Spring Equinox Service 2017
Earth-Centered Spirituality Circle
Nina Brewer-Davis, Teresa Heit-Murray, Kellie Kelly,
Alice Muciek, and Sharon Storbech
Adapted from Joyce Rupp’s
The Circle Of Life: The Heart's Journey Through The Seasons (Ave Maria Press)
Introduction
Kellie
Today the sun crosses our planet’s equator and gifts us with an equal amount of daylight and darkness. We continue to move from long nights of darkness into long days of light. We enter into springtime, the season when all that has been asleep in the loving arms of winter awakens. That which is dormant lifts its head upward toward the warmth of the sun. Today each seed smiles at the story of life held within its heart. (p. 106)
Calling the Directions (p. 103-105)
Kellie
Explanation of Directions
Teresa (East)
Hold a feather and stretch up into the air with it, as though touching the stars and clouds. Move in a circle. Come back around and face east again.
Great Spirit of the East,
you are dreaming me,
singing me from the stars,
laughing in dawn’s sunbeams,
calling me from little green leaves.
Dance your vision in my bones.
Birth your love in my being.
Surprise me with the taste of joy
and teach me the sounds of hope.
Sharon (South)
Begin with an unlit candle. Hold it near your heart to remember the winter that has just passed. Then, light the candle. Hold it up high as you sway several times to the right and then to the left, dancing with the new light.
Great Spirit of the South,
I lift up my face toward your light,
I unite my heart with your love.
Spring is promising me new life.
My fruitful times will be restored.
The emptiness of winter days will be left far behind me.
Receive my gratitude.
Touch my open heart and fill it.
Nina (West)
Take a pitcher full of water and pour a few drops of it gently upon a young green plant.
Great Spirit of the West,
even in springtime, surrender is required.
The yielding soil is broken open
and readied for the garden to receive the seed.
My springtime heart turns toward you to receive the teachings you offer.
Give clarity to my decisions and actions
so I can release what keeps me from growing.
May every yielding of my strong will
be a graceful letting go so new life can stir.
Alice (North)
Hold a bowl of soil with flower blossoms or stems of green grass lying on the top of the soil.
Great Spirit of the North,
light returns in abundance as spring appears.
Come with your strong rays of hope.
Come with your whispering winds of rain.
Send courage to accept the inevitable pain
that is a part of the birthing process.
May I lean into your strong embrace
as the first signs of revitalization
grow stronger in me every day.
Sharon calls in Sky and Earth
Passing Out Seeds
Packets of seeds are passed around, so each person has a packet.
--4 sets of packets, one for each quadrant (4 seeds in each packet)
--Each representative of the directions passes seeds in own group
Blessing the Seeds
Kellie
Little seeds, you are seemingly inert and lifeless, but appearances are false, for you hold an immense surprise. You hold life! Within you are whiskered roots, thick green stems, and dancing leaves. All you need is a gentle hand to place you in the soil, the dazzling sun to smile on you with warmth, and the moist fingers of spring clouds to awaken you with raindrops. The group is then invited to pause for a time to silently ponder the seed held in each one’s hand. After this silent time, all hold out their open hand containing the seed. O seeds, blessed seeds, you will soon be dwelling in the soil. Grow, grow deep, grow strong! Send your life forth into the sunlight. We celebrate the secret of spring within you! the group to hold the seed to their heart. (p. 106)
Call and Response Blessing (p. 107-108)
Teresa
O dormant seed within me, I believe in your potential.
All repeat
Sharon
I will open the soil of my heart for you.
All repeat
Nina
I will warm you with my patience and trust.
All repeat
Alice
I will water you with droplets of faith, hope, and love.
All repeat
Meditation on our Seeds
Kellie
Hold seed to heart.
We, too, have the potential for greater growth hidden within us. The seeds of our hidden potential are waiting for us to encourage them to grow. Pause now to be aware of one seed of growth within you that is waiting to come to life. (p. 107)
SILENCE
Invitation to Planting
Kellie extends invitation…
Teresa starts music.
Planting happens, and meditation continues.
Bless the Potted Plants: Call and Repeat (p. 108)
Teresa
Winter is past! Spring has come!
All repeat
Sharon
Great Miracle of greening and growth,
All repeat
Nina
I turn my heart toward your warmth
All repeat
Alice
As you draw me faithfully into fuller growth.
All repeat
Dancing Song
Alice teaches the song.
Teresa and Nina teach the dance.
Dancing song is danced and sung twice.
Thank the Directions
2-3 line adaptation of the lines for calling the directions
Alice (North)
Nina (West)
Sharon (South)
Teresa (East)
Sharon thanks the Sky and the Earth.
Kellie
The circle is open, but unbroken.
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.
Invite All to Stay for Refreshments
Nina
Please join us for refreshments. They are part of this holy time, too. The foods represent Spring, new life, and sweetness.