Asherah of the Redwoods

I call and invoke you,

Old Mother Redwood –

Come and be my Asherah.

I will make you a shrine

as my foremothers did

in the terebinth groves

of the holy land.

Before Yahweh knocked down

your posts and poles

and usurped your seas,

Before your hilltops were razed

for the building of fortresses,

Before the men decided that

all power must be delivered

by their hands,

Before your daughters were forced

to cover their heads,

You raised the wildness of spirit

and delivered oracles,

You offered your breasts 

to feed the people,

You rose from the deep earth

to the high heavens,

glorifying and demonstrating

what we all have to do –

Praise the green and growing earth,

Sink down our roots

and raise our spirits,

Nurture all and stand tall.

I ask with yearning heart -

Be my Asherah,

here on this land,

at this time,

for the need is great,

and I vow to stand

with and for You.