Sacred Earth, Sacred Words

Write a blessing for the month of April, the solar eclipse, your tender heart or the planet we share

Hey Friend,

Welcome to our Journey for the month of April. I’m grateful you’re here and excited to explore a new theme together.

The planet feels turbulent–the amount of suffering from war, migration, hunger, hatred and natural disasters is staggering.

And we each carry our personal suffering, what we’re here to heal. This lifetime journey of finding the lost or neglected parts of ourselves, getting to know our shadows…it can be lonely. Creativity helps.

Through Journey with the Seasons , we can spark our imaginations, connect to the outer landscape around us and our inner landscape (aka our soul).

April is a month of new beginnings–the month of earth rebirth. Easter has just passed, Ramadan is being celebrated through the next few days and Passover arrives later in the month. I read this week about how eggs play a symbolic role in all of those traditions–the egg as a symbol of new life, rebirth.

There’s a lot of positive energy building in North America about tomorrow’s solar eclipse. I live in a place where we’ll get a partial view and I’m planning to join a neighborhood festival to experience this rare astronomical moment in community.

Maybe the eclipse energy is a way we can come together in a divided time, in a divided world. Remember how small we are in a vast, vast universe. Not to feel inadequate or that life is meaningless–I think it’s the opposite.

These moments can help us to remember that we live in community, as part of this great cosmos, full of its mysteries.

We’re here, at this time, on this planet, we call earth. Let’s honor her this month with our intentions and our words.

---

Writing Practice: Set aside 5-7 minutes for this practice. Write in a journal or open a ‘Journey with The Season’ document where you can return each Sunday.

Prompt: Time to write our April intentions & prayers for the earth, the eclipse, for yourself & loved ones, for everything that comes to mind!

Begin with expressions of gratitude–notice and name all that’s supporting you as you enter this new month.

Write out hopes for yourself, for your loved ones, for the earth, for people across the world.

What do you yearn for this month? In your biggest dreams, how would the earth be cared for? What does your heart need as we enter this new month?

Some phrases to get you started:

I feel thankful for…

I dream that…

The earth needs…

May compassion come to…

Place your April prayer/intentions somewhere you’ll see it as you start your day. You could adorn it with drawings, doodles, photos of the landscape around you.

I’d love to read your expressions. Leave a comment here or try the messaging app.

---

Deepening Practice: If you typed your monthly intentions, try writing them out again by hand. Take markers, pens, watercolors or pastels and add some color to them. Highlight words that feel most important to you. Collage images around them. Place your April intentions somewhere you’ll see them regularly. Add to them through the month.

PS: Last week I shared writing about beautiful things. I had a very cool discovery moment of this mural. My son (who is transgender) discovered it in a neighborhood here in Philly just after Trans Day of Visibility. It inspired us!

Wishing you a week with beautiful moments, Gabrielle Ariella