Agya and Ubuntu.
Welcome to Nova Sutra's Calling the Corners.
I'm Dr.
Michelle Merrill.
In this recording I'll be explaining the basis of Calling the Corners as a meditation,
A ritual,
Or a prayer practice.
I'll be guiding you through the practice to help you experience and embody Ubuntu and Agya.
First,
We need a clear understanding of Ubuntu and Agya.
Ubuntu is originally a word in Sosa and Zulu that came to represent interconnectedness,
Belonging,
Compassion,
And respect in human community.
In Nova Sutras we've borrowed and expanded on this South African term Ubuntu to express our interdependence with all beings,
Connecting us all in loving-kindness.
Agya expands that connection further,
Expressing our wonder and respect for the complex and sacred beauty of the universe.
Sharing wonder,
Respect,
And loving-kindness with all beings in the sacred space you open through this Calling the Corners practice will allow you to be a more effective,
Mindful agent for positive change in the world.
The Nova Sutras Calling the Corners practice is similar to some Metta meditation practices and various indigenous and neo-pagan practices for calling the quarters.
You can do this practice as silent and still as you would like,
Sitting or standing and merely envisioning each thing and each direction in turn.
If you have the chance,
You may choose to practice calling the corners while moving or gesturing,
Facing or indicating each cardinal direction,
And speaking out loud.
It can be particularly potent to do this outdoors.
We begin by facing the sun and orienting yourself that way,
And then to the nearest cardinal direction.
Then we follow the path of sun around the compass directions,
And then we address above and below.
At night we face away from the midday sun first,
So face to the north if you're north of the tropics,
Or to the south if you're in Chile,
Argentina,
Uruguay,
South Africa,
Australia,
New Zealand,
Maybe Antarctica.
For those within the tropics,
Things are a bit more complicated.
The direction of the midday sun may vary with the time of year,
So pay attention to slight shifts in where the sun is found overhead,
Or do a little research on your location to determine which dates the midday sun is slightly southward and which dates it's slightly northward.
The day when the sun passes directly overhead for you is a great day to plan a local celebration,
And perhaps you can call the corners by starting with above and below.
After we address the six cardinal directions,
We start from our own center and radiate Agaia and Ubuntu ever outward geographically.
I will describe some of these as I take you through an example practice.
As we begin,
Imagine turning to face the morning sun from where I am in northern California.
Read the calling phrases,
The maywees,
Out loud,
Or simply in your thoughts.
May all beings to the east abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Now turn toward where the sun would be at midday to the south if you're north of the tropics.
May all beings to the south abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Then turn toward where the sun sets.
May all beings to the west abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Turn away from where the sun is at midday.
May all beings to the north abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Tip your head upward.
May all beings above abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Look downward.
May all beings below abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
If there's a tree nearby,
Turn to face it or just envision a tree and appreciate the way it connects the air above and the earth beneath.
If you're at the beach or at sea,
Perhaps instead consider the great kelp forests that connect the sea floor to the sky.
May all the great beings that connect above and below abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Return your focus to your own center.
Now we start there,
Then radiate out.
May I abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Next,
Turn your attention to all those beings that are close enough that you can perceive them through sight,
Sound,
Or scent.
May all beings nearby abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Now think about your own watershed that is the area around you that is drained by the same stream or river nearest to where you are standing.
May all beings in this watershed abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Now consider all those that live in nearby habitat that is similar to where you are.
May all beings in this bio-region abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Now expand to the entire landmass where you are.
May all beings on this continent abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Now extend your focus to the nearest great ocean.
May all beings in the nearest ocean abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Now imagine the half of the world nearest to you where you are the center.
For instance,
In Northern California this hemisphere includes North America and a bit of South America and Siberia and the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean out past Hawaii.
May all beings in this hemisphere abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Next we consider the whole globe.
May all beings throughout Earth's beautiful biosphere abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
And then finally we expand to encompass everything we know.
May all beings anywhere in this vast universe abide in Agaia and Ubuntu.
Pause for a few moments now to reconnect your breath with Agaia and Ubuntu.
Quietly now inhale wonder and joy.
Hold that feeling for a moment.
Then exhale gratefulness for interconnection.
Inhale Agaia.
Hold and exhale Ubuntu.
Inhale Agaia.
Exhale Ubuntu.
Inhale Agaia.
Exhale Ubuntu.
Now inhale Ubuntu.
Hold that feeling of interconnection.
And exhale Agaia to spread joy and wonder into the universe.
Inhale Ubuntu.
Exhale Agaia.
Inhale Ubuntu.
Exhale Agaia.
Inhale Ubuntu.
Exhale Agaia.
When you are ready you may gently open your eyes if you've closed them and allow yourself to feel the sacredness of Ubuntu and Agaia around you.
Take a moment to thank yourself for your commitment to this practice.
We in the Novasutras community thank you for taking the time to experience the sacredness of nature.
We thank you for all that you do in the world as an agent for Ubuntu and Agaia.
