We’re in the early days of the annual observation of the Season for Nonviolence, which begins on January 30, the anniversary of Gandhi’s assassination, and ends on April 4 which is the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
One of the more formalized ways to observe this season is to follow along with a daily curriculum of reflections on various topics outlined by the Association for Global New Thought. While I don’t necessarily find that a helpful or interesting thing to do, I do occasionally check in and see what the thought for the day is. Here’s today’s message:
DAY 13 Feb. 11: The thought for today is CREATIVITY. The human soul’s natural desire is to create. The best thing you can do to a human soul is to express the natural desire to create. Your life is your creative expression. Creativity allows something unpredictable and joyous to express through you.
“Why should we use all our creative power? . . . Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful, lively, bold and compassionate, so indifferent to fighting and the accumulation of objects and money.” -Brenda Ueland
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the different guises creativity has shown up as in my life. Today I thought I’d give you a peek into a journal page. I’ve actually used this image as an envelope, and slipped my writing inside. You know I’m an inveterate lover of pockets! And I adore this image of hands forming hearts. It speaks so much to me about the importance of joint undertakings, and, of course, celebrates my fascination with hands as well.
It’s no coincidence that I used a particular journal for this musing. Years ago I found this very well-worn hardback at a library sale. I didn’t much love it as a mystery, but I couldn’t refrain from converting it to a journal afterwards. How could I resist the cover? I glued those fabulous copper hands in various spots throughout the book – I’m handy that way.
I came across something else today, written in another of my journals, which feels like a perfect sharing today as I contemplate the Season of Nonviolence. There’s a peace invocation/prayer that’s been widely translated from the Vedas. This is one version that I particularly like:
May the heavens be peaceful.
May the space between the sun, moon and stars be peaceful.
May the earth be tranquil.
May the waters be calm.
May all the herbs be healthy and peaceful.
May all the vegetable kingdom nourish and be peaceful.
May the elements and all luminous forces be peaceful.
May our body, mind and soul be calm and joyful.
May everything be at peace and may this peace be real.
May peace and harmony flourish though all.
And that’s certainly my wish for all of us. Peace and harmony; hands offered to one another; heart connections made; kindness shared.
And what about you? What is your wish for all of us dancing together in this world? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Deborah,
I’ve just decided just now that you need to live in my neighborhood. You are so interesting and I would just love to have tea together on a regular basis. Perhaps we could have a Skype tea sometime?
LOL – oh Amy you delight me! It WOULD be fabulous to live near each other wouldn’t it? But Skype tea sounds like a perfectly fun alternative.
Oh! What a beautiful prayer! I’m emailing this post to a dear friend who I know will want to read it.
P.S. “I’m handy that way…” *snort* 😉
It really is a lovely prayer isn’t it? P.S. I’ve got to hand it to you, your snort totally makes me laugh in delight.
I truly enjoy being able to experience your talent of creativity. What BEAUTIFUL pieces!! And your post touched me so much I also immediately emailed it to a friend. Thank you for always being such an inspiration to me.
What kind words Elda – thank you.
That is a beautiful prayer – the world needs more of these thoughts.
Recently I heard of a singing group experiment where they put heart monitors on all the members of a choir – as soon as they started to sing, within seconds, their hearts started to beat in unison … wouldn’t it be amazing to start a peace conference with a shared song so that at least their hearts would be as one to begin proceedings.
Fil
Fil’s Place – Old songs and Memories
Oh Fil – what a fabulous idea! My mind is racing with the implications.
I was thinking about this the other night as I was watching a show. My wish is for people to simply open their hearts to one another. No judgement. Only acceptance and love. And kindness. I see a picture of a (earth) globe and someone laying on top the globe, hugging it with all their might.
What a lovely image Tracy. And yes, I SO think we should all be Ambassadors of Loving-Kindness. For as long as we can, as wildly as we can, with as much joy as we can muster.