Anointing Land

Mid-winter and raining finely. I chose this piece of land because I pass it every day. It is both wounded and beautiful, like me and most of us. Wounded as it includes a polluted stream, an electricity sub-station, and littered areas. And beautiful in that there is a copse of trees, and lush grass. Several hills curve into the land, with beautiful homes. The land feels very yin, holding water deep within, cool and low-lying. I went alone, and the land also felt alone, silent, not easily accessible.

My prayer to the land as I walked was essentially the Ho’oponoponoprayer but with a fifth part, namely ‘Show me the way’ (that I/we can be most useful to you, the earth). I had brought a vial of ethereal oil, and after some time, anointed the earth among litter and wet grass as a gesture of reverence and rebirth. Also to symbolise my desire to give, as nature gives to us.

On leaving, the land still felt quiet, a kind of impenetrable winter reserve. But as I walked, subtly within there was softness, a knowing that the gesture was received and part of a new becoming.