June 20, 2020: Today we celebrated the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, with a water blessing ceremony at the Pacific Grove beach. The blessing honors all the earth’s elements, and Rinpoche chanted, burned incense, and spread flower petals in the water to pray for their protection and to heal the environment, restore balance and harmony to the elements, and to request protection from the unseen world of spiritual beings called nagas who care for the waters.
Rinpoche holds a water blessing twice per year, every summer and winter solstice, and this was the 24th time that we’ve done a water blessing in California. Usually, we gather as a community and celebrate together by offering group prayers, but given the current climate of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rinpoche conducted the ritual in the absence of the Sangha. We hope that you understand, and wish you all a happy summer solstice! Tashi Delek!
Editor’s Note: Rinpoche and Pema have written guidance on how to do a water blessing on your own-“Water Blessing Do-It-Yourself Kit.” It can be done at any time of year, honoring the natural world and praying for world peace.
