[Oe List ...] Gratitude NS LOVE

[Nancy Lanphear]

Dear Ones,
Over the pat several years we here at Songaia have used a MODIFIED version
of the Iroquois Thanksgiving address.  It is a beautiful connective piece
beween the human being and all other species.  40 of us sat surrounding the
large alter in the center of the living room that was covered with bright
scarves and symbols of the web of life, such as toy animals, shells plants,
flowers,rocks, water, trees, etc.

 4-5 years ago we celebrated with this ritual for the first time using a
written statement that was read followed by a spontaneous witness after
which we spoke in one voice, "all our minds are one". We expected that the
adults would do the spontaneous witnesses and the children( 7-12 years old)
would read the written statements.  WRONG!  The children decided they would
speak spontaneously on behalf of the other life forms on our planet, their
relations - and they did just that!  We were amazed at the words they spoke
- thoughtful, heartfelt, poetic and full of compassion for "all our
relations". It was a beautiful reminder of the power of community and of the
availability of the natural world outside of our doors.  We are grateful!

This year as we celebrate Thanksgiving as our dining room doors and walls
nearly burst open with 70 people present, we remember our beloved Stan and
Fred who moved on from us this past  year.  We miss then greatly but
continue to feel their presence as new (2-77 years) leadership continues to
emerge.  We imagine that they will watch over our lives and occasionally
send signs of possibility for us as we expand the edges of our community,
perhaps to Songaia Neighborhood!.

Below is one version of the thanksgiving address

With a life full of gratitude

http://www.nativevillage.org/Inspiration-/iroquois_thanksgiving_address.htm
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://wedgeblade.net/pipermail/oe_wedgeblade.net/attachments/20101124/d6e40993/attachment.html>