wednesday september 21st

here we are again, looking at the imminent arrival of the international day of peace. 

one week from now. 

i am guilty of not having been active here - and yet the world has shown us over the past year that the need for the honoring of peace is just as important as it ever was. and probably ever shall be. for it needs to be tended to - as anything else. we need to stay mindful and active, our young ones need to be guided and given solid role models. 

it is, in effect, a life's practice. 

my work this year has gotten bigger - but with the same goal in mind. for it to be used in ways that promote peace. offering bowls and wall plaques and hangings- using techniques and skills i've honed in the making of adornment - are coming off of the anvil. set with words that resound deeply within me. 

morning mantra offering bowl 2016

as there is never a bad time to share your thoughts or work - please feel free to share. i know it's going on steadily. 

----

as the moon sets

and the sun rises

may i begin my day

awake.

may i move through each moment

mindfully

lightly

and 

with clarity.

a heart bursting with love,

a mind propped open, 

may i shine to lessen 

the darkness

of another being's 

suffering. 

----

in peace - 

mary jane

international day of peace 2015

mjd 2015

everything living is impermanent. 

every thing, every one that is alive will not always be so. 

a sense of urgency is necessary -
for each moment matters. 

what do you want to leave behind? 

will it be a message of beauty and peace,

understanding and compassion?

will you do the work it takes,

and be a warrior for the purpose of living in 

and perpetuating peace? 

yes, work - being attentive, 

practicing right speech, mind and action.

but is anything more worth it? 

what will your legacy be? 

as thich nhat hanh reminds us:

our own life has to be our message. 

in a way, not knowing how long we have,

not knowing what will happen in a minute, a day, a year,

is a gift. 

it forces us to bring our 'a' game.

and if we aren't bringing it,

we can become aware and start. 

be peace

be love

be compassion

now.

----------

thank you as always to those who read and participate. to the dear friends who help me along when i falter. i wonder if blogging is going to the wayside (though i am fond of the format) - perhaps next year will be a bit different. if you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them. 

petition google for a peace doodle

this is jeremy gilley, the founder of peace one day - 
and he has a request for you. 

you know those wonderful doodles google creates to commemorate special days, events and people? well, jeremy shows us how we can ask google to create one for peace.

how wonderful would that be? 

take a look and get involved.

and remember - the international day of peace is monday september 21st. i'm curious what you are all working on and wondering if perhaps we should take this to instagram - i'll keep you posted. 

4 months until the international day of peace ...

mjd - 2015 - morning mantra

as the moon sets

and the sun rises

may i begin my day

awake.

may i move

through each moment

mindfully

lightly

and with clarity.

a heart bursting 

with love,

a mind 

propped open,

may i shine 

to lessen 

the darkness

of 

another being's 

suffering. 

------

i know your work and words are infused with peace - 

we'd love to share it.

honoring the international day of peace

natural objects of peace and connection 2014

life has a way of asserting itself when you aren't paying attention.

key words - not paying attention.

we've had happy busy and stressful busy this past year, 

you know, we've been living at a heightened level.

i usually have grand plans of how i want to honor this day.

i would think about it and say to myself 'once x,y,z is done, i can get to work'- 

but how it turned out 

has more to do with what i have learned (or relearned) this summer. 

life is in the moments, 

the gestures - small and large

the words of kindness

the thoughts that create our reality.

let go - brass leaf 2014

it's about releasing what doesn't serve us

or others,

what holds us back from reaching our potential.

with gentleness 

we can act, speak and think - 

that is how we relate to the outside world.

but if we are plagued by fear, 

do we know inner peace?

when i stand before my jizo

or the ocean

or gaze at the night sky

i feel a profound sense of calm.

when i take 3 deep breaths at different times during the day

to bring myself back to center

the serenity returns.

my goal is to increase the practices

so that my moments come closer together

and my life is lived more intentionally.

our world desperately needs those who are willing to commit 

to principles of non-harming and harmony. 

so this year, 

my attention will be given to small objects - like rocks, sticks and shells -

that can be left on curbs, 

boardwalks,

benches,

steps.

the hope being, 

that moment of stillness

will be noted and cherished

and, in the end, shared in some way. 

create your own butterfly effect.

you all have my deepest apologies for not being more present here this year. 

just because international peace is formally recognized today

does not mean that work in the name of peace is not important

every second 

of every minute

of every day.

so please come to share whatever you can. 

there are dark forces at work in the world - 

and your light is desperately needed.

mary jane

6 months to the international day of peace

greetings! 

the six months between september and now have flown - filled with all kinds of life events and weather events to keep us busy. 

this is the 3rd year we announce our project here - 
and it means more each time.

in the beginning, i focused upon my project to honor the quest for world peace. 

but it quickly evolved into becoming a part of my daily routine. 

let's face it,
one cannot make work authentically in the name of peace
without doing the inside work of being in peace.

it takes diligence and practice. 

with great joy i look forward to sharing the upcoming months with you - hearing from you - being inspired by you. 

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.

for more information we have links set up in the side bar and in that tabs at the top. 

i would like to open this up a bit - if you go back, you will see inspiring works by talented makers. all visual artists. if however, you are a poet or a songwriter - i want to include you as well. you could write your words on paper or fabric to hang in the sun and the wind. and share it with all living things. if you are a musician, maybe you could play your work outside and allow it to be carried away. 

remember, while the 21st is the official day of honoring peace, every day holds the opportunity to promote it. 

Peace Begins From Within

*I'm sorry for the delay in posting but I've been having major issues with Firefox crashing.*

I'd like to thank Mary Jane Dodd for continuing to promote peace through her Flags For Peace Project (part of the International Day of Peace).  I participated last year and I was thrilled to be a part of it this year, too.  Maire's determined, quiet, personal path toward both inner and world peace should serve as a beacon to us all.

World peace is such a large concept that seems so hugely impossible that many people are daunted by where and how to start and often end up paralyzed by the enormity of it.  If I dwelled on the particulars too much, I would probably be one of those people so, I choose to start small and work from within.  I try to do things that are fair, kind, environmentally friendly, but basically small.  Those things are what I am capable of doing on a daily basis but I'm convinced that they make a difference.

Peace Leaf Pendant

I made a piece of jewelry again this year as a simple, personal reminder for the wearer.  The leaf and peace tag are made from PMC3 while the peace symbol was forged from sterling silver wire.  I wanted to include a reminder to care for nature and a more literal peace symbol so that the message is both understated but still obvious.

Sterling Silver Peace Symbol

Behind the leaf hangs a tag stamped with the word "peace" which was created by stamping the PMC3 clay with the etched brass stamp that I created when making last year's pendant.

Etched Brass Stamp

My necklace isn't finished because my silver clam shell bead tips didn't arrive in time to finish the knotted bead portion.  My clasp and the chain portion will be attached when the tips arrive.  I'll post an updated photo, too.
 

 Unfinished Peace Leaf Necklace

UPDATE:

 Chain is Attached

 

Back View of Completed Necklace

a ripple in new jersey

woven peace flags with brass chimes - mjd 2013

the international day of peace has arrived. 

woven peace flags with brass chimes - mjd 2013

woven flags represent

connection to all

fragile strength

and the importance of remaining open. 

woven peace flags with brass chimes - mjd 2013

gently ringing chimes bring us back to the moment. 

woven peace flags with brass chimes - mjd 2013

and thich nhat hanh reminds us:

'the miracle is not to walk on water. the miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.'

peace is a choice,

live it.

10 days!

mjd - 2013

this year i work in fibers,

exploring thoughts of 

connection 

&

strength in unexpected places.

tying it all

into wishes for peace.

28 days

woven leaf - mjd 2013

the flags for peace project grew from those whose work is infused with this intention on a daily basis. it gave us a special 'project' with a goal date - 

but it occurs every day.

i know my project for this year has changed multiple times - before january, it was going to involved colored perspex. 

then baskets.

but now i have fallen for weaving.

i am making pin woven leaves - 

and just got some custom tweaked weaving forms - a card and an arched loom. 

the wonderful jeff from explorations early learning altered the spacing for my needs. i am very thankful to him for the accommodation. 

what have you been thinking about?

do you have ideas to contribute on the international day of peace?

if you are not a contributor but would like to be, please just reach out and you will be happily added. 

thank you for your patience, i know this year the blog has not received the attention it did last year - but it's not for lack of love for the project. 

i hope that if you find some time, you will share a bit about what you might be working on. 

in metta,

mary jane

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. 

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.

Continued Peace from Connecticut

On the way home from the birthday party of one of my daughters' classmates on Saturday, we happened to pass by their school. There, to my complete surprise, on the front lawn was a huge peace symbol.

I commented that it must have been for International Peace Day on Friday and my daughters agreed...asking how I knew. So I told them.

"Remember the flags that you helped me hang outside? Well, they are to celebrate International Peace Day too.

I'm part of a group of artists from around the world who created peace flags and hung them in different locations, then posted photos on a blog for all to see."

My little urchins practically squealed with delight and rushed to tell me that their peace symbol was made out of pin wheels that all the students had made - of paper, pencils and pins.

Yesterday, I went back to take a few shots to post here. It rained a lot the other night so many of the pin wheels were distorted,

but not enough to keep the message from shining through. Peace.

Peace Day

I hope that everyone has had a beautiful and peaceful day.  Greeting from Florida!

My object is not a flag to be hung outdoors but is instead a pendant to be worn to remind the wearer that the goal of world peace will be attained only through the works of each individual.

A rectangle of poplar wood is layered with etched copper that has a leaf-shaped window with crocheted green cotton thread peeking through.

The back of the pendant was branded with the words “Path To Peace” and a spiral as a physical representation that the path to peace will not always be easy or comfortable.

The individual stitches of the crocheted cotton represent each of the many things that we can do to achieve the goal of “world peace”.

My blog post:  http://libellulajewelry.blogspot.com/2012/09/international-day-of-peace.html
-Susan 

a message from france

picasso's 'peace on earth'

through the world of the internet, people come into our lives that never would have - it is a gift...

solange contacted me regarding the project... she was unable to make flags this year, but wanted to tell her story -

her family has experienced war through her brother's eyes, has seen the painful toll it has taken upon him and so many others... he still lives in africa where she points out that 'the line between war and peace is very thin', where she has met children and teenagers who have never lived in peace - they have only ever known war... 

and she wanted me to share some quotes with you -

'i do not want the peace that passeth understanding.

i want the understanding which bringeth peace.'

- helen keller

and

'la paix n'est pas un vain mot.'

'peace is not just a simple word.'

- former côte d'ivoire president félix houphouët-boigny

i was so moved by the life of this former president that i wanted to add here another passage from him:

'Nothing will change as long as statesmen do not make the quest for peace something more than the mere window-dressing of their policy. Everything will change when this quest for peace has become the main and real goal of their concerns and second nature to them. The interests they defended up to that time will then seem to them to have been very mean and perverse. Peace is not an empty word but a form of behaviour.'

while the flags serve as a visual reflection of the quest, it is indeed the thoughts, words and actions of each individual that bring us ever closer to our goal... 

thank you, solange, for adding yours here - 

may we never lose hope, may we never stop believing, may we never forget how powerful we become in numbers -

mary jane