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Saturday 2 May 2009

What direction is "center"?

I noticed our parish school changed the time of Mass for their special "Earth Day Mass."
I had no idea Earth Day figured so prominently in the liturgical calendar.
The Cincinnati Sisters of Charity had a celebration too (why don't they breath deeply three times after invoking the spirit of all that is below?)

We receive and bless now Creation in the Seven Directions – East, South, West & North – Above, Below and Center.
As we pray facing the Direction being addressed…let us take deep breaths and know the power-strength of that direction:

O Great Spirit of the EAST, we turn to you where the sun comes up, from where the power of light and refreshment come.
Let yourwarm breeze open us to the miracle of birth and fill us with new hopes and dreams. Let your light, the color of fresh rising in our life, be glory to you.
Breathe deeply! x3

O Great Spirit of the SOUTH, spirit of all that is warm and gentle and refreshing, we ask you to give us this spirit of growth, of fertility, of gentleness. Give us seeds that the flowers, trees and fruits of the earth may grow.
Give us the warmth of good friendships. O Spirit of the South, send the warmth and the growth of your blessings.
Breathe deeply! x3

O Great Spirit of the WEST, where the sun goes down each day to come up the next, we turn to you in praise of sunsets and in thanksgiving for changes. You are the great colored sunset of red which illuminates us.
You are the powerful cycle which pulls us to transformation. Keep us open to life's changes. Breathe deeply! x3

O Great Spirit of the NORTH, we come to you and ask for the strength and the power to bear what is cold and harsh in life. Whatever is cold and uncertain in our life, we ask you to give us the strength to bear it.
Of Spirit of Life and Spirit of the North, we ask you for clarity as bright as the North Star, and for strength and warmth.
Breathe deeply! x3

O Great Spirit of all that is ABOVE, of everything that soars, of all high visions, we honor you and glorify you for the power that you are.
Lift our minds and our hearts above the earth so that they may never be afraid of great heights. O Spirit of All that is Above, put us on the wings of spirit travel so that we may know this world. Breathe deeply! x3

O Spirit of all that is BELOW, of all that pulls us to deeper places, to the depths of ourselves, we turn to you in the memory of all that goes down.
We ask you to give us the strength and the courage to face deaths in our lives.
When we experience losses and change let us see them as your revelation.
O Spirit of All that is Below, purify us.
Breathe deeply!

O Great Spirit of everything that is CENTER we come to you with gratitude.
We thank you for calling us to be centered within ourselves. Remind us that it is only from this Center that we reach out to others.
Breathe through us that Your work of justice may be done.
O Great Spirit of everything of the heart and everything that is mystery, send us forth to walk a way of beauty and holiness, caring, and hope.
Let us never forget that You are the Center.
Breathe deeply! x3

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