Icon of Grace and Peace

An inadvertent icon of grace and heroism, Jane Goodall, the primatologist turned environmental campaigner blazes on the inspirational trail around the world. Goodall, the 71 year old Ambassador of Peace's message is simple: "Yes, we are trying to change the world. Yes, we are changing the world. But we can't anything alone. . . Every single individual makes a difference every day. When we get a team and we can hold hands, we can change the world together."

In 1986, it became clear to Goodall that she would have to leave her research behind and address the planet's bigger environmental and social issues. The Jane Goodall Institute, founded in 1977, now has a global staff of more than 250 to carry out its conservation and research work. Roots & Shoots is her main focus these days, comprising more than 6,000 groups in at least 87 countries. Goodall has evolved from being one of the world's most recognized animal researchers to becoming a full time activist who has made it her life's work and driving ambition to protect and nurture every living thing on this planet. "When I die, I want to be able to look at my three grandchildren, whom I care about very deply, and tell them that I really tried my best." Excerpt from Vogue Magazine.

Living as if it Matters

" It may be when we no longer know what to do,
we have come to our real work,
and that when we no longer know which way to go,
we have begun our real journey"
------ Wendell Barry

Healing ourselves and the world thru Mindfulness, living as if our lives matter is the way to peace. Being more present in your life from moment to moment is a certain kind of discipline, which is why these meditative traditions have lasted so long, because they are really based on the practice. Practice truly means living your life so that it really matters, so there is no rehearsal; it's all part of the unfolding of life. So then life itself becomes meditation.

Poets for Peace

"Artists are magical helpers. Evoking symbols and motifs that connect us to our deeper selves, they can help us along the heroic journey of our own lives".
---- Joseph Campbell
Peace Poems floating, like dandelion seeds in the wind:

"cold rain ~
in the stone buddha's hands,
a windblown flower
--for Marla Ruzicka, 1976-2005

although the ink has faded
a faint perfume lingers"

Haiku by Karma Tenzing Wangchuk whowill be reading at the Haiku Poets of Northern California (HPNC) annual "Two Autumns" meeting August 21st, 2005, at Fort Mason in San Francisco. http://www.haiku-poets-northern-california.com/

Peace Pods

Satsang means sharing your consciousness with other people, what your image and inspiration about peace is about. Creating peace from where we are, begin to think of our everyday groups, or communities as Peace Pods. I like that image from the Invasion of the Body Snatchers. .it is one that stays with you! Peace Pods are containers for peace consciousness and awareness. They could be at your workplace, school, yoga classes, book groups, knitting clubs. . anyplace where two or more are gathered. This is an everyday opportunity to bring together the Community of the Caring ˜ each one of us ~those who seek an improved world, and are simply looking for a place to begin to demonstrate the Power of People Making a Difference. . one by one, moment by moment.

In the Peace Pod we can bring an awareness to how we are holding those we are in community with. Are we standing in compassion, loving kindness, and openess? Are we hearing others deeply? Are we seeing them as they really are? Are we acting from the heart? Are we acting for the good of others?

The Sacred Peace Pipe

"This we Know:
The Earth does not belong to man,
Man belongs to the Earth.
All things are connected like the blood that unites one family.
Man did not weave the web of life; he merely is a strand in it.
Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.
------ Chief Seattle, 1852

This blog is dedicated to exploring the archetype of peace through the symbols and images of cultures and how they may be used to promote peace consciousness in everyday life.

The Peace Pipe (calumet, chanupa, C'anupa) is one the best known Native American symbols. The Lakota name chanupa means 'reed' (calumet means reed in French). It is used in Native ceremonies as a blessing and an offering. The phrase 'peace pipe' originates with western settlers who observed its use during peace negotiations. Pipes were traditionally smoked during the signing of peace treaties because, according to native traditions, the pipe can only be touched with a peaceful heart and when the smoker is "in a place of peace receptivity and kindness,"

The sacred pipe and ceremony are at the heart of native people's culture, as they travel the Red Road, the native road of balance in a good way, the living breath of the Great Spirit Mystery, and the way of the Helpers, the way of love and freedom, here on the back of our Earth Mother. The smoke coming from the mouth symbolizes the truth being spoken, and the plumes of smoke provide a path for prayers to reach the Great Spirit, and for the Great Spirit to travel down to Mother Earth.

Sacred Instructions

Given by the Creator to native people at the time of creation. The Sacred Instructions are eternal. It is time to remember and honor the sacred instructions:

Take care of Mother Earth and the other colors of man.
Respect this Mother Earth and creation.
Honor all life, and support that honor.
Be grateful from the heart for all life. It is through life that there
is survival. Thank the Creator at all times for all life.
Love, and express that love.
Be humble. Humility is the gift of wisdom and understanding.
Be kind with one's self and with others.
Share feelings and personal concerns and commitments.
Be honest with one's self and with others. Be responsible for these sacred instructions and share them with other nations.

The Power of Om

Om is the primordial sound, the first breath of creation, the vibration that ensures existence. Om sign signifies God, Creation, & the One-ness of all creation. The Om symbol is a sacred syllable representing Brahman, the impersonal Absolute — omnipotent, omnipresent, and the source of all manifest existence. By sound and form, AUM symbolizes the infinite Brahman (ultimate reality) and the entire universe. There is harmony, peace and bliss in this simple but deeply felt sound. By vibrating the sacred syllable Om, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Ultimate Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the highest state of "stateless" eternity.