It is, conceptually, a beautiful holiday. The commercialization of American Thanksgiving, however, has compromised its meaning somewhat.  These days, Thanksgiving is a time for overindulgence, family drama, Football, and camping outside big-box stores for Black Friday sales. Not exactly what the forefathers had in mind.  It is also, even when traditionally observed, rather Christian in its focus. Nothing wrong with that. The Pilgrims were Christian. But what about the rest of us? How should we offer our thanks?  Here are a few suggestions, and our sincere wishes for a safe and happy holiday:

from A Pagan Ritual Prayer Book by Ceisiwr Serith

***

Here we are, gathered on this wonderful holiday, among family and friends.

and all we can think is “thank you.”

Thank you to all those whose presence made this celebration possible,

and gratitude most of all to the Shining Ones,

whom we continually praise.

***

From A Book of Pagan Pray by Ceisiwr Serith

***

The gifts the gods give me are many and wonderful

and I am grateful to the gods for their generosity.

Knowing that it would be wrong to forget them,

I lift my voice in thankfulness.

Holy Ones, thank you, for all that you have done.

***

Standing in the presence of the mighty gods,

my mind is turned toward all I’ve been given.

I thank them, as is only their due,

for they pour out blessings on all their children.

***

Thanks to my patron for my continued prospertity,

for my continued health, for my continued life.

Continually I will pray to you,

always remembering you.

***

From A Grateful Heart, ed. M.J. Ryan

***

O  Great Spirit

Whose voice I hear in the winds,

And whose breath gives life to all the world,

hear me! I am small and weak, I need your

strength and wisdom.

Let Me Walk In Beauty, and make my eyes

ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make My Hands respect the things you have

made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make Me Wise so that I may understand the

things you have taught my people.

Let Me Learn the lessons you have hidden

in every leaf and rock.

I Seek Strength, not to be greater than my

brother, but to fight my greatest enemy – myself.

Make Me Always Ready to come to you with

clean hands and straight eyes.

So When Life Fades, as the fading sunset,

my spirit may come to you without shame.

– Native American Prayer

***

May the suffering ones be suffering free

And the fear struck fearless be.

May the grieving shed all grief –

And the sick find health relief.

-Zen Chant

***

The food is brahma (creative energy)

Its essence is vishnu (preservative energy)

The eater is shiva (destructive energy)

No sickness due to food can come

To one who eats with this knowledge.

– Sanskrit Blessings, tranl. Baba Hari Dass

***

The sun brings forth the beginning

The moon holds it in darkness

As above, so below

For there is no greater magic in all the world

than that of people joined together in love.

– Wiccan Blessing

***

May we walk with grace

and may the light of the universe

shine upon our path.

– Anonymous

***

All Life Is One

And Everything that Lived is Holy

Plants, Animals and People.

All must eat to live and nourish one another

We bless the lives that have died to give us this food.

Let us eat together

Resolving by our work to pay the debt of our existence.

– John Bennett

***

Now may every living thing, young or old, weak or

strong, living near or far, known or unknown, living or

departed or yet unborn, may every living thing be full

of bliss.

– The Buddha

 ***

Blessings All!

– Ankhie