Gaia: the Creation of Life on Earth.
Before Time was, before Space was, Nothingness flamed forth into
Being--particles, light, energy, heat, swirling and spiraling and
transforming into matter and anti-matter, existence and annihilation.
Matter condensed in the dark curve of space, galaxies and stars formed. From the blazing supernova collapse of a great star emerged
the solar cloud which gave birth to our Sun, and from the Sun were
born the planets, including Gaia, our Earth. Fiery in her birth, over
eons upon eons Gaia cooled, and on her surface roiled the primordial
sea, a soup of creative energy from which life was born. Over eons
upon eons, Gaia nurtured life as it changed and experimented,
flourished and evolved, responding to challenge after challenge with
cooperation, creativity, and diversity.
The story of Gaia, the Earth, sacred mother of all life, has been
imagined and told in many cultures. Now, when the threats to the web
of life take so many forms, we listen to the story that science tells
us of how life came to be, how it can be nurtured. We look for the
patterns that sustain the web and keep life in balance. We seek
practical tools, skills and wisdom, to inspire our work and sustain
our magic in service to the Earth.
Our theme for this year, which guided the selection of a story, is...
Priestessing the Earth
Once upon a time, a small planet gave birth to itself, creating oceans and land masses, flora and fauna and began to revolve around a great shining star.
Once upon a time, humans lived more harmoniously with this planet, nurtured relationships with the seen and unseen, and knew the names of the beings around us.
Once upon a time, we realized that the health of the land facilitated our sustenance.
Once upon a time, we knew that our borrowed bones sprang from the same soil as the plants around us.
Once upon a time, the word 'home' had more meaning to us than arbitrary numbers and names of asphalt streets.
Here and now, we gather to re-vision this story, to re-member our place in the web of life, and to renew our vows as guardians of earth.
