One week before the terror attacks in Paris, on the Monday
morning news, CBS gave an overview of the events that had
taken place over the weekend.
I can't remember all the details, but there were 3-4 intense and powerful stories regarding police brutality towards young people,
police brutality towards black men,
a shooting at a school, etc.
morning news, CBS gave an overview of the events that had
taken place over the weekend.
I can't remember all the details, but there were 3-4 intense and powerful stories regarding police brutality towards young people,
police brutality towards black men,
a shooting at a school, etc.
I sat in the kitchen watching somewhat in disbelief and praying for peace,
praying for the hatred and fear to stop,
praying that we start to see others as we see ourselves,
praying that we remember that WE ARE ALL ONE,
praying that we start being kind to one another.
And more recently, in the States we saw San Bernardino, California experience
more terror and loss last month.
I know there are some people out there that think prayer doesn't work or
that it doesn't do enough in these tragic situations. I have seen the power
of prayer and had read many incredible stories of healing and
miracles with the power of prayer.
The other thing I do that to me is a sister to prayer, is Meditation.
And I don't meditate in the traditional yogic way.
I meditate when I walk. I meditate when I do the dishes.
I meditate when I take a bathe.
Water is a great conduit for meditation, connecting to your Higher Self and to Source.
There are an infinite number of ways to meditate.
I believe that if we cultivate PEACE in our lives,
in our hearts, in our mind,
that peace will
ripple out to others and into the world at large.
No one can give you peace and you
certainly can't buy it.
It is something found within and
in the world we live in today,
we have to actively cultivate it.
I'm not saying it is always easy,
but it can be done.
praying for the hatred and fear to stop,
praying that we start to see others as we see ourselves,
praying that we remember that WE ARE ALL ONE,
praying that we start being kind to one another.
And more recently, in the States we saw San Bernardino, California experience
more terror and loss last month.
I know there are some people out there that think prayer doesn't work or
that it doesn't do enough in these tragic situations. I have seen the power
of prayer and had read many incredible stories of healing and
miracles with the power of prayer.
The other thing I do that to me is a sister to prayer, is Meditation.
And I don't meditate in the traditional yogic way.
I meditate when I walk. I meditate when I do the dishes.
I meditate when I take a bathe.
Water is a great conduit for meditation, connecting to your Higher Self and to Source.
There are an infinite number of ways to meditate.
I believe that if we cultivate PEACE in our lives,
in our hearts, in our mind,
that peace will
ripple out to others and into the world at large.
No one can give you peace and you
certainly can't buy it.
It is something found within and
in the world we live in today,
we have to actively cultivate it.
I'm not saying it is always easy,
but it can be done.
I met an incredible woman and her children in November.
They live in the States,
but don't live a traditional American lifestyle.
The family walks and prays for peace for the earth
and its inhabitants.
They ride their bikes, she called it "journeying,"
and they pray as they ride.
And they have travelled around the globe doing the same thing,
most recently in Greece praying for the migrant
and economic situation there.
What I witnessed was a mother devoted to her children and supporting them on their journeys. They ask the Creator/God/the
Universe to guide them and show them where they need to be and what they need to do. I was in awe of their story, their love for each other and their devotion to God. They truly blessed me with their story and their Light and their Love for each other and the Planet as a Whole and all of its inhabitants.
One more true story to share:
Many years ago when I was in college, I heard a piece on something like "60 Minutes".
It was a story of the ongoing battle for land in Jerusalem between the
Israelis and the Palestinians.
It was the story of two young men that had died in a bombing attack.
One was a Palestinian. One was an Israeli.
Neither man was carrying or wearing the bomb when it exploded,
they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, "as people say."
Some time after the men were buried, one of the families invited
the other family to their home to share tea. I believe they lived in the
same neighborhood and were aware of each others' loss.
Inviting someone over to your home in Israel at that time was
a very sacred and special event. You just didn't invite anyone over.
There is ceremony in the making and sharing of tea and in the
act of inviting people into your home.
That being said, it was most unheard of and probably frowned upon
for Israelis and Palestinians to share tea with each other.
The invitation and welcoming of these particular strangers into their
home was a scary and new experience. And it was just as scary and
new for the people who were invited to come over for tea and to talk.
Both extended families agreed and what transpired,
was truly a MIRACLE.
They both shared their stories of the tragic event.
They shared wonderful memories of each of their boys.
And slowly they started to see that they were more alike than different.
and there were several generations that were in attendance on both sides.
They were both hard working, not wealthy, families working to make the
best life for their children and their families. They were both trying to
survive in a land filled with centuries of war, stress, fighting and turmoil.
They were good people who wanted nothing more than peace and a safe
place to raise their families.
They wanted to watch their children grow up and have children of their
own.
They were both grieving the senseless loss of their respective young men.
One of the men said that although there aren't any physical walls in Jerusalem
to separate the Israelis and the Palestinians, there are invisible lines drawn all
over the city which mark who "owns" what land or where it is safe for each
group to go and where it might be less safe for each group to go.
And then he said, "After spending an afternoon with the other family,
both parties have made the decision to tear down those "invisible"
but very palpable walls."
They recognized that their individual fear of their neighbors
who were different than they were,
was contributing to the overall, collective,
country wide fear, and it was helping no one.
I heard this story over twenty years ago and needless to say,
it made quite an impact on me, and it comes to mind often.
They live in the States,
but don't live a traditional American lifestyle.
The family walks and prays for peace for the earth
and its inhabitants.
They ride their bikes, she called it "journeying,"
and they pray as they ride.
And they have travelled around the globe doing the same thing,
most recently in Greece praying for the migrant
and economic situation there.
What I witnessed was a mother devoted to her children and supporting them on their journeys. They ask the Creator/God/the
Universe to guide them and show them where they need to be and what they need to do. I was in awe of their story, their love for each other and their devotion to God. They truly blessed me with their story and their Light and their Love for each other and the Planet as a Whole and all of its inhabitants.
One more true story to share:
Many years ago when I was in college, I heard a piece on something like "60 Minutes".
It was a story of the ongoing battle for land in Jerusalem between the
Israelis and the Palestinians.
It was the story of two young men that had died in a bombing attack.
One was a Palestinian. One was an Israeli.
Neither man was carrying or wearing the bomb when it exploded,
they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, "as people say."
Some time after the men were buried, one of the families invited
the other family to their home to share tea. I believe they lived in the
same neighborhood and were aware of each others' loss.
Inviting someone over to your home in Israel at that time was
a very sacred and special event. You just didn't invite anyone over.
There is ceremony in the making and sharing of tea and in the
act of inviting people into your home.
That being said, it was most unheard of and probably frowned upon
for Israelis and Palestinians to share tea with each other.
The invitation and welcoming of these particular strangers into their
home was a scary and new experience. And it was just as scary and
new for the people who were invited to come over for tea and to talk.
Both extended families agreed and what transpired,
was truly a MIRACLE.
They both shared their stories of the tragic event.
They shared wonderful memories of each of their boys.
And slowly they started to see that they were more alike than different.
and there were several generations that were in attendance on both sides.
They were both hard working, not wealthy, families working to make the
best life for their children and their families. They were both trying to
survive in a land filled with centuries of war, stress, fighting and turmoil.
They were good people who wanted nothing more than peace and a safe
place to raise their families.
They wanted to watch their children grow up and have children of their
own.
They were both grieving the senseless loss of their respective young men.
One of the men said that although there aren't any physical walls in Jerusalem
to separate the Israelis and the Palestinians, there are invisible lines drawn all
over the city which mark who "owns" what land or where it is safe for each
group to go and where it might be less safe for each group to go.
And then he said, "After spending an afternoon with the other family,
both parties have made the decision to tear down those "invisible"
but very palpable walls."
They recognized that their individual fear of their neighbors
who were different than they were,
was contributing to the overall, collective,
country wide fear, and it was helping no one.
I heard this story over twenty years ago and needless to say,
it made quite an impact on me, and it comes to mind often.
 |  |
If you don't know where to start, find something or someone that brings you peace.
Maybe it is sitting or walking in nature.
Maybe it is the company of a good friend, a child, a senior.
Maybe it is a peaceful memory or picture.
Maybe it is picturing yourself in your favorite place.
Close your eyes and imagine that thing/person/place that brings you peace.
Allow the feeling of peace to wash over you and to flow throughout your whole body.
Then watch that peace extend out your heart to others,
out your mind to yourself and others,
out your hands and feet as you go about your work and play.
You can even speak a Mantra,
"I am Peace."
"I see Peace."
"I receive Peace."
"I wish Peace for others."
"I AM PEACE."
etc, etc, etc.....
You can also ask the Universe to show you the way to peace.
The Universe and God always know what is for our highest good, growth and well-being.
Maybe it is sitting or walking in nature.
Maybe it is the company of a good friend, a child, a senior.
Maybe it is a peaceful memory or picture.
Maybe it is picturing yourself in your favorite place.
Close your eyes and imagine that thing/person/place that brings you peace.
Allow the feeling of peace to wash over you and to flow throughout your whole body.
Then watch that peace extend out your heart to others,
out your mind to yourself and others,
out your hands and feet as you go about your work and play.
You can even speak a Mantra,
"I am Peace."
"I see Peace."
"I receive Peace."
"I wish Peace for others."
"I AM PEACE."
etc, etc, etc.....
You can also ask the Universe to show you the way to peace.
The Universe and God always know what is for our highest good, growth and well-being.
One evening, an elderly Cherokee brave told his grandson
about a battle that goes on inside people.
he said "my son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.
one is evil. it is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow,
regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment,
inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
the other is good. it is joy, peace love, hope serenity,
humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity,
truth, compassion and faith."
the grandson though about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:
"which wolf wins?..."
the old Cherokee simply replied,
"the one that you feed"
about a battle that goes on inside people.
he said "my son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.
one is evil. it is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow,
regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment,
inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
the other is good. it is joy, peace love, hope serenity,
humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity,
truth, compassion and faith."
the grandson though about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:
"which wolf wins?..."
the old Cherokee simply replied,
"the one that you feed"
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