DEAR MOTHER: GAYATRI-GAIA

An online vigil on Thursday 7 May 2020, 2100-0100 UTC (1700-2100 EDT).

Click here to find the equivalent times in your own time zone.

Reflecting upon the gifts and giving thanks for the Earth, Mother Gaia, and all of life that she embodies, is the focus for a vigil of holding out, for people of any faith tradition or none. Please join me at any time for as long as you wish to reflect, pray, meditate or simply bathe in the beautiful ministry of the Gayatri Mantra, welcoming and wishing light into the world ("Gayatri-Gaia"), and praying or offering an intention that the reduced pollution and greater connectedness with Nature that many of us are now feeling will continue as the world begins to wake up to a new way of being.

At a time of lockdown in many countries, many are noticing that Nature is reclaiming Her rightful place – night skies are becoming more visible, birdsong is filling previously noisy streets, the bright blossoms of Spring seem to be more vibrant than ever. This is a time when so many of us feel a need to be grounded, and planting our roots in Gaia's beauty is a sure way to find this.

The vigil will be on my Facebook page between 2100 UTC (Universal/Greenwich time) on 7 May 2020 and 0100 UTC 8 January 2021. I, and at any time, potentially others, plan to be meditating, receiving, and holding space during this time. Hence, excepting possibly very short breaks, you’ll know that you’re not alone when you join the meditation. If you're not connected to me on Facebook, email me for a Facebook join invitation.

What is the Gaytra Mantra?

The Gayatri Mantra is one of the best known and most sacred of mantras found in the Hindu Vedas. It is an adoration and prayer to The Divine, The Source from which everything is birthed and returns. Gayatri is the Mother of all, present in our every breath.

The Mantra, transliterated from the Sanskrit Scripture reads:

One approximate English translation, offered by Sathya Sai International Organisation (https://www.sathyasai.org/gayatri), is:

I believe that the mantra transcends all faith traditions and none. It is said to have been much admired by The Buddha. Its personification of God, "All That Is," or The Divine as light coming into the world, resonates in Christianity and many other faiths. Its geomantic associations with the energy or essence of life remind us that our planet, Gaia, is an intelligent, living, self-regulating manifestation of beauty and power. The desire for enlightenment and a fulfilled, purposeful and actualized life is surely the ultimate wish of anyone, whether they subscribe to a particular faith tradition or not?

The mantra will play on my Facebook page between 2100 UTC (Universal/Greenwich time) on 7 May 2020 and 0100 UTC 8 January 2021. I, and at any time, potentially others, plan to be meditating, receiving, and holding space during this time. Hence, excepting possibly very short breaks, you’ll know that you’re not alone when you join the meditation. If you're not connected to me on Facebook, email me for a Facebook join invitation.

Who or what is Gaia?

For the Greeks, Gaia was the first Mother of all life, a primordial deity, the personification of Earth. Today, we think of Gaia, our Earth, as being a single living, intelligent organism that regulates the conditions for all life.

Why Gayatri-Gaia?

The naming of this meditation is simply intended to remind us that the Earth’s Source of power is divine. The light meeting the Earth might be equated with our total dependence on the Sun’s energy for sustaining life. Yet more deeply, it refers to the divine breath that creates and enables all life. Gaia is the home, or Great Mother, that births all life possibilities on Earth.

Light represents hope, promise, guidance, insight. It shines in dark places, overcoming adversity, inspiring wonder. Its brilliance consumes and transforms. It shows the way, makes clear the pathway ahead. It gives us perfect, "20/20" vision. So appropriate for the year that we are within!

What will happen during the vigil?

When you join the vigil, you will see a series of images playing on the screen, along with a beautiful chanting of the Gayatri Mantra.

This isn’t a guided meditation, but rather a peaceful space where people who want to welcome and give thanks for our Earth can be together at a heart level. This is a vigil about connecting with the positive intention of the meditation, and receiving comfort and inspiration.

Please join at any time, for as many times, and for as long as you like during the 4 hours.

If you wish, you will be able to share anything that comes to you as a Fcaebook comment. I dont expect to monitor comments, as I will be meditating myself.

At the end of the vigil, the mantra will simply come to a gentle close, and the call will end.

The mantra used during the call is sampled from a wonderful YouTube video, ‘Deva Premal Gayatri Mantra 2 hours’, hosted by the Ganesha channel (https://youtu.be/UlnHON3tAXo).

What to do during the vigil

There are no "right ways" for taking part. I suggest, if you can, joining for at least 15 minutes, which is usually a good time for breaking from the stresses of the day and allowing yourself to be still for a time. When you leave, you may want to come away slowly, becoming aware of where you are, and not immediately rushing into another activity.

You may wish to close your eyes during the meditation, and try to avoid too much time staring at the screen. You may want to restrict eating and drinking to taking only water. Have a blanket to hand if you feel cold. Otherwise, just be still and simply breathe.

I suggest that you might like to devote at least some time for yourself during the meditation, if not all–to be "bathed" or ministered to, touched if you will, by the mantra, and feel held by others who may be on the call. Where do you most want light to shine in the days and months ahead? Where might you need healing? What gifts from The Divine or from Mother Gaia do you seek? What illumination might help or guide you? You may wish to hold open such questions, or simply try as best to just "be", enjoying the moment, without busy thoughts, or feeling a need to do, think, or say anything. Receiving blessings for yourself is important, since unless you are well rooted yourself, it's difficult to be a blessing to others. So, don't be shy about asking to receive blessings for yourself!

You may also be inspired to pray or wish good intent for others–for loved ones and others known to you, and those who you don’t know. Perhaps you may be led to consider healing on Earth, for blessings, protection and edification of wildlife, the seas, land, rocks, sky, and all creation. Perhaps you will focus on where healing is most needed, in specific countries, communities, where there is tribal or toxic political or humanitarian dis-ease, or among warring groups of people.

Generally, though, just allow the mantra to take you within. Chant with it, if you wish, or just allow the voices of others to vibrate within you. When your mind distracts and you become aware of the distraction, simply come back to the mantra.

Longer meditation

If you plan to join me in meditating over a longer period of several hours or more, be careful to take rests between periods of "going deep", especially if like me, you're more familiar with shorter meditations. Take special care to come out of the meditation gently, to avoid being disturbed by the busyness of normality. Much can come up during a deep meditation, and you can find yourself going very deep. Yet this is also where we can most learn, be transformed, and renewed.

If you want to share anything that arises for you with another person after your meditation, I will be available to listen and share on a one-to-one basis in spiritual holding a little later in the week (I expect to need sleep immediately after the meditation, except if your need to talk is an emergency). Simply email or message me after the meditation if you'd like to talk.

What if there are technology problems?

Excepting a failure of the Internet/break in the mantra playing at my end, I won’t be able to monitor the sessions or offer technical support, as I’ll be joining in the vigil myself. If you have difficulty connecting, you may wish to check your Internet or try again. If you don't hear the mantra, check that the volume on your device is switched up.

I will endeavour to resolve any technical problems at my end as soon as possible. If these occur, simply check back later (it may be that I've had to start a new stream/video post on my Facebook timeline). I don't plan to record the video, so any comments shared will be deleted after the vigil ends. Please don't be offended if I don't see anything you comment and give a friendly "like"!