Act of Beauty: We brought gifts to our neglected Grandmother Spring, and sang her a song. Then we poured a bucket of water from the Rio Grande into the spring so she could purify it. Then, as the setting sun reflected on Tsi Mayoh mountain, we carried a bucket of water from the spring, and a little of the water from the Rio Grande, to the Santa Cruz River nearby, which is barely flowing because of the drought. We made our RadJoy bird there and prayed, and sprinkled the bird with water, and offered the rest of the water to the river. Then we carried a bit of the river water back up to the spring. We also decorated the spring with banners and prayer flags we had brought with us. Notes about the Experience (What participants said, what they experienced, any difference you noticed about the place at the end of your Earth Exchange, reactions, etc.):

First, all of our original plans fell through! We had planned to participate in the Rio Grande ceremony near Santa Fe, but it was impossible. So many of us are so sick! I think we are feeling the suffering of the Earth.

So we kept changing and adapting, which is what we are all going to have to start doing. We were exactly three women, and there were exactly three men at the Rio Grande. I think it all happened exactly as it was supposed to.

We were stunned at first by how low the river was—mostly rocks, with little pools, and a lot of debris. But we listened and heard her voice, still singing, however faint. As we created our RadJoy bird, our hearts began to sing with her, and by the time we left, we felt joy! And as we walked up from the river, we saw the glorious moon rising over the dam! It was so lovely, And the Grandmother Spring was so happy! She was laughing with us. What an incredibly joyous event. Radical joy: yes. We will return and take photos of the lovely banners, and send that photo, too.