Welcome
to Voices of Peace: a section
where Peace Ministers from the Beloved
World Directory share their personal
insights on topics that are relevant
to Peace, Peacemaking in our daily lives
and humanities evolution.
Gather
the Tribe by Lonna Bartley
Email:
lonnabartley@mac.com
Website:
www.humanity101.com
& www.blogtalkradio.com/humanity101
Of late, I have
been hearing the beat of the drums…the
heart-beat of all of existence. The resonance
of life. Do you feel it? The rate of the
beat is speeding up. I dance. I keep the
beat. I feel the urgency of its call.
A gift of the beat is that as I listen
and resonate with it, I am in the eternal
moment of NOW…I am in my heart…I
feel its vibration and its call to be
here in my body NOW. I get lost in the
completeness of my heart and NOW. I am
called to be fully present.
As I
respond to my heart and the calling of
the beat and rhythm of life I move in
response to the pulsation of the energies
of all of life. I notice those dancing
around me. Some in beautiful rhythmic
harmony with fluid motions...dancing their
joy. Others seems to in the space of chaos
and confusion. They are dancing to the
pulse in ways that are disharmonious.
I feel their energy pulling me. I feel
their energy asking, “How do I find
the fluidity?” “How do I learn
to listen to the beat deep within and
deep within the earth?” I see the
pain, anguish and fear in their eyes.
I must keep dancing my dance. Words are
not as powerful as BEING. Those that are
in harmony, are gathering to dance their
Sacred Dances NOW TOGETHER! The Tribe
is being called to respond to the Sacredness
of Life. As we keep resonating with the
heartbeat of life, others begin to feel
this vibration and they begin to respond.
The resonance is shared and felt on profound
levels.
Shifts are occurring. The drum is beating.
The heart is responding. The Tribe is
Gathering. Each dancer is called to dance
his/her own dance in response to the beat.
The Tribe of Man is in chaos. Can we each
be courageous enough to gather and dance?
The time is now!
SUNDAY
PEACE SERVICES by Dolly Warden
Email:
dwarden@earthlink.net
In
January, I joined three other female ministers
to create Ascension Ministries of Tampa.
We take turns conducting the service so
I get to do one service a month coming
to twelve a year. As a minister of spiritual
peacemaking, I felt it was important to
bring the concept of peace on my Sunday.
So I started by taking, one at a time,
the twelve major religious traditions
which are celebrated in our Sacred Office
of Peace and focusing the service on peace
as brought out in each tradition. Rather
than “preach” about peace
or give information about the religion,
I allow the stories, songs, meditations,
prayers, and music to create peace in
the congregants’ hearts. Essential
to this creation is the assistance of
a fantastic musician and singer, Leah
Clark.
Many
times we have had additional activities
at the end of the service such as dancing
the Hava Nagila (Judaism), or honoring
Kuan Yin through a ceremonial procession
to her statue on our grounds (Buddhism),
or drumming and chanting (Native American).
We recite the peace prayer for each tradition.
During our offering time, we play the
peace song that James Twyman recorded
for the particular tradition.
Three
attributes that I feel are essential to
creating and being Peace in relation to
this work is to keep the feeling of peace
within as I research, write, and create
the service. I always “receive”
what I need from the Universe for each
part of the service. Then I feel that
bringing the message of peace to the congregation
is essential through every aspect of the
service. Finally, I feel that it is not
appropriate to ask afterward, how the
congregation feels about the service or
if they liked it. That immediately stops
the flow of the peace and love and joy
that started within. Not telling the moral
of the story is also essential; that way
the meaning of the story stays with them
forever or at least a very long time.
Reclaiming
Your Power to Trust by Asha Ramakrishna
Email:info@reclaimingyourpower.com
Website:www.travelingfamilycircus.com
& www.reclaimingyourpower.com
There
once was a disconnected family. Disconnected
not because they were unconscious, but
because they were afraid to trust. They
were unable to trust in their innate ability
to provide for their family after both
losing their jobs; afraid to trust their
souls. They were paralyzed by the talk
of world economy and how their bank accounts
could one day reflect the typical living-beyond-their-means
American household. They were afraid to
trust in the All-That-Is.
Then,
this regular family got sick of living
like everyone else. They got tired of
talking about what they wanted to do.
They threw their reasoning voices to the
side, decided they would pack their two
kids, unnecessary amounts of clothes and
gear, and would drive from Boston, MA
into Central America during the summer.
Instead
of fears, they found a deep connection:
in the natural beauty of Mexico, in the
coral reefs of Belize, in the human need
in Guatemala, and in the financial polarity
of El Salvador. They ripped through the
façade of their personalities and
fell in love with each other, their rambunctious
children, and in the present moment, wherever
that took them.
I cannot
speak for him, but I know she fell in
love with herself. She practiced for two
months to love her curves and to claim
her needs. She learned to ask for space,
and she found refuge in the togetherness
of the family. She found the healing properties
of gratitude and that home is where her
Beloved and young daughters are. She discovered
that happiness is a choice.
What
have you talked about doing? Don’t
ask why you haven’t done it, but
decide you want it deeply enough to trust.
To be a Peacemaker is to trust in the
unseen loving forces of your Soul and
beyond.
To
view photos & blog:www.travelingfamilycircus.com
Journey
into the Cosmic Pulse by Karen Holbrook
Email:
karenholbrook@usa.net
Website:
www.thecosmicpulse.com
In 1997
I had a psychic and spiritual breakthrough
which led me through an intense healing
process. I became aware of myself as a
multidimensional being -compassion, wisdom,
joy, and bliss filled peace.
The
awakening left me with a powerful knowingness,
& memories that had to be relived,
accepted, integrated taking me to the
heart of the cosmos and back to the essence
of love that we individually and collectively
embody.
On a
personal level it meant remembering all
levels of creation and dealing with the
emotional pain of separation from the
first instance of individualisation. This
included all the places of heavens &
hell, I had created within.
The
deep periods of meditation at this level
of awareness allowed me to access and
energy I call the cosmic pulse.
The
cosmic pulse is created from four aspects
– the inner flame of love, zero
point, liquid love, and a pulse which
brings all these energies together in
a harmonic convergence that liberates
all potential and creative force within.
At the
centre of the pulse is an inner
flame of love comprised of all
the possible aspects of creation, based
on the energies of ‘creation’
‘nurture’ & ‘transformation’.
Zero
point accepts, dissolves, transforms,
and creates all things as part of itself.
It produces an all encompassing liquid
love that continuously and effortlessly
supports our continuing evolution.
The
Liquid love supports
every living cell in the body rejuvenating
& moisturising with pure love. It
expands and releases limitations by dissolving
them into love creating conscious awareness
of ourselves eternal multidimensional
being of pure source.
The
pulsation is created
by the harmonic convergence of within
us in an up down direction and side to
side creating a pulse of pure energy (cosmic
pulse). The convergence is triggered by
a decision to turn all of the aspects
of self inwards toward each other creating
an explosion of pure love from within.
Thus
the individual steps out of duality and
into PEACE and into the dance of life.
To
read and learn more about the cosmic pulse
go to www.thecosmicpulse.com
or contact me at karenholbrook@usa.net
Peacemaking
an Economic Paradigm by Christine
Jefferson
Email:christine@thereikicentre.ca
Website: www.thereikicentre.ca
Spiritual
peacemaking is an inside out job in that
each one of us is solely responsible for
finding the Peace that exists deep within
even the most chaotic circumstances of
life. Many of us are aware that bringing
peace to old belief systems, old ways
of doing things can be very challenging
indeed. My intention this past year was
to focus on and reveal the sincere gratitude
and appreciation I knew was hidden within
our North American system of monetary
exchange by opening a Spiritual Education
facility disguised as a small business
in the downtown core of a small Southern
Ontario town. On the outside we look like
any average storefront, complete with
appropriate signage, windows for visibility,
and accessibility. On the inside however,
we are very different. We are all about
Peace.
One
year ago a core group of dedicated individuals
gathered together to create a powerful
energy vortex based on the teachings of
“The Art of Spiritual Peacemaking”,
Then we set our intention to only attract
money that was given with the energy of
gratitude or appreciation. We offered
much needed support systems during times
of personal transition, a safe space for
people to gather, to learn, to celebrate,
or to worship. Most of our programs and
services were offered on a donation basis.
We set to work building collaborative
relationships with local holistic practitioners,
healers, artists, and spiritual teachers
with the objective of promoting one another's
services. Truly accepting and embracing
all healing methods as valid while working
with practitioners to encourage the highest
levels of integrity. We know that each
teacher has their own audience, their
own resonance pattern through which the
message of peace and wellness can be heard.
To some
it seemed as though we were giving away
our business, but we knew that our generosity
flowed from the principle of “give
everything to everything”, and the
deeper knowing that we were only giving
to Ourselves.
To
read the entire article please click
here or go to: http://www.thereikicentre.ca/page1.html
Altai
Is the New Earth ~ Now by Carol Hiltner
Founder/President of Altai Mir University
Email:carol.hiltner@gmail.com
Website: www.AltaiMir.org
& www.AltaiBooks.com
Dear
fellow Peacemakers!
I am writing to you from the Altai Mountains,
in the exact center of Eurasia. Ancient
traditions call this magical place “Earth’s
umbilicus”—the place where
cosmic nurturance enters our planet. The
Siberian winter has decked the forests
here with diamonds. Even the air glitters.
In this energy field, the New Earth is
already manifesting itself, and I am giddy
with wonder.
For
ten years I have traveled here at every
opportunity. Each time, I have come away
healthier and more centered. I have devoted
my life to finding ways of leveraging
this benefit, both for the planet and
for the local culture. The Altai people—ancient
stewards of this land—are a gentle
and generous people. At the same time
that global forces are acting to strip
these lands from them, they are looking
outward to share their blessings and deep-founded
wisdom—through their phenomenal
throat-singing, powerful shamanism, unique
healing herbs, and pure wildflower honey.
I arrived
just yesterday, with three intentions
for the next month: to continue painting
the visions that I access here; to organize
further leadership exchanges between Native
Americans and the Altai people to share
their ancient wisdom traditions for world-wide
benefit; and to continue a global campaign
to legally secure traditional Altai lands
for Altai people under new Russian land
laws.
In doing
these things, I myself am a part of the
New Earth that is emerging here. My “right-brain”
painting is a direct manifestation of
cosmic energy as sacred archetypal images,
while my “left-brain” development
work holds open a door for this “new”
energy to flow around the whole Earth.
Many
Peacemakers have encouraged and generously
supported my efforts through the years,
as I have devoted my entire Being to this
work. I thank you, and invite you bring
the “Altai energy” into your
own life through your meditations and/or
through exploration of the resources I
have put on-line at www.AltaiMir.org
and www.AltaiBooks.com.
The above photo is of Carol
here in Altai.
On
10 January, 2009 Carol will be the first
recipient of a new international peace
award for continuing citizen diplomacy,
from the National Peace Foundation in
Washington DC.
The award name is "Peace Quilts Award,"
inspired by two magnificent peace quilts
Carol made in the 1980s, signed by hundreds
of citizens and government officials in
the US and the USSR.
Teach
Our Children Well by Rev. Michael
W. Mills
Email:
AnEaglesSoul@aol.com
In
the corner of my mind as I write this
are the many times over the years that
I have been bitten, scratched, kicked….been
cursed, spat at and threatened (even had
a chemical sprayed in my face) by some
of the 6 – 18 year old clients I
have served. To love these children, to
feel compassion for them has not always
been easy in the moment. However, to share
peace, to BE peace with these children
is imperative if we are to be about our
Father’s business.
They
reflect what they learn in their homes,
by what they see on television and the
movies and the video games they play.
They reflect the anger and violence that
threatens to engulf this world. Forgive
them Father for they know not what they
do.
In the
forefront of my mind is the hurt, pain,
sadness and even hopelessness behind the
eyes of these children who will inherit
the earth. In the center of my Awakened
Heart is a Seeing of these beautiful young
ones as healed and whole. In the center
of my Realized Soul is a Knowing that
they are children of God, that they ARE
God.
Thank
you for the task You have put before me
God…….to be the change I wish
to see in the world….to teach the
children well so that they, too, will
know Your Peace.
Moments
of Aloha by Lavenda Schaff
Email:
alohapathways@gmail.com
Website: www.alohapathways.com
For
the past 15 years I have been living on
Maui. I was very fortunate to receive
some of the profound Ancient Hawaiian
teachings - in addition to my studies
with James Twyman.
HO’OPONO
PONO (“Making things, which are
right, more right”) talks about
a time of ALOHA LOKAHI (“Love and
unity”). An era of peace in Hawaii
until the 1230’s, according to my
teacher Auntie Mahealani Henry.
Focused on PONO (“Being ok with
what is”) we are balanced in one
moment but the next moment can be upsetting.
We might be able to return to pono with
the very next moment again.…
By accepting
life being pono with what is, we are able
to create peace within us. An important
foundation of pono is the knowingness
of a beneficial universe, always surrounding
us by NA KUPUNA (“Ancestors, angels
or beings of light”) with KA LEI
ALOHA (“A circle of love”).
In a world falling apart (e.g. economically)
it is easy to loose this knowingness.
A simple
tool to bring this awareness of love and
peace back to us is our breath and the
simple word ALOHA. It is the expression
for love, kindness, respect and honor.
One of the deeper meanings has to do with
HA (“Breath of life”). ALO
means “In front of” and therefore
Aloha signifies “In the present
of the breath of life”. Which is
love.
The
Hawaiian language has a similar vibration
as Sanskrit, profoundly effecting our
body on a cellular level. Just by simply
inhaling and thinking “Aloha”
we are able to connect with our breath,
with the ocean of breath outside of us,
and with the love of the universe, Na
Kupuna and the Divine Light. By exhaling
on “Ha” we are sending out
that knowingness to the world.
So,
take that breath of Aloha! Just for one
moment. ... and for that moment you are
pono.
Until
the next moment…..
ALOHA, Lavenda
The
Yoga of Devotion by Rev. Denise Wheeler,
Spiritual Peacemaker
Email:
gaiashakti@earthlink.net
Two
years ago, while attending a weekly Mastermind
Group, a woman introduced me to a concept
that has since changed my life. From her
I learned to replace the word spend or
spent with the word devote or devotion.
Instead of spending time with friends
or family members, I found myself devoting
time to them. Spending money took on an
entirely new meaning as I began to devote
my income to bills, responsibilities,
contributions and purchases. If I was
not able to devote time to a project,
cause or activity, I would question why
I was engaged in it.
As a
Spiritual Peacemaker and a yoga instructor,
I took this practice even deeper into
my consciousness. In the yogic tradition
there are five types of yoga. One of them
is not often mentioned, Bhakti-Yoga, the
Yoga of Devotion. In Bhakti-Yoga the object
of devotion and adoration is a divine
being. I found the gifts of the Spiritual
Peacemaker merging with and fulfilling
this devotion on an inner level through
an Illumined Mind, an Awakened Heart,
a Realized Soul.
Everyday
activities have taken on increased clarity,
understanding and depth as I apply the
practice of devotion to all aspects of
my life. Being a Spiritual Peacemaker
is not something I do, it is what I am.
I radiate peace. Palpable peace. I now
encourage others to apply this practice
to their own lives then witness the changes
that take place. How would you live your
life differently if you were devoting
(not spending) your time, money or energy?
Rev.
Wheeler can be reached by e-mail at: gaiashakti@earthlink.net
The
Next Generation by Rev. Yvonne Thibodeau
Email:
wolfncrow1@yahoo.com
Website: http://sophiaswisdom.byregion.net
In the
last couple years, I have been led to
the notion that I was to work with Indigo
children. I thought, “No, I didn’t/don’t
want to work with small children.”
Well, then as I was addressing my Intro
to Peace Studies class last spring, I
realized the Indigo’s were sitting
in this very classroom. They aren’t
little children, they are now young adults,
some of whom are not “awake”
and with whom interactions can be quite
trying at times.
Working
in a secular university setting as an
ordained spiritual peacemaker presents
interesting challenges and wonderful opportunities
when interacting with students and the
university community at large. What we
all know, as spiritual peacemakers, is
“being” peace is most important
as is showing and giving compassion; along
with this is the need for deep listening,
deep listening as Thich Nhat Hanh espouses.
Doing and being these things, as well
as giving students a place to be whom
they are, can be transformative. Seeds
are planted and then the students have
the opportunity to grow them, some more
slowly than others. I have watched students
open up in amazing ways. They are here
to help usher in the new earth and foster
peace. I see that my work, here, in this
place, at this time, is to plant the “seeds”
of transformation and peace. I feel truly
blessed and honored!
A
Minister is...by Sequoia Elisabeth
Carpenter
Email:
sequoia414@yahoo.com
Website: http://SequoiaMinistry.org
A minister
is a person who is acting as the agent
or instrument of another to administer
or apply a service, care or aid, as in
attending to the wants or necessities
that contribute to the comfort and happiness
of everyone. Now this is the dictionary
definition and I would like to look at
this from a spiritual perspective and
how it affects each of us. We all play
roles in our lives all the time and this
includes the one you are playing right
now as you read this. It is important
to clarify our roles in each situation
of our life so that we may more fully
experience life. Even more important is
to realize that you are not the roles
that you play. It is easy to get caught
up in our roles and indentify with them.
The daily social roles are the easiest
to get stuck on, such as mother, daughter,
grandmother, spouse, partner, friend,
and caregiver. The occupational roles
are also something that many identify
with and this can be just as stifling.
“You” is a broad term and
as we grow spiritually we realize that
there is a lot more to “you”
than we realized. There is the individual
you, the roles you play as you, the larger
you that is connected through community
and there is the Universal One you, which
is the only “real” you there
is.
A minister
is a role that we play, but it is also
a lot more than that. It is a title we
can use to describe our daily activities.
Each and every person is a “minister”
to their lives! Yes, we each minister
every day. Now think about this and review
the definition offered at the top of this
article. How does this apply to your daily
life? You don’t have to be religious
to be a spiritual minister (or Spiritual
Peacemaker). It is each of our responsibilities
to minister consciously each day!
To read
the entire article please click
here or go to:
http://sequoiaministry.org/page11
Being
the Peace by Barbara Andrew
Windsor,
Ontario, Canada
Email:
sargasso@vianet.ca
Some
time ago, peace minister Nina Roe received
messages from the angels about our jobs
as peace keepers/makers/be-ers on this
evolving earth. There are a number of
roles that we chose before we ever came
here. One of them is the spiritual warrior.
James Twyman, out in the world would likely
fall into that category, as well as the
Dalai Lama. At the same time we may also
be teachers, another one of the roles
of a spiritual peace maker.
Some
of us are also meant to model peace, to
be the peace. And that seems to be one
of my roles. But the world is so compelling.
And it’s easy to be drawn into all
of the activity, the drama of it all.
Recently
I spent time at my family’s cottage
mostly alone and was once again reminded
of the intense rightness I feel in “being”
peace, in holding the space of peace,
in allowing the peace that is always present,
to be.
I’d
forgotten that the connection is never
lost
And that all I need to do is trust.
In the stillness of my life,
In those places in between,
I’ll remember.
I ‘ll remember the perfection.
II really don’t have to try so very
hard at all
Because I already know
Here in me.
I know here in me,
As I breathe
That all is peace
The peace I am.
All is peace
The peace I am.
When I am here, in my life, modeling peace,
that’s all I need to do
And the rest always follows.
Namaste
and many blessings through the year and
always.
Next
VOICES of PEACE Edition
~ March 21st, 2009
Thank
you to all the Peace Ministers
who have offered their wisdom
for this third edition.
*Please note: The
information shared above
are Personal Insights shared
by each Peace Minister.
Their words, beliefs and
ideas are personal to them
and are not approved or
endorsed by Beloved World
and its founders.
To
veiw Previous Editions click
below on the Edition
Edition
#1 June 2008 ~ Edition
#2 September 2008
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