THE CALL TO SACRED GROUND
The rumblings have been in the wind for some time. For some it is a chance to simply meet together somewhere in nature and be quiet together. For others it is a chance to sing joyously together where everyone has a voice. Some want to listen to the land and be counciled by her wisdom. Others need a safe place to tell each other their fears about the coming times and have the solace that can come from empathic and friendly souls. Others want a chance to openly adore nature and her gifts. Others feel the road to paradise is paved with sustainable works. Others want a church that offers a new level of being, a place to breathe together, and a place where the talking heads give it a rest. Others want a place where we can hold the light high for our environmental champions. Others want short stories of peoples green victories in first person style. Others want to leave the problem focus for a change and enjoy the breath of heartening ideas. Others say lets not make it a drill but more of a seasonal excursion …say once a month. Others say the Hawaiians had a way of talking about their kinship with nature when they called themselves the Maka Aina (the eyes of the land)… it was an integral and caring roll that brought much life to the world.
Words have been mentioned like: The Cathedral of Coming home. The chapel of the greenstream. Sacred Ground Kohala. The Kama Aina of Kohala Mountain.
From the world at large there are new social inventions relating to such a concept and they are: Thirty minutes of meditation in nature with serene music for a beginning.
Call and response singing by all with an up pace and joyful ring where choral overlays are ascending. A sacred dance or trance dance time where global music is played but no conversations are invited. Fireside picnic meals where convivial conversations bond the tribe for longer exchanges. Ole where natural floral arrangements, seeds, and starts are called forth in Hawaiian to the altarplace ( later people take home the starts and seeds as invited). The introduction of new community players. A camp in space for those who come from the other parts of the island over night. Spiritual counselors from many traditions in booths or small tents during a day long gathering. Ancient land practices.
A wandering group with offerings for the land (like in Bali where they carry offerings to older trees on their birthdays). Plus a short description of the property by the host and tours for the very interested at a later time.
This idea began brewing in my head eight years ago when I realized we newcomers didn’t really have a way to celebrate our very diverse spiritual practices and our very deeply held beliefs about coming so far to be in nature in a profound new way. First, I thought of a spiritual country club ( but it was just a place holder for a bigger idea)…I liked it because it wasn’t stuffy or righteous …it included play … it was in nature and yet….! It needed more seasoning. This last Suka gathering there was a ground swell of interest in many of the ideas about how we bring our reverence to the land and our sustainable future into the most joyful new kind of social invention. I am calling the social invention SACRED GROUND at the this point and it is a monthly outdoor celebration of nature by the Kama Aina community that is held in many different
places that have pioneered certain sustainable living practices so people can learn by immersion. What others may call it is fine with me.
I now bring this idea in the combination discussed to the community as first offering. It will be held Sunday September 20th from 2-6 PM. For those interested from 7-11 PM PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME THIS IS A CEREMONIAL ACTIVITY NOT A FESTIVAL.
I will be having my 70th birthday at the Bamboo following the daytime event. We will have a rock and roll band, some punch for the thirsty (BYOB), and a few moments to roast the host. Those interested in producing a portions of the days activities pls give me a call at 889-0223. Mahalo nui. Uncle Jim
