growing grace farm
gardening + spirituality + homesteading + creation care
Tag: earth
ecospiritua-what?
Blog post about ecospirituality and some practices that support caring for the earth and your soul.
have you ever
Have you ever walked barefoot in the wet summer grass? invited the peace of the dirt to squish up through your toes? shared the tears of a maple leaf leaf on your left cheek? trusted a firefly to lead you to wherever your soul… Continue Reading “have you ever”
gentle gardeners and creation care~a meditation for Earth Day
As Earth Day approaches, I have been revisiting some of my blog posts on creation care. I wrote this one a couple of years ago and thought I’d press it again today. take care~cameron For much of the last century, religious institutions have missed–or… Continue Reading “gentle gardeners and creation care~a meditation for Earth Day”
Earth, teach me: an Ute prayer
I use this prayer in many of my teachings. It is one of my favorite, and in preparation for Earth Day this week, I thought I would post. Earth, Teach Me Earth teach me quiet ~ as the grasses are still with new light.… Continue Reading “Earth, teach me: an Ute prayer”
Stephen H. Ruppenthal’s May All Be Filled with Joy and Peace
May all be filled with joy and peace. May all beings everywhere, The strong and the weak, The great and the small, The meek and the powerful, The short and the long, The subtle and the gross: May all beings everywhere, Both seen and… Continue Reading “Stephen H. Ruppenthal’s May All Be Filled with Joy and Peace”
what the Muppets teach us about Advent
One of my favorite holiday traditions is the annual viewing of The Muppet Christmas Carol. I have loved the Muppets since childhood, and as an adult, I came to appreciate the gentle lessons they teach us about life. Through humor, word, and deed, they… Continue Reading “what the Muppets teach us about Advent”
Iroquois prayer of thanks
We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us. We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water. We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases. We return thanks to the… Continue Reading “Iroquois prayer of thanks”
Rainer Maria Rilke’s Autumn
The leaves are falling, falling as if from far up, as if orchards were dying high in space. Each leaf falls as if it were motioning “no.” And tonight the heavy earth is falling away from all other stars in the loneliness. We’re all… Continue Reading “Rainer Maria Rilke’s Autumn”
Wendell Berry’s What We Need Is Here
Geese appear high over us, pass, and the sky closes. Abandon, as in love or sleep, holds them to their way, clear in the ancient faith: what we need is here. And we pray, not for new earth or heaven, but to be quiet… Continue Reading “Wendell Berry’s What We Need Is Here”
lessons learned: putting the gardens to bed
Yesterday, my daughter and I updated our kitchen calendar with events for the next couple of months. In the corner, I noted some projects I have planned for us to complete over Labor Day weekend–paint the bathrooms, steam clean the upstairs, and put the… Continue Reading “lessons learned: putting the gardens to bed”
the value of keeping quiet
Sometimes, simple poetry becomes my prayer for the day. Here is one of my favorites~ Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still for once on the face of the earth, let’s not speak in… Continue Reading “the value of keeping quiet”
prayers for Earth Day
Lord, the air smells good today, straight from the mysteries within the garden of God. The trees in their prayer, the birds in praise, the first blue violets, kneeling. — Rumi May all I say and all I think be in harmony with thee,… Continue Reading “prayers for Earth Day”
Buddhist prayers and poetry for the new year
New Year Poem and Wishes Under the glorious canopy of redwood trees The New Year peacock dances Sun and moon rise into the blue sky The earth grows and happiness increases In this New Year — H.E. Khempo Yurmed Tinly Rinpoche Being Peace If… Continue Reading “Buddhist prayers and poetry for the new year”
Stephen Ruppenthal’s May All Be Filled with Joy and Peace
May All Be Filled With Joy and Peace May all be filled with joy and peace. May all beings everywhere, The strong and the weak, The great and the small, The meek and the powerful, The short and the long, The subtle and the… Continue Reading “Stephen Ruppenthal’s May All Be Filled with Joy and Peace”
an Iroquois Thanksgiving Prayer
Thanksgiving Prayer We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us. We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water. We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases. We return thanks… Continue Reading “an Iroquois Thanksgiving Prayer”
Walter Rauschenbusch’s A Prayer of Thanksgiving
For the wide sky and the blessed sun, For the salt sea and the running water, For the everlasting hills And the never-resting winds, For trees and the common grass underfoot. We thank you for our senses By which we hear the songs of… Continue Reading “Walter Rauschenbusch’s A Prayer of Thanksgiving”
Rainer Maria Rilke’s Autumn
The leaves are falling, falling as if from far up, as if orchards were dying high in space. Each leaf falls as if it were motioning “no.” And tonight the heavy earth is falling away from all other stars in the loneliness. We’re all… Continue Reading “Rainer Maria Rilke’s Autumn”
Mary Oliver’s Song for Autumn
Song for Autumn In the deep fall don’t you imagine the leaves think how comfortable it will be to touch the earth instead of the nothingness of air and the endless freshets of wind? And don’t you think the trees themselves, especially those with… Continue Reading “Mary Oliver’s Song for Autumn”
Mary Oliver’s Song for Autumn
Song for Autumn In the deep fall don’t you imagine the leaves think how comfortable it will be to touch the earth instead of the nothingness of air and the endless freshets of wind? And don’t you think the trees themselves, especially those with… Continue Reading “Mary Oliver’s Song for Autumn”
mother earth prayer
Mother of air and fire, inspire us to weave desire into everything we do; make our hearts true. be our needle Mother of stone and earth, rebirth in us a reconnection to the land beneath our feet; make us complete. be our bridge Mother… Continue Reading “mother earth prayer”
birches
Birches by Robert Frost When I see birches bend to left and right Across the lines of straighter darker trees, I like to think some boy’s been swinging them. But swinging doesn’t bend them down to stay As ice-storms do. Often you must have… Continue Reading “birches”
gentle gardeners and creation care
For much of the last century, religious institutions have missed–or ignored–our responsibility as stewards of the creation and to the Creator. However, people of faith have long relished the grimy pleasures of gardening. The process of nurturing life brings contentment and a sense of… Continue Reading “gentle gardeners and creation care”
I arise today
I arise today, through The strength of heaven, The light of the sun, The radiance of the moon, The splendor of fire, The speed of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of the sea, The stability of the earth, The firmness of rock.… Continue Reading “I arise today”
o Gardener of Life
O Gardener of Life, your mercy is steadfast, sure. With care you plant us. You turn the earth around us and water our roots with love. Even when we bear no fruit, year after struggling year, you are patient. Your hope for us leafs… Continue Reading “o Gardener of Life”
what we need is here
This morning as we rounded the corner to school, we witnessed a wide V of geese honking and flying overhead. Because of the unseasonal weather we’ve been having, the girls wondered if the bird were flying north or south. I watched as the silhouette… Continue Reading “what we need is here”
honoring Rosa Parks on the anniversary of her 100th birthday
Today, I am thinking about a woman with quiet fortitude who made up her mind and did away with fear. Ms. Parks’ nonviolent action included no words, just a commitment to peaceful change. May we all be touched by her life and the example… Continue Reading “honoring Rosa Parks on the anniversary of her 100th birthday”
the sacred web of creation
O Gracious, gentle Spirit of Love, Your energy permeates the Universe, Igniting Earth with Your Goodness, Truth and Beauty. Open our minds and hearts To a deeper awareness Of our interconnectedness with You, Each other and all creation. May we experience Your unique presence… Continue Reading “the sacred web of creation”
quotes: meditating on joy
Peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet. ~Anne Lamott When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. ~Rumi You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and… Continue Reading “quotes: meditating on joy”
quotes: meditating on love
Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. ~Martin Luther King, Jr. Believe in a love that is being stored up for you like an inheritance, and have faith that in this… Continue Reading “quotes: meditating on love”
deep peace
Deep peace of the running waves to you, Deep peace of the flowing air to you, Deep peace of the quiet earth to you, Deep peace of the shining stars to you, Deep peace of the shades of night to you. Moon and stars… Continue Reading “deep peace”
I arise today
I arise today Through the strength of heaven: Light of sun, Radiance of moon, Splendour of fire. Speed of lightning, Swiftness of wind, Depth of sea, Stability of earth, Firmness of rock. ~Saint Patrick
an Iroquois Thanksgiving prayer
Thanksgiving Prayer We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us. We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water. We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases. We return thanks… Continue Reading “an Iroquois Thanksgiving prayer”
a prayer of Thanksgiving
Prayer of Thanksgiving O God, we thank you for this earth, our home; For the wide sky and the blessed sun, For the salt sea and the running water, For the everlasting hills And the never-resting winds, For trees and the common grass underfoot.… Continue Reading “a prayer of Thanksgiving”
gratitude for this day
I thank You God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes. . . how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing… Continue Reading “gratitude for this day”
whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle One evening, I stepped out on the front porch… Continue Reading “whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves”
a poem as lovely as a tree
Tonight as I as was reading the insightful responses to this morning’s blogpost, I remembered a poem that my third grade teacher used to recite to us. I quickly googled it and read it again after all these years. Needless to say, I could… Continue Reading “a poem as lovely as a tree”
harvest time
It’s harvest time, It’s harvest time, How rich is nature’s yield In fruit of earth And bush and tree, From orchard, farm and field. It’s autumn time, It’s autumn time, When leaves turn gold and red. In smiling sky And land and sea God’s… Continue Reading “harvest time”
Andy and the chickens
Once upon a time a dear old soul was born to a farm family in the mountains of Western North Carolina. When he was sent to this family by the Great Spirit, he was small and tender. He was loved by his caring parents,… Continue Reading “Andy and the chickens”
Thoreau’s pumpkin
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. ~Henry David Thoreau There are many days when I think Thoreau had it right–go off into the woods, live in a simple place, and… Continue Reading “Thoreau’s pumpkin”