The Lotus

May I live like the lotus, 

at ease in muddy water

The lotus has been my source of inspiration.

To allow me to be at ease,

  in the moment,

      just being.

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.

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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. 

are you living or merely alive -

mjd 2015 - offering bowl 

the dalai lama, when asked what most surprised him about humanity, answered:

"man... because he sacrifices himself in order to make money. then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. and then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then he dies never having really lived." 

our culture measures us by our productivity and things of an external nature - 

we know that is not a true measure of a human. and yet we push ourselves to that end.

no matter what your spiritual or religious belief system, i think there is solid value in the buddhist philosophy. i have been a dabbler for 30 years, but recently made a deeper commitment to the path. 

if you are seeking inner peace, wish to learn how to put compassion into practice (towards yourself as well as towards others), want to begin meditating (which is now supported by the scientific community as beneficial to one's health) and don't know where to turn, have a look at www.lionsroar.com. it is a resource that is rich and supportive.  

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there is no one else to become

there is no where else to be 

you are home.

peace and dr. mlk, jr.

mjd - 2014 peace offering bowl

peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek,

but a means by which we arrive at that goal.

- dr. mlk, jr. 

we give so much thanks to one who lived his life according to high principles, 

who honored his fellow man, who tirelessly worked for peace and equality and gave everything for what he believed in - including his life. 

may we all find ways to move peacefully through the world

cultivating harmony

mindfully working towards positive change. 

-------------

and in case you hadn't heard, thich nhat hanh is out of his coma. 

on thich nhat hanh and spreading peace

zen buddhist monk - thich nhat hanh

i wanted to share the news of thich nhat hanh's serious health crisis. like so many of you, i look to him as a guide on the path to peace and have learned so very much. he suffered a serious brain hemorrhage and is currently in the hospital. you can read more about it here. 

we all know that death is a reality, but that our time of death is unknown. it's not some dark trick, it's just the way of things. 

thay has given so much to the world - 

i wanted to give something back. 

for months i have had in my mind the creation of pieces that would work together to form a small sacred space. 

barry smith makes exquisite traveller's shrines

barry smith 2013 

mine are based upon my stitching and weaving, metal working and study of tibetan calligraphy. 

i had the mats and stones/shells firmed up. 

but not the metal. 

not until thay fell ill. 

and then i made an offering bowl. 

my offering to him for all he has done, 

to be used by others to make their own

ripples and ripples and ripples. 

mjd - 2014

mjd - 2014

may we all work towards peace

in our thoughts 

words 

and actions. 

nobel peace prize awards made for 2014

malala yousfzai and kailash satyarthi

with the utmost gratitude i read of the honored recipients this morning.

ms. yousafzai from pakistan is the youngest recipient at age 17. she became known when she was shot by the taliban and heroically came back to take on the issue of girls education. 

mr. satyarthi from india was recognized for his work on child labor and children's rights. he has remained in the tradition of gandhi, using peaceful protests and demonstrations to make his point.

you can read more about them both here.

it should be noted that there has been fighting with deaths incurred in india and pakistan over their himalayan border - let us hope that this honor of their citizens may ease that dispute. 

peace can be quiet and peace can be active. i yearn to be able to spread it in all ways possible.

another young woman, this one a holocaust victim named etty hillesm wrote:

ultimately we have just one moral duty:

to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves,

more and more peace,

and to reflect it towards others,

and the more peace there is in us, 

the more peace there will be in our troubled world. 

in peace and love and gratitude to all who work each day to make the world a more peaceful place in any way they can. 

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. 

morning practice

sunrise

each morning when i rise, my eyes seek the tibetan prayer flags that hang in my backyard.

bathed by sun

drenched in rain

blown by wind

or covered in snow

each set is an impermanent, yet beautiful, constant in my life.

snow fall

earlier, i made these wishes for you, for all sentient beings and for me (i have learned that this is not an act of selfishness, but rather an act of self love).

om ah hum

may i be happy

may all beings be happy

may i know peace

may all beings know peace

may i move through the world with an open heart

may all beings move through the world with an open heart.

in peace,

mary jane

do you have a special way you begin your day?

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

one more day

and i am still working on my projects... 

if you are planning on posting tomorrow - do remember that you can always set it up today and schedule what time you would like it to go live... 

if you haven't become an author yet, feel free to give me a shout and i can get you set up... i will be checking my email today frequently for that purpose... 

looking forward to seeing all of the posts tomorrow as we make our way around the world!

and remember, even if you have shown us your flags over the past months, please feel free to post an image again tomorrow - (that would make me really happy!)

mary jane

Artists books for peace

In conjunction with flying Flags for Peace around our town and at our homes, a few of us have put together a small display of artists' books based around peace, which is being hosted by our wonderful local Library here in Maleny.

We took some less than wonderful shots the other day, but we did want to share them here (even tho I have posted most of this over at my own blog as well.)


This is Noela's book, and here are her words:

Peace book

My book represents the notion that life has become so complex with dark layers of ‘stuff’ forever present.

The high tide mark in the ink indicates that enough is enough. It’s time to look beyond the distractions, however enticing, and to rise above the craziness to a peaceful, quiet, empty space where we can be replenished and renewed.

The mountains on the front cover are a serendipitous addition that appeared as the ink was settling – a wonderful metaphor for me because I truly need mountains in my life to achieve a peaceful state of mind.

Next is my book and my words...

Languages of Peace

This book is filled with love and hopes for peace.  I have written the word for peace in 25 languages, and embossed peace doves on every page. 

I chose a language for each letter of the alphabet (although I found no language that starts with the letter “O”) and wrote the word for peace in that language using my own heartbeat script.  I have chosen the softest and clearest of blues and white to suggest peace.

It is wonderful to discover that so many languages have words for peace, that the notion and idea of peace transcends cultures, and that peace is an aspiration shared by people across the globe.

This book reminds me that we all know of peace, and that many of us seek it. 

Continuing on, here is Barry's book and his words...

Sacred Peace Texts

This artist book aims to make links between the hope and prayers for peace on the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2012 and the peace and stillness of ancient temples – places of peace. The book is in the form of a sacred temple scroll.

The book has four metal pages each stamped with a different hopes or prayers:

·      IMAGINE PEACE

·      LET PEACE BE THE WAY WE ACHIEVE PEACE

·      PEACE IS EVERY STEP

·      MAY OUR WORDS BRING PEACE

The words are adaptations from public peace quotes.

In the main Sacred Peace Texts is made from recycled and found materials. The main body of the scroll was a small brass pump; the decorative ends came from old brass lights; and the pages are brass off cuts.  

And finally we come to Ken's two pieces and his words..

He opened a box…

Peace begins with a smile

These sculptures use a combination of recycled timber, rusted metal and hand-made paper. All materials have had a previous life, have been discarded, rescued and then re-worked on a theme to create a piece of recycled history.

Inspiration for He opened a box … comes from the complexity and the drabness of war and Peace begins with a smile …( words of Mother Teresa ) … reflect the joy and happiness of peace.

My sculptures reflect an on-going fascination with life, death and rebirth and an interest in the traces of past existences. Starting with a pile of un-related materials and slowly working them into an artwork that can be read like a book. The idea of evolution frequently runs through my work as I explore the craft of assemblage.

first flag from Spain

I have been posting from Spain as a member of a group of artists called 'Roots'. However, the first Flag I can show you here was not made by a member of our group at all but by Montse Romagosa, a jewelry designer gone sculptor from Barcelona (230 kms from here). The beautiful photographs were taken by Àlvar Caixal.

Montse visits the area regularly, she has a house here in Beceite, and she liked the idea of the 2012 Project from the very beginning. She is a member of another group of artists called Land Art Associació Catalunya.

So her first contribution to the Flags for Peace Project is placed on the ground, on a piece of land. This piece of sculpture is not very large or heavy and she means to hang it in a public place for 21 September. I'd love it to be near the ten flags of our Group.

The piece is titled 'Peace and Freedom' and it is made with recycled materials, mainly iron and rope. The iron grid represents Freedom.

The same figure placed in a different location. I'm not sure where (I forgot to ask!) but the surroundings look a lot like anywhere around here.

'Peace and Freedom' resting on rows of roof tiles made of clay. I think it's a 'she'. What do you think?

P.S. Mary Jane, I thought this work would appeal to you, I hope it does!

Hand painted peace flags for International Peace Day

First of all, thank you Mary Jane for the opportunity to post to the blog.  I loved the idea of peace flags when I first heard Mary Jane mention the project over at the Love My Art Jewelry Blog.  I did a little research about peace/prayer flags and really loved what I found out about Tibetan prayer flags.  I learned that it was traditional for them to be hung in the wind and that it was thought the wind would carry the prayers and wishes to the whole world.  I also loved that it was not only OK, but expected for them to sort of fade away due to exposure to the elements and become part of a greater cycle.  I loosely based my flags on the Tibetan concept without the more denominational aspects.  I wanted my flags to have meaning for any and everyone.  I went down to a local yardage store and got 2 yards of fabric which I then cut into rectangles.   I melted a candle and used the wax as a resist to write my wishes of peace, love, health, joy and freedom for everyone in the world.  I used Setasilk paint by Pebeo to color the flags, and affixed the flags to 1/4"bias tape with double sided fusible webbing.  They may fall apart with the first rain...and that's totally OK, because for once it is totally true that "it's the thought that counts".  Peace everyone.

first set complete

my first set of flags are in the darchor style - or vertically oriented... 

and, yes, they are small!


i used my carvings of the 'om' symbol and an opening lotus blossom to etch metal... i liked the idea of an opening flower here - to me it acknowledges the difficulty we can have being vulnerable... unlike the natural growth of the lotus, we often have to work at being open... i think many of us at times stay tightly bud-like, but the only way to experience and share love and peace fully is to blossom...

there is a lapis drop at the bottom... 


this was interesting for me - while flags are traditionally on fabric, my jewelry/metalworking background clearly guided my decisions... the carvings were first intended to use on a soft material... but i had to try them with etching on copper and brass and am glad i did... 


i really want to tell everyone how pleased and grateful i am for all of the participation, the community that is very present here... by having you signed up already as authors, i get to be just as surprised by the blog posts that regularly appear as everyone else... it's a gift and i thank you! if you aren't already an author and would like to be, please just let me know...

peäce

Back in March of this year, Mary Jane Dodd gave this six month notice on her blog.  She was giving everyone the  opportunity to celebrate international peace day on September 21st. I loved the idea of sharing peace flags, but knew I probably wouldn't have time to participate. And as I told her then, I would be with her project in spirit because as my family can attest, I've always had World Peace at the top of my Christmas list.  Little did I know that a couple of days ago, while rummaging around in my studio...I would find a print from a lino block that I made several years ago.  When I saw it, I instantly
thought about the flags for peace project...and Mary Jane asked me to share it here.

The print is 5.5 x 11 inches and I carved it from the back of a piece of linoleum.  

It was created at a time when I was doing linoleum prints for shirts. I'm sad to say I no longer have the print block, but I'm hoping to use photoshop to reverse the print image and 

use iron on transfer paper to create peace flags of several colors.  

Isn't it nice when these things happen?

And it occurred to me that my vanity plate

is spreading a thought that is a building block for peace.

I took this shot right after I got it....I didn't realize I'd had

it for four years until I saw this photo. I hope it has

a positive impact where needed.

I leave you with this thought.

"The place to improve the world is first in

one's own heart and head and hands, and
then work outward from there."
—Robert M. Pirsig

Peace and The Art of Love and Forgiveness

I came across this project the other day, and I felt like it had a connection to the Flags for Peace Project. The Art of Love and Forgiveness is the title of a 10-day art exhibition that's part of International Forgiveness Week and The Weekend Of Perfect Peace in Wisconsin.

I liked how they connected the concept of peace with a direct action such as forgiveness. This has given me something to ponder as I'm still coming up with my design and message for my prayer flags. Forgiveness of others and forgiveness of oneself has a profound impact on the people who surround us. What other actions or non-actions create peace in our lives?

how things that are so simple

path to nirvana - ancient thai symbol

can become so complex... 


peace and love, at their core, are pure and simple... yet humans seem to corrupt them with their baggage... but i guess that's what makes us human...


coming from center, moving our way out of fears, habits, patterns, desires that can hold us back from those pure states of being


we diligently work


to be set free... 

street art, asbury park nj 2011