Prayers for the Earth

We live in a time when it is now more important than ever to rise above the sense of separateness from the natural world. We are invited by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples from around the world, poets and mystics to become aware of the inter-connectedness of everything and everyone in the universe. The Oneness of the Circle of Life.

Examining our world, we can see clearly everything that needs our care - the land that feeds all creatures, the air we breathe, the water which gives us life - and we know in our deepest spiritual self that life is sacred and we are each responsible for doing our part to live in harmony with the earth.

Come add your prayers for the Earth and the life she gives to all. As we drum, sing and dance ours prayers into sacred actions that will heal all creation. November 30, 7 PM at the Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley. 1201 Puerta Del Sol Suite 100 San Clemente, Ca. 92673.

“This we know. The Earth does not belong to us; we belong to the Earth. All things are connected, like the blood that unites one family. Whatever befalls the Earth, befalls the children of the Earth. We do not weave the web of life; we are only a strand of it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.” Chief Seattle

"The beauty of the trees,

the softness of the air,

the fragrance of the grass

speaks to me,

the summit of the mountain,

the Thunder of the sky

the rhythm of the sea

speaks to me,

And my heart soars"  Chief Dan George

"Air, water, plants, animals and humans give themselves to each other.  It is in this giving-themselves-to-each-other that we actually live."    Kodo Sasaki

An Iroquois Prayer

We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us. We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water. We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases. We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters, the beans and squash, which give us life. We return thanks to the bushes and trees, which provide us with fruit. We return thanks to the wind, which, moving the air, has banished diseases. We return thanks to the moon and the stars, which have given us their light when the sun was gone. We return thanks to our grandfather He-no, who has given to us his rain. We return thanks to the sun, that he has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye. Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in whom is embodied all goodness, and who directs all things, for the good of his children.

“Sowing the seed,

My hand is one with the earth.

Wanting the seed to grow,

My mind is one with the light.

Hoeing the crop,

My hands are one with the rain.

Having cared the the plants,

My mind is one with the air.

Hungry and trusting,

My mind is one with the earth.

Eating the fruit,

My body is with the earth.”  Wendell Berry

Oh Great Spirit, Grandfather, Grandmother, 
You walk together hand-in-hand
across the sky of the Sacred Earth Mother,
walking with great beauty 
with your robes of stars trailing along behind you as the milky way,
you walk on rainbows
coming to us in the sacred hoop. 

Your gifts of love keep the heart of we, 
the two legged people, beating with the breath of life. 
We stand before you with our hearts filled
from the Sacred Mountain. 

We ask only to give away and share the gifts of this hoop,
this sacred ceremony, as we come out of this circle
into this land of beauty that you have asked us to hold 
and take care of for you, Grandfather. 

We see many of our brothers and sister 
are sick in their hearts and bodies,
and the Earth Mother cries with tears of the souls
of many who now walk upon the rainbows with you.

We know that if one child cries or is sick 
it is because the sacred hoop of love is broken by hate and lies.
We have only to listen to our hearts and speak the truth
that is spoken within the great circle of life. 

The power of our vision, Oh Great Spirit, is within our hands.
We have only to speak it and share it, each in our own way. 
I hear you speaking Grandfather, form the Sacred Place,
from Pa-ha Wast-ta: The Mountain Beautiful. 

You call to us to sing in a sacred way,
and to dance in a sacred way 
so that we might heal ourselves. 
In doing so also heal others, as the sacred circle fills
and ever expands with all human beings
and our understanding of all living things grows,
with the light from within.

So that we may stand before you Grandfather,
in a Sacred Way.  Eagle that Flies through Two Skies

Prayer from the Green Gulch Farm

"It is lovely indeed, it is lovely indeed.

I, I am the spirit within the earth.

The feet of the Earth are my feet,

the legs of the Earth are my legs.

The strength of the earth is my strength,

The thoughts of the Earth are my thoughts,

The voice of the earth is my voice.

The feather of the earth is my feather,

All that belong to the Earth belongs to me,

All that surrounds the Earth is me.

I, I am the Sacred works of the Earth.

It is lovely indeed, it is lovely indeed." Suzanne Anderson

"Sometimes, when the birds cry out,

and the wind sweeps through a tree,  

or a dog barks at a far-off farm,

I hold still and listen a long time.

My world turns and goes back to the place

Where, a thousand forgotten years ago,

The bird and the howling wind

Were like me, and were my brothers.

My soul turns into a tree,

And an animal, and a cloud bank.

Then changed and odd it comes home

And asks me questions. What should I reply?  Hermann Hesse

"We live by the sun

We feel by the moon

We move by the stars

We live in all things

All things live in us

We eat from the earth

We drink from the rain

We breathe of the air

We live in all things

All things live in us

We call to each other

We listen to each other  

Our hearts deepen with love and compassion

We live in all things

All things live in us

We depend on the trees and the animals

We depend on the Earth

Our minds open with wisdom and insight

We live in all things

All things live in us

We dedicate our practice to others

We include all forms of life

We celebrate the joy of loving-dying

We live in all things

All things live in us

We are full of life

We are full of death

We are grateful for all being and companions" Stephanie Kaza

“O our mother the earth, O our father the sky,

Your children are we, and with tired backs

We bring you gifts that you love.

Then weave for us a garment of brightness,

May the warp be the white light of morning,

May the weft be the red light of evening,

May the fringes be the falling rain,

May the border be the standing rainbow.

Thus weave for us a garment of brightness

That we may walk fittingly where grass is green,

O our mother the earth, O our father the sky!” Tewa Pueblo

"Apprehend God in all things,

For God is in all things.

Every single creature is full of God

And is a book about God.

If I spent enough time with the tiniest creature--

Even a caterpillar--

I would never have to prepare a sermon. So full of God is every creature." Meister Eckhart

"And now we will count twelve

And we will all keep still…

For once on the face of the earth

Let’s not speak in any language,

Let’s stop for one second,

And not move our arms so much.

It would be an exotic moment

Without rush, without engines,

We would all be together

In a sudden strangeness.

Fishermen in the cold sea

Would not harm whales

And the man gathering salt

Would look at his hurt hands.

Those who prepare green wars,

Wars with gas, wars with fire,

Victory with no survivors,

Would put on clean clothes

And walk about with their brothers

In the shade, doing nothing.

What I want should not be confused

With total inactivity.

(Life is what it is about,

I want no truck with death.)

If we were not so single-minded

About keeping our lives moving,

And for once could do nothing,

Perhaps a huge silence

Might interrupt this sadness

Of never understanding ourselves

And of threatening ourselves with death.

Perhaps the earth can teach us

As when everything seems dead

And later proves to be alive.

Now I’ll count up to twelve,

And you keep quiet and I will go."  Pablo Neruda

"Lord the air smells good today, straight from the mysteries

within the inner court of God.

A grace like new clothes thrown

across the garden, free medicine for everybody.

The trees in their prayers, the birds in praise,

the first blue violets kneeling.  

Whatever came from Being is caught up in being, drunkenly

forgetting the way back.  Rumi

Apache Blessing

May the sun bring you new energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night,

may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being,

may you walk gently through the world and know it's beauty all the days of your life. Apache Blessing

Black Elk last Prayer

"Hey! Lean to hear my feeble voice.

 At the center of the sacred hoop

 You have said that I should make the tree to bloom.

With tears running, O Great Spirit, my Grandfather.

 With running eyes I must say

 The tree has never bloomed

Here I stand, and the tree is withered.

 Again, I recall the great vision you gave me.

It may be that some little root of the sacred tree still lives.

 Nourish it then

 That it may leaf

 And bloom

 And fill with singing birds!

Hear me, that the people may once again

 Find the good road

 And the shielding tree."  Black Elk

Standing Rock and the Sacred Stone Camp

I stand with the People of Standing Rock and the Sacred Stone Camp

I have been keeping track for some time of what was going on at the Sacred Prayer Camp Standing Rock Reservation and stand in complete solidarity.  Water is Sacred, Water is Life.  But make no mistake, this struggle goes far beyond this seemingly simple statement "Water is Life."   Water is necessary for all life on this planet; everything that lives and grows needs water.  The  United Nations in 1952 stated that clean water is a basic right of all people in all countries in our world.  Included in this struggle are the sovereign rights of the indigenous peoples.   Treaty rights that were made long ago giving these nations the power to make their own decisions on their land must be upheld now.  The struggle is also about all of humanity’s right to clean water.  The struggle is most definitely about people's right to clean water and a clean environment on every level opposed to the rights of corporations to use and pollute our Earth for their profit. It is about the rights of the next seven generations of human beings to be left a planet that is clean, vibrant and healthy for them.

I've been praying from home with the people of Standing Rock and the Sacred Stone encampment for all the reasons stated above.  Knowing that as it is spoken in prayer that is the way it will be.  I woke up Sunday morning after ceremony on Saturday knowing that I'm not the "ONE" but I am part of the "ONE"  and with that knowing, I knew that I must prepare and leave as soon as possible  for the journey until my feet are standing on that sacred ground.  I then must invest my prayers and those prayers that were sent with me  into the goodness that has arisen at that sacred ground. So I prepared and I left and drove for 3 days as I was driven by my spirit to get there as soon as possible,  which I did.  I could tell you of the beauty I saw there  which started with the same words from every person I met, which were "Welcome, thanks for coming."  It is important for everyone to know of the spiritual Unity of this Gathering of people from the four directions, the Deep spiritual understanding of the purpose of why they came together at this spot and at this time.  I could tell you of the deeply personal signs and things that the Spirits showed me and of what happened to me in rapid time from the moment I walked onto this land. But I won't as that was a gift for me. I can say this Gathering of human beings goes far beyond  the many environmental reasons and justifications to stand together for the protection of the Mother Earth and its resources from the greedy corporate monsters that would destroy the Earth for a few dollars a profit!  This Gathering of people from around the world of the four directions was nothing less to me then the spirit of loving-kindness coming together showing us how mankind can work together to solve our many human and physical and spiritual problems together.

The Gathering at the Sacred Stone Camp has already changed my life and the lives of everyone who has and will show up there to the support Earth. The Sacredness and the Power of these actions will go out to each person who is praying in support and it will spread from contact with people who have been at this event.  If the Spirit calls you should go now!  If you know someone who has been there, gather in small groups to pray and listen to the stories about what is really going on at the Sacred Stone Camp. #NoDAPL is just the beginning.

Please let me share one more thing I saw there and the vision that was shared with me. There were many people from all age groups working and praying and taking action together. I now have very strong hope that from this gathering will come the new generation of young activists that are now needed for the future health of our planet. The vision shared with me is that this Sacred Stone Camp will continue to gather young and old from all the races from around our world to bring into view the many environmental, treaty, human rights and social and political justice, climate change, any and all issues from local to worldwide that need attention if life is to go on..

VOICE OF THE DRUM

VOICE OF THE DRUM Wednesday Wisdom August 17, 7 PM Drum Circle with Gene & Joyce

Bring your drums and let them speak.  Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley 1201 Puerta Del Sol Suite 100 San Clemente, California 92673. Children are welcome.

The Abenaki People and the Legend of the Drum

It is said that when Creator was preparing a place for the Spirits to dwell on Mother Earth, a loud BOOM was heard in the distance. As Creator listened, the sound came ever closer until it was present right in front of Creator. Creator asked – “who are you?” “I am the Spirit of the Drum”, came the reply. Creator asked of the Spirit of the Drum, “What is it you want?” The Spirit of the Drum spoke to Creator, saying “I would like to be a part of this wonderful thing you are creating.”

After a moment of thought, Creator asked , “And what part will you play, Spirit of the Drum?” “I would like to accompany the voices of the People” replied Spirit of the Drum. “When they sing from their hearts, I will sing too, as if I am the heartbeat of Mother Earth. Then all will sing in harmony.”

Creator granted the request of Spirit of the Drum and from that point on, the drum has accompanied the voices of the People. The Abenaki People

“Since the drum is often the only instrument used in our sacred rites, It is because the round form of the drum represents the whole universe, and its steady strong beat is the pulse, the heart, throbbing at the center of the universe. It is the voice of Wakan Tanka (Great Spirit), and this sound stirs us and helps us to understand the mystery and power of all things.” Black Elk

                                                        

Drums by Native Arts

 

World Peace Dance for the Peoples of the 4 Directions

Walking in Good

It is time that all people of good heart work together to build a world that works for everyone. No matter your race, creed or religious, political, or sexual preference, we must start to work together.  When this happens the world looks to me to be more inclusive and compassionate in all aspects of life.  It is time to find the common thread that holds us together to do the right things for ourselves, our families, our communities, and our world. We are all members of the worldwide human race, we are all part of the earth, each one a strand in the web of life. Our actions have a dramatic impact on our peace as individuals and world peace. We are responsible for the air, water, soil, and every other living organism on earth. The decisions we make on a daily basis determine if there will be peace, harmony and justice for all living beings or if we continue down a path which leads to war, injustice and destruction of the earth.    

Questions we need to consider:

• What are the common threads that hold all life together on our planet?  
• Is All Life Sacred?
• Do we all have basic needs for peace, food, shelter, clothing, love, opportunity to grow, and education?
• A sense of belonging, purpose in life?
• The global economic system is changing our world. Is there a place for everyone to thrive in this new system?
• Should it be fair for everyone in the world, or just the rich?
• Who is it creating winners and losers in this system?  
• Is this outdated system effective for the modern era?
• What is a world system we think would be fair and work for the good of all?
• Are spiritual and Humanistic principles guiding economic policy?  
• Can and will we describe a principle of fairness and equality for the rights of all living things?
• Do Bears and Eagles and other animals have as much right to clean air, water, and food as human beings do?  
• Can the people of the world and the world itself afford to leave these answers in the hands of a few political and spiritual leaders, or will it take more minds and hearts than that?

In these polarizing times, we are being led by the few who do not have the same goals as the many, and do not keep the good of the people they represent in mind. Far too many political and religious leaders advocate for separation rather than inclusion. We already observe the suffering happening in the world due to economic injustice and wars. People are losing their homes and communities related to climate change. The economically challenged people all over the world will suffer the most for a world they did not create.

We human beings, since we are the ones who are causing most of the damage to the earth, must consider our responsibility to all other living things upon the earth. Please remember that war is  one of the leading contributors to pollution and environmental damage in our world, even to the point of a potential future nuclear Holocaust.

What are the solutions to this? It is now time for a new awakening that we all have the same right to become fully who we are in this new world if we want life to continue for all. Examples of people working for good together  (Gov, NGO’s & other groups):

http://www.earthday.org/greencities/events/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/earth/crowdsourcing-climate-change-solutions/

http://climatecolab.org/

http://www.springforalexandria.org/

Examples of leaders who have made a difference in the world and how they did it.

http://www.biographyonline.net/people/people-who-changed-world.html http://www.emlii.com/9146884/31-Most-Inspiring-Women-Who-Changed-The-World http://twistedsifter.com/2013/12/10-people-who-made-the-world-a-better-place/

Future of economics, what are the possibilities? Below are a few examples;

https://issuu.com/new-economies/docs/voicesneweconomies

http://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/11/5-trends-for-the-future-of-economic-growth

http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/1895/Rethinking_our_economic_future.html

   

We are at a Moment in Time, the question is what will we do with it?

It seems we are at a pivotal point in time once again with choices to be made that will affect the future for our children and the planet, perhaps even the survival of all things! We can all see even from our different perspective the importance of the upcoming presidential election. I suggest it may be far more important than we see on the surface.

Keeping in mind the global economy no matter what you think, it's here, good or bad. Science and robotics are making the future new and exciting in many ways. But they are also producing concerns about the future of our jobs. If we need fewer humans for jobs what will we do? Can the earth sustain the increasing destruction of the planet for raw materials for profit? Is it time for a change in the world economy? Does everyone need to be a billionaire in the new economy? Is the upcoming political change a signal for an evolutionary change in humankind's thinking? I believe we are certainly reaching this crossroads.

Here are just a few of our future opportunities that I see at our fingertips, if we have the courage to grasp them at this "moment in time." This future will hold as important the development of the human mind and spirit. Increasing our knowledge through education of science & mathematics, spiritual awareness, and developing as more fully realized human beings, and opening our minds and our hearts to a more compassionate future that makes the world a better place for everyone. Enriching the quality of life for all while at the same time solving our many environmental challenges to live and thrive on this planet. Basic needs such as peace, clean water, air and land for the production of safe and abundant crops for all is of course a necessity. Business models will also change with the times. They will no longer be based on profit and greed, they will simply provide the basic economy that is necessary to make the world function for this new paradigm.

It is now time for all people of good to come together to work together to make the world a better place for all. To put your prayers, thoughts and ideas into action please join us April 27, 2016 at the World Peace Dance for the Peoples of the 4 Directions at 7 P.M. Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley 1201 Puerta Del Sol San Clemente 92673.

Led by Gene Stone and Beth Boardman featuring the Native Hummingbird Women's Drum. We will all join in a Prayer Dance for Peace where we will sing, dance and say prayers for peace for the People of the Four Directions Upon Our Earth. You need only come with a good heart to join this dance. Come and add your Prayers for Peace. Everyone is welcome!

Gene Stone