Day 8... a note

“Music is the message of peace, and music only brings peace. ”

— Zubin Mehta

one note, a sound…

vibration,

an invitation.

two, an opening…

a step forward,

a pulse.

three…

a chord…

a portal.

Linking one simple, magical note to another with infinite possibilities connects us to the past, present, and future. Much like peace… cultivating a peaceful place occurs via the repetition of linking often undetectable and un”note”worthy acts. Yet, through the crescendos and diminuendos, the allegrettos and adagios of life, with persistence arises a magnificent piece of work. And when we bring many people together committed to this same idea, we now have an orchestra and then with more diversity, we have a symphony. So many notes, played in different ways, working together for a common goal.

Peace tip #8.

Music. peace. place.

So many ways that music can connect us with place… culture, emotion, childhood memories, nature, and the backdrop for daydreaming.

Today, I’ve provided a link to one of my all-time favorite artists, George Winston. His music transports me back to magical childhood times and to this day, allows me to find my way to a winter wonderland. This is a link to a YouTube video for the song “December.” If you use Spotify or some other streaming platform, you can find more songs, other albums, or create playlists. If for some reason this link doesn’t work, do a search for “George Winston December.”

Pour yourself a wee cuppa, sit back and enjoy.

What’s your favorite peaceful music? Or share any other thought related to peace and music.

Update.

The first give-away is underway. Leave a post in response to Day 7. I’ll announce the winner on Day 10.

I love reading all the posts. I am reading them as are many others. So, even if I don’t respond to each post, please know they are being read. I genuinely appreciate all of your contributions.

Pertaining to the “mood panels,” if tapping into your moods, is more than you want to tackle right now, why not try using each of the 5 squares to reflect a letter from the word peace. Now, you could just go with p and purple, etc however, you could also think of p and passion… perhaps that’s red. Just another way to approach the idea.

As a reminder, I’ll be providing an extra special give-away at the end of the 21 days. If you submit a meaningful comment (or email it to me), you’ll be eligible to have your name in a drawing. I’m doing this because it truly helps us build community, a vital component of peace. Also, your ideas and suggestions may be just what sparks and idea for someone else. Plus this encourages you to stay engaged on a daily basis, an additional aspect of peacebuilding. I love to see others commenting on each others posts… what an uplifting and supportive group. Thank you!

It’s never too late to participate in the knit-along. It’s so fun to read how people are using their peace shawl (or other knitting project) to center themselves and reflect on peace. Knowing that 100’s of others are knitting the same project as you around the world in the name of peace is a powerful thing. The pattern is available on Ravelry and The Healthy Knitter website.

Day 7... moods

With the dark sky of night, day still sleeps… as if the pillow is pulled over her head. The songbirds stirring deep in the woods begin to chatter. Attempts to urge dawn to appear, seem to be in vain; the volume from the sweet morning tunes begins to escalate. No longer a few solo songs but an orchestra cheering the sun to rise from her slumber.

As I lay in bed listening to nature’s alarm clock, I make a break from the horizontal, bypass the coffee, and head to the woods. We’re weeks into the pandemic and many others have found respite in the park, my pre-pandemic place of solitude.

With patience wearing a bit thin… over the pandemic and a desire to see signs of spring on the trees, I head to the trees. Will they have leafed out yet? My impatience percolates… the trees have been asleep long enough, it’s time for something new.

As I turn the corner to greet the trees…

quiet,

stillness,

nothing.

No leaves.

Not yet.

It’s not time.

I stand before the trees, feeling so many emotions related to life and the pandemic.

I pause. My mood shifts…

The trees will bloom when they are ready…

the change I’ve been seeking is on the surface… the work occurring below the surface, inside the roots, the trunk, the limbs and tips of the tree is ongoing.

A cloud passes by…

the colors shift in the sky.

in constant motion, putting on a show, appeasing my need for the tangible and visible signs of change.

My gaze returns to the trees… in due time they say.

The real work is below the surface.

we must dig deep for real change to occur.

From the songbirds, to the leaves on the trees, to the building of a cloudy storm…

it all takes time.

Peace tip #7

Finding peace in place… connecting with one’s feelings, emotions, and moods.

Today, you’ll want a piece of paper, a journal (optional), some colored pencils, crayons, markers, or paints. Draw five 1-inch (2.54 cm) squares spaced “evenly” across the width of the paper.

You are creating a “mood panel.” This can reflect your own personal mood or the colors you observe around you, or even colors of a place that brings you peace.

Use a different color and fill in each square.

Underneath each square, in 1-2 words, name the “mood” or “place.”

Some people use this technique daily, weekly, or whenever the “mood” strikes them. I’ve enjoyed using this strategy in my own personal journal especially, when I just don’t know what to write, doodle or paint.

Another strategy… you can knit yourself a record of your emotions. As many of you know, I’m a big fan of the Tempestry Project and the work they do to visualize climate data in a knitted way. This year, they too have been digging deep and are working on creating their own domestically (US) sourced and produced yarn. They’ve created a new kit, the “Emotion kit.” It’s a personal knitted journal of your own emotions… so if you’d rather keep a record of how you’re feeling with yarn, this might be just your thing. Because they are developing their new yarn, the kits are available for pre-order.

Give-away

The Tempestry Project has graciously offered one Emotion kit as a give-away for Project Peace 2020. All you have to do is leave a meaningful comment in response to today’s blog post. I’ll draw a winner on Wednesday evening and announce on Thursday (Day 10). Thank you Emily and team!

Day 6... winter

“That’s what winter is: an exercise in remembering how to still yourself then how to come pliantly back to life again.”

— Ali Smith

The water ebbs and flows along the shore,

the moon, plump and full, then wanes,

the trees awaken,

sap flowing,

followed by a natural slowing.

dormancy,

pause,

quiet.

Each wave, lunar cycle, or season…

the cycles of the natural world,

gather, share, retreat, repeat.

A gift to just be…

to rest in the stillness of winter.

Peace tip #6

A season is more than the weather that we associate with a specific time of the year. It’s an opportunity to connect with the rhythms and cycles of the natural world… to find peace where we are.

Pause,

ponder,

propose.

This is Day 6 and we’ve done a lot of deep thinking about peace in place. Grab a piece of paper and pen before you begin. Find a quiet place.

pause: sit in stillness for 5 minutes (or however long fits your situation).

ponder: reflect on what we’ve discussed, jot down all the key phrases or words that come to mind about peace in place. Circle the one that resonates with you the most.

propose: and here’s the thing… today is about rest. So, to honor the cycle of the natural world, we’ll forgo developing an action item. We’ll save this for later.

It’s time for rest…

It’s time to be and not to do…

today is about honoring the rest associated with the season of winter.

peace is here…

What idea/concept has resonated with you most since December 1?

Updates:

The first give-away will be announced tomorrow (Monday, Day 7)… the topic for that day is light-hearted and draws on our creativity.

As a reminder, I’ll be providing an extra special give-away at the end of the 21 days. If you submit a meaningful comment (or email it to me), you’ll be eligible to have your name in a drawing. I’m doing this because it truly helps us build community, a vital component of peace. Also, your ideas and suggestions may be just what sparks and idea for someone else. Plus this encourages you to stay engaged on a daily basis, an additional aspect of peacebuilding. I love to see others commenting on each others posts… what an uplifting and supportive group. Thank you!

It’s never too late to participate in the knit-along. It’s so fun to read how people are using their peace shawl (or other knitting project) to center themselves and reflect on peace. Knowing that 100’s of others are knitting the same project as you around the world in the name of peace is a powerful thing. The pattern is available on Ravelry and The Healthy Knitter website.

Day 5... hospitality

To create a space, a place for peace…

not with the idea to change any other person’s way of being,

yet a place where change might occur.

McFarland Park, Ames, IA

“Hospitality means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines. . . . The paradox of hospitality is that it wants to create emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free; free to sing their own songs, speak their own languages, dance their own dances; free also to leave and follow their own vocations. Hospitality is not a subtle invitation to adore the lifestyle of the host, but the gift of a chance for the guest to find his own.”

~Henry Nouwen

https://henrinouwen.org/meditation/hospitality/

McFarland Park, Ames, IA

I can’t recall how I came to find this passage on “hospitality,” however, it truly resonated with me. Particularly, this: “Hospitality is not to change people but to offer them space where change can take place.”

So many pearls of truth in this statement, and infinite ways we might apply this to our own lives. Again, as I look to the trees in the woods, grounded, rooted in place they offer a sanctuary, a space for change to take place, with no intentions to change those who enter the forest.

Henry Nouwen, the author of the aforementioned post, was a man who suffered great losses in his life at the hands of others… yet despite these great atrocities, his heart was not hardened for life. He was able to find peace in place. You can read more about him here.

The word “hospitality” has always had a different meaning to me… it’s not really a word or concept that I’ve ever liked. And yet, this perspective on creating a space, welcoming others, is an entirely new twist.

This way of thinking of hospitality seems to provide a path forward to break down barriers…

Ponderosa Park, McCall, Idaho

Peace tip #5

Take a little journey and find a new space in your house, yard, city, or forest, mountain, or water way, not one that you normally visit. Have a seat, place your hands on your thighs and close your eyes. Notice your breath, shallow at first and then allow it to slow and deepen. As your thoughts begin to wander, follow them… where do they go?

How are hospitality and peace related?

Ponderosa Park, McCall, Idaho

Updates

Thank you to everyone who posted yesterday… that was a little more intense than I was anticipating. The backstory on my poem from Day 4 pertains to my own feelings of being place-bound and not at peace in the physical place where I live. I’ve researched how I could move to Shetland, only to discover that the physical boundaries we place on moving to new countries makes it nearly impossible to relocate. So, the outsider looking in represented my own longing to move and be part of the new space. I thought today’s topic of ‘hospitality’ might be a good follow-up to yesterday’s conversation.

The first give-away will be announced on Monday, Day 7… the topic for that day is light-hearted and draws on our creativity.

As a reminder, I’ll be providing an extra special give-away at the end of the 21 days. If you submit a meaningful comment (or email it to me), you’ll be eligible to have your name in a drawing. I’m doing this because it truly helps us build community, a vital component of peace. Also, your ideas and suggestions may be just what sparks and idea for someone else. Plus this encourages you to stay engaged on a daily basis, an additional aspect of peacebuilding.

It’s never too late to participate in the knit-along. Knowing that 100’s of others are knitting the same project as you around the world in the name of peace is a powerful thing. The pattern is available on Ravelry and The Healthy Knitter website.