For the past month, I have been attending training classes so I can become a Marine Sanctuary Steward in my beach community. I feel an overwhelming protective instinct toward the ocean these days; and I am learning how I can help to help keep chemicals, toxins and plastics out of our great waters.

I began my training in a classroom, but it might as well have been a temple, since everything I have learned has led me to a most holy and spiritual conclusion. The current news is bad, but the one ray of hope is that science and spirituality, together, may have produced a divine solution.

My mind is just swimming with eco-facts and hard truths about the condition of our planet and its oceans. Throughout my training, I have heard my Water Guides speak to me in a different language - not the whispered inspirational messages that I usually pass gently to my readers, but the hard facts that make us cringe.

I ask the question over and over to myself ....

"Why do humans willingly contribute to the destruction of their own habitats without thinking of the consequences?" Of course we aren't heartless, or ignorant. We are conscious, loving people. And yet, so much of what we do to the earth is destructive.

This is a problem that has plagued scientists, philosophers, activists, politicians, priest, and shamans for ages. I surrender to my ponderings and head for the beach.

It is one of the most beautiful days since last summer. I feel the spring renewal in my heart as I stand there, looking out to sea.  Gentle waves lap around my feet, and I gulp deeply as I think of the magnitude of the problem; but soon, a small pod of dolphins shows up and delights me for a few minutes. I ask, through my heart, "How can I help?"

Two dolphins seem to "cuddle" each other right in front of me. "They seem happy." I shrug. Then another pair of dolphins do the same thing. Cuddle. I am thinking it must be mating season. Then I get it! LOVE. They are showing me love - the answer to my question.

During last night's marine biology lecture, there wasn't a dry eye in the room as we watched a documentary showing damage to sea life. Shutting off the projector, our professor asked, "Can we ever change this?" I prepared myself to hear a guilt-speech; but instead under his breath, he murmured something I totally didn't expect.

"We need to fall in love."

My head turned to see if others caught this. I saw only blank faces. Apparently I was the only one who understood the impact of his statement. He nodded to me and we shared a moment, knowing we were now talking about my spectrum of water consciousness - emotions and spirituality.I was shocked at his reference to love. I didn't think science would offer such an emotional solution to a major ecological problem. Then I remembered the dolphins. LOVE is the only thing that can change our current paradigm.

Falling in love makes perfect sense. It's a powerful drug. But wait... a drug? Yes, love produces a chemical in the brain that causes us to behave differently toward our environment. The science of this phenomenon is called Neuroecology. Some scientists believe this is, indeed, the only science that will save our planet. This science will help us understand how we can use our brain chemistry to change our behaviors so we can re-evolve into a species that is peaceful, loving, caring  - and can reverse the damage to the Earth and her Oceans through the process. I am just astounded. Apparently science has already begun the research. Would we call this a techno-fix? A spiritual fix? Or both? I think the marriage of heaven and earth is possible with this collaboration. When we fall in love, and our hearts are full, our minds will come to different conclusions about how to relate to our Earth. Then, we can save the whole web of life, achieve world peace, and reinstate the natural balance... and do it guilt-free and stress-free...if we just fall in love. It's simple, elegant, and enjoyable.

Of course, this isn't news to most of us. We've known about the power of love for a long time. The more we love, the more love flows. Soon we see life in a different way, make different choices, and feel a connection to ALL. Love has been a major spiritual process for mystics and spiritual seekers for centuries. Meanwhile, science is just catching up.

Professor So-and-So continued his lecture... Wow! He sees the future and I do too... and it is all about LOVE.

A while back, I pondered the concept of falling in love with water and the earth from many angles. Last fall, I released two collections of water blessing labels that introduced this very idea - Water Peace and Earth Peace. The two collections provide a starting place for ecological paradigm shift to occur - Neuroecology. Science and Spirituality. Love, love, love...

Creating those collections thoroughly changed me. More than any other water blessings I have produced, they altered my behavior tremendously. I didn't force myself to make a change. My brain chemistry did it. That's why I taking these classes -  for the ocean. I always loved water, but now I am in-love with water.

Most scientists now agree that  "Nothing will change until humans change the way they relate to water or to the earth and by then, it will be too late."

Not so.... Science still doesn't get it. This is where spirituality has a more promising answer.

We all know that falling in love can happen in an instant. We don't even have to TRY. It happens all the time. It is what happens when we realize we have "chemistry" with another person. Why not the ocean? Why not the forests? Call it Neuroecology, or call it infatuation, but it can happen in a blink. First you see something you never saw before in the natural world. Maybe you open your eyes to see a flower - really see it; or your ears to hear the birds, or your heart to wonder as you watch butterflies, or dolphins - and then suddenly, bam! You realize you have special feelings... well, you know the rest. The chemistry rises and brings about a change in your brain. Soon, you don't even think about it, but you are a different person with a different awareness.All we need is love.

Our professor ends his lecture with a question. "Why do you think people feel so good when they go to the ocean or any other body of moving body of water?"

He says, "Because their brains have just pumped oxytocin into their cerebral circuitry, and endorphins have been activated, which activates the heart to beat a little stronger, which opens the blood flow, which sharpens the focus, which activates nerve impulses in the spine; which causes the lungs to take in more oxygen... neuroecology is the reason.

But I say, "People who are at the ocean feel good because they have fallen in love, if only for that moment in time."

Scientists are just now learning that humans cannot change their behavior toward their environment until they change their brain chemistry in a good way. In reality, we must fall in love and swim in our own brain chemistry (yes... oxytocin) before we will NATURALLY nurture, protect, or support our planet.

How can I possibly ever hurt something I love? I can't and you can't either. It isn't humanly possible. And that's the best news of all. Human nature will eventually save the planet when we let go, and let love be the answer.

In honor of World Water Week (ending this Sunday) and Earth Day, April 22, 2010, I urge you to invite an earthy sort of love into your life. Feel the warm embrace of your greatest lover - Mother Earth. Cherish the kiss of the sun, appreciate the bounty of the soil, embody the wisdom of the wind, and feel the emotions of water. Nevermind the weather. There is more to learn about your world. Brain chemistry being what it is, you will feel a boost that embraces you like the most passionate kiss of your lover. And you will be transformed.