Mother Earth Healing Ceremony
During this ceremony you will be connecting directly with the spirit of Mother Nature.
Mother Earth gives us her medicine, the plants and flowers to help bring our human bodies into balance, and nourish us. She is always giving to you and as we finish our workshop, you will offer to her the greatest gift - your presence and love. This is a concept of reciprocity.
You have received many gifts from Mother Earth and now you can share your gratitude with her. Remember that energy follows your intent so stay focused. Do not give into your mind and become distracted with thoughts. Let this come from your heart.
Please note there are two variations of this ceremony, one that may be used if you live in nature and another if you live in the city.
SUPPLIES
Offerings from your pantry such as dried beans, rice, corn, oats, seeds, chocolate, nuts, honey, etc.
Flower Water (the bottle you made, or one you purchased)
Fresh Flowers or Wildflowers (if you wish)
INSPIRATION
A poem by Thich Nhat Hanh
BELOVED MOTHER OF ALL BEINGS
Dear Mother Earth, I BOW MY HEAD before you as I look deeply and recognize that you are present in me and that I am a part of you. It is from you that I have been born, and you who are always present, offering me everything I need for my nourishment and growth. My mother, my father, and all my ancestors are also your children. It is your fresh air that we breathe, your clear water that we drink, your nourishing food that we eat, and your medicinal herbs that heal us when we are sick. You have all the qualities of a mother. You are nothing less than the Mother of all Beings. I call you by the human name Mother, and yet I know your mothering nature is more vast and ancient than humankind. We are just one young species of your many children. All the millions of other species who live–or have lived–on Earth are also your children. You are not a person, but I know you are not less than a person either. You are a Great Being, not in the form of a human, but in the form of a planet–a living, breathing being. Each species has its own language, yet as our Mother you can understand us all. That is why you can hear me today. That is why I can open my heart to you and offer you my prayer. Dear Mother, wherever there is soil, water, rock or air, you are there, nourishing me and giving me life. You are present in every cell of my body. My physical body is your physical body, and just as the Sun and Stars are present in you, they are also present in me. You are not outside of me and I am not outside of you. You are more than just my environment. You are nothing less than myself. I promise to keep the awareness alive that you are always in me, and I am always in you. I promise to be aware that your health and wellbeing is my own health and wellbeing. I know I need to keep this awareness alive in me for us both to be peaceful, happy, healthy, and strong. But sometimes I forget. Lost in the confusions and worries of daily life, I forget that my body is your body, and sometimes even forget that I have a body at all. Unaware of the presence of my body and the beautiful planet around me and within me, I am unable to cherish and celebrate the precious gift of life you have given me. Dear Mother, it is my deep wish to wake up to the miracle of life. I promise to train myself to be present for myself, my life and for you in every moment. I know that my true presence is the best gift I can offer you, the one I love.
STEPS
On a cloth, lay out all of your offerings. I like to put each offering in an individual dish or on brown recycled paper.
Sitting or standing in front of your cloth, ground and energize your being by taking a series of deep breaths. This also helps to clear your mind, your thoughts and bring you into the present moment. As you are breathing, bring your attention down into your heart and breathe here. At this time, connect with the energy of Mother Earth using your intent. Saying aloud or within yourself, "I dedicate this ceremony for the healing of Mother Earth. I call to you Mother Earth, to join me in this space." Notice what you feel. Notice her energy and how she responds to you. Take a few moments to breathe together.
If you live in nature, you will dig a hole into the soil, the living body of Mother Earth.
If you live in the city, you will use a bowl and perform this ceremony at your altar. I prefer to use a dark colored ceramic bowl, or wooden bowl, to symbolize the richness of the soil.
The size of the hole you dig and the size of the bowl you choose depend on how many offerings you would like to share.
One by one, you will select an offering. Hold it in both hands and empower it with your breath to carry the energy of a specific prayer for Mother Earth. Each element you choose will be charged with a different prayer. You will blow your prayer into the offering and then place it either in the hole or in your bowl. If at first you are not certain what to pray for, sit for sometime and allow the prayers to come to you.
Please dedicate offerings for your ancestors, future generations and the four elements - Earth, Water, Air, Fire.
Also dedicate offerings to the spirit of the land where you live.
As a closing, express your love for Mother Earth. Take some moments to share with her.
When you are finished open your bottle of flower water and pour some of the liquid on top of your offerings. Then fill the soil back into the hole or simply leave the bowl to rest on your altar for 3 days. At this time you may add flower tops and petals on the soil or place in your bowl, filling to the rim. If you placed your offerings into a bowl, at the end of 3 days discard the offerings into your compost or if possible in nature.
AFTER CARE
This ceremony brings us back to ourselves, our true essence, which is also the essence of Mother Earth. It is deeply grounding and balancing. After this ceremony, you may feel a great sense of peace.
Deepening our connection with Mother Earth opens the potential to heal wounds we may be carrying with our birth Mother.