Today’s Prayer to Passage will continue within the “Rig Veda”. This month’s spiritual devotion to these ancient Sanskrit texts is taking place between May 1 – May 31, 2017.

Today I pray, “Dear God, Today is my sister’s Birthday! She is the woman of my dreams. When Mom and Dad told me they were expecting a fourth child, my immediate response was, ‘I am praying it’s a girl.’ We love our two brothers, too! Sisterhood… a celebration! Amen.”

Following my prayer, I held the sacred texts in my hands and opened them to reveal this passage:

“HYMN CVIII. Soma Pavamana.

1. FOR Indra, flow thou Soma on, as gladdening juice most sweet, intelligent,
Great, cheering, dwelling most in heaven.
2 Thou, of whom having drunk the Steer acts like a steer. drinking of this that finds the light,
He, Excellently Wise, is come to strengthening food, to spoil and wealth like Etaśa.
3 For, verily, Pavamana, thou hast, splendidest, called all the generations of
The Gods to immortality.
4 By whom Dadhyac Navagva opens fastened doors, by whom the sages gained their wish,
By whom they won the fame of lovely Amṛta in the felicity of Gods.
5 Effused, he floweth in a stream, best rapture-giver, in the long wool of the sheep,
Sporting, as ’twere the waters’ wave.
6 He who from out the rocky cavern took with might the redmrefulgent watery Cows,
Thou masterest the stable full of kine and steeds: burst it, brave Lord, like one in mail.
7 Press ye and pour him, like a steed, laudworthy, speeding through the region and the flood,
Who swims in water, roan in wood;
8 Increaser of the water, Steer with thousand streams, dear to the race of Deities;
Who born in Law hath waxen mighty by the Law, King, God, and lofty Ordinance.
9 Make splendid glory shine on us, thou Lord of strengthening food, God, as the Friend of Gods:
Unclose the fount of middle air.
10 Roll onward to the bowls, O Mighty One, effused, as Prince supporter of the tribes.
Pour on us rain from heaven, send us the waters’ flow: incite our thoughts to win the spoil.
11 They have drained him the Steer of heaven, him with a thousand streams, distilling rapturous joy,
Him who brings all things excellent.
12 The Mighty One was born Immortal, giving life, lightening darkness with his shine.
Well-praised by. sages he hath. by his wondrous power assumed the Threefold as his robe.
13 Effused is he who brings good things, who brings us bounteous gifts and sweet refreshing food,
Soma who brings us quiet homes:
14 He whom our Indra and the Marut host shall drink, Bhaga shall drink with Aryarnan,
By whom we bring to us Mitra and Varuṇa and Indra for our great defence.
15 Soma, for Indra’s drink do thou, led by the men, well-wcaponcd and most gladdening,
Flow on with greatest store of sweets.
16 Enter the Soma-holder, even Indra’s heart, as rivers pass into the sea,
Acceptable to Mitra, Vāyu, Varuṇa, the noblest Pillar of the heavens.”
—RIG VEDA

These passages from the “Rig Veda” are so different from my typical passages. And I love this. This reminds me of my relationship with my sister. From the moment of her birth, I have taken on our relationship as the difference our partnership could create in the world. We stand out because we choose to stand out. We honor each other because we choose to honor each other. Love begets love. And transformation, once birthed, transforms the world.