Sovereign Earth 7 – Service

I place myself

In the eye of the Sun

For the greater good

For the greater good

For the greater good

I place myself

In the eye of the sun

I place myself

I place myself

For the greater good

In the eye of the Sun

In the eye of the Sun

In the eye of the Sun

I place myself

For the greater good

In the eye of the Sun

Thats a druidic chant or mantra that I have sung, spoken and voiced for many years, it ‘having come to me’ as these things do, when in a place of offering myself up, which tends to happen occasionally.  Except its the best ‘way to be’ for as much of the time as possible if possible. Thats because once tasted it really is the only way to be. This is not only my own experience.  Here’s Einstein on the subject:

“A life spent in service to others is the only life worth living”.

There is jewel in a lotus flower

Unfolding deep within my soul

To be a jewel in a lotus flower

Unfolding is the highest goal

Om Mane hum mane padme hum

Om mane hum mane padme hum

Some reflections as I prepared for this particular offering of Sovereign Earth .

To be open to every opportunity in heartfulness – to have an open heart. To be of service – expressing Divine Love. Living in truth. Sharing heart.

Being fully available to the moment, while living fully in it.

Joyfully giving – from the heart – and unconditionally.

In serving others we transform our lives. In serving others we discover our essence, our truth, our love.

Surveys of those living a fulfilled and contented life consistently show the number one reason as being in service to others or ‘to a higher purpose’.    Thats worth thinking about and acting on.

Martin Luther King said;  “ Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree in order to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love”.

Ghandi said; “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service of others”

Churchill said; “We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.”

This whole venture – Sovereign Earth – was, and is, motivated by a supreme sense of gratitude and service to the Earth.  ‘The Sun never says to the earth, you owe me. Look what happens with a love like that; it lights up the whole world’.  So said the inspirational poet Hafiz in the 13th century.   Thats the place of true service – unconditional and unlimited. Thats how I feel about the Earth – our true Sovereign.  With a passion, I wish to help make that love contagious.  🙂

Devotional music comes from, and is offered to, this same place of bounteous spaciousness and limitless love:

Om Nama Shivaya, Om Nama Shivaya

Om Nama Shivaya, Om Nama Shivaya.

Shivaya Nama Om

Shivaya Nama Om

Shivaya Nama Om

Om Nama Shivaya.

There is a tree called the Wild Service Tree.  Its latin name is Sorbus Torminalis.   It is not very common and I have always known it as being an indicator of ancient woodland undisturbed since the last ice age.  The fruits, if left until they start to rot, taste a bit like dates. They are loved by loads of birds and animals. Its my own hunch that the reason that it is called the service tree is because it gives freely of its bounteous harvest – but who knows?

Recently I discovered that there is an even rarer tree called the ‘True Service Tree’ – Sorbus Domestica.   In Switzerland and Austria it has been listed as an endangered species.   In Britain it tends to survive in wild or remote locations such as on land in Glamorgan on the Welsh coastline.

Then I found out that the largest population of True Service Trees is near to where I live  – on land in a large horseshoe bend of the Goddess Sebrina, which is called the River Severn in our time.  This whole area feels ancient and timeless, as if somehow skirted by time. Which in a sense it is, semi isolated by being enfolded by the river and its shifting tides. In a strange way, I have a sense that the Service tree is an indicator of a deep sensitivity and expression of uncontaminated nature, harking back to ancestral times when the land was venerated. My own stuff entirely; There’s no way I can back this up by pointing to any studies or historical evidence. Simply my imaginings. Yet it feels right at some level.

Then there is the amazing story of the motto of the Prince of Wales -Ich Dien – which translates from the original German as “I serve” .  The history of how this motto came to be associated with the Prince of Wales is fascinating.  The current holder of the title is HRH Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and next in line to the throne. He is the 21st person to be Prince of Wales.

So who was the first?

In 1346 Edward III of England fought the French at the pivotal battle of Crécy.  Outnumbered, they nevertheless won, largely thanks to the considerable tactical advantage of having a large contingent of archers, who it seems, happened to come from Wales. The heir apparent and next in line to the throne was Edward’s son, known as the Black Prince.

He found the body of King John of Bohemia, who, although a King,  had been fighting as a simple volunteer for the French. Inside the King’s helmet, the Black Prince found the inscription “Ich Dien” – I serve.

He was so inspired by the King’s devotion and sacrifice, that he adopted the motto for himself.  Now here’s the twist – a magical one as I see it.

There is a very similar motto in Welsh – the ancient language of the lands of Britain.

It sounds almost the same and is spelt “Eich Dyn” and it means ‘Your Man’ as in ‘I’m your man’ in the sense of being in service. How remarkable is that? So there is a suggestion that another reason the Black Prince adopted the phrase is as recognition and in honour of his Welsh Archers – as tribute and dedication to them.

Certainly I know through personal experience that the current holder of the title takes the role seriously and recognises and embodies the spirit and essence of ‘Ich Dien’ or ‘Eich Dyn’ – particularly and explicitly in relation to serving the Land, the Earth and the Soil.

To finish, here is a chant from the Bihai faith which totally reflects the essence of Service:

Oh Lord make me a hollow reed

Oh Lord make me a hollow reed

From which the pith of self hath been blown

From which the pith of self hath been blown

So that I may become a clear channel

So that i may become a clear channel

Through which thy love, thy love, thy love,

May flow to others.

Through which thy love, thy love, thy love,

May flow to others

In love and service (with a smile 🙂 )

JJ