Humus n. Latin ‘the ground’ or ‘the earth’.
From the word ‘Humus’ come many of the words for being human and humility. For millennia and across many cultures, walking with your bare feet in the earth has been a sign of humility.
From the Proto-Indo-European origin: *dhghem–
Other words with the same origin include:
Chamomile
Chthonic
Exhume
Hombre
Humane
Humble
Humility
Homunculus
Homo Sapiens
Fashioned from the earth, we are souls in clay form. Your feet bring your private clay in touch with the ancient mother clay from which you first emerged.
John O’Donohue, Irish poet and philosopher.






Monastic humility is not a false form of modesty it is a connection to the humusy, earthy, foundational strength. We belong to the earth that cradles our beginning and our end, clay upon clay. Barefootedness honours one’s closeness to the cycles of nature, the inevitable interweaving of soil and self.
~ Lyanda Lynn Haupt, Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science Nature and Spirit.

Walk as if we are kissing the earth with our feet. Such walking is a service, a blessing, an offering, a prayer.
Thich Nhat Hanh


As the seasons turn their faces towards the warmer embrace of spring and summer, I find myself expanding my barefoot horizons to the outside world. Just like a wildflower inching towards the caress of the sun, I too venture out to the fields of my property, to walk barefoot. In doing so, I feel grounded with the Earth below, a living, breathing entity that shares its pulse, its life force with me in these tender moments of connection.
And as I cast my gaze upwards, I feel a connection so profound with the sky above. It cradles me in its vastness of infinite possibilities and wonders, a reminder that while my feet are grounded, my spirit is unbounded, free to soar, to dream, to embrace the cosmic ballet that unfolds in the heavens day and night.
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I loved this so much!! Thank you I felt as though I was journeying there along with you. I was reading it along with listening to this and it was the most immersive and peaceful experience. I hope you have a great week, hugs xx https://www.youtube.com/live/IIDpPnyj3TI?si=G9tl91jkff3N3BLS btw – ‘Calm Whale’ where this music is from is a great YT channel
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