Return Blessings

Diann L Neu writes that her earliest childhood memories are intertwined with the blessings of the Earth. Having grown up interacting passionately with nature, she first came to know God through the rhythms of the seasons.

Return Blessings explores the interrelatedness of ecology and feminism. It vividly describes how ecofeminism values women and nature and seeks to resist their associated exploitation and domination. Using the framework of the four seasons, the author presents sixteen liturgies that are designed to celebrate the sacred power that originates and emanates from the Earth. While representing a strongly feminist perspective, these liturgies speak to women and men of many traditions and can be used either as they are or as a springboard for creating material for your own faith community. They prompt us to reflect on issues of ecojustice, and invite us to pray and work for the healing of the Earth in order to free all creation from the devastation of racism, colonialism, classism and gender privilege.

Diann L Neu is the cofounder of WATER – Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual – in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. The liturgies were created with WATER’s feminist liturgy community and various international feminist and justice gatherings.