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Summoned by the Earth: Becoming a Holy Vessel for Healing Our World
In 1990, Cynthia Jurs climbed a path high in the Himalayas, to meet an “old wise man in a cave,” a highly venerated lama from Nepal, Charok Rinpoche. The question she carried with her was, "How can I bring healing and protection to Earth?"
After hearing her question, Charok Rinpoche told Cynthia to procure sacred Earth Treasure Vases made of clay and potent medicines based on an ancient practice from Tibet, fill them with prayers and symbolic offerings, and plant them around the world to relieve suffering in troubled lands.
Summoned by the Earth tells the story of Cynthia’s spirited Earth Treasure Vase pilgrimages, many of these told in gripping detail as she encounters the joys and anguish of the world’s diverse cultures from war-stricken Liberia to the mystical standing stones in Avebury; from the outback of Aboriginal Australia to the nuclear weapons laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico; and back to the cave in Nepal where it all began. In the process of bringing communities together to address their suffering and heal their lands, Cynthia is also forced to face what is calling to be healed within herself.
When asked what is most needed to save our world, Cynthia’s teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, replied, “We need to hear within us the sounds of the Earth crying.” Hearing that sound and heeding its call, Cynthia, and eventually many others who have joined her, have borne witness to the web of life in all its beauty and sorrow, ultimately seeing how Gaia—Mother Earth—is inviting us all to become vessels of sacred activism, global healing, and collective awakening. Responding to this summons from the Earth is the most pressing opportunity of our times.
After hearing her question, Charok Rinpoche told Cynthia to procure sacred Earth Treasure Vases made of clay and potent medicines based on an ancient practice from Tibet, fill them with prayers and symbolic offerings, and plant them around the world to relieve suffering in troubled lands.
Summoned by the Earth tells the story of Cynthia’s spirited Earth Treasure Vase pilgrimages, many of these told in gripping detail as she encounters the joys and anguish of the world’s diverse cultures from war-stricken Liberia to the mystical standing stones in Avebury; from the outback of Aboriginal Australia to the nuclear weapons laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico; and back to the cave in Nepal where it all began. In the process of bringing communities together to address their suffering and heal their lands, Cynthia is also forced to face what is calling to be healed within herself.
When asked what is most needed to save our world, Cynthia’s teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, replied, “We need to hear within us the sounds of the Earth crying.” Hearing that sound and heeding its call, Cynthia, and eventually many others who have joined her, have borne witness to the web of life in all its beauty and sorrow, ultimately seeing how Gaia—Mother Earth—is inviting us all to become vessels of sacred activism, global healing, and collective awakening. Responding to this summons from the Earth is the most pressing opportunity of our times.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2024
6 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 20, 2024
This book is an exciting global adventure, a self-growth lesson, and ancient storytelling all wrapped into one amazing story. Cynthia was tasked with spreading hope and healing by dispersing Earth Treasure Vases throughout the planet. The vases are meant to bring healing and safety to the world by incorporating local traditions where they are buried. I was in awe of her bravery in carrying out this mission, even when it meant going to dangerous locations. She has inspired me to wake up to the world around me and realize there is more to life than my current reality. Earth needs love and healing more than ever before and instead of feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, Cynthia shows us all that change is possible. My favorite part about this book was learning all the different cultures and customs she encountered. This book even includes pictures of her travels to various parts of the Earth and all the wise people she met. I kept going back to the pictures several times, in awe of these amazing humans who are keeping ancient wisdom alive. She was so fortunate to go on this journey and share ancient learnings and traditions with us that are otherwise forgotten about in this world of social media and consumerism. Cynthia has inspired me to recognize my own innate power and wisdom in order to be the change I wish to see in the world. If you’re ready to feel hopeful about the future amidst all the doom and gloom that is perpetuated, this book is for you. Don’t be surprised if you are ready to go travel the world after reading this incredible book! Do yourself, and the world, a favor and read this amazing true story. Thank you Cynthia for this precious gift!
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May 27, 2024This book takes you on an incredible and wonderful journey to the place of Wisdom and knowing within oneself as Lama Cynthia Jurs recounts her lived experience of supporting and being supported by Mother Earth. This is a timely read, given the amount of love, respect and care that the Earth is calling for right now. For me, this book helped me to understand more clearly the global mandala of the living Earth, to become that much more acquainted with the web of life herself. I love to think of the energetic blessings the Earth Treasure Vases have brought to Gaia and to all sentient beings. This, in my opinion, is a must read for those who love and/or study Tibetan Buddhism. I am so infinitely grateful that this book landed in my hands. I loved it and could barely put it down. This review is written on Saga Dawa - a day that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of the Buddha.
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May 19, 2024In the aftermath of last month's Earth Day, many readers may enjoy Summoned by the Earth by Cynthia Jurs, as Jurs has taken on the healing of the Earth in an epic way, dedicating herself to installing sacred vessels around the globe, following a little-known but intriguing Tibetan Buddhist tradition. In a narrative strongly informed by her knowledge of Buddhism as a teacher in the Thich Nhat Hanh lineage, she arrives at the need for a community dedicated to the goddess Gaia and a reappreciation of Buddhist Dharma as female-gendered. While some may quail at New Age touches (crop circles and more), and aspirations that sometimes seem to be purely magical thinking, others will appreciate and be strengthened by her intent and accomplishments in creating a better world by creating community and revising myth and tradition in service of her goal.
August 2, 2024
4 stars
Climbing in the Himalayans, Cynthia Jurs hears a calling of, "What can I do to being protection to the Earth?"
This is the journey of her answering the call, and her steps on how to bring healing to the planet. This story is inspiring.
No matter how small we feel, our intentions can make a difference. If more people read this book, and helped spread healing to the Earth, it could make a difference. Prayer circles and intentions can help, with enough positive energies, healing can be done.
Climbing in the Himalayans, Cynthia Jurs hears a calling of, "What can I do to being protection to the Earth?"
This is the journey of her answering the call, and her steps on how to bring healing to the planet. This story is inspiring.
No matter how small we feel, our intentions can make a difference. If more people read this book, and helped spread healing to the Earth, it could make a difference. Prayer circles and intentions can help, with enough positive energies, healing can be done.
July 17, 2024
I was truly fascinated by this book and the concept of sacred activism, which is a subject that over the past year has been seeping more and more into my awareness. I also felt a deep affiliation with Cynthia’s original question that she found herself asking in the Himalaya’s almost 30 years ago, “How can we bring healing to the Earth”.
In witnessing our society’s widening disconnect from the natural world and the proliferation of destruction to Gaia and the huge losses of biodiversity I have often found myself grappling with trying to maintain hope whilst feeling at times utterly powerless, as I too have wondered, “How can I help make a difference?”. In Summoned By The Earth and Cynthia's remarkable journey I found an incredible offering to consider my own understanding of activism, my connection to Gaia and alternative ways of helping to co-create healing in our world.
For many years, I have been fascinated by the power of intention, particularly when groups come together with combined intentions, prayers and meditations, there is some incredible science that is beginning to reveal what many of the ancient cultures and ancestors previously understood. But here through Cynthia’s beautiful book it became more than just theory, through her humble narrative of the journey she embarked upon, with guidance from Indigenous cultures and religions and the generous offerings of support and wisdom from Elders around the world, the Earth Treasure vases have woven this incredible thread of connection across the globe. Some of the vases locations were particularly poignant as I knew them personally and I found myself incredibly moved by the stories of the unexpected nature of healing that occurred when communities came together through the shared experience of the vases, not least of course the remarkable stories from Liberia and the DR Congo.
Cynthia’s book like the stories of the vases it shares is in itself a beautiful prayer of healing to the Earth. It offers so much wisdom for all who read it and then take the time to embody what is shared. Sacred Activism is truly a radical act, requiring us to stop and to step outside the paradigms that have created the world we currently witness, in this new space we are able to come home to Gaia to connect to our true nature’s and having set down the narrative of fear, act from a place of love, free from preconceived ideas of what should be. Now separate from our expectation and attachment we allow the space that facilitates a powerful co-creation with nature and communities that will undoubtable amaze us as to what can be achieved when our actions stem from this deep place of loving compassion. I urge you to read this book and share it with your friends, as this is the wisdom we need if we are to answer mother nature’s pleas for help and to facilitate a restoration of balance and harmony to the web of life for the benefit of the Earth and the whole of humanity.
In witnessing our society’s widening disconnect from the natural world and the proliferation of destruction to Gaia and the huge losses of biodiversity I have often found myself grappling with trying to maintain hope whilst feeling at times utterly powerless, as I too have wondered, “How can I help make a difference?”. In Summoned By The Earth and Cynthia's remarkable journey I found an incredible offering to consider my own understanding of activism, my connection to Gaia and alternative ways of helping to co-create healing in our world.
For many years, I have been fascinated by the power of intention, particularly when groups come together with combined intentions, prayers and meditations, there is some incredible science that is beginning to reveal what many of the ancient cultures and ancestors previously understood. But here through Cynthia’s beautiful book it became more than just theory, through her humble narrative of the journey she embarked upon, with guidance from Indigenous cultures and religions and the generous offerings of support and wisdom from Elders around the world, the Earth Treasure vases have woven this incredible thread of connection across the globe. Some of the vases locations were particularly poignant as I knew them personally and I found myself incredibly moved by the stories of the unexpected nature of healing that occurred when communities came together through the shared experience of the vases, not least of course the remarkable stories from Liberia and the DR Congo.
Cynthia’s book like the stories of the vases it shares is in itself a beautiful prayer of healing to the Earth. It offers so much wisdom for all who read it and then take the time to embody what is shared. Sacred Activism is truly a radical act, requiring us to stop and to step outside the paradigms that have created the world we currently witness, in this new space we are able to come home to Gaia to connect to our true nature’s and having set down the narrative of fear, act from a place of love, free from preconceived ideas of what should be. Now separate from our expectation and attachment we allow the space that facilitates a powerful co-creation with nature and communities that will undoubtable amaze us as to what can be achieved when our actions stem from this deep place of loving compassion. I urge you to read this book and share it with your friends, as this is the wisdom we need if we are to answer mother nature’s pleas for help and to facilitate a restoration of balance and harmony to the web of life for the benefit of the Earth and the whole of humanity.
August 16, 2024
This is a mythical tale of epic scale – and it really happened. In 1990, Cynthia Jurs traveled to Nepal with friends and had the chance to do something many of us only dream about: ask a 106-year-old lama a question that would change the course of her life. Recognizing the weight of the moment, it took her a while to finally understand her question: “What can I do to bring healing and protection to the earth?” The answer she was given has become her karmic assignment: take Earth Treasure Vases lovingly made by Tibetan monks and bury them in locations around the world where they could do their healing work.
I loved everything about Summoned by the Earth, especially Cynthia’s honest telling of the story as she struggled to live up to this task she had been given. She quickly discovers she can’t do it alone. I especially appreciated her in-depth account of taking the first vases to a cave overlooking Los Alamos National Laboratory, home of the atomic bomb and a place that continues to produce weapons of mass destruction, and the surrounding bio-region – an area that is home for both of us. Cynthia’s acknowledgement of the First Peoples of this region is powerful (and necessary) and she uplifts their voices with respect. Eventually this mission takes her to Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Israel/Palestine, Japan, Liberia, South Africa, Egypt, and many more places. (See the locations of all the vases here.)
Dive into this story and share Cynthia’s surprise at the many ways healings and transformations take place both internally and in the physical world through these small but powerful vases. This is a truly delightful and deeply inspiring read, full of awe.
I loved everything about Summoned by the Earth, especially Cynthia’s honest telling of the story as she struggled to live up to this task she had been given. She quickly discovers she can’t do it alone. I especially appreciated her in-depth account of taking the first vases to a cave overlooking Los Alamos National Laboratory, home of the atomic bomb and a place that continues to produce weapons of mass destruction, and the surrounding bio-region – an area that is home for both of us. Cynthia’s acknowledgement of the First Peoples of this region is powerful (and necessary) and she uplifts their voices with respect. Eventually this mission takes her to Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Israel/Palestine, Japan, Liberia, South Africa, Egypt, and many more places. (See the locations of all the vases here.)
Dive into this story and share Cynthia’s surprise at the many ways healings and transformations take place both internally and in the physical world through these small but powerful vases. This is a truly delightful and deeply inspiring read, full of awe.
January 27, 2025
This book documents Buddhist Cynthia Jurs' journey to carry out the Earth Treasure Vase practice - an ancient ritual to restore balance to the Earth by taking prayer-filled clay vases and burying them in places where healing from environmental and social conflict is needed most. She takes the vases to Liberia where war had devastated people and nature, to Australia where Aboriginal elders blessed the significant places they were buried, and near Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, the birthplace of the atomic bomb, among many other places to create a global mandala.
It would be very easy to dismiss all this and wonder how the heck burying vases will do anything. But their burial brought people together, created a shared intention, it reconnected people to special sites and grew a sense of interconnectedness with all living things. We humans have always used rituals, and the power of meditation and prayer does have an impact that can ripple far and wide. And change did happen - peace huts were built, protected areas were designated, and new awareness of both problems and solutions were formed.
Cynthia was very honest in struggles over the weight of responsibility and whether she was worthy of the practice. And grappled with her doubts over aspects of her tradition such as the treatment of women. In the end, she embraced a spirituality that focused on the sacred feminine and on Gaia - a deep reverence and care for the planet.
Don't read this with cynicism, open your heart and mind and discover how simple prayer and the burying of sacred vases truly can transform lives and allow healing to happen. Mother Earth needs all the help she can get, and I for one believe Cynthia Jurs has had an enormous impact.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for sending this me this free copy in exchange for an honest review.
It would be very easy to dismiss all this and wonder how the heck burying vases will do anything. But their burial brought people together, created a shared intention, it reconnected people to special sites and grew a sense of interconnectedness with all living things. We humans have always used rituals, and the power of meditation and prayer does have an impact that can ripple far and wide. And change did happen - peace huts were built, protected areas were designated, and new awareness of both problems and solutions were formed.
Cynthia was very honest in struggles over the weight of responsibility and whether she was worthy of the practice. And grappled with her doubts over aspects of her tradition such as the treatment of women. In the end, she embraced a spirituality that focused on the sacred feminine and on Gaia - a deep reverence and care for the planet.
Don't read this with cynicism, open your heart and mind and discover how simple prayer and the burying of sacred vases truly can transform lives and allow healing to happen. Mother Earth needs all the help she can get, and I for one believe Cynthia Jurs has had an enormous impact.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for sending this me this free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2024
Are you ready for an unforgettable journey?
This book is at once an adventure story, a spiritual memoir, and an inspiring text filled with feminine wisdom facing our broken and beautiful world.
I was fascinated by the incredible journey that Cynthia Jurs embarked on, her question leading to a sacred quest to embed Earth Treasure Vases around the globe, bringing her into communion and conversation with people all over the world. Her story left me with a greater understanding of traditions I’ve never encountered before, as well as an appreciation for the essential step of bearing witness to the truth as a first step of healing.
One line from a late chapter in the book is still resonating with me. In the face of crushing grief, she writes, “....I get up and stand tall and strong, the wind pounding me in the face. But I do not turn away. Even if the end of life on Earth is near, I will meet the gale with all I’ve got.” Does it get any more hopepunk than that?
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for the ARC. And thank you, Cynthia, for your dedication to healing our world and for sharing your story.
This book is at once an adventure story, a spiritual memoir, and an inspiring text filled with feminine wisdom facing our broken and beautiful world.
I was fascinated by the incredible journey that Cynthia Jurs embarked on, her question leading to a sacred quest to embed Earth Treasure Vases around the globe, bringing her into communion and conversation with people all over the world. Her story left me with a greater understanding of traditions I’ve never encountered before, as well as an appreciation for the essential step of bearing witness to the truth as a first step of healing.
One line from a late chapter in the book is still resonating with me. In the face of crushing grief, she writes, “....I get up and stand tall and strong, the wind pounding me in the face. But I do not turn away. Even if the end of life on Earth is near, I will meet the gale with all I’ve got.” Does it get any more hopepunk than that?
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for the ARC. And thank you, Cynthia, for your dedication to healing our world and for sharing your story.
May 22, 2024
Summoned by the Earth by Cynthia Jurs is a remarkable story of what one person can do in these times of ecological peril and distress. The courage it took to fulfill her dharma, her calling is very inspiring and an exemplary lesson in following intuition despite seemingly overwhelming circumstances. One of the things I appreciate so much about this book is how it brings together people from all over the world and from different traditions, into a unified ritual that revolves around a shared responsibility for the well being of the Earth and future generations. This is what Earth wants, no doubt. That we unify, spread peace, act with brotherly and sisterly love towards each other, work together to heal ourselves and the planet. This book demonstrates this vision. Very inspiring. This book is a treasure vase in itself. It contains medicine for the heart that is burdened and weary with all the problems facing us. Highly recommended.
November 18, 2024
I didn't really know what to expect when a fellow meditator friend suggested this book. Feeling often helpless myself in the face of climate catastrophes and the growing divide and fractioning of our society, I was pleasantly surprised to read about Lama Cynthia Jurs journey to do her part in healing the world.
She put her fears into word when visiting a real life old wise hermit in cage:"What can I do to bring healing and protection to the Earth?" The answer she got surprised her and took a while for her to take on the. assignment to bury "Earth Treasure Vases" in certain power points around the globe. Putting one foot in front of the other in this unfolding and deepening journey it changed the projectory of her life completely.
A thought provoking and inspiring book.
She put her fears into word when visiting a real life old wise hermit in cage:"What can I do to bring healing and protection to the Earth?" The answer she got surprised her and took a while for her to take on the. assignment to bury "Earth Treasure Vases" in certain power points around the globe. Putting one foot in front of the other in this unfolding and deepening journey it changed the projectory of her life completely.
A thought provoking and inspiring book.
July 24, 2024
An astounding account of the miraculous life that unfolds when one asks a question—“What can I do to bring healing and protection to Earth?”—and then says YES to the pathless path of heeding the invitation as answer. I can’t think of a person alive who has demonstrated such devotion to Mother Gaia and her healing. In Summoned by the Earth, Cynthia Jurs tells of her journey to lovingly steward Earth Treasure Vases to crucial areas around the planet as offerings of reciprocity, respect, and reverence for our home. Jurs writes with honesty and humility, and it inspires me to believe that any act I can do with love toward our beloved Earth truly does make a difference.
November 19, 2024
In this beautiful spiritual memoire, Cythia Jurs takes us through her outer journey, fulfilling her teacher’s instruction to place Earth Treasure Vases at specific sites all over the planet, a kind of “planetary acupuncture,” to heal the Earth. She also takes us along on her inner journey as she comes to realize that as much as she values and honors the traditional path that has been taught to her, to be true to herself she must also listen to her inner guidance and incorporate the values of practices of climate and gender justice. I resonated so deeply with this part of her journey and found affirmation and inspiration from her story.
July 16, 2024
Cynthia Jurs brings us an inspiring true story of her many adventures—around the world and deep into her psyche— to fulfill the calling she received to bring healing to the world. In beautifully written prose, Jurs invites the reader along for a fascinating ride as she brings vases filled with sacred prayers and medicine to threatened and imperiled places, shares ceremonies with elders and wisdom keepers of many traditions and uncovers deep truths about our connection to spirit, to Gaia, to all life. “It is clear to me now that Mother Earth has been waiting for me to recognize our interdependence…we are Earth…We do not need to seek an enlightened, transcendent source of refuge outside of ourselves. Bringing our direct insight and spiritual experience to Earth is that next evolutionary step of humanity—to wake up as One with Gaia and with all life. The opportunity now is not about transcending, it is about embodying.” In these troubling times, when many wonder how to bring about change, Jurs shows us the power of what one person can accomplish on behalf of our endangered world by embodying sacred activism and following one’s heart no matter where it leads.
October 6, 2024
I LOVED this book! Such an inpsiring story - I had never heard of the earth-vase practice and it was a delight to discover something new, as well as to read about someone's dedication, struggle and truth with commiting to a deep practice like this. Highly recommend!
April 2, 2024
Cynthia Jurs’ book Summoned by the Earth is a litany of prayers and invocations for the healing of Mother Earth, and is a deeply personal telling of her life journey. This amazing expedition began in a cave high in the Himalayan mountains as she asked an esteemed Lama from Tibet the most important question of our time: How can we bring healing and protection to the Earth?
Her book is a riveting account of the adventures that followed, as she set out to fulfill the task given her: to continue the ancient practice of the Earth Treasure Vases. For our planet’s revivification and renewal she must carry small clay vessels filled with prayers, medicines, offerings and blessings to the sacred “meridian points” of Gaia. As we turn the pages, her rhythmic incantatory retelling of the places, practices and people she encounters brings them palpably before the reader. We are introduced to dieties, nature spirits and Buddhas as well as first nation’s peoples, peace activists and earth protectors.
Cynthia takes the reader not only on a travelogue of earth’s exquisite yet beleaguered and suffering landscapes, she takes us as well into landscapes of the soul. She is shown primordial truths and healing practices that have been held, protected for millennia, by earths indigenous peoples. She shows us the universal undeniable instructions ~ the qualities of the heart ~ necessary to become a true human being. She reminds us “Whoever we are and whatever we have lived through, we are all holy vessels. We are treasures, each of us holding the medicine to heal the world.”
Read this book!!
Her book is a riveting account of the adventures that followed, as she set out to fulfill the task given her: to continue the ancient practice of the Earth Treasure Vases. For our planet’s revivification and renewal she must carry small clay vessels filled with prayers, medicines, offerings and blessings to the sacred “meridian points” of Gaia. As we turn the pages, her rhythmic incantatory retelling of the places, practices and people she encounters brings them palpably before the reader. We are introduced to dieties, nature spirits and Buddhas as well as first nation’s peoples, peace activists and earth protectors.
Cynthia takes the reader not only on a travelogue of earth’s exquisite yet beleaguered and suffering landscapes, she takes us as well into landscapes of the soul. She is shown primordial truths and healing practices that have been held, protected for millennia, by earths indigenous peoples. She shows us the universal undeniable instructions ~ the qualities of the heart ~ necessary to become a true human being. She reminds us “Whoever we are and whatever we have lived through, we are all holy vessels. We are treasures, each of us holding the medicine to heal the world.”
Read this book!!
April 8, 2024
This is a spectacular book, taking the reader on a deeply heart opening journey. In these times of ecological uncertainty and despair, reading a true story of a woman’s lifelong mission to do her part to restore balance on earth is medicine for the soul. This book restores the reader’s faith, expands our imagination for what is possible, and inspires us to take big leaps, making offerings and prayers that can impact reality in ways that the mind is incapable of imagining. I highly recommend this beautiful book!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews