words are abundant,

but are they intentional?

what i am reading 

if there is a profusion 

of anything 

these days

it must be of words -

blogging

tweeting

facebook posting

texting

you name it - 

but are they chosen well?

intended not to harm,

but to help?

to encourage?

to connect?

to bring the world peace?

words can travel across thousands of miles.

may my words create mutual understanding

and love. 

may they be as beautiful as gems,

as lovely as flowers. 

(p. 98)

we are at the four month mark before the international day of peace -

do you have any ideas about how you will leave your mark?

don't forget to visit peaceoneday.org - they have issued an interesting and powerful challenge. 

A Flags for Peace book

Towards the end of last year, our local artists' group COMA (Collaboration of Maleny Artists) won a small grant to publish a photographic book about the Peace Flags local artists made and flew around International Day of Peace 2012.

We have recently published the book and have begun distributing it to local schools and libraries and elsewhere.

Here are some images from the book. Whilst we were focused on our local artists, we also put together a compilation of most of the international artists - but we may have missed one or two sorry.

If you would like to see a preview of the full book (38 pages) you can click here.

It is a beautiful way to share this project - for people to hold the book in their hands, read the stories and gaze at the flags...we hope it might mean more people join in this year. 

A VOICE THAT CALMS

Ethereal by Mitja Kobal

A voice that calms, movements that calm,
eyes that quiet - dreams that also do the
same, and enliven too....

Be a precious donor of peace and hope.
Give love to all you meet,

for so many in this world are being torn
apart.

-  Rumi

Follow Your Bliss...

Happy Wednesday everyone...

Follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be.  ~Joseph Campbell

morning practice

sunrise

each morning when i rise, my eyes seek the tibetan prayer flags that hang in my backyard.

bathed by sun

drenched in rain

blown by wind

or covered in snow

each set is an impermanent, yet beautiful, constant in my life.

snow fall

earlier, i made these wishes for you, for all sentient beings and for me (i have learned that this is not an act of selfishness, but rather an act of self love).

om ah hum

may i be happy

may all beings be happy

may i know peace

may all beings know peace

may i move through the world with an open heart

may all beings move through the world with an open heart.

in peace,

mary jane

do you have a special way you begin your day?

here we are again -

can you believe we begin our 6 month countdown to the international day of peace

(or as it is also known, the 'culture of peace initiative')? i also like peace one day.

the way is through the heart

speaking for most of us, the days since sept. 21st of last year have held many challenges -
and challenges present opportunity.

if you are new here, welcome! i encourage you to scroll back to see the beautiful work that was hung and placed around the globe - it was incredibly moving and inspiring.

while surely our goal is to share the work we make in honor of peace, i would love to expand upon what we do here

to continue to have discussions, share insight on how you get to peace or where you get to from peace in your daily life... in your dark moments, what kept you whole? how do you share your joy? 

it's connected, as are all beings

and i am hoping we can help each other.

our current culture is demanding and quick moving - 
unnaturally so.

we seek balance
wholeness
happiness
love
serenity
security
understanding
community

we want to live, to be awake

many think it is unattainable.

but the way is through the heart 
the way is through the heart
through the heart
the heart

the way is through the heart

like anything worth achieving, it takes practice - 

but the community is in place
the safety net is present
you need only to reach out.

anyone may participate - just send us an email and you will be added as an author - we ask only that you be respectful of the intention of the blog & kind to those who share.

we are all connected -

i see in you the divine spark that resides in me...

my pain is your pain

your joy is my joy 

may we all continue to work for peace with love and diligence - 

we remember those lost so tragically in newtown, ct  and wrap their families and community in love and hope...