Walking as meditation...

Prior to May, I'd never heard of Thich Nhat Hanh. And then, everywhere I turned I found books, quotes, images and websites authored by or dedicated to this man. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, poet, and a peace and human rights activist. I first discovered his work while poking around the most wonderful bookstore on Martha's Vineyard with "walking" on my mind. I'd picked up many books, reading the back covers, thoroughly enjoying myself but I'd not yet found anything I had to bring home. Then, I found this book "How to Walk" by Thich Nhat Hanh. Each page has a thought to contemplate; it's easy to read, very inspriational and doesn't require a huge time commitment.  

I mentioned to my daughter how excited I was that I'd found this book. How perfect it was considering all the time I was devoting to the topic of walking... thinking while walking, thinking about walking. She said "Mom, why do you need a book that tells you how to walk? It's easy...you put one foot in front of the other, repeat." Aah, grasshopper, yes, it appears easy but there's so much more to be gained from walking than the simple act of one foot down, repeat. At least that's the message contained within this book.  

And then I noticed a photo at the place I was staying...

Perhaps I'd seen quotes by him before and just ignored them.

Perhaps I wasn't ready.

Perhaps I wasn't living in the moment enough to see what was in front of me.

Perhaps I was just too busy walking for the sake of putting one foot in front of the other to be aware of the need to appreciate each step.

Perhaps I was too busy thinking about the product to appreciate the process. 

Time to slow things down a bit and take mindful steps. Yes, setting goals when it comes to walking is good but if we lose sight of what's to be gained from each walk, each mile, each step perhaps we are too numb to notice our surroundings.

Mindful Monday's Peace Tip #2 is a reading from Thich Naht Hanh's book "How to Walk." You might consider replacing the word "sitting" with "knitting" as you read this.

“People ask me, “Why do you do walking meditation?” The best answer I can give is, “Because I like it.” Every step makes me happy. There’s no use in doing walking meditation if you’re not going to enjoy every step you make; it would be a waste of time. The same thing is true with sitting meditation. If somone asked, “What’s the use of sitting for hours and hours?” The best answer is, “Because I like sitting.” Sitting and walking can bring peace and joy. We have to learn how to sit and walk so that we can produce peace and joy during the time of sitting or the time of walking. We have to learn to walk so that we can enjoy every step. Mindfulness and concentration can bring a higher quality to our breath, to our sitting, and to our steps.”

— Thich Naht Hanh

May you find an awareness of being present with each stitch and step that you create and take throughout this week. May you find peace and joy in all that you do. 

Footsteps in the sand.

South Beach on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Happy New Year...

I love this time of year however I'm always sad to see the Christmas season end. To me the holidays are such a joyous time...everyone listens to music, decorates their homes, and acts in kind ways. I can decorate with lights and snowflakes, make countless batches of biscotti and cookies, and well, just be festive. Then the 25th rolls around and everyone begins packing up the decorations, the songs go away and everyone gets a bit "over" winter. I love winter...snowstorms, bundling up and going for walks, sitting by the fire, knitting, sipping a warm beverage and making lots of soup. Aaah, winter. It's a time to rest, restore and renew.

I've spent some time reflecting on "where do we go from here."  Project Peace was more than I ever imagined so now it's time to decide how do we make our message of peace bigger and better? I asked for input on Day 21 of what you might like in 2017. I've incorporated some of your suggestions and continue to value your input so leave a comment or send me an email if you have other ideas.

Some of my plans are still in the works but I know there are a few of you that like/need to plan your projects, particularly when it comes to knit-alongs. So, I'll share what I can for now and let you know other items as they develop. My goals for the year are to inspire you to have more peace in your life and to focus on your health, a component of peace. We can use knitting in a creative way to assist us with cultivating peace and fostering our health. Here's a little doodle I created as I tried to sort through "where do we go from here."

Mindful Mondays. I'm going to continue the peace-tip ideas as a theme for the year. So each Monday, you'll receive an email from me with a tip on how to infuse more peace into your daily life. This may include a quote, a piece of music, a creative activity, a book suggestion, an interview with a "peaceful" person, etc. During Project Peace, I kept a small journal that I named "My Journey with Peace." You might consider starting one now to jot down ideas, quotes, thoughts, things you are grateful for, items you want to "let go," etc.

New patterns. I'm developing 3-4 new accessory patterns that are related to SNOW, a hat, a couple of cowls and I'm contemplating some mitts. I feel it's important not to overwhelm so some of these patterns will come at a time when snow is not on your mind. It'll be a reminder of snow as peace...so let's knit snow "pieces" all year! You will see these patterns appear in the next few months. There are other patterns that I've been working on for awhile that focus on relationships, use plant-based fibers, and a couple of other meditative, pensive knits. I'll definitely have patterns for accessories to keep you busy throughout the year (and yes, some will require casting on 300 stitches)...aahh, peace, one stitch at a time, right?

"-alongs"

• To promote walking, there will be two walk-alongs, one in April, the other in November. There's a mystery knit (typically a shawlette or cowl) themed on walking but the thing that makes this knit-along different is that we walk (not while knitting) throughout the month. Guidance with goal-setting and social support included. 
• June peace-along: yes, let's do a mini-version of project peace. There will be a pattern with a meditative knit and blog peace tips (perhaps not as frequent as the December peace-along).
• December peace-along: You betcha, there will be the 3rd annual peace-along. Right now, I'm thinking it will be called "operation peace" but that might change as we proceed.

World-wide knit-in for peace Day. December 21. Start spreading the word now.

"Ethically-sourced yarns." From here forward each of my new patterns will use what I'm calling yarns with a purpose. I'll explain more as we go however I'll be including information about the yarn with each pattern release and why I consider it to be a "good" choice.

Knitting for a cause. I'll be sharing information about organizations that need our assistance. What can we knit, how can we teach others to knit, knitting in public to talk about peace, etc. Many people proposed that we knit on the 21st of each month to reflect on peace or for charity knitting. So, expect an email from me on the 21st of each month as a little reminder.

Monthly calendar. I'll create a discussion thread for each month announcing special days or activities related to peace. Feel free to add to the list. You'll see the 21st as our intentional day listed.

Email subscriber bonus. As a subscriber to this blog you'll receive announcements of all forthcoming patterns and a special subscriber coupon to use on pattern purchases (with a few exceptions).

Small on-line store. Placing the order for the project bags is nearing completion (from there it'll be 4-6 weeks). I'm exploring how to set up an online shop that will include items related to Project Peace, knitting for peace, and beyond.

What do you think my word of the year is?

What's your word?

“Peace is a journey of a 1000 miles and it must be taken one step at a time.”

— Lyndon B. Johnson

I discovered this quote as Project Peace began. It only took me 2 days to decide that my personal goal for 2017 was to walk 1000 miles in the name of peace. That's about 3 miles a day...anyone care to join me?

Peace...one step, one stitch at a time...

On the 24th day...

I'm sitting here in front of my Christmas tree thinking about everything that has taken place since November 10, the day I sent Project Peace out into the world. I've so many emotions running through me...grateful for all the people that I've met, enriched by knowing how many have connected with new people, and utterly thankful for the number of people that have engaged with peace. My heart has grown three times and then some. I've felt the amazing things that can happen when people focus on the good in life; taking a few minutes each day to be calm and centered. If anyone is in need of some evidence, pour yourself a cup of tea and read through all the comments from December 14 and 21. It's pretty incredible. 

Project Peace provided an opportunity to step away from all of the world's negativity and to contemplate our options...continue to be overcome by fear or to consider choosing a path focused on peace. It's not to say that the horrific events in our world are non-existent but rather that we need to do what we can to make the world a better place. 

And how we make the world a better place is up to each one of us. I know that for me it starts with choosing peace each day. I must let go of reacting to the actions of others. I must be grounded yet flexible with those around me ...just like a tree. The other night at yoga, the instructor said "stability without mobility is rigidity" and that my friends would be one of those trees that snaps in a windstorm. I want to be a "tree" that is rooted with compassion and kindness and able to sway with whatever storm blows my way. 

On December 21, I asked all of you "where do we go from here?" There were amazing ideas. I will be taking the next week to contemplate how I can continue to promote the peace-volution (as someone called it) in the knitting community and beyond. Several people said that it's like throwing a pebble in the water...one pebble in and multiple ripples extend out as a result. That's what we are doing...ripple effect.

I've decided to publish some patterns in January and February that will be focused on SNOW (see Day 3).  All of them will be accessories, a couple will be what I'm calling "peaceful knits," and a few might encourage you to spread your wings and try a new technique or two. I've also made a decision to use only "ethically-sourced" yarns in my patterns. I'll be talking more in the future about what "ethically-sourced" means but it certainly relates back to our peace tip "where does your yarn come from." 

One of the first patterns will use the gorgeous yarn Range in the colorway "snow" by Hinterland Textiles. Created from home grown alpaca and Canadian Rambouillet. Read more about the origins of this yarn and a truly inspiring story.

I'll also be organizing some sort of peace-along for the next Solstice (June 21). So stay tuned for those details after I let the idea percolate for a bit.  And yes, the peace-along in December will be annual...next year I'm thinking "Operation Peace." Let's make this most well-known and celebrated knitting event there is.  I love the idea of knitting on the 21st of each month for a specific charity. Again, I'm putting this one in the pot for thought as I know I'll find a way to creatively link all this together. 

In the meantime, if you are looking for another peaceful knit you will enjoy Knit Your Peace (KYP), the cowl that started the peace-along idea. While I didn't use the i-cord edge, I would certainly use it any on any future KYP cowl. 

The winners of the Knitcircus give-away (drum roll please)... please email me (thehealthyknitter at gmail dot com) and I'll connect you with the wonderful staff at Knitcircus. 

Linda wrote this...As I knit the waffle pattern, I observed that the s1wyb stitches appeared to be as 'bridges', over the undercurrent purl sts beneath. This brought to mind the thought that one way for me to carry this forward, is to reach out, and be a bridge builder towards others, and extend grace to those who are different and may think and live differently to me. I cannot give away what I do not posess, and so I need to be filled and live from, a place of peace myself, and extend grace and peace to everyone I meet.
I shall be using the waffle pattern in baby blankets I knit to give to young moms and their babies, with whom I volunteer.

And Betsy who wrote this: I remembered a saying from years ago " each one, teach one" and this changed it for me to "each one reach one". My "peace bubble" reaches out to include those around me and then their's spreads and grows, what I knit and give spreads more peace and so it continues. My heart is strengthened by the peace I get from the knitting itself and from the giving of the finished project.

An extra bonus peace tip...

And just because it's hard to break a habit I'd like to provide you with another song. I intended on including this on the last day but decided to use the Vivaldi pieces instead. So as I contemplate Christmas and reflect on my hopes and dreams for spreading peace I'm reminded of a song I sang as a kid while sitting high up in the neighbors tree daydreaming of all the possibilities that life could bring. 

Listen here...

Peace be with all of you...

Triumphant 21...

And here we are, 21 days of peace. It's been a journey, an amazing sweet journey with so many incredible people. If there's one thing this process has made very clear is that this world is filled with amazing, kind, talented, creative, intelligent people...known as knitters. As someone said the other day "... it's a flock of sheep, a gaggle of geese and a kindness of knitters." Yes, there most definitely is a special kindness about knitters and this has been shown over and over again in the Healthy Knitter Ravelry group (Project Peace discussion board) that has over 3000 posts.

In advance, the post today is long but worth your while. There's some treats along the way with a special bonus at the end. So grab your coffee (or lemonade). Let's celebrate Solstice and the culmination of our 21-day peace-along!

Solstice means when the sun stands still. It's brief but the earth is momentarily in a state of harmony. The days are getting longer now in the Northern Hemisphere and shorter in the south. In the north there is hope that the light will return and in the south is a day to celebrate the brilliance of light.

To honor the presence of the knitters in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, I've selected a piece of music for your particular location. 

Southern hemisphere                                                                              Northern hemisphere

The next chapter of the Three Sisters.

Note: If you did not read the first chapter of The Three Sisters then please read the post from 12/20 prior to reading any farther.

There were amazing comments yesterday; everyone's interpretation of the story was incredible. One comment left by Melanie provided the perfect transition to the next chapter. Honestly I wasn't sure how to transition from where I left off to the ending...and then I read this:

Chapter 2 (as written by Melanie).

Their old grey grandmother watched this for awhile and when she realized that things weren't getting better, decided that enough was enough. She took her walking stick, and a big wicker basket and set out into the woods. She walked and walked until she was tired. She rested, and then carried on, until she had climbed to the top of the mountains overlooking the village. She set her basket down, sat on a stone and looked out over the little village.

Shaking her head, she was disappointed that it had come to this. But she was sure she was doing the right thing.

She opened her basket carefully, and one after the other released three doves into the air. One to the East, one to the West and the last to the South. She held her breath as she watched the birds become specks on the horizon, and hoped that her messages would reach her granddaughters in time...

Chapter 3 (by Christina).

And as the grey grandmother sat on the top of the mountain waiting for her granddaughters to return, she knit and knit and knit. She vowed that she would not stop knitting until they returned. With each passing day she knit love and promise and hope into the increasingly growing blanket that someday peace would once again prevail in their tiny little village. 

Far off in distant lands to the East, the West and the South, each of the fair maidens were seeing the world and helping others along the way. Eunice was creating order in each town she visited, Justine helped others to treat one another in kind ways and again, that very blessed Irene brought a sense of calm to anyone she encountered (some say it was her smile). 

The doves after many moons reached the fair maidens telling them of their need to return.  So each fair maiden made her return back to the village arriving at the darkest hour of the year to find a beautiful white blanket of snow had covered the people.  There was hope once again that the days would be brighter once again, that peace would be restored to their tiny community.

And while it would be the perfect ending if Eunice, Justine, and Irene were to restore the village as it once was may make this story sound a bit too much like a fairy tale (minus the handsome prince) and that my friends might not be a fair representation of what really happened.

Instead, Eunice, Justine and Irene revealed their true identities to the people confiding in them that the secret to the life they desired was within each and everyone of them. To find peace (Irene) there must also be good order (Eunice) and justice (Justine). There must be respect for all the villagers despite their differences and there most definitely has to be knitting to weave everyone together throughout all the lands.

The End...and whether or not they lived happily ever after was really a matter of "choice." 

This story was inspired by the peace-along and the Greek mythology Goddess of Peace, daughter of Zeus and Themis (Divine Law) and her sisters, Eunomia (good order) and Dike (justice). 

Peace tip #21

Knit for peace. Yes, your tip for today is to knit for peace. How will you carry this message of peace forward into the New Year? Today, in honor of World-wide Knit-in for Peace (yes, we created this), light a candle, and reflect on peace.

Please make sure to place a pin on the map we've created in Ravelry. There are directions at the top of the discussion thread. If for some reason you can't place the pin, leave a comment in that thread and we'll be sure to add you. 

BONUS GIVE-AWAY:

Knitcircus creates luxury handpainted gradient yarns with love in Wisconsin. Owner and dyer Jaala Spiro leads the Knitcircus Crew making gorgeous yarns in a flexible and supportive workplace. There are 2 chances to win as she's providing 2 skeins (100 g fingering weight), one in the colorway called "La Vie en Rose", the other "Imagine Peace."

To be eligible to win, please leave a comment addressing the following question (s). If for some reason you can't get the comment function to work, please send your comment to me via email (thehealthyknitter at gmail dot com). Entries close by 8 a.m. (central US time) December 22. 

Where do we go from here? How do we keep this peace revolution moving forward? And if those questions are too much...just tell me something you've learned along the way that was a game-changer for you.

I began Project Peace with a simple question. Is it possible to create "world peace" by having knitters from around the globe reflect on peace. I thought if I could get people (knitters) to choose peace and all these people were from all corners of the earth, then yes, that would be "world peace." And so, with 1000's of people knitting today (and the past 21 days) for peace we can say we've created WORLD PEACE.

Peace begins with each stitch and extends to the person, family, community, region, country, continent and globe.

“Peace...this we choose each day...”

— unknown