My theme for Lent this year is Rooted in awareness of Creation and Creator. I need to fuel my climate justice work with a strong and intimate connection to this land: I want to better understand my relationship to the natural world and the cycles of the seasons, the history, culture, and ecosystem of my valley, the indigenous peoples and how I connect to them, and the responsibility I feel for the animal and plant people.
At Lent I allow myself to be slow, simple, and thoughtful. I spend time each day in focused study and prayer. And I choose something to temporarily reduce or cut out of my life, as a reminder that what I truly need is the nurturing of Spirit (I try to choose something to fast from that is a good symbol of how I am trying to grow). And I also observe Lent as a time of creative action, acting on what I learn. I've identified these types of actions I want to take in the next 5 wks of Lent:
- Tending my garden (and letting it tend me);
- Building habitat for plant and animal people (and sanctuary for ourselves);
- Supporting and working directly on campaigns to defend the environment;
- Educating myself (growing in knowledge);
- Witnessing to others with writing, talking, and artwork.
March 27, Fourth Sunday of Lent- Awareness: What a marvelous day at the beach, sharing the joy of a very active toddler and his first experience of all the sand, tide pools, caves, ocean and freedom! We walk the fine line of keeping him alive and letting him live.
March 28-
Reading: #81: Directions: "... I face the east, remembering to be thankful for the new day and all the new things that come. Then I turn to the south, where the warm sun provides time to work and take care of life's necessities. I turn to the west, where the sun sets, accepting the places of death and darkness, which are all part of life. Then I face to the north: Toward winter, innovation, storytelling, and the passing on of traditions and the building of family.
I turn back to the east and look up, thanking Great Mystery for all things in life. Then I look down to show my gratitude for Mother Earth, from where all things grow. Finally, my last thought is of myself. I ask for help because I am simply a human being."
March 29-
Reading: #84: Religion and Spirituality. "The Western World has religions, and that's OK with me; to each their own. But sometimes the price of religion has drained God of that mystery and forced people to join a particular camp of pressed certainty. As for me, I choose the camp of uncertainty. I leave Great Mystery to be explored and humbly understood and known as best I can."
Reading: "Let the spring cleanup of your yard be a devotion. Approach the raking, fertilizing, watering, and trimming in the way you would the washing of another person's feet. Set an intention before you begin to offer your work in service to the land." (Living Earth Devotional, Clea Danaan).
March 31, New Sleepy Moon-
Awareness: I meditate on the Great Yin - all that is dark, quiet, soft, and mysterious- and how grateful I am for this energy in my life.
April 1, Spring Navratri-
Awareness: Spring Navratri begins the day after the new moon in late March or early April, and is celebrated as a request to Shakti for a good growing season. (Shakti is the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us.)
April 2, Ramadan-
Awareness: I pray that I will be in unity with nature as I do the work of creating and maintaining a garden and yard. I pray that each stone will be placed with love; each plant will be given reverence; and each bug, bird, and animal will be welcomed.
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