A Standing Prayer for the Earth
In honor of Earth Day, I wrote a prayer. Please feel free to use it!
Dear Friends,
I wrote a prayer today while standing knee deep in a cold and crystal-clear stream in the Hudson Valley. The sun shone so brilliantly, I removed my sweater, then my shirt, and stood there in my bra, basking. Feeling everything—the hot and cold, my laziness and the movement of the water, the silence and the call of the crows in the trees nearby. It was glorious. I felt truly blessed. So blessed, I began to pray aloud. I offer a version of the prayer here as an inspiration or fortification.
I call this a standing prayer because it felt important to stand tall; bearing witness to the glory of this Mother Earth. Sometimes I kneel when I pray, often I sit, every once in a while, I fully prostrate myself on the ground. But today, I felt called to stand…the way we stand when a judge enters the courtroom, when we sing the National Anthem, for certain hymns at church, when the performance is so magnificent it deserves a standing ovation. I guess it’s a sign of reverence and respect.
My suggestion is to find a magical place where you live—a beautiful paradise, a thriving ecosystem—and say this standing prayer out loud. BUT, don’t just “say” it, “feel and DO” it. Personalize it! Riff! Jam! Cut loose! The place can be small or big, wild or cultivated. You’ll know it when you feel it.
Have fun. Happy Earth Day Every Day.
A Standing Prayer for the Earth Schuyler Brown 4.22.25 I receive the health of this ecosystem. I receive the health of this ecosystem. I receive the health of this ecosystem. I receive the health, balance and harmony of this ecosystem into my body. By receiving it, I amplify the health of this ecosystem. I recognize that I am an integral part of the whole. I recognize that I play a role in the health of this ecosystem. I receive the peace of this ecosystem. I receive the peace of this ecosystem. I receive the peace of this ecosystem. I receive the peace and passion of this ecosystem. I appreciate the wisdom in this peace. I receive with gratitude the gifts, the vitality, of this ecosystem. My heart is open. My health is a reflection of the health of the ecosystem. My health is a reflection of the health of the ecosystem. My health is a reflection of the health of the ecosystem. I receive the health of this ecosystem into my body, into my skin, into my eyes, into my ears, into my blood, into my bones, into my heart, into my ovaries, into my belly, into my mind... (Name the places you need healing. And feel yourself receiving healing there.) I receive the health and harmony of this field and river with all its thriving life forms into my body. I receive…(Name the beings present in your awareness, bless each one.) birds plants trees bugs rocks sun fish… I celebrate the aliveness in my body! I celebrate the aliveness in my body! I celebrate the aliveness in my body! I share the aliveness in my spirit through my gifts. I offer my heart I offer my art I offer my service to this ecosystem And I recognize everything I have and everything I AM is because this IS. I receive the healing of this ecosystem fully so that I may transmit this into the world. Through smiles, through peace and harmony, generosity, patience, Love, Joy... I realize this moment is precious. I realize this life is precious. I realize this ecosystem is precious. I realize this earth is precious. Thank you Mother. Thank you Father. Thank you Earth. Thank you water, fire, air, and space.
Beautiful!