EarthCare Group Agenda 11/19/24 - Bonus Tracks and Poetry

Dear Friends, 

The Earth Care Group is intended to serve as a container for supporting our sacred connection with the Earth. 

We create this container together with intention and presence, and from a place of deep practice, it is hoped that expressions of our Bodhisattva Vow will emerge to meet the world with wisdom and compassion. 

Agenda, Tues, 11/19, 12-1:30 in the Sangha House

12:00  Grounding practice to connect with the Earth 

-Honoring the 5 Elements 

12:10  Listening Circle: A chance for each person to share from their heart what is most alive for them in the realm of social and environmental issues and our connection with the Earth. Some questions we may explore: 

  1. How are you holding and healing division and polarization in your own heart-mind?

  2. What practices, prayers, and ceremonies might support us moving from division to wholeness, personally and as a society? 

12:50   Emergence: Based on our shared consciousness, what next steps might emerge?  We may be moved to action, or we may move toward more spiritual resourcing while actions arise organically. 

Ideas to discuss:

  1. Update on the Dayenu Interfaith Climate Action Circle

  2. Nature-based ceremonies and meditation offerings through SCZC

  3. Other activities 

  4. Easy Earth Care Actions

  5. Next meeting date: look for new day of the week

1:20   Closing chant/ceremony

-offering the merit of our gathering for the benefit of all beings.  

Bonus Tracks: 

Our friend Tenzin just released a powerful podcast with Zen Teacher Eden Tull. It's very related to our discussions, so check it out! Spiritual Lessons after the Storm with Deborah Eden Tull

Also, this course by Eden (tomorrow!) looks promising: Strengthening Resilience by Opening to Grief & Joy: A Workshop for Space Holders & Facilitators.

Finally, thank you for the powerful Listening Circle we created together last Saturday. I found it deeply nourishing, and look forward to doing more healing work together. Here is the poem that was shared:

The Unbroken

There is a brokenness
out of which comes the unbroken,
a shatteredness
out of which blooms the unshatterable.
There is a sorrow
beyond all grief which leads to joy
and a fragility
out of whose depths emerges strength.

There is a hollow space
too vast for words
through which we pass with each loss,
out of whose darkness
we are sanctioned into being.

There is a cry deeper than all sound
whose serrated edges cut the heart
as we break open to the place inside
which is unbreakable and whole,
while learning to sing.

— Rashani

-Deep bows,

Rev. Steve 

SCZC Admin