Finally started...

Just wanted to share the fact that I have finally started my pieces to put up for International Day of Peace on 21 September. This year I have decided to make 21 birds of peace out of patinated copper.

As you can see from the few photos below I have cut out the first 7 birds.

All the birds will have peace stamped on them and hung in a tree at the from of our block. Go well. Peace

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.

every
single 
day


thanks, k!

xo
mj

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.  

----------

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.