ‘Reiki’ children (children that we have taught Reiki over the last couple of years) all ready and eager and waiting to carry out the planting exercise. These Reiki children who represent Lotus Healing Seva Youth Group amazed us with their stories of giving Reiki to their families, neighbours, friends ….. AND they remembered how to water plants chanting ‘Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti’ something that we had taught them a few months ago on their outing in Karura Forest! Each LHSG Sevak including Josephine took a group of 7 – 8 children, and proceeded to the prepared holes. Little hands asked forgiveness from Mother Earth for hurting her while preparing the hole, gave Reiki to the hole, lowered the plant in the hole and packed the soil around it and watered it, all the while chanting ‘Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti’, and finally gave Reiki to the seedling. They also promised to water their trees and give them Reiki everyday! We also distributed biscuits and sweets to all children in the school. With so much love and healing put in this exercise, and with more love and healing to be coming their way, we are confident that the planted seedlings will grow into tall, strong trees and bushes, bringing positive energy to our friends in the slums. Please read the accounts of some of the sevaks, and do watch the pictures that follow …. Just click on one picture to see the enlarged slide show. Kamal Tolia

Thanks and congratulations on the successful completion of the tree planting Seva Activity. The Tree Planting in the slum environs was a spiritual experience for me. It is very gratifying to do such a Seva during the auspicious period of the Navratri Festival. I felt that there is no need to follow the old practice of feeding girls on Durga Ashtmi as I dedicated today’s Seva to the Divine Mother by serving and honoring Mother Earth. The significance is immense: 1. By planting trees we are helping the environs and the atmosphere. 2. We taught a valuable lesson to Kenya’s future, the children who make our country. 3. A good deed done in the form of an offering to mark the Beginning of the 9th Anniversary of LHSG. 4. We worship 9 forms of Mother Goddess during this nine day festival. I took it as each tree to be symbolic of one form and our dedication to her. The tenth tree was symbolic of Mother Earth herself. That is the best form of prayer or offering. 5. Instead of simply feeding the girls on the eighth day of Navratri I felt this is a better thing to do during such occasions. The food is eaten and forgotten but the trees will remain to provide shade and comfort for long. The children were very good and very enthusiastic as well. It felt very good to see that they have been practicing Reiki and remembered the Reiki way of planting trees. Love and Light Monica Gokaldas

http://www.kamaltolia.com/?m=201410

https://youtu.be/2z4n_Mtmhwc