This Monday January 15
**Due to snow conditions we will meet online tonight (originally scheduled for in person).
Dear friends,
This Monday evening we will share together the practice of Touching the Earth. It is a beautiful practice offered regularly in Plum Village centers around the world. The script of the touchings is below along with a short video of an introduction of Thich Nhat Hanh’s (Thay’s) on Touching the Earth.
This practice is about “emptying ourselves” as we bow down to touch the earth in order to make life possible in the present moment. We can begin to release ideas, stories, notions, anger, attachments, and the ideas that we and this world we know are permanent. When we touch the earth we can empty ourselves and surrender these ideas and any unwholesome qualities in us.
I love and relish in the Earth touchings and have much gratitude as I am reminded that I have the support of my ancestors, family, friends, teachers, sangha, the earth, and all who have walked and worked the lands in sharing their love, understanding, nourishment, caring and healing with me and all the world.
When I get stuck with my anger and resentment, I try to remember the touchings and I know that my difficult feelings will change, I can let my feelings go, nothing is permanent, and I have the support of many. I can bow down, surrender, accept change and live more deeply and fully.
In Thay’s video he says:
“When we touch the earth with our five limbs, we surrender to earth to our true nature and accept any form of life our true nature offers to us. And surrendering our pride, hope, and notions of impermanence and emptying ourselves completely - is the best way to get replenished. If you don’t breathe out and empty your lungs there is no way to breathe in there’s no way for the fresh air to come in. That is why to empty oneself is a very important practice.”
On Monday, we also invite you to bring something for our floor altar that is nourishing and peaceful to you. Our evening’s altar will sit in the center of our circle and celebrate those we love including family, friends, teachers, those that bring harmony and peace to the world. Please bring any nourishing items such as flowers, books, photographs, a piece of nature, or anything else that brings you joy and fond memories.
We will have an opportunity to look toward the altar while practicing the Earth touchings for healing and guidance to help us let go of unwholesome feelings and actions and live life more fully and deeply.
So I invite you to join Monday evening to let go, surrender, and find more joy and happiness as we continue on this path together.
In peace and love,
Camille
Please note while we will practice the touchings in person this week, they will also be offered online in our Wednesday morning sangha in March for those that would like to share in the practice but cannot make it in person. So please look for that in the near future.
The Earth Touchings (modified PV version by Stillwater and OHMC)