Last weekend I took my children to the coast for a bit of
fun and relaxation. The wildness of the
coastal waters is incredibly soothing to me. Digging my toes into the cold
damp sand grounds my energy and quiets my mind. The multisensory experience of being at the
coast is very special to me. If I had to
live in a prison I would miss it desperately.
A few months ago I did a special ocean themed service with
the Pagan circle. The first thing we did
was a fun meditation from the book Sandra Kynes Sea Magic: Connecting with the
Ocean's Energy. I read the meditation to
them while we listened to a recording of the oceans waves. The meditation was about how to find your sea
fetch, which is basically an ocean themed animal guide. The interesting thing was that no one saw the
type of animal they were expecting. It
lead to some great conversations.
After that we chanted We All Come From The Goddess by Z.
Buddapest while holding small seashells.
Although the shells were very small, the inmates found that they could
still hear a bit of the ocean if they held them up to their ears.
Lastly we talked about the ways that people living in a
limited setting such as a prison can connect with the energies of the
ocean. As we chatted we snacked on
pieces of roasted and seasoned seaweed. The inmate’s reaction to the seaweed was
pretty amusing. Some were very hesitant
to try it, while others dove right in.
Most of them delighted in having a totally different taste sensation to
explore.
Volunteering in a correctional facility has opened my eyes
to the simple blessings of my life, and I enjoy being near the ocean more than
I ever have before.
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