Free Hugs

I’ve had a couple of lists I belong to send me this video, and it’s so wonderfully happy-making I have to share it with you all. I’m seriously thinking that we need to get some “free hug happenings” going on in different places. Anyone else up for it? Let's make it happen!

Peace Please is a wonderful site. I just ordered and received a couple of pendants from them. Have a look around while you’re there. The Woodstock Fence Necklace is next on my “want” list.

A special thank you to Rob of Willard Street for mentioning me in his latest newsletter, and a welcome to any visitors from there. Please leave a comment or drop me a line to say hi!

Happy Eid!

Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, is coming to an end. Tomorrow is Eid, the day which marks the end of the fasting. Since I wasn't really sure what it was all about or how it was celebrated, I googled Eid and found a Wikipedia entry which included this explanation: "Eid is a time to come together as a community and to renew friendship and family ties. This is a time for peace for all Muslims in the world to devote to prayers and mutual well-being."

IslamiCity says:

"EID-UL-FITR is celebrated on the first day of Shaw'waal, at the completion of Ramadan. Shaw'waal is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. The Eid-al-Fitr is a very joyous day; it is a true Thanksgiving Day for the believing men and women. On this day Muslims show their real joy for the health, strength and the opportunities of life, which Allah has given to them to fulfill their obligation of fasting and other good deeds during the blessed month of Ramadan."

So to all my Muslim readers: Eid Mubarak!

Why War Ends With You

Peace Is the Way: Bringing War and Violence to an End (Chopra, Deepak)

This information is taken from the Peace is the Way website. This book, by Deepak Chopra, I highly recommend. It was part of the inspiration for this blog.

Why War Ends With You

The approach of personal transformation is the idea of the future for ending war. It depends on the only advantage that people of peace have over warmakers: sheer numbers. If enough people in the world transformed themselves into peacemakers, war could end. The leading idea here is critical mass. It took a critical mass of human beings to embrace electricity and fossil fuels, to teach evolution and adopt every major religion. When the time is right and enough people participate, critical mass can change the world.

Can it end war?

There is precedent to believe that it might. The ancient Indian ideal of Ahimsa, or non-violence, gave Gandhi his guiding principle of reverence for life. In every spiritual tradition it is believed that peace must exist in one’s heart before it can exist in the outer world.

Personal transformation deserves chance.

"When a person is established in non-violence, those in his vicinity cease to feel hostility."

– Patanjali, ancient Indian sage

Thinking of Montreal

Today I stopped in at a community drum circle, hosted by Laura at Balance, here in Cambridge. An hour plus of drumming, attended by young and old, seasoned and novice. I always feel so energized whenever I go there. At the end, Laura asked us to keep those affected by Montreal's fallen overpass in our thoughts for the last drum. Having so recently returned from Montreal, it was easy to close my eyes and picture the skyline, and feel myself in a car travelling its roads. I am thankful for ground under my feet today.