Make Me Strong in Spirit

Make me strong in spirit,
Courageous in action,
Gentle of heart,

Let me act in wisdom,
Conquer my fear and doubt,
Discover my own hidden gifts,

Meet others with compassion,
Be a source of healing energies,

And face each day with hope and joy.

-- Abby Willowroot

Spirit of Life - Fuente de Amore

Spirit of Life

Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.

Words and Music: Carolyn McDade, ©1981

Fuente de Amore

Fuente de Amor, ven hacia mi.
Y’al Corazon, canta le tu compasion.
Sopla al volar, sube en el mar,
Hasta molde ar la justicia del a vida.
Arraigame, liberame,
Fuente de Amore, ven a mi, ven a mi.

Version en Espanol: Ervin Barrios, ©1999


Rockford Unitarian Church Interfaith Replica of Rehnberg Memorial Window

My Heritage

I was born in the USA - Greeley, Colorado - Resident of California since 1983. My mom’s family was in southern Colorado since it was Spanish territory. On my dad’s side, I am third generation from Chihuahua, Mexico; One eighth Native American - Dineh - My great grandmother, was born on the Taos Pueblo Reservation in Taos, New Mexico. Here is a poem my dad shared with me (author unknown):

Christians by the grace of God;

Gentleman thanks to our Spanish decent;
Noble lords from our Indian ancestry;
And, Americans by destiny.
Thus, we are the Mexican-Americans.

To the Four Directions

Spirit of the East, spirit of air,
of morning and springtime:
Be with us as the sun rises,
in times of beginning,
times of planting.
Inspire us with the fresh breath of courage
as we go forth into new adventures.

Spirit of the South, spirit of fire,
of noontime and summer:
Be with us through the heat of the day
and help us to be ever growing.
Warm us with strength
and energy for the work that awaits us.

Spirit of the West, spirit of water
of evening and autumn:
Be with us as the sun sets
and help us to enjoy a rich harvest.
Flow through us with a cooling,
healing quietness and bring us peace.

Spirit of the North, spirit of earth
of nighttime and winter:
Be with us in the darkness,
in the time of gestation.
Ground us in the wisdom of the changing seasons
as we celebrate the spiraling journey of our lives.

--Dr. Joan W. Goodwin, religious educator and historian (1926-2006)

Personal Morning Ritual – July 25, 2009

Good morning dear Goddess. Thank you, for your presence in my midst.

Thank you, dear Goddess for the moon that releases the night into the dawn of the new day.

Thank you, for awakening my heart to the sounds of music in the air.

To the visions of shapes and sounds that only can be manifested through the truth of my own existence, my own living soul.

The voice within me reaches out and becomes the Goddess; the giving soul that stretches to meet the souls beyond.

And with the gentle tide, my heart beats.

With the gentle wind, my soul flies.

Through the trees, through the clouds.

Through the universe of all creation.

Through the joys.

Through the sorrows.

Through the everlasting light, I fly.

As I go out into the world, may my heart be blessed with the powers of love, joy and support to those around me.

May it be so, Blessed be.

-- Marlene Terrazas