Guidin
g Thought
Knowing myself as Peace fortifies my inner awareness of the unity within. Through gratitude for the Life I Am, I connect with harmony. Through harmony, I am restored and strengthened, and am thus able to carry my Inner Peace to all of life’s activity surrounding me.
Reflection
Steve
Walking in circles. Usually my daily walk involves walking multiple times around a quarter mile path at a local park. It is good for me, both physically and mentally. I will recite my mantram, sometimes I will (thanks to Thich Nhat Hanh), chant Peace, Joy, Peace, Joy, in rhythm of my steps. It Is all good. And I have to admit, in spite of the pretty scenery, and my mantrams, I find myself ready to be done after about 4-5 laps. Physically I could go much farther. I often do 6 to 8 laps or more when walking with someone, our discussions keep us going.
I also walk with a friend at another park, on the beach. It is not a circle, we wander up and down the beach, we wander through the driftwood and the seaweed, we gaze out upon the water, and we see birds and islands across the sound. Today we saw a blue heron, standing one legged on a rock protruding above the water.
The sights and sounds at the beach bring me to peace and harmony. Or maybe it is because we pause, and take notice of the beauty around us. What I know is I find Peace here at the beach more readily than walking in circles at the other park. I don’t understand why that is, but I know that is my experience. There is value in knowing what triggers my awareness of harmony and Peace. Perhaps I “should” be able to find Peace and Harmony anywhere, anytime. The truth is, I will take any help I can get. So if walking on the beach allows me to be strengthened and restored, so “beach” it!
We are blessed to have this wonderful beach park in our neighborhood. And we are going to stay at the ocean for a few days next week; it is only a few hours’ drive from home. Going to the ocean brings me to a state of wholeness, and harmony with the natural world. Looking out at the ocean, I know that our world is okay. We go to the ocean to rebalance our energy.
“Ocean Mother, wash over me, help me sustain my life”, “to rebalance my energy, so I can live together with all things” partial lyrics from “Deep Within” by Alicia Bonnet on her Emergence album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCEuyYtQGj0. Truly beautiful.
SusanWithPearls 
Journey of Peace – Day 32 – Lita
Knowing myself as Peace fortifies my inner awareness of the unity within. Through gratitude…
There is, in my experience, a luminous space in which Peace resides, or perhaps Peace is the space itself. In my studio is the kanji, that Peace sculpture, there to remind me that whatever work takes place, my intent is to cultivate Peace. What I know, and have as yet to articulate, is the dynamism which exists when space in the tissues, the mind body, and in non-local consciousness is created. For a period, my client’s body is at rest, and space is created for whatever and whoever is to come when they leave. At best all I can offer to my clients is dynamic potential and we do it together. I don’t phrase it quite like that, but this is what I offer.
What happened before the Big Bang? Did all of those elements, atoms, and quarks exist prior to this formidable explosion of which I am now a result? At one point, I knew how physics describes this, but that was long ago in a course taught by an evolutionary cosmologist. Mystics describe it as “No-thing-ness” which really doesn’t mean nothingness, rather it is the space of potential dynamism. This “No-thing-ness” holds all sorts of possibility for creativity, unity, harmony.
Why all this metaphysical rambling? Well, this is where my mind goes.
And what does it have to do with today’s guiding thoughts? Well, bottom line for me knowing myself as Peace, this luminous space of dynamic potential/”No-thing-ness” is just another way of expressing my taking up residence in the center of the infinity symbol or Being Here Now. It is where I have to go and all else follows.
The Waking
By Theodore Roethke
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
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Day 32 – Peace – Mary
Several years ago my car was a two-seater convertible. It was summertime and I took each of my grandchildren, one at a time, for a ride in the car, with a stop at Baskin & Robbins for ice cream. It was after sunset when the last grand-daughter and I took our drive. In addition to getting ice cream for her, we also made a brief stop at a local grocery store. Sitting under a light in the parking lot on a warm summer night, this young lady (probably about 7 at the time) gave herself a great big hug and exclaimed “I’m so glad God made me me!” I’ll cherish that moment forever. Here was a perfect example of carrying Inner Peace to all of life’s activity. Here’s a demonstration of the power of gratitude for the Life I Am. Today, and virtually every day, I find myself echoing this little girl’s praise and gratitude, and I have to declare “I’m so glad God made me me!”
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