New Moon Fire Celebration of Losar and Friends Making New
Sunday February 27th, 9:00 A.M. ET
Dear Friends of Sunray near and far,
You are invited to Sunray Meditation Society and New Moon Fire at the Peace Village on February 27, 2022 at 9:00 AM ET. We start with the Stick Dance to clear the space, then the Fires are lit.
All are Welcome to join by zoom or in person.
On this New Moon in February, we celebrate Losar, Tibetan New Year of the Black Water Tiger as well as the Friends Making New Celebration. The actual date of Losar is March 3.
Venerable Dhyani writes:
“As this new year of the Black Water Tiger unfolds, may the wisdom of skillful accomplishment be expressed in all activities. What is outgrown becomes compost for the garden’s new growth, and let us dedicate our thought, speech and action, through words of invitation that acknowledge our unity in the dance of life.
Rather than thinking about something, now is the time to get it done. May the dark waters reflect the clarity of the open sky of luminous awareness.
May this year of the Black Water Tiger be joyous, healthy and abundantly plentiful in good, healthy relationships for all.”
The Friends Making New is celebrated on the New Moon in February or early March. At this time the seeds are placed on the shrine with prayers of feeding many people. May these seeds and prayers quicken the seeds of wisdom in the hearts of many people alleviating suffering. The Friends Making New Crystal, dedicated solely to this celebration is unwrapped and brought to the Fire for the first rays of the sun. This crystal is returned to the Temple and is viewed by the community to sense what comes ahead in the year.
Forgiveness is a basic ritual of the Tsalagi (Cherokee) people. In the Celebration of Friends Making New, the Waters of Forgiveness practice is done. When conditions are favorable, we walk to the stream and when snow is too deep, we renew ourselves and friendships with this practice in the Sacred Arbor.
Venerable Dhyani writes in Voices of Our Ancestors,
“The forgiveness ritual is a practice that you can do at any time, outside at the water’s edge, indoors with a bowl of fresh water, or simply in your mind’s eye. See yourself by the water. Visualize yourself stepping forward, offering a prayer of thanks for the opportunity to renew yourself in good relationship.
Seven times throw the water over your shoulders. Feel it washing away all that obscures good friendship with your circle of friends and family.
I wash away ignorance,
I wash away doubt and fear and loneliness.
I let go of sorrow,
I turn aside anger.
I rejoice in the light of a new day.
Visualize a beam from your heart radiating rose light to touch the hearts of those with whom you have experienced miscommunication or discord;
see that rose light surrounding them and then returning to you, filling your heart.
As you step away from the water, yesterday’s wounds are healed.
Affirm a new day of clear relations.Let your voice sing out a song of joyous thanksgiving.”
For those afar, join us by connecting your shrine candle to the Home Fires, offering prayers, practices and corn meal for the benefit of all beings.. The Waters of Forgiveness can be done by the ocean, river, with a bowl of water or simply in your mind’s eye. After the Fires are lit, we do the following practices- Waters of Forgiveness, Dance, Basic Meditation, Star Weaving and Medicine Wheel Mandala.
Guided by Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo, we celebrate the traditions of the Green Mountain Ani Yun Wiwa as the gateway through which Ywahoo Lineage teachings are shared.
All are welcome to join at the Peace Village, following CDC guidelines or lighting the Fire on home shrines and joining in the practices.
Note To Our Zoom Friends:
Our camera will bring you into the Sacred Arbor on the New Moon Fires with a single stationary camera view of the Central Fire.
There will be no zoom moderator.
This change supports the sacred ground, Medicine and prayers within the Arbor, encouraging a practice of quiet focus for all.
The Basic Practices will be offered by the officiating Minister in the Arbor. Please join in by viewing the Fire and participating in your practices throughout transmission interruptions.
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 829 3892 1692
Passcode: Peace
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Join in-person at the Sunray Peace Village:
2202 Downingsville Road, Lincoln, Vermont
During these changing times when gatherings are reduced, the Ceremonial Cycle continues to be honored at the Sunray Peace Village. You are invited to join in at the Sunray Peace Village Sacred Fires, following CDC and Vermont’s Covid safety guidelines, or from your own home. By participating in person, you agree to follow all the Covid safety guidelines that are posted at the Sunray Peace Village.