Walking the Way of New Life

About two years ago, Ilchi Lee began building what he calls Earth Village near the town of Kerikeri on the North Island of New Zealand. As he writes in his new book, I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years: The Ancient Secret to Longevity, Vitality, and Life Transformation, Earth Village is designed to be “a residential school and community where hundreds of people can experience a self-reliant, earth-friendly lifestyle in a place where humans and nature live in harmony—a beautiful woodland area of 380 acres.”

Ilchi Lee book - I've Decided to Live 120 Years

At Earth Village, guests and residents can feel what Ilchi Lee calls their true selves more easily with the help of the pristine, natural setting. It is also a community where they can live authentically based on this discovery. To do so and “transcend their small selves and begin to embrace others and the world” is what it means to be an Earth Citizen, according to Ilchi Lee. Earth Citizens also live with a purpose and vision for their lives, for their entire lives—regardless of their age.

Earth Village - The Way of New Life - New Zealand

To help people begin their journey to becoming an Earth Citizen, Ilchi Lee developed a walking path called The Way of New Life. The course includes a wooden stairway through the forest of 120 steps, with each step representing a year in a 120-year life—the number of years scientists think human beings may have the potential to live.

While visitors climb the first 60 steps they reflect on their lives so far, and let go of any mistakes they have made, regrets they have, or ideas that no longer serve them. They also consider what their goals for material success are. During the second 60 steps, they look to the future and envision their spiritual development and success. A broad wooden deck in the middle represents a transition period between these two hypothetical stages of life.

Ilchi Lee's Earth Village steps

Ilchi Lee calls “the first 60 years your congenital destiny and the next 60 years your acquired destiny. Your congenital destiny is the destiny you were born with and the one the world has constantly imposed on you, and your acquired destiny is the destiny you create for yourself by your own choices and effort.” The Way of New Life opens the trail for a new acquired destiny.

By reflecting on our lives in this way while on this path, we not only paint a broader vision for our future, but become better able to derive new meaning from the small moments of our daily life. We get a picture of the whole forest in addition to the trees and learn what it is we truly want.

The Way of New Life is a trail Ilchi Lee has blazed to make it easier for all who travel it to discover their value and gain the courage to express it in their lives.

Highlights from the 1st Earth Citizen Peace Festival

The 1st Annual Earth Citizen Peace Festival brought together 1000 people from around the world in Kerikeri, New Zealand. And we bring you the highlights!

Friday night, January 27, 2017 was an outdoor fair with performances, food, and a raffle. Local dance groups were joined by dancers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, martial arts performers from South Korea and the UK, and South Korean drummers.

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The morning of Saturday, January 28, 2017 was the main event, Earth Citizens Come Together. It began with cultural performances from a Maori performance group and a South Korea breakdance crew. Congratulatory messages followed, and the Deputy Mayor of the Far North District Council, Tania McInnes, gave her support for Earth Citizen values in a speech. Then Ilchi Lee gave the keynote lecture, and representatives from nine countries recited the Earth Citizen Declaration.

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In the afternoon, a symposium was held called The Brain, Earth Citizenship, and Our Global Future. At the end, members of the Body & Brain Yoga center in Auckland sang a Maori song, and then the Global Scholars Society for Earth Management was founded.

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The Earth Citizen Peace Festival felt like a big reunion where people were inspired to do more in their communities to tell others about Earth Citizenship.

First Annual Earth Citizen Peace Festival: Let’s Inspire the World

Ilchi Lee- First Annual Earth Citizen Festival Poster

It strives forward, the Earth Citizen Movement that Ilchi Lee created, gathering more and more people who understand that they are not just a citizen of one particular country and not just a member of any one group—they are citizens of the earth. They love the earth and want to take care of it.

At the 1st Annual Earth Citizen Peace Festival, which will be held in Kerikeri, New Zealand on January 27-28, 2017, the meaning of being an Earth Citizen will be celebrated. Among the festivities, however, is a symposium that will expand our ideas of Earth Citizenship. It will explore the intersection between being healthy naturally, the importance of the gut to overall well-being, the power of the brain, and solutions to the problems facing humanity and the planet today.

The small town of Kerikeri on the North Island of New Zealand was also chosen by Ilchi Lee as the site of a new Earth Village, where Earth Citizens from around the world can learn and practice an Earth Citizen lifestyle—one that is in harmony with the earth and everything that calls it home. The pristine and amazing natural beauty and Maori cultural heritage that New Zealand is known for come together in Kerikeri; it is a place where, Ilchi Lee says, nature’s energy is strong and you can feel your own true nature easily. The Earth Citizen Festival will introduce Kerikeri to the world as an Earth Citizen hub.

With the festival title, “Kia Ora: Let’s Inspire the World,” the organizers hope the festival will inspire the people of the world to keep the earth and its people healthy and well (kia ora is a Maori greeting that literally means “be healthy/well”). This wish has driven Ilchi Lee and the Earth Citizen Movement to where it is today.

The Earth Citizen Peace Festival is hosted by the Earth Citizens Organization (ECO), the International Brain Education Association (IBREA), and Meditation Tour LTD. These non-profit and for-profit organizations are major players in the Earth Citizen Movement and/or the development of the Earth Village in Kerikeri.

To learn more about the Earth Citizen Peace Festival, visit its website at EarthCitizenFestival.com.

New ECO Learning Center Opens

Ilchi Lee at the ECO Learning Center ribbon cutting ceremony
Ilchi Lee and other VIPs cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening of the ECO Learning Center

Ilchi Lee attended the grand opening of the ECO Learning Center in Cottonwood, AZ last Tuesday, September 20, 2016. The center is run by the Earth Citizens Organization (ECO), which Ilchi Lee founded in order to share the Earth Citizenship idea that the earth should be the central value on which individuals, organizations, and nations based their decisions.

ECO supporters
ECO supporters stand by Earth Citizenship values.

ECO has been training Earth Citizens leaders who teach mindful and sustainable living in their communities. Through supporter donations, they have built the ECO Learning Center to facilitate and grow their mission. Through the center and the leaders it trains, ECO is helping people to “LIVE ECO,” which means

1. Be kind.
2. Don’t waste.
3. Exercise inside out. (Don’t just exercise your muscles. Instead strengthen your core and act genuinely.)

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ECO’s new motto is to LIVE ECO.

Ilchi Lee was very pleased that the land he purchased about twenty years ago was more actively fulfilling its purpose of serving the community and the Earth.

Earth Citizen Consciousness

Earth Citizen by Ilchi LeeOurs is a society in which citizens worry about their country more than the state worries about its citizens. Therefore, citizen consciousness is gradually becoming more important.

What kind of consciousness should citizens have? Ilchi Lee says should have an Earth Citizen consciousness. Earth Citizens, as defined by this New York Times bestselling author, are people who look to benefit all, the whole earth. Their concern transcends the borders of nations and the divisions between religions. With such a wide and lofty spirit and philosophy, Earth Citizens can change individual lifestyles and social policies.

Their awareness that everything on Earth (and everywhere) is interconnected drives Earth Citizens to overcome any doubt, fear, depression, or anger they may face in their lives and act for the good of all. The thoughts, words, and actions of Earth Citizens are harmonious with treating themselves well as they treat all others well. When they make decisions, for each option they consider, they ask themselves, “Is this good for me, for others, and for the Earth?” The options they choose are the ones for which they can answer yes to all three.

Why live as an Earth Citizen? Because an Earth Citizen consciousness and lifestyle is one that makes you profoundly peaceful and happy. And when you do things that are good for you, but not good for others and the Earth, the negative consequences that result will affect you someday. We breathe the same air, drink the same water, and walk on the same land; what we do reverberates through them.

To spread the Earth Citizen consciousness, Ilchi Lee initiated the Earth Citizen Movement. The torch he lit is now being carried by thousands of others, organized by the Earth Citizens Organization (ECO). The primary actions of ECO members and leaders are to awaken people’s empathy and compassion through the mind-body training developed by Ilchi Lee. This naturally leads to adopting an Earth Citizen consciousness, which can lead to better choices for a better future for all.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint by Changing Your Commute

Biking, running, carpooling and taking public transit to work are all great ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

One of the major causes of carbon emissions in the world is vehicle traffic. When every employee at your place of work drives to and from the office each day, that’s a lot of carbon that is eroding the ozone layer and will cause serious environmental decline. There’s hope, however. If you change the way you commute, you can reduce your carbon footprint and improve your health. Here’s how:

Bike
Do you have a rusty Schwinn in the garage? Give it a quick tune-up, put air in the tires and hit the road. Biking to work will allow you to take one car off the road and get in shape at the same time. You can improve your respiratory and cardiovascular health by becoming a cyclist. Plus, you may find you lose weight and overall feel better just by switching from driving to biking to work.

Run
Some people aren’t huge fans of bicycles and would rather spend their commute pounding the pavement. Some people are concerned that they’d need a shower after getting to work. If so, stop at a local gym to do so, or give yourself a quick face wash, towel-off and fresh application of deodorant in the bathroom before putting on your work clothes. Keep an outfit at the office so you don’t have to worry about carrying one while you run. Make sure your running shoes fit properly so you don’t get blisters. You may even find you are more energetic and productive after running to work than if you’d sat in your car and driven there.

Take Public Transit
For many employees, running or biking to work isn’t possible because they live too far away. If that rings true for you, see if you can take public transit instead of driving. Find a bus, train or combination of the two that will allow you to get to work in a timely manner. This will reduce your carbon footprint and you can even enjoy reading a book on your way to the office.

Carpool
Not every area has a public transit system and you may not want to run or bike to work. Instead, find a colleague that lives near you and switch off driving. Have him or her drive one day and you the next. This way you are still eliminating one car from the roadway, and you can make a new friend or strategize for the workday on your commute.

April 22 is Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day on April 22 by planting trees, picking up trash and respecting the Earth as Ilchi Lee does in his teachings. 

Ilchi Lee believes the Earth is a sacred place. In order for the planet to continue creating energy and hosting living things it must be in good condition. Wednesday, April 22, is Earth Day and you can help keep our planet alive by doing these activities:

Earth Day Activities

  • Pick up trash in your neighborhood. Don gloves and bring garbage bags to clean up all the fast food bags, dirty cups and other detritus that is clogging up your community. 
  • Plant trees. Trees turn carbon dioxide into oxygen, which helps to filter out harmful pollutants from the air and make it more breathable for living beings. 
  • Calculate your carbon footprint to see how much of an impact you are making on the world. Now see if there are ways you can reduce this number, like biking to work instead of driving or purchasing local goods instead of ones manufactured overseas.
  • Visit a nearby shop to buy groceries. Much of what is available at supermarkets and grocery stores comes from faraway places and is made with a lot of packaging. Instead of choosing vegetables that are wrapped in plastic and were shipped in from another state, look for locally-grown organic veggies that come as they are. This will help to protect our natural resources, and reduce waste.
  • Consider purchasing only things that are made with recycled materials. Instead of looking for a new pair of jeans or a blanket for your sofa, seek out items that have been made from other, already existing ones. 

Ilchi Lee and the Earth
"This is a beautiful and hopeful time to be alive. We are at a turning point, and your contribution to the world is needed more than ever. All of your struggles, all the struggles of your ancestors, all the struggles of all life have led to this moment right now. You are the culmination of life's great yearning; you are the hope of the world." Ilchi Lee wrote in his book, "Brain Wave Vibration: Getting Back into the Rhythm of a Happy, Healthy Life."

Ilchi Lee teaches that it is important to value the Earth as we respect ourselves. Instead of taking this into consideration once a year on Earth Day, keep the thought close to your heart at all times. Treat the planet how you would want to be treated and always look for ways to make a more sustainable world.

Celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week

Ilchi Lee believes in protecting Mother Earth. You can help by celebrating Air Quality Awareness Week from April 27 – May 1.

April is an important month as spring occurs and nature awakens after many cold months. From April 27 to May 1, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week. During this time, it is important to learn about air quality and what you can do to keep Mother Earth happy and healthy.

Air Quality Tips
We don't always think about how the products we use and things we do on a daily basis affect the planet and ecosystems. During Air Quality Awareness Week, try these tips to improve the air around your community:

Plant Some Greens
Leaves filter out the bad qualities of the air, including the carbon dioxide, and produce life-giving oxygen. They also grow fruits and vegetables that feed livestock and humans and keep us growing physically and spiritually. To improve the air quality in your home, consider purchasing leafy plants to place throughout the space. They will filter the air and bring in some positive energy.

Buy Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
Many of the ingredients in common cleaning products are harmful to the air and humans. Look for labels that are more green and eco-friendly. Avoid aerosol spray cans, as they can deplete the ozone and you can even make your own home cleaning solutions to totally avoid exposing your family to questionable ingredients. Vinegar water works well for cleaning countertops and surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms. It's a lot cheaper than ready-made solutions, too.

Clean Up After Your Pet
Animals can offer wonderful companionship and many pets are considered to be a part of the family. Our furry friends can be hazardous to our health, however. To keep the air clear, be sure to vacuum frequently so their hair and dander isn't causing breathing issues. Give your pet and his or her bedding a wash regularly to keep germs and dirt outside of your home. Plus, your house or apartment will smell much better when your pets and their areas are clean.

Do the Laundry
Don't forget to add curtains, bedding and blankets to your weekly laundry load. This large pieces of fabric can hold on to dust, allergens and even dust mites. A quick wash in hot water can minimize the effect of these air pollutants and make your home effortless to breath in. It's much easier to feel calm and at home in a space that doesn't make you sneeze or feel stuffy.

Save the Earth by Helping the Bees

Ilchi Lee believes people have the desire to help even if they won’t receive anything in return. Help create a sustainable world by assisting the bee population.

Bees are dying in large numbers because of the multitude of chemicals and pesticides that both home gardeners and big agriculture companies are using on their plants. Without the bees, much of the produce we enjoy would not be available. There would also not be food for animals because it wouldn't get pollinated.

In his book, "Brain Wave Vibration: Getting Back Into the Rhythm of a Happy, Healthy Life," Ilchi Lee states he believes that humans have the Noble Desire to help others without expecting anything in return. Although we need not require the bees to help us because we have made efforts to assist them and create a more sustainable world, their existence is vital to our survival in that they have a major role in helping food production. Help the planet by helping the bees. Here are a few ways to assist the insects in living and thriving:

Plant Some Flowers
The habitat that bees flourish in requires plenty of flowers. Whether you have a couple acres to till or a few pots on your patio, planting these flowers will feed bees:

  • Basil
  • Flowering broccoli
  • Snowdrops
  • Sunflowers
  • Dandelions
  • Tomatoes
  • Winter squash
  • Sage
  • Thyme
  • Oregano
  • Lavender
  • Strawberries
  • Chives
  • Blueberries
  • Raspberries
  • Pumpkins

Don't Use Chemicals
Many pest control solutions that can be purchased at your local gardening store contain amounts of neonicotinoid, a harmful pesticide that can cause colony collapse disorder and decimate the bees in the area. Instead of turning to store-bought options, use natural solutions to rid your garden of unwanted visitors. If you have a slug problem use a lime to make a juice trail around your plants. The slimy gastropods will not cross the line. You can also try placing shavings of ivory soap and a sprinkling of vegetable oil throughout your garden to deter nibblers like rabbits and deer. If you have a mite problem, add cayenne pepper and hot sauce to the ivory soap and you'll find they leave your garden alone.

Use Safe Bee Removal Techniques
When someone spots a beehive in their yard they may want to immediately kill the bees with an aerosol spray can type pest control. Instead of eliminating the bees from the planet, consider contacting a local beekeeper or beekeeping club to see if they offer safe removal services. If they do, they can come to your residence and take the bees and their hive away to a better place. This way the bees are out of your yard and don't pose a danger to your family and they will live on somewhere away from humans.