July 2013 Ritual: Rest at the Reflecting Pool
By Diann L. Neu
Rest your body in a comfortable place and relax.
Look into the water and calm yourself.
Come rest at the reflecting pool.
Blessed are you, Holy Wisdom,
for bringing rest to my body.
Blessed are you, Well of Stillness,
for surrounding me with calm.
When you are ready, dip your hands into the water.
Touch your forehead saying,
Bless me, Holy Wisdom, and bring rest to my body.
Touch your heart saying,
Bless my heart and rest my loving.
Touch your eyes saying,
Bless my eyes and rest my seeing.
Touch your ears saying,
Bless my ears and rest my hearing.
Touch your mouth saying,
Bless my mouth and rest my speaking.
Touch your breasts (or where your breasts used to be) saying,
Bless my breasts and rest my nurturing.
Touch your womb (or where your womb used to be) saying,
Bless my womb and rest my creating.
Touch your hands saying,
Bless my hands and rest my touching.
Touch your feet saying,
Bless my feet and rest my walking.
Take a deep breath and exhale saying,
Bless me, Holy Wisdom, and bring me rest.
Pause and enjoy your restful state for as long as you desire.
Think about how you incorporate times of pause into your daily and monthly schedule.
Imagine how you will take time to rest tomorrow.
Imagine how you will take time to rest this month.
Take time now to meditate, write in a journal, converse, draw, dance, or do something else that gives you pleasure.
You may pause this audio now, and press play when you are ready for the ritual’s closing.
Look into the water now, and calm yourself.
Give thanks for this time.
Go forth, refreshed from the reflecting pool.
Blessed are you, Holy Wisdom,
for bringing rest to my body.
Blessed are you, Well of Stillness,
for surrounding me with calm.
Drink from the water of your reflecting pool and/or pour it around your plants.
© Diann L. Neu, dneu@hers.com, cofounder and codirector of WATER, the Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual
www.waterwomensalliance.org
