Ancestors and the Sacred Act of Reciprocity

Reciprocity is at the heart of life. We breathe in what the trees exhale, and we exhale what they need to live. Water nourishes us, and we return it to the ground. The sun gives its light, and we give our gaze and reverence.

Our ancestors understood reciprocity, though often through struggle and necessity. They grew food from the soil, knowing they must return care to the land. They sang to the waters, tended to the animals, and honored the balance of giving and receiving. Somewhere in the modern world, we have forgotten much of this rhythm.

When we walk together around the pond this October, we will carry offerings in our hands. A leaf, a stone, an acorn -- small gestures of gratitude placed at the water’s edge. They are reminders that we do not simply take from the earth or from the lineage of our ancestors. We are called to give back.

Becoming an ancestor is not just about leaving a name or story behind. It is about shaping a legacy of reciprocity. What balance are we restoring? What care are we giving to the future, knowing that generations will inherit the consequences of our choices?

When the fire burns at the end of our gathering, it too asks for reciprocity. We feed it wood, and it gives us warmth. We bring it prayers, and it returns clarity. We are in constant relationship. This is how the ancestors lived, and it is how we are called to live as well. In remembering them, we remember the sacred act of giving and receiving... and the responsibility to keep that balance alive.

contemplating our ancestors around a fire

Join me for a walk and a fire as a way to remember our ancestors and to remind us that we, too, will be ancestors someday. Our next Forest Gathering is October 25th.