November 2007

There once was a time when dancing down in the mosh pit in front of a stage gave me a sense of togetherness. Now I look forward, with the same excitement, to connecting with others spiritually, on a grand scale, particularly where we are linked globally and focused on consciousness raising, or a positive outcome regarding an important event.

I attended a physical gathering of like-minded people early in October in Perth, Ontario. Organized by the spiritual head of the Algonquin people, William Commanda, elders from around the world came to celebrate water and to exchange knowledge on how to heal the planet and mankind.

The consensus within the gathering was that although we presently fight over oil, in the future our battles will be fought over clean water. We need to protect and respect our water. People and governments need to stop polluting the water they access now, and also clean the water that has already been polluted.

Nearby the event, at Sharbot Lake, the native (and non-native) community were protesting uranium testing that could pollute the Rideau and Ottawa Rivers. According to the co-ordinators, a week before the prayer event town councillors withdrew their permission for the world elders to do their morning water prayers in the lovely downtown park.  There were no trailers for the elders and outdoor toilets didn’t turn up until the second day.

William Commanda is, to me, like Nelson Mandala or  Martin Luther King – a visionary, and elders came from around the world to recognize him for who he is. Imagine seeing his head fire-keeper, in his seventies, sleeping on the ground at night, rather than in a trailer nearby as promised. The natives barely complained, having seen this sort of thing their whole life. I was ashamed.

And yet there was much beauty in the event, especially the sunrise ceremonies near the Tye River, which becomes the Rideau Canal on its way to the Ottawa River. In the morning mist, the energy was beautiful as the sacred pipes were passed and we sent our prayers to the Earth, the Water, the Sacred Fire, the Air and Creator. It felt good to honour the water along with the other women by singing the women’s water song in the Algonquin language. A great connection.

While at this gathering, I was invited by the Climate of Peace organization to an event, and you’re invited too. If you feel ready for change, and ready for a climate of peace, join this worldwide initiative to focus on peaceful thoughts and activites during the week of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change being held in Bali, December 2-13. The goal is to positively influence the meeting from wherever we are in the world (www.climatepeace.org).

Now twelve days is a long time to sit meditating, but you might spend a portion of each day focusing on everyone else who is also focusing. It is fun when you find each other. There is also consciously living each of those days peacefully. Be mindful of all your actions and dialogue with others. Treat each conflict as something requiring your most enlightened self. Engage in peaceful activities, walking in nature each day, appreciating local organic foods, or the music or customs of other cultures. After the news each day, close your eyes and send your prayers to places and people who you feel need your loving energy. Use your imagination to visualize yourself, your home, your country, the planet filled with beautiful light and hold the image as long as possible.

Ongoing world-wide gatherings take place on the 21st day of December, March, June and September. These are the equinoxes and solstices. While these days are acknowledged as significant around the planet, they are also used worldwide for promoting peace. The word from channeled messengers is that whenever there is a world meditation at say 7 pm, it is like watching ‘the wave’ at a baseball-game, only this one is made of light and it moves across the world conducted by time-zones.

“The focused collective thought form of a large number of people assembled in common purpose is the most powerful energy on Earth for the creation of positive change.”

Check out www.peace-the-21st.org if you would like to gather with others on these days, to really feel the impact of group mind in action. It always feels so good when you ‘connect in’ and feel it grow. This often brings a sensation of being able to feel the space between your molecules. Now that is my kind of high!