[post_thumbnail size="550"]
This is a shared ceremony that will serve to renew each Pacha Community and the connection between them on a quarterly basis--as close to the two solstices and two equinoxes each year as possible.
It begins with someone in the Community taking responsibility for assembling and caring for a bowl that contains rocks or shells that each member of the community has contributed, from the land that they call “home,” to represent that person and that land and connection with the Earth.
This bowl represents the larger spirit of that regional Community and its “land,” and it also contains a weaving from the rainforest and the Achuar people and a rock from the home of The Pachamama Alliance, the San Francisco Bay Area (both sent from the Pachamama offices upon request). This bowl and collection of rocks and shells can be created in a community ritual of your own designing, to acknowledge what it represents.
The Ceremony in 9 Steps
As close to the solstices and equinoxes as possible, the regional Community gathers and performs a ritual generally along this format (it can be adapted as you are moved to)
- Set up the ritual space for the ceremony consciously, with a clear center (the altar) and a clear place for the participants. If you wish, you can offer some smudge (smoking sage or palo santo) or incense to participants as a
ritual “cleansing.” - Open sacred space (see below) with a prayer honoring Pachamama and the spirit of the land where you are, and of the indigenous people that were originally on that land.
- Light a candle, which can be seen as representing the masculine energy, the fire of creation and transformation. The water in the ceremony also represents the feminine energy, and thus this is a ceremony of balance.
- Remind the community of your shared commitment(s), the reason that you live as a community, and/or invite each person to affirm or express
their commitment. You might choose to read aloud The Pachamama Alliance's Vision and Purpose Statement at this point. - At this time, if any other ritual element seems appropriate to you and your community, you can perform that additional element.
- Pour some water (if possible, water from a flowing source, like a creek, river or ocean) over the stones as a symbol of renewing our connection with our shared vision and our connection with each other. This water represents the feminine element of nurture (all life comes from and depends on water) and renewal.
- Offer a prayer for renewal and revitalization—and this would be a good time to pray for any healing that is needed to support our common work (recommendation: try to make these prayers not personal in nature, but focused on the support of Pachamama or our collective vision).
- Pour out this water either on a tree or into a place where water flows (the latter is preferred)—or you can pour the water into a container and present it (as part of the ritual) to someone who will pour it out into a running water source later, on behalf of the community, in a ritual spirit.
- Perform a closing prayer appropriate to what has happened, expressing gratitude to whatever spirit or deity you have invoked earlier.
