I don’t have many unchanging rituals.
One, though, is consistent.
I make coffee every morning, first thing.
When it’s brewed, I put the first splash in a cup,
walk outside, whatever the weather,
sing a morning song to the sky,
(the song varies)
and offer that bit of elixir to the Earth.
Seldom with profound thoughts or prayers.
Always with gratitude for another day.
Sometimes I linger, watching the stars shimmer
in the clear cold winter sky.
Sometimes I briefly sing, splash, and hurry in
out of the blowing snow.
In the summer I face east and notice
where the sun is rising, tracking it in its journey north.
In the winter no sun greets me, but sometimes Mother Moon
is setting in the west, full and bright.
Always the Eddy Mountains etched against the horizon,
or cloud-hidden, cloaked against my eyes.
Black Butte to the east, massive, permanent,
hides her big sister, Shasta, from my sight,
but I know she’s there!
My ideas, projections, wants, and wishes
fade a bit and silence ensues.
Is it silence? Or have I simply become dull
and ordinary, without profundity
in my elder years?
I hope so.
William Martin 
Ha! Ha!
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“I hope so”. I love it! In this time when everyone seems to have an extreme opinion, dull and ordinary is appealing to me.
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Thanks Bill, I am enjoying your new posts! I feel like I have been dropped out of the ordinary slipstream time and am enjoying the slower pace of life as “regular” life surges past. I am also feeling gratitude for each day , and your morning ritual sounds like a wonderful way to start the day!
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Oh Bill. Such a beautiful, peaceful *story*. I saw you, through twirling snow flakes, bathed in moonlight, and greeting the morning sun. I look into your books almost every day and simply love it: an amazing, enlightening and touching body of work. Thank you, Bill. And say “warm wishes!” to Nancy, please.
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Thank you 🙏…
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Bill, while traveling in Peru, a ritual was shared with us that involved pouring the first little bit of whatever you are drinking as a way of saying thanks to Mother Earth. I am assuming that you are actually pouring a splash of coffee on the ground in this same way?
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Yes, John, Mother Earth gets the first sip of my coffee each morning. It’s a nice ritual with drinks, or even food.
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It harder for me to do with beer or nice scotch! 🙂
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Never with The Glenlivet. Mother Earth understands.
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