From : Rising Phoenix              93:9704/0               Sun 24 Apr 94 08:50
 To   : All
 Subj : Poems and Invocations


Hi folks.  I've been lurking here for a while and I've really enjoyed reading
the chants and things shared here.  I thought it was time that I contributed a
bit. :)  The following poems/invocations are from a wonderful book that I use
called "Earth Prayers  from around the world."  Sometimes I just read things
from the book, and sometimes, I open the page randomly and read the poem there
to the directions as I am calling them for my circle.  The randomness of it
brings some nice energy to the circle.
Anyway, here they are:

Where I sit is holy,
Holy is the ground.
Forest, mountain, river,
Listen to the sound.
Great Spirit circle
All around me.
        -anonymous
.
I sing to the Mother Gaia
I sing to the Father Sun
I sing to the living in the garden where
The Mother and the Father are One.
         -anonymous
.
.
I want to lie down in dappled leaf-shade,
In quivering shadows of quivering leaves-
        be they oak, be they maple,
        be they elm or birch
.
I want to rest in the play of the shadows
        over my reclining form,
The massage of shadows
        which consoles me in its way,
Restores for me
        with whatever restoration
Flickering shadows of leaves afford-
        be they willow or aspen,
        be they poplar of beech,
I want to be caressed by shadows
        of wavering leaves,
Soothed off to sleep
        feeling the gentle breeze,
Looking up at the rustling
        sun-drenched crown-
Be it basswood, be it chestnut,
Be it walnut or hickory,
        after all is said,
        after all is done,
This is the way
I would die.
              -Antler


At night make me one with the darkness
In the morning make me one with the light.
                - Wendell Berry