Rafter Special: Lay a "Blessing Stone"

An invitation and a promise

“It would be lovely if we could rediscover our power to bless one another.”

These words from the poet John O’Donohue reached my heart the other day when I was full of ache and worry. And they prompted me to add a blessing page to The Raft website.

You can view the “Blessing Stones” page here. But read on to get the gist of it.

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The invitation

I invite you to lay a “blessing stone.” Use words to bless someone whose suffering weighs upon your heart. Or to bless someone whose presence gladdens your spirit.

To lay your Blessing Stone, click the “comment” button that’s provided on the page and write what you wish. (Note: You must be signed into your Substack account. Substack is the platform that hosts The Raft.)

Go ahead and lay a Blessing Stone now, if you’d like.

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I laid these Blessing Stones, to start . . .

• Blessings upon my brother David and his family near Asheville, North Carolina, and upon everyone else caught in the destructive path of Hurricane Helene. May they have what they need.

• Blessings upon all who are suffering in the widening conflict in the Middle East. May the peoples put a quick end to the violence and work hard together to create a just, lasting peace.

• Blessings upon my dear friend Cindy, whose deep listening brings me more deeply into acquaintance with myself. May she be heard as well as she hears.

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The promise

The Raft is a safe space of caring. Whatever you mean by “blessing,” and however you bless, you belong.

I promise to read your Blessing Stone mindfully and to magnify your caring spirit with my own.

I welcome all Rafters to join me in this practice. You may honor the Blessing Stones laid by other Rafters with your kind attention when you click the “comment” button, or use this link.

A link to the Blessing Stone page will now be part of every Raft mailing—always there when you need it.