Rogation-tide

Rogation-tide begins on the Sunday five weeks after Easter and continues for four more days, through Ascension Day on Thursday. 

Rogation is an early Christian tradition of singing psalms and chanting prayers of petition for God's protection on crops, beasts and people. Since medieval days, England parishioners would walk around the parish boundaries, bearing a cross and banners, and asking for God to bless the crops, livestock, and fishing holes. The procession was called 'beating the bounds'; before maps were commonplace, it helped everyone to remember the parish boundaries.

These boundary walks were also known as ‘gang days’ from the Anglo Saxon word ‘gangen’- to go. The parish would bond together as a community, offer charity to poor people they met along the way, and the priest would stop to preach at each prominent tree or landmark.

Now Rogation-tide is celebrated more as a time to honor the gift of creation of the land and waters, to offer thanksgiving for the labors on land and water that feed us, and to pray for stewardship of the earth. 

Hawthorn tree in our front yard.

Agenda today:

1. Beat the bounds:

A parish is church territory, but I use it to mean the land that I feel responsible for, my home-neighborhood. This is my annual chance to look at my neighborhood and my community with open eyes, and consider how I can help to support those who work to feed me, and how I can be a better steward of the land.

It's especially important to me now, as I work on climate justice, to regain a sense of responsibility for my parish.

Sadie (looking anxious) in front of our neighborhood store, with a large black walnut tree.

The bounds of my parish extend roughly eight blocks square, from our neighborhood store to the north, our park to the east, the drainage creek to the south, and the school I teach at to the west.

Beautiful tulip poplar at our park.

I had a special guest this year, as I walked the bounds- my mother joined me and Sadie! 


I stop at "trees of importance" to say these prayers:

Huge Oregon white oak behind the fairgrounds.

For rains and fruitful seasons, and your blessing upon the lands and waters, 

I pray to you, Oh God. 

Small dogwood tree at my school.

For all who work upon the earth and seas to bring forth food for all your creatures, I pray to you, Oh God. 

Incense cedars close to my home.

For all who care for the earth, the water, and the air, that the riches of your creation may abound from age to age, 

I pray to you, Oh God. 

Amen.

2. Bless my garden: 

When I got home from my boundary walk, I went to my garden to ask blessings on my seeds, animals, trees, and beds-

Great Spirit, Creator of all things and Giver of all life, let your blessing be upon this garden, the animals and people who live here, and grant that we may serve. Amen.

3. Research: 

Read up on farm-worker and small farmer issues, as well as local environmental issues. 

What service am I called to do?

4. Make Rammalation Biscuits:

While technically these are days of fasting, in England the tradition was to gather after the Rogation Procession to drink "ganging beer" and eat "rammalation biscuits." 

Unfortunately, no one knows what rammalation biscuits are- possibly a cookie to eat while you "perambulate”? I decided to make a classic English Digestive Biscuit, and they are very yummy.

Ingredients: 

• 3/4-c. whole-wheat flour 
• 1/3 c. butter, chilled 
• 1-c. rolled oats 
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda 
• 1/4 c. raw sugar 
• 2-3 Tbsp. cold milk 

Yield: 10 cookies-

1- Combine the flour and oats in a mixing bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or two knives. Add the soda, sugar, and salt. 

2- Stir in 2-Tbsp. milk, or a bit more, and knead in the bowl to make dough that holds together well. 

3- Flatten into a disc, wrap in plastic or wax paper, and chill for 30 minutes. (This resting time will make the biscuits more tender and crisp.) 







4- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Roll out the dough until it is a bit more than 1/8-inch thick, and cut into any desired shape. Traditional digestives are about 2-1/2-inches round. 

5- Place on ungreased cookie sheets, prick evenly with a fork and bake until pale gold, about 12 to 15 minutes.

6- Serve with beer!

Full Flower Moon and Wesak

Tonight is the full moon. The May full moon is called the Flower Moon, because this is a month of blossoming and the promise of abundance. The flowers in my garden are a delicate reminder to me to project a gentle, honest spirit into the world. I open my heart, give my gifts with love, and receive, with gratitude, the bounty of gifts others offer to me.

Today is also Wesak (pronounced way-sak). The full moon in May is the day that Buddhists honor the birth of Gautama Buddha in Lumbini, Nepal, in 623 BCE, and also honor his enlightenment and death.

Buddhists all over the world celebrate this day by pausing to remember the Buddha's virtues, expressing their gratitude and appreciation for his teachings, and by finding ways to be more Buddha-like.

Agenda for today:
1. Update my altar
2. Journal queries
3. Practise at my theme of abundance
4. Find ways to be more Buddha-like
5. Make a lantern for Wesak
6. Cook Hath Maaluwa (Seven Vegetables Curry)

Ramadan

Tonight is the start of Ramadan, an Islamic holiday that marks the discovery of the Qur’an by the Prophet Muhammad. The Islamic calendar is totally lunar, so Ramadan begins a few weeks earlier each year, at the sighting of the thin crescent moon, hopefully at sundown tonight.

Sunset photo by Brayden

Ramadan is a month of blessing. By night, Muslims read the Qur'an, and celebrate the compassion of God with special prayers. 

By day, they give generously to charities, and observe the discipline of fasting: They eat an early morning meal before the sun rises, then eat and drink nothing until after sundown. 

The Ramadan fast includes abstinence from falsehood and anger, in words and in deeds. It's purpose is to help Muslims to develop self-discipline, a strong spirit, generosity, and empathy. 

Even though I don't partake in a fast, I observe Ramadan in this same spirit, renewing my relationship with God, and exercising self-discipline and generosity. I hope to build my empathy for Muslims as they observe their month-long fast. 

Agenda:
1. Celestial awareness
2. Sunset prayer
3. Practice daily joyful activism
4. Enjoy Iftar tomorrow night

New Peony Moon

Beautiful peonies growing in my neighborhood.

The new moon rises this afternoon; the Chinese call the fourth new moon the Peony Moon. Peonies are the flower of riches, romance, and honor, called sho yu in Chinese, which means "most beautiful." Their lush blooms are an omen of good fortune, and also foretell a happy marriage.

This is the season of blossoming into abundance; I open myself to the receipt of gifts, and try to be fully awake to all that each moment holds.

Agenda for today: 
1. Journal queries 
2. New moon meditation
3. Prepare for a garden party

May Day

May Day, on May 1st, is a spring celebration of the blooming flowers. Maying is what we call the things we do to celebrate this beautiful month-- going on picnics, picking flowers, dancing around a maypole, and sharing our love.

May Day is an ancient holiday stemming from the festival of Floralia which honored Flora, the Flourishing One, the Roman goddess of spring. 

Flora is a bright nature goddess who makes trees bloom- she is a “lady of pleasure", but also a symbol of motherhood. She wears a garland of flowers in her hair, and in her right hand she holds a columbine, for fertility. In England a young woman is chosen as May Queen, representing Flora, and is crowned with hawthorn blossoms. She is often accompanied by a May King.

Agenda:
1. Prepare a Beltane fire
2. Bring in the May
3. May baskets
4. Make Tippaleivät (Finnish May Day Fritters)
5. Maypole Dances