Soon we will be breaking ground for our farmhouse in Upstate New York. I am looking for ways to give thanks and ask for blessings from the Mother Earth, Nature and the beings who live there.

-- Laura Lee Daisy Wyman (leedaisyw@cs.com), June 22, 2001

Answers

A great way to start would be by giving honor and praise to the One Who created the Earth, Who established the laws of nature, and Who holds all beings and creatures who inhabit the earth in the palm of His hand.

-- Skip Walton (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), June 22, 2001.

Laura, You can do the following at sunrise and good things will come. raising your right hand and facing east say the following 'O Great Creator, today is the day I put up my home. I will leave it to the care of Mother Earth and her four winds,Give us hearts to understand that to callously pollute her fragrance is to make a house of stench,that as we care for her she will care for us. I ask that you bless those who will pass though our doors and for my relations in Nature,all those who walk,crawl,fly, and swim,seen and unseen and may there be good health and healing for this Earth.

-- TomK (tjk@cac.net), June 22, 2001.

where abouts in upstate ?

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), June 22, 2001.

Congratulations Laura!

The new home is going to be really exciting for You and Your family! And it's cool You want to honor the groundbreaking, too.

Traditionally Native Americans offer tobacco anytime they harvest or take anything from Nature. There are various reasons for smoking and using tobacco ceremoniously, but the main idea is the meditations / prayers rising to the Great Spirit and keeping in mind the sacred and interconnectedness of Life. Many Nations also use sweet grass and sage to purify gifts, articles and people. A smudge stick is made by binding the grass or sage together and then lighting the end. The smoke is then allowed to 'wash over' whatever is being purified.

Some Celtic peoples would use evergreen boughs affixed to the main roof beam as a blessing on the new home. This would sometimes be left exposed on the very end of the beam, or be brought inside when the house was finished and used to kindle the first hearth fire.

I think what feels 'right' to You would be the best guide. It's the meaning we imbue ceremony with that gives it power. The ceremony itself is kind of inconsequential. What moves You or has special meaning? What causes You to be reverent, joyful and feel part of the Circle of Life? Follow that and Your groundbreaking ceremony will be what You are seeking!

Be blessed!

Randle

-- Randle Gay (rangay@hotmail.com), June 23, 2001.

I think the best way to give thanks for what you have received is to honor the land you have aquired, by the way you set up and manage your farm. Being good stewards of the land, giving back to Mother Nature by feeding Her land through composting, mulching etc, not just chemicals. Allowing Her animals to consume part of your harvest, not fencing them out, and allowing Mother Nature to take it course, no matter how difficult it may be for you to stand by and watch, because that's all you can do, she's stronger than we are.

The running joke around our place is "the first two rows of an orchard are for the animals, both two-legged and four-legged."

Enjoy you new surroundings.

-- jennifer (schwabauer@aol.com), June 23, 2001.

Laura - I am Native American and agree with Randle. May our Creator bless you with much happiness.

-- jeanne (jat@ncis.net), June 23, 2001.

Congrats, and Bright Blessings :)

-- Brendan K Callahan (sleeping@netins.net), June 24, 2001.

Howdy from the southwest, Laura Lee Daisy. I have good luck with just lighting a little sage smudge and walking around the perimeter, washing everything in the smoke. Once you build your house, you can do it on the inside, too. Whatever feels good to you. 'You get what you concentrate on, there is no other rule.' Happy trails, blessed be to thee & thine! dh in nm

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), June 25, 2001.

Something my pastor tells us to do, is to anoint the land and house with holy oil. Plead the blood of Jesus over it, and ask forgiveness for any crimes or hatred spirits that may have been left by any previous owners.

-- Russell Hays (rhays@sstelco.com), June 25, 2001.

The real way to be blessed is to be in right relationship with the Creator of all things ... Jesus Christ! If you haven't asked His forgiveness for your sins, and asked Him to be your Lord, then you are missing the greatest blessing of all.

Do you REALLY want to see what He can do? Right before your eyes? Order this video and watch it ... you will be amazed. The last segment shows the blessings of God on a small farming community that gave their lives over to Him.... absolutely amazing. Take close look at the size of the veggies they grew!!!

http://www.sentinelgroup.org/resources/itempg.cfm?itemid=11

I have watched this video at least 4 times, and continue to be amazed.

Dave

-- Dave (peasedj@sparc.isl.net), June 25, 2001.

I use sage bundles and walk the perimeter of the developed areas, and while walking mentally or verbally talk to the trees, rocks, vegetation,animals and whoever else is around explaining what I would like to do with the property and ask for their blessing and participation in my success.

I was taught that when taking from the land to always return a small measure as a gift. SO... on rock hunts on the gravel bars I leave a small gift, on newly plowed soil I leave a portion for the use of "critters". During the growing season and harvest I leave two bowls out of "bounty" (honey/milk/etc, and grain/fruit/vegs) in an area I designated "sacred space" for the spirits of the land.

Honor the land not just at the moving in stage but all through your visit there. You are the custodian and it will feed and nourish you and your family. The methods used should be ones that you are comfortable with - be it sage, sweetgrass, holy water, temple incense, prayers, incantations, music, laughter, candles, staffs, crystals, wands or just your mind. What counts is that you respect and revere the land you are using. Blessings-Mary

-- Mary (sageladyone@yahoo.com), June 26, 2001.

I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to all of you who responded to my message. In order to afford our dream farm we are living in the middle of NJ where the #1 goal is to have more toys than your neighbor and the rest of the world be damned. Everyone thinks we are nuts to even think about living in the "country". They even look at me like I am an eccentric because I have a garden!!!!! It is my issue of Countryside and people like you that keep my sanity. Im NOT the crazy one!!! Thank you and thank you Countryside for the gift in my mailbox just when I think the whole world has lost it's mind. From the heart. Laura Lee Daisy

-- Laura Lee Daisy Wyman (leedaisyw@cs.com), July 06, 2001.