Many people who know I love to weave have suggested to me that I need to read
'Braiding Sweet Grass' by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Now that I am reading this gorgeous book I can see why. Robin is a woman who has merged her traditional North American Wisdom with western science as a Botanist and then author.
She shares this Hymn that is an ancient order of Protocols setting gratitude as the highest priority. In the traditional school the children recite this at the beginning of each day.
This Hymn is known as the Words that came before all else. I have included only some of the verses here.
I have read these aloud for the women weavers who join me in weaving circle!
It is my knowing that the disarray of the world happening now is an illusory overlay of the earth.
Returning to Right Communion with Mother the Earth is the entrance to true source connection. This has been my compass of truth.
Here are a few suggestions for ways that you may integrate this wisdom into a daily protocol of gracious connection:
* read them aloud to a loved one,
* read them at your altar,
* include some verses in a card,
* write or print them on beautiful paper and have them in a visible place
Enjoy this Hymn of Timelessness. Love Lea
We are thankful to our mother the earth, for she gives us everything that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she still continues to care for us, just as she has from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send thanksgiving, love and respect. Now our minds are one.
We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst, for providing strength and nurturing life for all beings. We know its power in many forms - waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans, snow and ice. We are grateful that the waters are still here and meeting their responsibility to the rest of creation. Can we agree that water is important to our lives and bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to the water? Now our minds are one.
Now we turn to the vast fields of plant life. As far as the eye can see, the plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together we look forward to seeing plant life for many generations to come. Now our minds are one.
Now we turn to the Medicine Herbs of the world. From the beginning they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are so happy that there are still among us those special few who remember how to use the plants for healing. With one mind, we send thanksgiving, love, and respect to the Medicines and keepers of the Medicines. Now our minds are one.
Standing around us we see all the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who each have their own instructions and uses. Some provide shelter and shade, others fruit and beauty and many useful gifts. The Maple is the leader of the trees, to recognise its gift of sugar when the People need it most. Many peoples of the world recognise a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind we greet and thank the Tree life. Now our minds are one.
We now send our greetings and thanks to our eldest brother the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thank to our Brother, the Sun. Now our minds are one.
We put our minds together and give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the nighttime sky. She is the leader of women all over the world and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. Let us gather our thanks for Grandmother Moon together in a pile, layer upon layer of gratitude, and then joyfully fling that pile of thanks high into the night sky that she will know. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewellery. We see them at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered as one, we send greetings and thanks to all the Stars. Now our minds are one.
We now turn our thoughts to the Creator, our Great Spirit, and we send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator. Now our minds are one.
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