Behold, my brothers, the spring has come;
The earth has received the embraces of the sun
And we shall soon see the results of that love!
Every seed is awakened and so has all animal life.
It is through this mysterious power that we too have our being
And therefore yield to our neighbors,
Even our animal neighbors,
The same right as ourselves, to inhabit this land.
Sitting Bull
Apprehend God in all things,
for God is in all things.
Every single creature is full of God
and is a book about God.
Every creature is a word of God.
If i spent enough time with the tiniest of creature-
even a caterpillar-
I would never have to prepare a sermon. So full of God is every creature.
Awakening
in a moment of peace
I give thanks
to the source of all peace
as I set forth
into the day
the birds sing
with new voices
and I listen
with new ears
and give thanks
nearby
the flower called Angel’s Trumpet
blows
in the breeze
and I give thanks
My feet touch the grass
still wet with dew
and I give thanks
both to my mother earth
for sutaining my steps
and to the seas
cycling once again
to bring forth new life
the dewdrops
become jeweled
with the morning’s sun-fire
and I give thanks
you can see forever
when the vision is clear
in this moment
each moment
I give thanks
O our mother the Earth, blessed is your name.
Blessed are your fields and forests, your rocks and mountains, your grasses and trees and flowers, and every green and growing thing.
Blessed are your streams and lakes and rivers,the oceans where our life began, and all your waters that sustain our bodies and refresh our souls.
Blessed is the air we breathe, you atmosphere, that surrounds us and binds us to every living thing.
Blessed are all the creatures who walk along your surface or swim in your waters or fly through your air, for they are all our relatives.
Blessed are all people who share this planet, foe we are all one family, and the same spirit moves through us all.
Blessed is the sun, our day-star, bringer of morning and the heat of summer, giver of light and life.
Blessed is the moon, out night lamp, ruler of the tides, protector of all women, and guardian of our dreams.
Blessed are the stars and planets, the time-keepers, who fill our nights with beauty and our hearts with awe.
O great Spirit whose voice we hear in the wind and whose face we see in the morning sun, blessed is your name.
Help us to remember that you are everywhere, and teach us the way of peace.
White floating clouds,
Clouds like the plains,
Come and water the earth.
Sun embrace the earth
that she may be fruitful.
Moon, lion of the north,
Bear of the west,
Badger of the south,
Wolf of the east,
Eagle of the heavens,
Shrew of the earth,
Elder war hero,
Intercede with the cloud people for us
That they may water the earth.
Let the reeds pander to the wayward wind,
I am the mountain range
That determines the course of the wind.
Let the sea weed flatter the inconstant tide,
I am the moon
That controls the tides ebb and flow.
Let the magnet succumb to the unbending north
and south,
I am the great earth:
Only I have directions.
Amanda Schwab 