The GiveAway and Spirit Bundles
Stones Rising 2004
Service, willingly stepping into a
place of giving, offering of ones energy and time in a reciprocal exchange with Spirit,
understanding that this is necessary to the process of transformation.
Ceremony, fully engaged in the rites and
responsibilities of conscious change. The people gathered in Purposeful Community, Working
Traditions, making Real Magic.
Celebration, of libation made, traditions honored and
gifts received. For the Great-grand children of those whose Great-grand parents have yet
to be born. The Seventh Generation.
Service, Ceremony,
Celebration. Wherever you look to indigenous ceremony, in any part of the
world, these concepts form the foundation of magical practice. Those peoples that have
preserved their ceremonial traditions unbroken, understand that our relationship with
Spirit must be a reciprocal exchange of energy.
That what we can receive into our lives is in proportion to the living energy that we have
to offer. That this offering constitutes our sacrifice of ourselves and our service to our
people. And that when we make these offerings and ceremony within our tribe, we can truly
create magic, and change. That we become transformed. And it is this process, of libation
poured, of service and of ceremony, that allows us to genuinely celebrate each other, our
work and the gifts of Spirit we receive.
The Spirit Bundles
The Stones Eve Vigils
at Stones Rising are an honored part of our traditions. This year during the Full Moon
Service of the Stone Peoples Intensive; three Spirit Bundles will have been created and
placed in repose upon the North Altar. For Family, for Tribe and for the World. These
three Spirit Bundles will join The Land Bundle upon The North Altar for each of the major
ceremonials of Stones Rising; and we invite you, during a quiet moment, to make their
acquaintance. From the materials in your Medicine Bag, or anything else that has meaning
to you, feel free to add a small item to these three bundles and charge them with your
intent.
These three bundles will then be presented to our
Vigil Keepers Saturday evening and and will remain with them through the long night
of their vigil; to be returned by them to The Stone Circle Sunday morning for the Rising.
The Bundles will then form the final part of our Closing Ceremony Monday Morning, as will
the Land Bundle.
The GiveAway
The GiveAway takes many forms, in fact almost
everything that occurs at Stones Rising is some form of GiveAway. Our ceremonial teams who
come long distances to offer ceremony for the people and the Standing Stones. Our staff,
who work long demanding hours, and even pay for the privilege. And of course the people
who register and attend Stones Rising, who make their own commitments of Service and
see them through. Last year The Church made its giveaway of free and reduced registrations
and five free feasts at Stones.
And the best example of the effect of the GiveAway is
Four Quarters itself and the incredible progress that has been made in creating a self
sustaining Sanctuary of Earth Religion. One GiveAway at a time.
Over the years, many people have made giveaway in the
form of cash donations for The Land, in fact it was this form of giveaway that made the
first purchase of church owned property possible in 1999. Since then almost one-half of
The Land of Four Quarters has in this way been put into the perpetual safekeeping of an
EarthReligious NonProfit. A process for which we have a very important announcement to
make at our Closing Ceremony for this year's Rising.
Through
your giveaway bundle and donations at this years Stones Rising; to be placed in the Land
Bundle on The North Altar of The Great Stone Circle; we hope to continue this tradition of
reciprocal giving and perpetual safe keeping of all of The Land.
In a very special and important way, your GiveAway to
The Land this year could make it possible. Reciprocity in action.
The GiveAway
Please note:
Inside your Stones Rising medicine bag you will
find fabric, herbs, string, pledge cards and more; all to allow you to create your own
giveaway bundle to be placed within The Land Bundle that will be on the North Altar
throughout Stones Rising. We hope that this year, of all years, you will find it possible
to make a substantial gift or monthly pledge in support of The Land. Just five dollars a
month will make a real difference. And what is the reciprocity of your Giveaway?
Join us in Closing Circle Monday morning.
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