Voice of the Earth a Third Quarter Moon Devotional

As the Third Quarter Moon rises, we walk the Via Positiva awakening, blessing, and beholding the sacred in all things.

Invocation

O Danu, Mother of Earth and Flow,
you who birth rivers and raise mountains,
be near to me in this stillness.

I come not in conquest but in consent,
ready to root myself in your wisdom
and remember what the world has always known:
that I belong, body and soul, to this sacred ground.

As the Buddha once placed hand to earth
and asked no witness but the living world,
so too do I reach, not for proof,
but for presence.

Let the soil speak.
Let the stones remember.
Let the pulse of your deep waters rise in me
until I too become a vessel of peace.

Amen.

The Sacred Moment

Today, the third quarter moon rises, opening the middle way between light and darkness. May we feel the call to awe, to cosmic hospitality, to the art of savor, and to the kin-dom of God here and now. In the sacred light of the Third Quarter Moon, we walk the path of the Via Positiva: the way of wonder, the dance of delight, courage to speak the living Word of God into form. Our souls ache for blessing and community as we gather to taste the sweetness of life and share the joy with each other.

This is a moon to awaken, to bless, to behold.

Theme: The Voice of Earth

When we think of the earth, we think of Mother Danu, that mysterious figure who may have been the mother goddess of the Irish gods. Sometimes her name is preserved as Anu. She appears only a few times in the lore we have, and she seems to be connected to the idea of flow and energy. When I think of the earth, I think of that great telluric flow, that energy rising up from the ground, giving fecundity to the fields and allowing plants to grow and blossom.

Now, as we enter the fall-winter season, we see the earth reclaiming that life. The energy goes inward as the trees and plants become dormant. We too enter a kind of coziness for the winter, preparing to endure the dark nights ahead. Yet this energy is always available to us. We only need to sink our taproots deeper to draw it up when we need it.

With all the fear and doom spread by those hungry for power, it’s wonderful for us to take this time to center on the glorious, calming presence of the earth. She is always with us. She has survived cataclysms and upheavals, and she will be here long after we are gone. In learning from her and taking care of her, we enter into a flow that rejuvenates and renews the world.

Let us practice this: if you can, get your hands dirty—touch the earth. If you can’t physically do that, remember the Buddha when challenged about his own authority: he simply touched the earth and said the earth would testify for him. We too can let the earth testify for us, sinking our roots in spirit and drawing up that solid stability. The earth outlasts every petty claim to power and every wave of greed. She will sustain us as long as we align with her, and we will find strength in that. The earth will cry out, and we will be victorious in the end.

Practice: Earth Touch Meditation: Rooted in Danu, Witnessed by the Earth

Opening the Space

Sit or stand comfortably. If you can, be close to the ground, outside on soil or near a plant. If you’re indoors or unable to reach the earth, simply bring your awareness downward, toward the ground beneath you.

Let your eyes soften or close. Take three deep breaths, each one slower than the last.

Invocation

Whisper softly:

“Mother Danu, flowing one, deep earth and fertile ground,
I open myself to your wisdom.
May your presence rise within me as I reach for your sacred body.”

Begin the Gesture

Slowly extend your hand, physically or in your mind’s eye, and touch the earth.

As your fingers meet the soil, carpet, floor, or simply the imagined ground of the world, say:

“I touch the earth,
and the earth will testify on my behalf.”

Let these words echo the story of the Buddha. When challenged by illusion and fear, he touched the earth, not to prove himself with force or pride, but to let the world bear witness to the truth of his being.

Attunement

Feel that you are held. Not judged. Not weighed. But known.

Imagine that beneath your hand, Danu flows, not just as ground, but as energy. A living river of memory and presence moves under the surface. You are not apart from this flow. You are part of it.

Let it rise through your palm. Let it enter your heart. Let it fill your body with the deep steadiness of stone, the fecundity of soil, the wisdom of all who have walked before.

Say silently or aloud:

“I belong to the earth,
and the earth belongs to me.
I am not alone in this world.”

Rooting Visualization

Imagine taproots descending from your body. They move through soil, stone, and shadow until they touch the ancient flow of Danu, the undercurrent of all becoming.

Let her energy rise up into you: not loud, not blazing, but steady. Quiet. Present.

Let her remind you:
That mountains crumble, yet earth endures.
That nothing is final, and nothing is wasted.
That you are enough, as you are.

Closing

Rest in that knowing. When you’re ready, bring your hand back to your heart.

Say:

“Mother of Flow, Mother of Depth,
Root me in your presence.
May I carry your peace into the world.”

Take one final breath, deep into your belly. Let it go slowly.

Open your eyes.

Closing Blessing

O Holy Presence,
Root of Being,
Anchor of all that endures.

We thank you for the gift of the earth beneath our feet,
for the strength that rises unseen from deep within the soil,
and for the quiet assurance that we belong.

May we go forth grounded in gratitude,
rooted in resilience,
and steady in our care for this sacred world.

Let our lives be as fertile fields,
open to the flow of grace,
nurtured by wisdom,
and fruitful in love.

So may it be.