(Joseph MacRae, September 22, 2021, Autumn Equinox, second day of Sukkot, feast day of The Hearer Icon of the Mother of God, of above Saint Gunthildis, and of Saint Basilia. Image from here.)
Things to Do When Taking a Hike
1. Show respect at nature’s door,
as the indigenous peoples have since antiquity,
2. looking up and thanking the Creator for creating our Earth Mother,
3. taking a small offering,
4. holding it up to the four winds,
5. asking a blessing and
permission of the people of the land
to enter, and to protect and
guide us along their paths.
6. Treasure herein lies. Any
gift you may receive,
a picture rock,
a talking stick,
a feather,
Upon returning,
make an offering of thanks
for a bountiful day.
*From prompt of crafting an advice poem: choosing a favorite activity/lesson, choosing six verbs and heading a sentence/point with each one, noting what lines stand out and fine-tuning for deeper sensory detail and use of metaphor/similie. From Daisy Barrett-Nash's Legacy Poetry, September 15 and 22, 2021.
