#40SacredDays — EVERY DAY IS SACRED
We live in a time when we are called not only to look towards the future, but to do so with deep respect for our ancestors, our cultural heritage and the Earth.
What will we pass on to the next seven generations?
The 2023 and 2026 Estonian Human Development Reports highlight the need to pay greater attention to the cultural and spiritual meaning of human life and to the interconnectedness of natural and social ecosystems.
Our mental well-being is closely connected to the environment around us. In recent years, the poor condition of our water bodies, pesticides in groundwater and the pollution of the seas and oceans have called for urgent public attention and change.
Inspired by these concerns, the song Eluvesi (Water of Life) and its music video were created through a collaborative project with schools and kindergartens. This initiative has since grown into #40SacredDays — a creative wave promoting mental well-being and environmental care.
The #40SacredDays Challenge is an invitation to remember that the sacred is not a day on the calendar, but a sacred feeling in the heart.
We invite everyone who wishes to nurture their mental well-being and contribute to a healthier society and a cleaner natural environment to join the #40SacredDays Challenge, which centres on mental well-being, caring for nature and recognising the profound significance of motherhood.
Why does this matter?
The 2023 Estonian Human Development Report identifies one of the greatest challenges of our time as protecting and improving mental well-being. Meeting this challenge requires cross-sectoral prevention and greater attention to the cultural and spiritual dimensions of human life — to shared values and traditions, and to the interconnectedness of natural and social ecosystems.
This perspective is echoed in Science and Spiritual Practices by British biochemist Rupert Sheldrake. The book presents seven spiritual practices which, according to numerous long-term studies, have had positive effects on mental, emotional and physical health.
We have also incorporated practices highlighted by Peaasjad MTÜ, an Estonian mental health organisation: rest, nutritious food and clean water, physical activity, good relationships and positive emotions.
Evidence-informed practices that support mental well-being include:
🦋 Self-care: rest, movement, nutritious food and clean water
🕸️ Good relationships
💓 A flow of gratitude and positive emotions
🙏 Meditation and prayer
🌿 Reconnecting with plants and nature
🎶 The power of songs, chants and music
⚜️ Rituals and the presence of the past
⛩️ Pilgrimages and sacred places
Alongside the mental health of our people, we must also pay attention to the poor condition of our water bodies, pesticide-contaminated soils, groundwater and the polluted Baltic Sea.
The example of Teeme Ära (Let's Do It! > today's World Clean Up Day) demonstrates that just 3.5% of a population can be enough to bring about collective change.
#teemeära #worldcleanupday #hakkablooma
WE ARE READY FOR CHANGE — CREATIVELY AND PLAYFULLY!
What is our goal?
By committing to practices that nurture our mental well-being and protect nature, we take steps towards bringing our dreams to life. By sharing our journeys, we inspire one another and grow a community built on healthy ways of living and environmental awareness.
Why #40SacredDays — and why does it matter today?
Our lives begin with a mother, and motherhood is the sacred foundation of our culture.
Forty sacred days — the fourth trimester — refer to the period following childbirth. This is an ancient heritage of knowledge and practices that mothers have passed down to their daughters from generation to generation.
In many ancient cultures, the woman who has given birth is regarded as sacred during these forty days. Her sole responsibility is to rest, recover and bond with her newborn.
She is surrounded by loving support: nature, nourishing and restorative foods, wise women, gentle touch, and the care of her family and community. Together, they support the whole family during this tender and important time.
In today's world, where postpartum depression affects more than 35% of mothers and the mental health of over 70% of people is said to be affected, we need to bring attention to this often-forgotten part of birth culture and help revive it.
Although current statistics identify early adolescents as being among the most vulnerable in terms of mental health, the roots of these difficulties often reach back to early childhood.
The symbolism of the number forty extends far beyond the postpartum period. Across many cultural traditions, forty holds special significance, often representing a period of spiritual cleansing, trial, preparation or transition. Research also suggests that forty days can provide a meaningful timeframe for practising new habits and integrating changes into everyday life.
How can YOU contribute?
🌏 Choose one practice and commit to it for 40 consecutive days.
Find inspiration HERE.
🌬️ Share your journey on social media, using the hashtag #40SacredDays and tagging @linnulaine in your posts. We would love to follow your journey, celebrate your progress and share your experience through our platforms!
🔥 Sign the citizens' initiative “Earth Day as a National Day of Peace” HERE.
💧 Join Linnulaine HERE.
#40SacredDays — EVERY DAY IS SACRED
One practice. Forty days. A ripple of change for ourselves, our communities and the Earth.