Simple, Elaborate, Small and Large Ways
to Gather Community Together
Call a community circle to sing, chant blessings, adorn, nourish, draw in the children, dig into the earth and plant new life, breathe in the sacred, exhale bounteous gratitude, walk in silence, dance in celebration and break bread.
All in celebration of our trees.
All in celebration of our trees.
To Prepare:
* Spread the word
invite friends, family, community members and request they bring guests
reach out to your local Arbor Day group, Earth Day group, local environmental organizations, Treesisters Grove, schools
* Include the children. They love these gatherings and help engage the adults
* Contact your local Arbor Day organization, local garden stores and learn if they can supply saplings for a give-away or onsite planting
* Plan for a potluck or refreshments for afterwards
* Designate someone to take pictures to share…we’d love to see them
* Print copies of For A Tree Ceremony Guide
* Select your ceremonial tree
On the day of the ceremony:
Options:
Create an altar at the base of your tree with offerings of flowers, fruits, incense, sage
Make available
rattles, bells
A print-out of the Tree Blessing
Place water bowls in a circle around the tree…enough for each participant
· create a threshold of crossing into the ceremonial space
stones, leaves, shells, fabric placed on the ground to be stepped over
decorated poles inserted in the earth to be passed through.
Process to the tree in silence, evoking sacred intention.
· At the threshold as each participant crosses--
ring a bell
shake a rattle
burn sage
offer them a ribbon to tie around the tree
Form a circle around the tree
When everybody is in place
Take your time to feel into the earth, breathing deeply
Start to rattle, or ring your bells
Chant or sing
Holding the water bowl, with your attention focused on your beloved tree,
repeat the Blessing 3 times in unison
Each participant comes forward one at a time and pours their water onto the base of the tree
Invite the participants to offer their own personal prayers and blessings whilst standing in front of the tree
When everybody has offered their blessed water, invite the participants to tie their ribbons around the tree and circle the tree
· Take all the time you need, and feel into call of your heart and the rhythm of your group and
gathering space
Create an altar at the base of your tree with offerings of flowers, fruits, incense, sage
Make available
rattles, bells
A print-out of the Tree Blessing
Place water bowls in a circle around the tree…enough for each participant
· create a threshold of crossing into the ceremonial space
stones, leaves, shells, fabric placed on the ground to be stepped over
decorated poles inserted in the earth to be passed through.
Process to the tree in silence, evoking sacred intention.
· At the threshold as each participant crosses--
ring a bell
shake a rattle
burn sage
offer them a ribbon to tie around the tree
Form a circle around the tree
When everybody is in place
Take your time to feel into the earth, breathing deeply
Start to rattle, or ring your bells
Chant or sing
Holding the water bowl, with your attention focused on your beloved tree,
repeat the Blessing 3 times in unison
Each participant comes forward one at a time and pours their water onto the base of the tree
Invite the participants to offer their own personal prayers and blessings whilst standing in front of the tree
When everybody has offered their blessed water, invite the participants to tie their ribbons around the tree and circle the tree
· Take all the time you need, and feel into call of your heart and the rhythm of your group and
gathering space
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