RITUAL OF PETALS ON THE STONES
- Written and Led by Cheryl McLean

A rose petal path on solid ground.
Where did the path come from and how did it come to be?

The stem holding the promise of today began with love and nurturing.
A dream....
A vision tended by its gardener with love and dedication long before the blooms of promise could be seen.
The bud when hope and light and love travelled up and through.
Taken up from life experience,
what we learn from one another as women,
the longing for meaning and purpose,
the desire to connect as one with our community
and share what is and what has been.
When what is possible can be seen, and deeply felt
the promise of what can be shows itself,
the Bloom! the Flower!
Petals open as each offers her heart to the whole,
in the bloom of community woman, spirit, soul!
We are the rose!
Opening to one another and the world!

And rose petals on stones...a path.

Petals of love and experience, on solid ground.
Petals of patience and understanding.
Petals that follow behind our discoveries as we walk this earth nurtured
by the caring communities of the women that we love
and the wisdom of the others who
have walked before us.

Let us take from this basket these moments today and let us offer to
the world what we have learned without fear.

Let us treasure our communities of women as safe places for our souls
Unfolding, places for hope and optimism, as places that care.

Let thee be hope for peace and non-violence in our world and in our homes.

Let us go, and let us dream, and leave our petals on the stones.