Such Singing in the Wild by Mary Oliver (used in the 2018 ritual)
It was spring / And finally, I heard him / Among the first leaves-/ Then I saw him clutching the limb /
In an island of shade / With his red-brown feathers / All trim and neat for the new year. / First, I stood still
And thought of nothing. / Then I began to listen. / Then I was filled with gladness- / And that’s when it happened... (Click on the link to go to the complete text.)
It was spring / And finally, I heard him / Among the first leaves-/ Then I saw him clutching the limb /
In an island of shade / With his red-brown feathers / All trim and neat for the new year. / First, I stood still
And thought of nothing. / Then I began to listen. / Then I was filled with gladness- / And that’s when it happened... (Click on the link to go to the complete text.)
IF THE EARTH WERE A FEW FEET IN DIAMETER by Joe Miller
(This poem is a short, wonderful poem that expresses what a treasure our world is.)
If the earth were only a few feet in diameter, floating a few feet above a field somewhere, people would come from everywhere to marvel at it. People would walk around it marveling at its big pools of water, its little pools and the water flowing between the pools...
(This poem is a short, wonderful poem that expresses what a treasure our world is.)
If the earth were only a few feet in diameter, floating a few feet above a field somewhere, people would come from everywhere to marvel at it. People would walk around it marveling at its big pools of water, its little pools and the water flowing between the pools...
Poem from 2007 Ritual
Joy fills every cell in my body,
Every cell is alive with love,
I relax into the joyful presence,
I allow spirit to do what it does.
Peace fills every cell in my body,
Every cell is alive with love,
I relax into the peaceful presence,
I allow spirit to do what it does.
Love fills every cell in my body,
Every cell is alive with love,
I relax into loving presence,
I allow spirit to do what it does.
Joy fills every cell in my body,
Every cell is alive with love,
I relax into the joyful presence,
I allow spirit to do what it does.
Peace fills every cell in my body,
Every cell is alive with love,
I relax into the peaceful presence,
I allow spirit to do what it does.
Love fills every cell in my body,
Every cell is alive with love,
I relax into loving presence,
I allow spirit to do what it does.
From the 2005 Ritual the story, "How Thunderbird Came to Be". This story describes the first medicine wheel with the theme of honoring the gifts spirit gives you.
"The Story of Spring": A different take on the Persephone-Demeter myth. In it Persephone is concerned, "Is there no one in the underworld who receives and comforts the dead?" There is an agreement between Persephone and her mother that Persephone will bless and comfort the dead as she ushers them into their new life with peace and hope.