Terango: Dirt versus Earth

Lane writes about the experience of soil in peoples lives with enticing comprehension. At one point he describes earth as something that we emerged from and continue to share a bond with. It is irrefutable that the earth sustains us as humans. However an appreciation for such fact can easily be lost on those who live in modern society away from the source of their nourishment. Nevertheless every feature of dwelling rises up from the earth and the earth supports it ungrudgingly. Thus everyone participates in a relationship with the earth.
Lane quotes a Lakota Sioux Chief, "the old people came literally to love the soil and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to a mothering power. It was good for the skin to touch the earth and the old people like to remove their moccasins and walk with bare feet on the sacred earth."
It feels that today we distance ourselves from the power given to us by the earth. Often water is referred to as the source of life but many forget that earth is the vessel for life. Efforts to not forget this sacred relationship can be seen in some religious traditions that ask adherents to take their shoes off because they tred upon sacred ground. This tradition has symbolic meaning that acts to illustrate the importance of the earth we stand upon every day. It is an empowering substance that provides space for life to grow. It contains an inherent sacredness that is systematically forgotten by pavement and other artifices that attempt to replace the earth. However no one can deny the pleasure of walking with bare feet in the soil of the Earth.