Sacred Earth Prayer Circle Winter Solstice 2020

Once again we are coming to the longest night of the year, shortest in the southern hemisphere.

Here in the northern hemisphere winter is upon us, summer in the southern hemisphere. 

It has been recognized around the globe by humans as far back as any records were kept and beyond. Calanders have been made in stone that have lasted though the centuries. 

All people have recognized seasons and to mark the longest night gave all hope for lengthening days. Hope for the upcomming warming and growing seasons. 

It was recognized before there were religions. It seems to have been a sacred spiritual marker. People around the globe have celebrated with fire circles and dancing throughout the night, and welcoming the coming dawn. 

This year with COVID19 so widely spreading these kinds of celebrations, just like other holiday celebrations are unwise to protect those we love. 

So lets celebrate virtually! Our circle can be global, and dedicated to healing. 

We have gathered in a snow covered meadow. Hopefully all have dressed warmly! 

We have built a beautiful fire to tend this night. We have decorated the pines that line the meadow with gifts for the birds and wildlife. The firelight reflects on the strands of popped corn and other items on the trees. We welcome all creatures this night. 

I have brought my drum, I have brought cedar, ash and juniper to add to the fire. Cedar to pray for healing, Ash as a medicine to end the sickness of body and mind, and Juniper as pain relief from all pain in body and mind.

We all have brought blankets, or chairs to sit on and wrap around us. In a virtusl world we do not have to social distance, so you may share your blankets! 

We open our circle by honoring the four directions, East, South, West and most importantly this night, the North. Each of us dance the circle honoring each of the directions as we go. 

Our animals that some have brought are watching from the circle, others dance with us. 

My dog Lucy is dressed in her pink coat, is dancing the circle next to me. 

I pause to the East and ask for breath for those who's lungs need healing. 

I pause to the South and ask for those who are alone to feel love. 

I pause to the West to be thankful for the snows that bring water to cool fevers.

Then I stop in the North to honor my ancestors who I know are watching, hearing our prayers and holding us close when we need it most. 

Dance my friends and offer your own prayers. 

Sacred Earth Prayer Circle 2/2/2019

02/2/2019

We are at the mid point between winter and spring in the northern hemisphere. Mid summer in the southern hemisphere.

It has been over eight years since we had a circle, tonight we begin again. 

As we gather together,women, men and children, we are bundled up to keep warm. 

There is a path in front of us, we begin to walk, each looking for things to add to our fire.

To the left stands a deer behind the bushes watching us as we quietly walk, occasionally picking up wood or specific leaves. 

A rabbit hops in front of us, he seems to be leading the way.

Soon we come to an old circle where there once had been a fire. Large stones ring the circle. Many paths from all directions converge here.

We hurry to start a small fire using dry kindling and logs we brought with us.

Tonight I choose to sit in the north east. Everyone finds a seat that calls to them. 

I unpack my abalone smudge bowl and sage bundle and light it. We can feel the warmth from our fire. The scent of the smoke from the cedarwood fills the air.

I pass the smoke from my smudge bowl over myself, then pass it to the east for each of you to smudge yourrself. 

To the east we call to the air, grateful to the wind for being so still. An owl announces it's presence, another farther away returns the call.

The smudge continues around the circle, stopping again in the south. Here we give thanks for the warmth of our fire, for our passion to help the earth and all her creatures.

The smuge bowl continues stopping in the west. We give thanks to the snows and rains that bring water to support all life. We ask for protection for water to be clean and unpolluted. We ask for humans to realize water is life. 

As the smudge bowl continues we add a bit of sweetgrass to it to call to our ancestors to join us in our prayers. We thank the earth for giving us a home, providing us food and things to build shelter and clothe us. 

Feel the rock you are sitting on. It is ancient and has seen many things come to pass.  Feel its connection to the earth and know that you too are connected to the earth and all things seen and unseen.

Our fire is bright, casting shadows, the shadows dancing all around. The owl flys over and lands on one of our rocks, joining our circle. 

We hear rustling in the darkness and know other animals are watching too. 

Each of us has brought a prayer and an offering to share. The talking stick is passed around, each shares their prayer and adds something to the fire as they speak.

These bring new scents as the fire crackles and some sparks float upwards. 

A light snow begins to fall, seeming to thank us for our prayers.

We are hopefull that the coldest temperatures are past, and as the days get longer the temperatures will warm a bit each day. 

We are thankful for the opportunity to gather this night to pray for the earth, her creatures and each other. 

A child comes forth to place a rose on the fire to send out feelings of love around the world, bring each person what they need, they ask for peace around the world. 

Place your prayers and offerings as well. You can join in on facebook on my page. https://m.facebook.com/jean.suttle?fref=nf

Sacred Earth Prayer Circle Oct. 7, 2012

Sacred Earth Prayer Circle Oct 7, 2012

Today I close my eyes and remember the many places I have been where autumn leaves created unbridled joy within me. The bright colors, the sound of them as they rustled in the trees and then the softness as they drifted with the breeze down to the ground. 

Remembering as a child raking up piles to jump in and throw them in the air, my father laughing and when I was done he raked the pile over to cover his plants for the on comming wint

er. In that I learned hope, expectation for what would come in the spring, while appreciating what I had today, and being grateful for being alive.

As we walk down this sunny path, trying to turn our toes inward and walk on the outside of our soles, attempting to make no noise, so we don't scare any wildlife that we hope to see, we soon realize with so many dried leaves on the ground it is not working. We begin to shuffle our feet under the leaves and nearly run as leaves fly all around.

Suddenly we stop, a breeze blows and leaves begin to rain down upon us, blowing past us and circling in the air. It is breathtakingly beautiful. Reminding us of change that is coming. 

We continue down the path some are collecting leaves, others snapping pictures, all are taking in the beauty surrounding us. We try to take in every detail, every color, the scents, the sounds and the feelings it brings from within; all the memories of autumns past.

We walk around a bend and over a bridge where there are leaves floating so slowly on the water downstream. On the other side of the bridge we turn to take a path along the stream. It is a well traveled path, and smooth without stones, only a few leaves. It is still warm, many decide to take off their shoes so they can feel the cool earth as they walk with sun shining and warming the tops of their feet. Carrying our shoes we follow the path to a flat landing where we can gather some wood and make a small fire without fear of causing a forest fire. We sit in a circle around our fire. 

Prayers go up with the smoke, for all who are in need. We go around the circle, each taking a turn sending up their prayers. 

While we remember the past, we also let go and forgive those who hurt us, including ourselves, and hope those we have hurt forgive us as well, for without letting go of negative feelings we cannot heal ourselves or anyone else. We send up hope and faith that our prayers will be answered in time. 

This is a season where we are grateful for the harvest of our labor of spring and summer, and we look forward to the renewal of spirit in winter and the telling of stories and history lessons so that we can remember them to share in the future. In this autumn we share our gratefulness and harvests with others, we know now is when we ready ourselves to weather our lives for the winter season. Most of all we are grateful for today, and what we have as well as what we can share with others. 

May our prayers be heard Grandfather, and may we accept Your decisions as part of this life. We send out Love, Faith in the promise of Peace and sing of the joy in our connection to Mother Earth who has given us all we need for life and we ask for Wisdom to use it wisely. 

In memory of my sister I look upon what appear to be obstacles as just challenges to overcome. She taught me that. Nothing is impossible unless you believe it is. Believe instead there is always a way, if you use your creativity and seek out a solution, have faith in yourself, a way will be found. We all have inner strength when we choose to use it. 

As the Crows circle and land, circle and land in the trees above they seem to encourage the smoke upwards. May all who place their prayers into this smoke have them heard. Listen closely to the silence for answers to come.

Aho.

Sacred Earth Prayer Circle July 31, 2012

Sacred earth Prayer Circle July 31, 2012 Facebook

Tonight is the beginning of the Grain Harvest celebrations in the old Celtic traditions in the Northern hemisphere; it is a 24 hour celebration. So tonight we will honor that ancient tradition. It is a time for trade between tribes, and the telling of oral histories as well as songs and poems of praise for the fallen heroes. It is also the time for those that wish to enter into the Tailtian marriages, where new couples make a vow for a trial period of a year and a day in a trial commitment, before making it permanent or splitting apart.

As I look into my candle and the sandalwood smoke rises; curling around and looping as air currents move. We begin walking up a spiral trail to the top of a lush green hill. A fire is already lit and blazing brightly, it can be seen for miles around as people come for the feast and festivities. Everything is made from the first harvests of all the grains, berries and apples, each participant bringing their best. Songs and Poems telling the history of the Sabbat are being told and sung. It is the halfway point between the Summer Solstice and the Autumnal Equinox. The moon is almost full, with the bright fire and full moon shadows are all around, both deep and soft they dance with the flames and the people. The flames leap high and look like the ancestors also dancing with us. The foods are gathered and the merriment calls to all. As each person enters the circle around the fire they leave their gifts of food on the table between the rocks. The dancing subsides and all take a seat. An elder with long white beard and robe raises his staff and arms to the stars, gathering the energies of the night. The fire crackles and the staff shines bright, “May the Magick of this night be felt by all, with good will, honor, and ethics may you trade your goods; may the foods we have made from the first harvest ensure in this year of so much drought that we glean enough grains to last through the winter; may your night be filled with new beginnings for all.” He points to me. I stand and offer:  

Prayer for the Warrior Soul 

   by Patti Wigington

The warrior soul, fighting in spirit, 

follows a code of honor and wisdom.

Strength is found not in the arms,

not in the knife, the gun or the sword,

but in the mind and soul.

I call upon the warriors of the past,

those who would stand up and fight,

those who would do what is needed,

those who would make sacrifices on behalf of others,

those who would die that others may live.

I call upon them this night,

to give me strength of heart, soul and spirit.

With this poem I ask also that no matter what we may encounter this coming year that we remember this poem and the lessons it gives. The nights are becoming longer and days shorter, may we harvest what we can save and make it last until the Sun returns the Earths gifts as the Wheel of the Year turns. These plants that have given their gifts are wilting in death to return next year, may we remember and be blessed to understand the gift of rebirth.  I sit down and wait for the next gift to be given. 

Sacred Earth Prayer Circle - Friday July 13, 2012

Sacred Earth Prayer Circle July 13, 2012

This is a circle; there is no beginning and no end. No one is more important than another, just as no part of our planet is more important than another; all are inter-related each depending on the other to make it work as it was intended. All I wish to do is to create an environment for your thoughts and words to flow freely from your heart. Each person who participates is welcome to create their own vision, share a poem, a prayer, a song, or words of gratuity, the story continues with each of you. Each culture brings new things, sometimes it is the first time another has heard that point of view, the more we share, the more likely we are to understand each other and create more understanding around the world. 

This evening we have chosen to take this well-marked path over the bridge with a narrow creek flowing beneath it and up some steps to a winding road. The road is very narrow, and there is plant growth from the tree line which shows the road used to be wider. This once was an old road between two small villages that today has been by-passed with a road for auto traffic, and left for us to enjoy. We see a deer bound across in front of us, some rabbits munching along the path and birds are swooping across the pathway as the darkness gathers. We continue down to where we find a grove of 28 oak trees, planted in a circle many years ago. In the center are a few rocks with a place that has been used many times in the past for fires. The path we enter comes from the East. One person goes in first and smudges the area with smoke from sage, cedar and sweetgrass. Then they smudge our fire starter who does his duty and builds a small fire. Soon the only shadows come from the light of our fire, as the sky is now filled with stars and the sun is visiting those on the other side of the Earth.

We walk inside and sun-wise around the circle each stopping at the entrance to be smudged and cleansed. We stop at each of the four directions to say a silent prayer and leave a small token relating to the direction on that side of the fire, until we have all been all the way around the circle. On the East side of the fire I leave a feather gifted to me on the wind to honor the winds that bring us wisdom; on the South side I leave a sunstone to honor the fire and passion within each of our hearts; on the West side I leave a large clam shell filled with water for each that follows to use or add to, to honor the healing and cleansing waters that flow above and below the earth, to ask for rains to quench those that thirst, and heal those that need healing; on the North side I leave a small stone that I found that reminded me of my father’s rock garden to honor those who have come before us and those who will come after us.  I add some rose petals to the fire in honor of the memory of those who I have loved and have moved on beyond the veil, as well as those who I will share love with in the future, I offer to each member a blessing of healing, of peace and to understand there is beauty where ever we turn if we choose to walk that path of beauty because it comes from within us. During this time of the waning moon, let go of the things that do not bring you peace within. May each be inspired to offer healing gifts. As I turn to pass the talking stick to the next person in the circle we are joined by a raven who is watching us from above. 

Summer Solstice

Sacred Earth Prayer Circle June 19, 2012

Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice here in the Northern hemisphere, Winter solstice for those of you below the equator, depending where you live it may already be the Solstice.

Cultures around the world have for as long as man observed the sun have celebrated the Solstices and what they meant to them. The sun was often worshiped as the giver of life, so today I wish to take you on a journey to celebrate life, ready ourselves for the many kinds of celebrations or rituals each may have. 

The word solstice means “sun stands still” in Latin. Summer Solstice is the day that the sun is highest in the sky and the shadows are the shortest. It is the longest day and shortest night of the year. Some traditions begin the solstice at sunset the previous day, some at sunrise of the day and some at noon on the solstice. Some last but three hours and others up to 72 hours. The Sun is seen around the world and has been used to keep track of time and seasons. Ancient peoples marked the event by light through key holes in rocks and the placing of rocks to help those that followed to know the day.

Tonight is also the New Moon, and so tomorrow will be the first day of the moon cycle as it appears to grow daily as its shadow diminishes. It is considered by many a time of new beginnings. So is the Summer Solstice, and in many cultures it was a day to wed or handfast, or join couples in a union.

Let us take this small path away from the road. Though the trees we can barely see the early morning sky. It is just beginning to brighten, the stars beginning to fade. We can feel the dampness of the morning misty fog that surrounds us as we near the river. Only a few birds are waking, there is mostly silence as we quietly walk down the sandy path between the leafy trees and bushes. A rabbit family scurries into the brush when they see us approach. The leaves are full of dew and so now are our clothes as we brush against them. No one is talking. As humans, we have forgotten how to walk silently through the woods, so even though we are trying not to make noise, some do, and that is ok. Finally, we come to the shore along the river. This morning it is so still we can barely see any movement in the water.  The shore is white sand, and right now the sky has made it look purple. The sun will be rising down river soon. Those who have brought packs and drums set them down and we take off shoes and walk out into the cool and very clear water with a sandy bottom to stand in a circle, but all facing the sunrise. It is getting brighter. We each silently say a prayer. 

One voice softly begins, “Today we honor you Grandfather Sun; we thank you for your light; we are grateful for the growing season and for the long days that we may get much done. We ask for your help to heal the people, to heal the Earth, and give us the knowledge we need to move forward to help each other as well as our selves. Help us remember all that has been forgotten about the natural world we live in. Today we ask for peace, for joy and the wisdom to appreciate the lives we have been given, living in this time of great change and possibilities as the humans awaken and remember we are ONE.” 

As the sun beams slowly move across the water toward us, through the trees, illuminating our silhouettes, joining us together with the entire natural world. Together we whisper, “We are One.” We repeat this again, a bit louder, and again louder still. Our chant becomes a steady hum, a soothing vibration. We are all connected. Each having our own gifts, yet each of those gifts are needed by the whole. Do not fall into the fear of this being the year of doomsday, but rather a year when humans awaken to the fact all energy is connected to the web of life here on Earth and perhaps the Universe and beyond. No matter what your cultural heritage is, the spiritual path you follow, the color of your skin or where you are on this planet, what each of us does, affects the whole. Let our feet beat the sound of our heart beats, the splashes send out ripples to the shore and down the stream to where it flows into the ocean. May our prayers go as far as the waters and sunbeams travel. As the sun rises higher we move to the shore, where we begin a small fire and we each offer some words to send out into the Universe; words of gratitude, love, peace, and beauty. 

An early morning canoe paddles by and we ask if they would like to join us, we have coffee, tea and water for all as well as each has brought some gifts of food to share throughout this day. Our circle grows, and grows as more people feel drawn to the energy of Love. Some stay a while then move on with the river. So goes the day, with Noon and Sunset prayers, we continue all through the night with a drumming circle until sunrise the following morning. May these thoughts continue and the prayers be heard, may you feel the connection and please give a prayer, a song, a poem, a gift to be shared with all who read this as well as generations past, present and in the future. Please add them below.  All are connected here in this circle, there is no time, no space between us, and we are ONE.  May the world be blessed with awakening to the connected consciousness and the power it holds. 

Sacred Earth Prayer Circle June 4, 2012

Sacred Earth Prayer Circle June 4, 2012 Facebook link

Tonight we look up and see Grandmother moon in all her glory. She is is often called the Strawberry Moon, Flower Moon, Honey Moon, Hot Moon, Planting Moon, and Rose Moon depending where you are from. Tonight is very warm, and there is a breeze coming from the southwest. the moon is high and clearly shows our path. The sand looks pink in the moonlight. There are crickets chirping, the distant sound of frogs at a nearby pond and leaves brushing in the trees above us. As we walk along the path the trees part and we can see the moon so clearly. The fence to our right is covered in wild roses and their scent is filling the air. This looks like a good spot to have our circle.

Again tonight we will not have a fire, it is already warm and would take away from our view of the moon. We gather in a circle, we offer sage, cedar and sweetgrass smoke from an abalone half shell to smudge each other and to carry our prayers up to the Creator. Many have brought their drums. Drums made from wood and skins, drums made from hollow cans, drums made from old oatmeal boxes, drums made to keep beat with the heartbeat of the Mother Earth. We sit in our circle and those with drums begin to beat a one- two beat.

Thank you mother earth for giving us life, may your healing waters and plants help all who need all kinds of healing, may our thoughts join to create a healing atmosphere for all who are in pain, in need and are searching. May our joined prayers bring peace where there is turmoil, our rhythmic beat and deep breaths send our wishes out to all who wish to take what we offer, may all the spirits of the earth join in our prayers.

An owl screeches, and flaps its wings almost as if he is trying to keep beat with our drums. A coyote howls, then some funny yips and attempts at howling from her young learning to sing to the moon. The tall grass where we are sitting is soft and new, it smells green as we crushed it by sitting on it.

After tonight the moon will begin to wane, it is the time of the moon cycle to shed our fears, our doubts, our unneeded emotions, the junk we have accumulated that clouds our path. Tomorrow is the transit of Venus as she moves between us and the sun. It should be visible to most of us and here in the USA it will be visible with special equipment near sunset. Remember not to try to look at it with the naked eye. Many hold that this will mark a change in the way people think. But there are many stories from around the world for this year. Most suggest a shift in the way mankind will think, how he interacts with the planet that gives us life. This is what many hope will happen, wars will end, man will be kinder to each other and to the planet and all her parts.

Breath in peace, exhale peace, feel the healing and shift begin. We are all connected, past, present and future, like everything else man is made of minerals, no different than the Earth herself. we are each a part of the whole. Let us begin to change the way we perceive each other, not as separate, but as pieces of the whole. Each part of the earth has a purpose, we don't always know what it is, but it will be reveled when we need this information.

Many blessings for all who are here, may each have their own awakening and see their path clearly. Prayers go out to all directions, East, South, West, North, above, below and within. Breathe in this prayer and exhale it as you hear the Mothers heartbeat.  May all who come here find words to share as they feel the heartbeat of the Mother and feel healing begin.  Aho.

After a long night the sun rises and the moon is still above the horizon. Our drumming continued all through the night. Some have come, some have left, but we continue to hold this vigil for healing, peace and love. 

Please add your own prayers and gifts to the circle, each of us has a special need and gifts to share.