All of the Earth waits for the refrain of our voices.
All of the rocks and timber shudder with the music of life.
All of the vegetation and those who reside beneath the roots hum.
Angela Magara, from Psalm 114, Earth Psalms
This is the fourth and closing Solar Day earlier than Winter Solstice, and it’s the third Sunday of Christian creation.
In case you are becoming a member of our international prayer circle for the primary time (it’s by no means too late, till after the ultimate lighting!), or when you want to refresh your reminiscence as to the final steps of this Solar Wheel celebration, please visit here.
In case you are counting all the way down to Christmas solely, that is the third candle and it represents (in most church buildings) Pleasure. Many Christian creation wreaths characteristic this Sunday’s candle as a particular rose pink one, or else a royal blue.
This represents a shift from the purple of penitence to the lighter coloration of anticipation and pleasure for the Divine Start.
Hail and Welcome, Guardians of the North
Many people celebrating Solstice are utilizing our candles to signify the Parts and Instructions in our Solstice Sunwheel. If that’s the case, then tonight we gentle the fourth candle, which, for a lot of, will stand for the North, for the ingredient of Earth.
Previous to lighting it, contemplate the points which can be associated to the Earth, or Love, that want our consideration.
What fears, scarcities, illusions, and avarice have contaminated our holy Mom Earth, and {our relationships} with Her? Within the spirit of our Card of the Week this week, ask your self — what’s your definition of wealth, shortage, and sufficiency?
How can we, ourselves, deal with our planet? Whereas it’s beautiful to understand all the sweetness, bounty, and treasure She affords us, how do our every day choices truly have an effect on Her?
As an illustration, what sorts of labor circumstances, monetary buildings, and wealth (or lack of it) do my every day purchases assist? The place do my electronics, cosmetics, jewellery, furnishings, and clothes come from?
And the place does my stuff go after I not need it? After all, I don’t toss rubbish out my automobile window, or litter the streets of our metropolis. However I’m nonetheless half-responsible for the journey we make to the Durham County Strong Waste and Recycling website each three or so weeks (we don’t have entry to metropolis trash providers).
How a lot do I do know in regards to the stewardship practices of the retailers that I assist with my cash? Do they purchase their assets in accountable methods? How do they eliminate their wastes and by-products?
The convulsions in our financial system; the rising affect of starvation, illness, and ecological collapse; the unsure backing behind our cash; our response to pure disasters; the contamination and genetic modification of our meals; and the very way forward for a liveable planet are all Earth points have reached a disaster level.
Sure. Fairly heavy stuff.
However we’ve a candle earlier than us. We are able to convey the sunshine.
Tonight’s Present
So hear. Attain out with all of your methods of figuring out. Really feel all of us round our pricey planet, as one after the other we attain again to you. Sense as hundreds of us contact our flames to our wicks. One, two, three, and, for a lot of, now the fourth.
Really feel in your bones the reward of the Temple of the North — the reality that’s cosmic Legislation, for that is the reward of our Ancestors: Love is the legislation.
Isn’t it divine that for all of us collectively, we’re celebrating Pleasure to the World? Allow us to want each other the Pleasure of the Earth.
For we are creatures of the Holy Mom Earth, and our our bodies and our spirits keep in mind this. We really feel what our Mom Earth feels, and when our chattering minds and noisy toys are silent, we will hear Her singing within the rush of our blood.
Who can assist however rejoice the splendid style of Her fruit and the scent of Her candy fertile physique?
Now, as we make the ultimate descent into the darkest moments of the 12 months, each cell of our bodily being and our souls’ historic consciousness is aware of and remembers that the Wheel is popping, and we wait.
We’re on the cusp of the Ages, and the second of the nice rebirth is sort of upon us.
Thus we illuminate for the primary time our fourth (or third) candle collectively.
Tonight, we honor bone and stone, seed and flower. From darkest caves to the very best mountaintops, we give thanks for the blessed Earth. We invoke Her energy, Her energy, Her nice cycles.
Silent Guardian of the North, we stand now on the ultimate threshold, able to enter your sacred time of Winter. Keeper of the deep locations within the Earth, the roots which can be past figuring out, You might be additionally the North Star that guides our manner residence. With out fail.
And in concord with the third candle of our Christian mates, allow us to additionally name within the unfolding rose of Pleasure.
Allow us to all be part of collectively tonight in our international circle, my pricey ones. Let our prayers and magic empower us, as we help this nice birthing.
Allow us to name forth the very pleasure of the Earth. Could She come now — in Her laughter and splendor, reminding us that we’re all Her beloved, valuable youngsters.
Be a part of us tonight, coronary heart to coronary heart, throughout the Earth, lighting the candles on our wreaths. Collectively, throughout time and geography, might the Earth sing to us of Her Divine promise.
Rejoice, rejoice! The delivery is at hand.
