Spring Gratitudes

While out riding my bike last weekend in the early morning sun, I was suddenly overcome by the beauty of spring, and then flooded with gratitude for our Mother Earth---and the spring cycles of rebirth and resurrection---which feeds our souls. So, here is a poem from Gary Snyder which celebrates Mother Earth.

PRAYER FOR THE GREAT FAMILY
Gratitude to Mother Earth, sailing through night and day---
and to her soil: rich, rare, and sweet
in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to the Plants, the sun-facing light-changing leaf
and fine root-hairs; standing still through wind
and rain; their dance is in the flowing spiral grain
in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Air, bearing the soaring Swift and the silent
Owl at dawn. Breath of our song
clear spirit breeze
in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to the Wild Beings, our brothers, teaching secrets,
freedoms, and ways; who share with us their milk;
self-complete, brave, and aware
in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Water: clouds, lakes, rivers, glaciers;
holding and releasing; streaming through all
our bodies salty seas
in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to the Sun: blinding pulsing light through
trunks of trees, through mists, warming caves where
bears and snakes sleep--he who wakes us--
in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to the Great Sky
who holds billions of stars--and goes beyond that--
beyond all powers, and thoughts
and yet is within us--
Grandfather space,
The Mind is his Wife.
so be it.

after a Mohawk Prayer





This is my Perpetual Calendar--which celebrates the seasons and "the Great Family" of Earth. The outer layer (with the months) turns, so the viewer may choose which animal to place at each month of the year. I used archival museum board, pen and ink, watercolors, gouache, and prisma colored pencils to create this calendar.