Waiting for the Rain

Southern California is an interesting place. Some days you wake up and it looks like it’s going to rain, it feel’s like it’s going to rain. There is a chill and a breeze in the air….but no rain.

Whatup with that? 

We could use some rain here. Dry hills, dry people. The plants and trees here look like it rains all the time.

Everywhere there are beautiful, colorful flowers and huge trees. But no rain. it all comes from waste water. 

My friend says she wants rain because she feels like it washes away the sins of the world.

Another person said they want rain so they don’t have to pay for a car wash.

I like the first analogy.

Up north of here, it DOES rain all the time. They say Carmel has moss growing on the roofs…cant wait to see if THATS true.  

Rain makes me think of my dad. He loved thunderstorms, as I do too.

The day of his funeral there was a HUGE thunderstorm. Thanks Dad!

People here don’t realize what a gift rain is. In other parts of the world rain brings on a celebration.

In the Hindu tradition, rain on your wedding day brings good luck.

In Southwest Nigeria Lightening is used as an instrument of warfare.

In Japan, some rain dance rituals occur in the early spring, but the REAL rain dance takes place at the end of summer, for the harvest and when the farmers are desperate.

The Salel of Tunisia is part of the arid zone that extends from Morocco to Afghanistan. The people of this region profess the religion of Islam. theirs views link divine power, human actions and rain are based on the Qur>an and are expressed in rain prayers. Opinion is widely held that a drought is caused by the injustice and ingratitude to GOD, and that if people repent of their sins GOD would send them rain.




In the SUKKOT, or harvest of the moon festival in autumn is also known as the Festival of Rain.

Although nowadays we often view rain as an interruption or an inconvenience, those that live off the earth embrace rain as life. Rain nurtures and sustains us. In Israel, where rain is unpredictable and only comes during the winter season, Sukkot became one of the most important holidays of the year, because that is where the Jewish people asked for rain to fall. For our students starting a new year, this new beginning seems as unpredictable as the rain, and there is an unconscious collective desire to be blessed with the same security that rain brings.

In its primal form, Sukkot was done with great joy and impressive pageantry. "In Temple times, the week-long celebration of Sukkot was one of the year's two major pilgrimage events (the other being Passover). Jews came from all over the world to bring their tithes to the Temple, and to join in the celebrations. There were many special events. Every morning, after the burning of the regular sacrifices, there was a water-pouring ceremony. An imposing procession brought water carried in golden vessels up to the Temple Mount where it was poured, along with wine, on the altar! Silver horns were blown, and flutes were played. The day was filled with the impressive presentation of the gift-offerings brought by pilgrims. After dark came the fire ceremonies. Torches were juggled, giant menorot were set ablaze, and even the priests' old garments were burned in bonfires. Sukkot scored a ten in spectacle.”

 In China, they have the Water Dragons. To bring rain, the dragons would fly up into the clouds. Storms are battling dragons. Droughts sleepy ones. Floods wrathful dragons.
The Dragon Dance preformed at Chinese New Year ceremonies now was originally a ritual done for rain making.


In India, the buddhist tradition is that Kingship and rainfall were linked. The king invoked rain when needed.


And in England the rainmaking rites at Gellion Well in West Glamorgan, the people danced on the green, throwing flowers and herbs, singing old ballads, playing “kiss the ring". Then the group leader would go to the well and cry out 3 times “bring us rain” Looks like it worked!


And of course here in the US the Hopi Indians are famous for their rain dancing.


It is fascinating how the world views rain and water.  


Just remember that on your next rainy day and you want to complain about it.