By Andrew Kutt

Note: For this activity you will need ten strands of yarn about four to six feet long. The strands should be of the colors indicated below if possible. The strands, when stretched out should all be connected to a central point some kind of object -ideally a ball of multicolored uncarded wool. You can also use an ordinary ball of wool thread, a decorated beach ball, or something in the shape of a heart. If necessary or if you prefer, a person can be the one who is the central point where all the strands of yarn connect. The activity is for ten people at a time.

Today we are going to play the Web of Life Game. We are going to unwind all of our strands of yarn. Each person will take the end of one strand and gently stretch it out so we make one large circle around the center where all the strands come together. We are going to begin with a special poem we will say at the beginning and at the end of our game. Then whatever color you have you will take turns saying the poem that goes along with that particular color. After we say all ten poems for all ten strands, then we will gently pass the end of our strand to the right not to the person immediately next to us but to the next person. In other words we are passing to every other person. Then we will repeat the poems, except this time you will have a different strand of yarn and so you will say a different poem. We will repeat this up to five times, so that at the end we have woven our strands together in a gentle weave of unity.

Here are the preferred colors of yarn, the meanings of the colors, and the poem that goes with each color:

Red ----Red is for the blood that goes through every human’s veins that gives us strength and health. All human beings have the same blood. We are all part of the same species. We are all one family

Red is the blood in you and me,

It’s red no matter what you see.

Whether we are black or brown or white,

We’re all one color deep inside.

Blue------ Blue is for the air we breath and for the sky that gives us inspiration. Blue is for beauty and for inspiration. Blue is a heavenly color, which shows us the way to transform earth.

Blue is for the sky above,

Your beauty, which our eyes do love.

When we can breathe the purest air,

We know we’re safe in blue sky’s care.

Brown--- Brown is for the earth Brown our mother earth who gave us birth and who nurtures us always. Brown is for the soil made of the same substance as our bodies and to which our bodies will return.

To this I say to mother earth,

You were the one who gave us birth,

Your soil is fertile and so deep,

Your loving care we always keep.

Yellow----- Yellow is for the sun - the source of our energy or comfort and warmth, our inspiration. Yellow is for the source of food through photosynthesis for all the plants who, in turn, provide food for all animals and humans.

Oh great sun that shines so bright,

You give us life you give us light.

You provide food for plants to eat,

And when we’re cold you give us heat.

Black ------Black is for space, the mystery of how we came to be, for the night in which we dream and have visions. Night is dark but it is there we can see the majesty of the stars and the vastness of the universe.

Black you stand for deepest space,

We cannot see your hidden face,

But when the stars and planets shine,

We can see your smiles divine.

White------White is for goodness and purity and wisdom. White is for the knight who comes to help his brothers and sisters. White is the color of our hearts when we give the best of ourselves.

White you stand for all that’s true,

For purity and wisdom too.

In you all colors find their home,

With you we’ll never feel alone.

Green—Green is for creativity and imagination. Green is for newness.
Whatever is old cannot be green. Green reminds us to keep our hearts joyful and our minds young.

Create, create forever green,

Every day a brand new scene.

Imagination is the key

To staying happy and carefree.

Lavender—Lavender is for healing, caring and compassion. Lavender reminds us that our better nature is sweet. It softens us when we are harsh so we can be a healing force.

Lavender is a healing thing,

It helps us when we hurt or sting.

Just like lavender we can be

A help to those with injury.

Orange ------Orange is for bravery, courage and determination. Orange is different because it has no fear. Orange always shines no matter what. Orange reminds us to stay determined.

Orange no one can imitate,

Your bravery’s what makes you great.

Courageous means to say what’s true,

No matter what your fears tell you

Burgundy Burgundy is faith and loyalty, Burgundy is the color of our royalty. It is the color of the banner of peace we all hold when we walk in the way of love and compassion.

There is nothing quite like burgundy

When it comes to loyalty.

If we have faith in who we are,

We can twinkle like the stars.

Beginning and Concluding poem:

We weave a web of life each day

In our work and in our play.

The strands we cannot always see,

But they weave together you and me.

Each thought or action done with care

Means someone’s happy here or there.

Whatever goodness we can sew

Will make our fabric strong and grow,

So it can spread across the world,

Like a flag of endless love unfurled.

And who or what is at the source

Well it’s you and me and God of course

That love must have a thousand names,

It’s why we like to play this game.

Copyright Andrew Kutt 2005