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By John Darling For the Daily Tidings November 23. 2014 7:32PM Prayers for snow in year's second Mount Ashland blessing Supporters gather at the first November "Pray for Snow" ceremony on Mount Ashland on Sunday. Photos by JD Anderson Some 50 people braved biting winds on Mount Ashland to join in drumming, chanting, songs and prayers for snow, not just for a good ski season, but so the whole valley gets good runoff next summer. The ceremony, led by Robert “Bobcat” Brothers, has been held for the last eight years at the end of the ski season, but this time, said Jamie Schectman, Mt. Ashland Director of Sales & Marketing, it was thought best to do the prayers beforehand. “The mountain blessing is to welcome the first snows,” he said. “Snow is so vital to the watershed, the mountain, the earth and the local economy. I’m an optimist. Whatever we do here is going to fill up the karma basket with the power of positive thought.” Celebrants to the ceremony seemed to spring from many traditions, from Native American to Eastern religions. Sage was smudged and water sprinkled on people, with thanks for oceans, rain, rivers and other watery elements. “Bobcat” implored Mother Nature to “bring snow down here. We ask something special from the Great Mystery. Come and grace us with what we so missed last winter.” Krishna Groover chanted, “Every ray of sun, every drop of rain, every cell of life is a gift to us — and every snowflake is an ocean. We pray the snow comes to cleanse our land. The ocean is love and love is welcome here.” One celebrant chanted about our “oneness with the mother” and the father. Another sprinkled rose water about the circle, chanting the “we shall be cleansed and fed by the water next summer. Thank you for the seas, rains and this sacred mountain.” Mt. Ashland General Manager Hiram Towle said of the ritual, “Whenever you get this much power together in this kind of place, there’s a good chance nature will respond to the positive feeling. As for the operation, we’re still running it very lean, watching it very closely, so if there’s any delay in opening, we can stay on track.” In addition to welcoming the white stuff with prayers, Mt. Ashland today is welcoming the green stuff (money) by launching a $50,000 fundraiser on Indiegogo, lasting three weeks. Rewards for donors range from gifts worth $10 up to $10,000. The high-end prize is a ten-year pass to everything, says Schectman, “except beer, but I’ll buy the first round for whoever donates $10,000.” Many prizes will be emblazoned with the new Mt. Ashland logo, designed gratis by Lithia Motors. The Medford auto dealer also donated toward a new website design. Mount Ashland got a dusting of snow, about an inch, on Saturday night and will need 18 to 24 inches to open, says Schectman. The average opening time is the second week of December. http://www.dailytidings.com/article/20141123/NEWS/141129926 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->