The ritual brought 60 local women together in celebration of water, our life-giving source. The ritual also bore witness to the contamination of our water supplies* and ended with a healing prayer. Inspired by the tradition of women as water bearers, each woman carried her own pitcher in the ritual as a symbol of her personal commitment to guard and conserve this precious resource. The combined waters carried by these 60 women represent the collective impact of their individual commitment. Their prayers were sealed in a bottle that will be offered to the Pacific Ocean in 2009.