Peace
Welcome to ATTUNEMENT, my monthly blog!
Each month we "tune into" a theme related to mindfulness,
and I share a creative mindfulness practice and tune based on this theme.
This month of November we’re TUNING INTO the frequency of:
PEACE.
Image by Sunguk Kim
I don't typically choose my newsletter themes ahead of time; rather I allow the theme to arise organically based on what feels most timely and pertinent to share. This month, the word peace came forth immediately, likely in relation to all the violence I've been seeing/hearing about in the news.
When we say "peace", we can mean global peace, relational peace on a smaller scale, or inner peace within an individual's own heart.
I believe that inner peace is the foundation for relational--and ultimately for global--peace.
But how do we go about building our inner peace?
Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.
-Albert Schweitzer
Peace is actually, I believe, an expression of compassion, a sense of caring.
-Dalai Lama
THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF PEACE
Michael Allen Fox, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Queen's University in Canada, writes:
"Compassion helps us to become fully engaged in trying to solve human problems 'without adding any harm to the situation.' Thus, compassion nurtures inner strength and a spirit of generosity and openness (and if necessary, forgiveness) toward others. It stands against the image of humans as naturally and predominantly aggressive, violent, cruel, selfish, greedy, competitive and exploitative. And it helps us envision and create a society that is caring, less conflict-ridden, and more accepting of others in their otherness. Compassion, then, is one of the key components of a peaceful mind-set that enables us to place ourselves within a larger picture of human life and concerns, and to actively involve ourselves in trying to make the world a better, more peaceful place."
But having compassion "does not require us to have the ability to solve every problem or provide immediate assistance," yoga teacher and therapist Esther Ekhart reminds us.
"Even when faced with situations where we may feel helpless, our capacity for compassion is authentic and virtuous in and of itself. The sincere intention and the genuine care we offer can hold immeasurable value, irrespective of the outcome or our ability to offer tangible solutions."
Equanimity is therefore a helpful quality of mind to cultivate alongside of compassion, so that we don't burn ourselves out on our path to cultivating peace and love.
Equanimity is a balanced, wise state of mind that keeps its composure even in difficult situations. "True equanimity" is not the same as indifference or withdrawal, mindfulness teacher Jack Kornfield writes; rather "it is a balanced engagement with all aspects of life. It is opening to the whole of life with composure and ease of mind, accepting the beautiful and terrifying nature of all things."
Image by Dim Hou
THE HEART ABODES
Compassion and equanimity are actually two of the four Buddhist Brahmaviharas, or Heart Abodes, which are the heart/mind states that occur naturally in the human heart/mind and therefore can be brought forth and cultivated.
These are the building blocks of peace:
Metta (lovingkindness)
Karuna (compassion)
Mudita (sympathetic joy), and
Upeka (equanimity)
Lovingkindness helps us embrace all beings with our well wishes for them.
Compassion helps us embrace those who are suffering.
Sympathetic joy helps celebrate others' joy and good fortune.
Equanimity helps us acknowledge and honor the pleasant and unpleasant.
The cultivation of the above heart/mind states attune us to the peace that lives inside of us, thus enabling us to share this embodied peace with others and the wider world. Not evangelically, but rather through our peaceful actions and way of being.
What will you choose to cultivate in your heart today?
Creative Mindfulness Practice: SoulCollage® Card-Making
In any moment we can learn to let go of hatred and fear. We can rest in peace, love, and forgiveness. It is never too late. Yet to sustain love we need to develop practices that cultivate and strengthen the natural compassion within us.
-Jack Kornfield
I hope that this brief exploration of the building blocks of peace has been helpful!
Reading about them is obviously important in order to better understand them, but our understanding becomes embodied when we experientially work with these qualities in order to cultivate them. SoulCollage® is a beautiful practice that allows us to experientially, creatively explore these heart/mind qualities. In the process we can uncover our innate wisdom and utilize this wisdom to inform our everyday behaviors.
I will be offering an introductory SoulCollage®** workshop in December at The Be Sanctuary in Upper Arlington, OH; subsequent intro workshops will be offered on a monthly basis there. For those not in Columbus, I am working on offering these virtually!
I invite you now to explore a taste of the SoulCollage® method by making a 5x8 inch collaged card (posterboard or cardstock works well) highlighting ONE of the four Brahmaviharas: LOVINGKINDNESS/LOVE, COMPASSION, SYMPATHETIC JOY, or EQUANIMITY.
To do so:
Grab some magazines (Half-Price Books has a great selection!),
Search for images that align with the above quality you chose, and cut them out.
Search for a larger background image the size of the card that aligns with the energy of your image(s), and cut that out.
Arrange then paste your image(s) on the background, which you'll paste to the card.
When you've completed your card, hold it in front of you and speak the phrase "I Am One Who...", completing the sentence with however the energy of this card would respond.
Here's a SoulCollage® card I created for EQUANIMITY:
And here's what came up for me as I held this card and uttered the phrase "I Am One Who...", so that Equanimity itself could speak its wisdom to me:
I Am One Who knows life is fleeting. Who knows that the innocence of youth brushes up with the wings of death, just as the pleasant coexists with the unpleasant. I Am One Who reminds you to breathe through change, knowing that change will always come, and to savor the sweetness of life alongside its inevitable hardships.
**If you'd like a facilitated, personalized SoulCollage® experience, I offer 1:1 in-person and virtual sessions. Send me an email and we'll set up a time to talk!
This Month’s Tune:
Each month I share a tune that resonates with the newsletter theme.
For this month’s theme of PEACE I’ve chosen the song "Let There Be Peace on Earth", written by Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller in 1955, commissioned for and sung by the International Children's Choir. The version I'm sharing is the St. Louis Children's Choir.
The lyrics include the phrase "With God as our Father". When I sing this song I replace this phrase with "With Love as our Mother". In other versions it's been "With Earth as our Mother" or "With Love as our compass." Also, "Brothers all are we" can be changed to "Sisters all are we" or "Family are we".
Here are the original lyrics:
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let There Be Peace on Earth
The peace that was meant to be
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry step I take
Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Special Announcements:
Fiddler on the Roof at Gallery Players in Bexley, OH, from December 2-17 (Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays).
I'm playing Fruma Sarah (u/s Golde), and my 10-yr old daughter, Vera, is in the ensemble.
I grew up watching the movie version, and I'm excited and honored to be in this production; doing it with my daughter makes it even more special. I hope you can make it!
2. Registration is open for my Creative Ways into Wellness Retreat at Hueston Woods Lodge, May 4-5, 2024!!!
This is my second retreat I'm hosting at Hueston Woods Lodge in College Corner, OH, but the first in Springtime!
Make sure to SAVE THE DATE and/or register here to enjoy a weekend of soul-nourishing creative mindfulness-based practices, connection, relaxation, and restoration!!
