"What if there was a practical, non-political way to help see peace in our time?

What if we could be known as the generation who turned the tide of history and brought peace? This is the time when we have the awareness, technology and motivation to share peace with the world.

Quantum physics is now telling us what spiritual leaders have been saying for thousands of years - that nothing exists, except by our paying attention to it. Everything is made up of waves of energy, and the more we focus upon an idea, whether with positive or negative feelings, the more that idea is manifested in our experience. Our thoughts, words and feelings literally give things and situations their reality, and war in the world "Springs from inward strife" (James Allen).

"What you resist, persists" - as we become angry, frustrated and fearful about violence and destruction, we are in fact paying these concepts a great deal of attention, and by so doing we are giving them more reality. If instead, we all spent time focusing on the peace which already exists within all of us - then we must surely bring more of that peace into our experience. There must have been some peace, somewhere, sometime in your life - think about it, dwell on it, let it grow - CHOOSE PEACE.

How can we do this? I have seen a way.

I have a vision - a vision of a wonderful, world-wide festival of peace. Each country celebrates a day/week of peace, with all countries hooked up by satellite so that the whole world shares this day/week together. The satellite presentation shows highlights from individual country’s festivals, as each country presents its chosen expression of peace. There will be concerts with song, dance, music; fun runs, sport events, art exhibitions and so on. People may plant gardens, write poems or prose, walk dogs, bake cakes, whatever they feel inspired to do. Everyone becomes involved in local festivals in their area, so that people of all walks of life and all ages are actively recognising, expressing and sharing peace together.

The final day/s would be marvellously exciting - yet this is just the tip of the iceberg. The main objective is to get people to allow peace to grow - in their hearts, their lives, and their world.

In the lead up, everyone is encouraged to choose peace in their daily lives - to "be the peace" that they seek, and then share this peace with their community in the way that they choose. Many may choose to focus on the peace within them through prayer and meditation, either alone or in groups. Others may feel that this kind of spirituality is not for them. However, we all have some kind of activity that we love to pursue, be it painting, walking, sharing a meal, playing sport or just sitting quietly in nature.

What better time to think about peace, to feel peaceful than during a favourite pastime, and then to share those activities with our communities and send those thoughts of peace out into the world. The important thing is to recognise peace and live it, and a festival is a wonderful way to help remind us of this goal. I see this festival uniting families, schools, communities, and the whole of mankind in the recognition of peace within.

The only true power we have in our lives is in our own thinking. Whether we are prepared to accept this or not, we do create our reality, both as individuals and collectively. This is a huge responsibility, and yet there is hope in it - for we are not alone. A world wide festival, such as I envisage, is a practical way to unite those of us who choose peace. And whom doesn’t - will anyone admit to not choosing peace?

Each of us does make an impact by our thoughts, words, and actions, sending small but far reaching ripples out into the world. Imagine what will happen when enough ripples unite to create a tidal wave of peace to wash the world for at least twenty-four hours. Think of the effect the months of preparation will have.

The international teacher, *John F Demartini writes of how, as a child, he spent a great deal of time pulling up the weeds in his garden, until a wise neighbour reminded him that he would never get rid of the weeds until he planted some flowers. Let’s unite in planting, nurturing and cherishing the flowers of peace in our hearts, our lives and our world, until they outgrow the weeds of discord and grow into a beautiful garden that we can all enjoy.

Kate Lawson Gould  

(*: John F. Demartini "The Breakthrough Experience")

P.S. Please feel free to circulate this idea, and if you would be willing to help in any capacity, please contact me at:

kategould@ozemail.com.au.

In love and peace,

Kate.