Prayer Vigil for the Earth
An Invitation For A Deeper Spiritual Context
Original in 1998. Edited for Prayer Vigil Book, 2020
Background
The following is a description of the organizers' deeper spiritual intent and context for the annual Prayer Vigil for the Earth. For the first six years, these deeper purposes were held privately. In 1998 David Miller of the Nathan Cummings Foundation encouraged us to speak openly of our spiritual goals and to Barbara Valocore of the Lifebridge Foundation simultaneously requested a description of the heart or essence of our work. These two invitations provided the impetus for us to share the deeper spiritual context of what we were doing, why we were doing it, and when and how our success may be evaluated. We express gratitude for their suggestions.
A Calling
In 1993 a spiritual calling to create an event in Washington, DC emerged in the minds and hearts of three individuals. This calling received the blessings of Harry F. Byrd (Lakota), Grace Smith Yelowhammer (Dine) and Thomas Banyacya (Hopi.) By 1997, the original group of collaborators had expanded, hundreds of volunteers had offered their services, and many organizations were providing in-kind donations. At the urging of Lakota elder Harry F. Bryd, the Prayer Vigil went from a primarily Indigenous Wisdom Keepers event (1993-1996) to a multi-cultural and multi-faith event offered freely by volunteers to the public from1997 – 2012. During some years, accompanying events occurred within the USA and up to twelve different countries. In keeping with the organizers' spiritual belief in the power of people gathered in sacred ceremony across the centuries and the capacity for such ceremonies to make enduring impacts on consciousness, the Prayer Vigil for the Earth was held every fall for 20 years to plant life-affirming seeds for present and future generations. Important background for understanding the spiritual nature of the event was provided by three considerations: (A) the setting for the original annual event, (B) the sacred structure for housing people and activities, and (C) the social-spiritual architecture necessary to nurture the seeds.
The Setting
The
Mall in Washington, DC, in particular the center of the Mall near the
Washington Monument, is an appropriate setting because:
- the location symbolizes a successful people's democracy, (2) Washington, DC is a powerful city on the Earth at this time,
- Washington, DC is a powerful city on the Earth at this time,
- the deeper values of the site reflect the core values of the Constitution as well as other democratic systems indigenous to this land, e.g. the Iroquois Great Law of Peace,
- the site calls out for healing a city and a nation whose political functions are in need of renewal and transformation, and
- mystical and Masonic literature indicate that an obelisk, such as the Washington Monument, symbolizes masculine power and broadcasts information and energy.
From 2003 – 2005 the Washington Monument site was closed for construction so the Vigil moved to West Potomac Park. The site, a beautiful setting near the Potomac River, was conducive to meditation and prayer. It enhanced our ability to take the core values of the Vigil and incorporate them into our hearts. In 2006 we returned to the Washington Monument site and brought prayerful focus back to the heart of Washington DC.
The Sacred Structure
Recognizing that the Prayer Vigil would be a living, virtual structure rather than an enduring physical one, organizers followed the elders’ advice and chose the Sacred Hoop or Circle and Sacred Fire as foundational structures. The Circle, symbolic of the Earth's shape, is ideal because it provides a container for all life and everyone enters as equals. The first four years the Sacred Circle was demarcated by erecting tipis along its perimeter. After the Vigil became a multi-faith, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural event in 1997, Christian altars, African ancestral altars, a Jewish Sukkah, a Tibetan Stupa and tent, Hindu based-spiritual canopies, an international labyrinth, and other structures or ceremonial offerings joined the tipis along the perimeter. With colorful ribbons flying from the tops of tipis, Tibetan Buddhist flags, and Shinto-based Shumei children’s Peace Prayer Flags encircling the lower Hoop, the Earth Peace Village (as it came to be known) invited tourist and others to walk through the gate and join our event. Once inside they learned of tipis dedicated to Children’s Activities, Talking Circles, Healing, and Silent prayer.
Sacred Fire 
Blessed in advance by Wisdom Keepers, a Sacred Fire burned in the center of the Sacred Hoop for the Vigil’s entire thirty-three hours or more. This central fire symbolized the molten fire in the center of the Earth, transformation of matter into energy, power, and purification. All people were invited to follow the Native American prayer tradition of holding sacred tobacco while praying and then offering the tobacco to the Sacred Fire. The smoke carries people’s prayers to the Creator. The circular Earth Peace Village and its central fire encouraged people to celebrate the richness of their diverse heritages and traditions.
Sacred Circle
In addition to these reasons, the sacred circle, a feminine power symbol, provided balance for the masculine obelisk and energetically invited feminine values such as home, family, relationships, and community to be active and present. It is the organizing committee's deepest prayer that this annual joining of masculine and feminine energy within the context of many spiritual metaphors and teachings (1) planted healthy seeds for generations to come and (2) helped consecrated the land, the Earth, as sacred. (The home page of our website, https://www.prayervigilforearth.org has the 2006 Prayer Vigil song, This Ground is Holy Ground, whose lyrics are based on guest elders’ wise sharing andco-created by Larry Long and Vigil children.)
The Social-Spiritual Architecture
With the setting and sacred structure established, attention was focused on the social-spiritual architecture required to grow today's participants and to provide maximum nourishment for tomorrow's seed. The cornerstones of this effort were to:
- Remain a grass roots volunteer event. Elders taught that the number of people attending was not relevant. The key factor was the participants’ purity of heart.
- Provide a safe container for individuals to enter in order to heal, renew their spiritual life, practice curiosity and tolerance for others, experience belonging within the context of differences, and celebrate life together.
- Model that formal programming on the microphone would occur in the context of children’s play and laughter, the hum of people talking, the actions of people coming to the fire to pray, and other simultaneous human activity.
- Foster an experience of peace with self, peace with others, and peace with nature. All were welcome to proceed at their own pace and create their own journey. Most delighted in participating in each other’s ceremonies, dances, or traditions that were often only shared with fellow members.
It was common for participants observing how the diverse cultures, traditions, and religions present were enjoying each other to ask in disbelief, “Is this real?? This question and its answer—a resounding “Yes”—captured our goal for the Earth community’s future by implying that respect, oneness, and peace will be the norm and such questions will never have to be asked. For wonderful images of specific Prayer Vigils and information please visit PV Photo Gallery.
Organizers recognize that success can only be achieved by the blessings of Spirit and in collaboration with those who are working and have worked throughout the ages for similar goals. Organizers also recognize that success can only be fully evaluated by future generations who may or may not ever learn about our activities.
Summary
Created by a 100% volunteer community for 20 years, The Prayer Vigil family rejoices in sharing our experience with each of you. May inner joy be a companion on your path and delight give shape to your days. Blessings and thank you for your attention
Om shanti shanti shanti, peace peace peace (Hindu)
Shalom (Jewish)
Salaam (Islamic)
Peace
