Honoring Mother Earth with Spiritual Awareness The purpose of this ritual is to recognize that work needs to be done to bring human life into harmony with the rest of life of life on earth and to pledge ourselves as Earth Stewards. Realize and take full advantage of our symbiotic relationship with the Earth. Set the stage for an Earth honoring day going outside in your garden, window box, or nearby park and kneel before a plant or in an open green space. Tap into the green, generous energy. When you feel connected, acknowledge the Earth and all it gives to us by pouring your intentions for a healthy, whole planet into your actions. When you return inside, shift your focus to honoring the food you eat throughout the day. It is a way to show respect, engage in reciprocity, and acknowledge that life is only possible through a cycle of give-and-take. By bringing awareness to our food, not just hurriedly or mechanically consuming it, we change the quality of what we are eating. We awaken the sacred spirit of nourishment. This Spirit Bowl ceremony can be done before your most important meal of the day. It’s not complicated or elaborate and yet, by deliberately engaging in a ritual that symbolizes reciprocity with Mother Earth, you cultivate an increased appreciation for the life force of which you are an integral part. If you need pointers for your first Spirit Bowl ritual, follow these steps offered by our indigenous friends at The Pachamama Alliance: How to Create Your Spirit Bowl Ceremony The steps below are just one way the Spirit Bowl Ceremony can be done. We encourage you to adapt the ceremony in any way that feels right or holds significance for you. First, make a special sacred space in your kitchen or dining room, where you will create your Spirit Bowl. You can mark this area by using a special cloth, lighting a candle, placing some flowers, or using elements from the natural world. After the food has been prepared, gather everyone who will be sharing the meal around this altar. You may wish to say a few words about why you are performing the ceremony, and then ask everyone to take a moment of silence to focus on its purpose. Place a very small amount (like a teaspoon or so) of each dish in a small ceramic or wooden bowl. Here, if you wish, each person sharing the meal can take a turn placing something in the bowl. The bowl filled, say a short prayer, recite a poem, or simply speak from your heart, thanking Mother Earth for her gift of life in whatever words come to you. If you wish, you can invite others to share a few words at this time, as well. One person can then bring the bowl outside, in the spirit of concluding the ritual, and place it in a spot where birds and insects will return your offering to Pachamama over the next several days. Alternatively, you may prefer to bury the offering. If you don’t have access to an outside space, you might offer flowers, spices, or something else that won’t spoil, keeping the offering in a special spot in your home. Customize Your Ceremony While many people may choose to partake in a Spirit Bowl Ceremony in a group setting, what is important is that you select a practice that will speak to your heart and generate the most connection with you and Mother Earth. Some other suggestions are writing a letter to Mother Nature and reading it outside in a special spot or collecting leaves, flowers or berries that have fallen and holding them as you meditate. You can even commemorate your ceremony by planting a tree, herb or flower to illustrate your dedication to always give back to the planet.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Jul 2013 17:03:24 +0000
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