Gratitude to Air

We give thanks to Air, the breath of life that flows through our lungs at every moment, carrying the oxygen-rich gift of the Plant Beings. We give thanks to the Winds, breath of our Earth Mother, that stir the trees and the oceans and the clouds, lifting birds and carrying pollen, dust, rain, freshness and inspiration.

We offer gratitude for flower-fragrant breezes, forest-scented winds, ocean-smelling winds, winds from snow-capped mountains. The wind that tangles our hair and cools our faces. We give thanks to the great currents of air that swirl and circle our world, giving us seasons, changing the weather, stirring up trouble, stirring awareness and hope and action.

We recognize with deep sobriety the extent to which we humans have altered the nature of our Air and thus our Earth’s atmosphere and climate. For this we ask forgiveness of Air and of all the beings who breathe her. We ask Air to clear our vision, so we may see the way forward.

We have been buffeted into awareness by massive weather shifts, and we’ve been guided and warned by the women and men of science who have drawn for us the lines of connection between our actions and climate change. May we accept this awareness with gratitude and give our full attention to those who are leading the way back toward sanity and balance. May we meet all the weather changes with courage and love and compassion for all the beings who suffer from them. May we steer a wise course toward changing our ways so we are part of restoring the balance, in the Air and in our world. May we find guidance from all of our elders: the trees and plants, the insects and animals, the clouds and rocks and waters who all are joining us in every moment in praise for the gifts of Air.