Mindfulness helps cultivate peace within yourself and others. Everyone experiences strong feelings, emotions, stress and uncertainty. That's why we need strategies to pause, self-regulate and become more aware within ourselves. Noticing what is happening inside of us is called mindfulness. Checkout this video for more guidance!
βΈοΈ Pause π« Breath π Notice π¬ Act
Practice intentionally throughout the day. The more stressed you feel, the more you need to PBNA! Keep in mind that sometimes 'Act' is inaction or stopping, changing, resting.
New to the PBNA strategy? This strategy is great for all ages, start with Pause/Breath and expand. Set the duration for your needs (e.g. 20 second to 20 min).
On my website you can download for free an emotion identification & regulation lesson plan and digital slides (for children/youth), as well as a printable anchor chart (for all ages).
Welcome to the Weave Peace + Justice topic group!We are very glad you are here.The vision for thisonlinepeer learning community is to deepen our individual & collective healing, growth and impact as we weave for peace and justice.
Ways to Contribute to this Online Space
We are growing this group together and we invite you to share about what you're up to and how we can support each otherβs peace + justice weaving work. Here are some ways to engage:
1. Introduce Yourself:We have a discussion page dedicated to getting a little glimpse into one another's stories, which helps weave us together for peace + justice.Tell us about yourself on this page.
2. Join Upcoming peace + justice centered Gatherings and Events.Head to the calendarand you are also welcome to add/share other relevant happenings here. We meet virtually on the first Wednesday of each month.
3. Add to the Discussion(s): Share and respond to questions, ideas, musings, comments and more via ourgeneral discussions forum. Check back here regularly.
4. Exchange Resources:
Know of any grants of funding opportunities for peace + justice?Add them here.
In need of volunteers for your next event? Or maybe you have a set of great conversation starters you want to share? TheAsk & Offer Marketplace forumis a space to exchange a variety of goods and services.
And if you have tools and skills that aren't time-bound, add them to theResources page.
5. Know of any peace + justice centered weaving organizations?We're starting a directory and you canadd ones you know to this list.
6. How doYOUwant to connect and use this space?Reply in the comments and also know that we will also create opportunities to gather your feedback and input.
Update Notifications You can set your notification preferences to weekly or daily and get instant alerts to newly posted events. Update your settings (and make sure they're not going to spam) by: Click your name in the top right > Your Settings > Notifications > Subgroup Follows > Peace + Justice .Or just click here If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at any time! Weave Peace + Justice Co-Leads
Avi Dey07/23/2024 Tuesday Healthy Lunch Hour at Vienna Metro Hub Ethnic Foodie Topic/Peace and Justice Historic NATO 75th Meeting Just concluded at Washington DC. Avi Cafe Twin Fx/0Summary I am not a NATO Nerd. But there are some here who are. But as a longtime advocacy and community outreach via CTV/LinkedIn social media, I see a tremendous lack of knowledge about this defensive alliance of now 30 nations commitment to joint security , and democratic processes of about a billion people in 30... [ more ]
Avi DeyDeep Dive on Peace &Justice -- A War Zone 2024 + Suffering and dying at Ukraine-- , Palestine __Civilians . Sudan ....., Can Power of Human Thoughts over choice of War can make more sense to leaders of aggressor nations, not possible now, but may be just may be, when the current generation of war advocacy leaders of war advocacy leaders are gone in the next 2 decades at most? Even more deep dive: what binding internation pledge is possible to put in place for next war provoking national... [ more ]
The"Weaving Organizations" resource forum is a space to share all the amazing organizations nationwide that are weaving community around peace and justice topics. When adding an organization to the directory, be sure to share:
Name of organization
Location (address if possible)
Description of how they are weaving community and the overall work
Website and/or social media links
Your connection to the organization, if you have any, in case someone wants to get in touch further
You can also find (and add!) weaving organizations and volunteer opportunities around various topics through theWeaver Network.
If your group is doing local social justice work, The Peace Development Fund offers Seeding the Movement grants to cover general operating costs.
If you happen to also be in western Massachusetts and have a leader of color, you can tap support from the Western Mass Transformation Fund. And if your group is youth-led and youth-oriented, you can apply to The Braiding New Worlds Fund. Past grantees include a Detroit-based effort to bring youth together to advocate for policy changes on issues from education to climate change.
This is a wonderful tool to promote mental & emotional well-being, peace, compassion and nonviolence in your community, faith-group, school, business or organization.
Setup a 90+min group gathering for this video-based peace education experience 'Be The Change: Seek Peace Within'.A group license includes facilitation support, a comprehensive engagement guide and promotional material.
You are all invited to this webinar about war in Sudan! π
The aim of this webinar is to raise awareness and educate the public about the scale and severity of the war in Sudan. By offering an in-depth look at the causes, impacts and dynamics of the Sudanese conflict, we hope that a better understanding of this situation will encourage more concerted and effective global action at all levels, from individuals to national governments and global organizations.
First part: a brief description of the conflict.
Second part: the testimony of Zeirra a Sudanese influential woman who has just left Sudan.
Third part: questions and exchanges with the audience.
Sarah AnyiethMarion, this is so helpful! Thank you! I will be in touch through email. Thank you for your work/weaving. [ more ]
Marion transettiThank you very much Sarah for your comment and my apologies for the delay in replying. π I want to start by saying that I am not an ''expert'' in welcoming refugees, but I have witnessed many of them and supported some, so I can share some of my experience. I hope it will help. In order to be more specific with my suggestions, I would need to know more about your mother in law: what was her occupation in Sudan? What is her religion? Does she speak English? And more... If you would like us... [ more ]
I hope you are all very good in your mind, your heart and your body.
I come to you today about a project I am working on and, I don't know, maybe some of you would like to be part of it.
It is a website where I have started collecting (I just have two entries at the moment! π€£) ways of spreading Peace and answers to give to people in order to plant seeds of Peace around us.
I would love it to be collaborative.
Here is the link if you want to give it a look! π
I am Trent Batson, a retired professor and environmental advocate, Vice President of Groundwork RI, and interested in the Weavers organization. I have admired David Brooks for decades, even if I don't always agree, so am very happy he has started this organization that seems to me is spot on in its mission.
Nathan HultTrent, So good to see you and your pictures from Boston Garden and the Esplanade, a couple of my favorite places. I grew up in Quincy and snuck up to Boston and Cambridge whenever I could as a teen. I couldn't help noticing that you have roots in Romania. We came close on one of our bike rides through Hungary and Slovenia. Here is a picture of our international students at USU who we took camping and hiking in the Tetons this past weekend, most for the first time. We didn't find much trash... [ more ]
Razvan Dominic IonescuHi Trent! Great to connect - I am based in Philadelphia but travel regularly to Boston for work. I will be sure to let you know before next time, as it seems we share environmental interests. I was in Boston last week for a few days, and I was able to recruit a fellow environmental enthusiast in my network (whom I had not met previously!) to join me in picking up litter. To me picking up litter is "beginner level" environmental action that almost everyone can carry out, and a restorative way... [ more ]
Trent BatsonNate: I guess it's not surprising that any good climate news would be used to perpetuate wealth accumulation. Yes, I am an academic, but retired now. However, I am in touch with influential academic leaders who see, as I do, that human society everywhere needs repair, connections, hope, belonging -- in other words, that the traits of humans in evolutionary time -- up until farming when we started to believe we humans owned the earth -- our cooperation and empathy, must re-emerge. "Belonging... [ more ]
We are seeking new co-leads for this Peace + Justice topic group! The primary role of co-leads is to plan, communicate about and facilitate gatherings. Currently we meet the first Wednesday of the month for the gathering, but there is flexibility in the model based on your interest, availability and the needs of our community.
Please contact Julie and/or Kate to help out; share your ideas, expertise and/or hold space for others in this community.
Avi Dey05/14/2024 Tuesday Afternoon Ms. Julie Lillie Topic: Peace + Justice . An online peer learning community to deepen our individual & collective healing, growth and impact as we weave for peace and justice. 01. (Previous Post) Avi/Cafe Twin Fx VA Hub Geo (P+J Feedback 01): "Peace + Justice" is a very old inspiration for many here in USA, and globally. In particular, here in USA, Church, Temple, and other Spiritual Organizations, features "Peace & Justice" on a regular and periodic... [ more ]
Avi Dey05/14/2024 Tuesday Afternoon Ms. Julie Lillie Topic: Peace + Justice An online peer learning community to deepen our individual & collective healing, growth and impact as we weave for peace and justice. Avi/Cafe Twin Fx VA Hub Geo (P+J Feedback 01): "Peace + Justice" is a very old inspiration for many here in USA, and globally. In particular, here in USA, Church, Temple, and other Spiritual Organizations, features "Peace & Justice" on a regular and periodic basis, usually on "Sunday... [ more ]
Next week, leading up to the Day of Peace on Sept 21, Peace Catalyst International is hosting a "Week of Peacebuilding" with several free virtual events to inspire you to work for peace in your communities and beyond.
We'd love to see you!
- Eastern
We all have visions of what a "good" society might look like. But how do we get started with turning that vision into reality? Join us for this workshop to learn the three steps our team members use to build peace in our own communities and how you can use them to become a community peacebuilder where you are.
Six Steps for Challenging Christian Nationalism: A Public Lecture with Peace Catalyst International on Building Peace Amid Polarization and Violent Extremism
Sept 20, 2:30 PM 4:00 PM
This free lecture by Prof. Drew J. Strait will unpack key concepts and insights from his new book, Strange Worship: Six Steps for Challenging Christian Nationalism. In addition to defining Christian nationalism, Strait will discuss how it is impacting global faith communities and how faith leaders can challenge its threats to democracies and human flourishing with strategic nonviolence.
Identity & Conflict: How Our Identities Shape Our Experiences and Affect Us in Conflict
Sept 21, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM Eastern
How are our identities related to dignity and inherent worth? How are violations of dignity at the root of conflict? And how can identities be weaponized by leaders to create divisions and conflict? In this interactive workshop, held on the International Day of Peace, weβll explore the complex interplay between our identities and the conflicts we face. With the U.S. election on the horizon, grappling with how our identities shape political discourse and "identity politics" has never been more important.
Embracing the Fullness of Biblical Peace: The Challenge of God's Peace in a Divided Society
Sept 21, 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Eastern
So many of today's struggles and conflicts can seem overwhelming and intractable. Often, our instinct is to make these conflicts simply go away by ignoring them, giving up what we care about, or fighting to destroy the other side. At Peace Catalyst, we believe the Bible shows us a deep and transformative view of working for reconciliation in the midst of painful conflict. Join us for an introductory workshop on how to build holistic, biblical peace in the midst of conflict.
Practicing Hope in Times of War: How PCI Peacebuilders Are Working for Peace in Israel and Palestine
Sept 22 4:00 PM 5:30 PM Eastern
The war in Gaza has been going on for almost a full year. At Peace Catalyst, we believe that Godβs mission is to build a holistic and just peace and that our calling as Christians is to follow Jesus in the work of peacebuilding. That includes peacebuilding in the context of Israel and Palestine. On this call our peacebuilders will be talking about what the Church should be learning/doing and how everyday people can be engaged.
World Citizen Peace is dedicated to empowering people to create a just and peaceful world.
World Citizen Peace offers three pathways to peace...
by joining as an international peace site
becoming a peace ambassador
supporting peace education in our homes, schools, and in the wider community.
The purpose of peace education is to help us become more mindful about peace in our daily lives, provide ideas, and resources for peace action, and learn from peacemakers in the world so that together we can create cultures of peace where we work and live.
World Citizen Pathways are grounded firmly in our five peace actions:
Avi DeyTo enable Peace action, peace thinking, the ugly evil face that show up, time to time, in every nation, here in America, needs deep thinking. I give you an example that just occured, in the City of my birth, Kolkata, India at midnight , August 08, 2024. This was 2 nights before, my birth, on August 10, many years ago, in the same city to a teen mom, whose memory show up on my face today and everyday when I look at the mirror!! Well, at a university hospital center , midnight , force of evil... [ more ]
Dr. Munayer is an author, peacebuilder, and the founder and Senior Consultant of Musalaha Vision of Reconciliation, an organization dedicated to fostering reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians since 1990. We'll be discussing his new book, Reconciling Justice.
Hope you can join us, and feel free to invite others! (Facebook link, if it's easier to share)
Peter Digitale AndersonThere are plenty, here and there. If you're looking for specifically for interfaith perspectives, you likely have at least one interfaith group in your region who will host regularly conversation or webinars. If you have a university with a religion department, they also might have events focused on interfaith dialogue or comparative religion. If you're specifically looking for more on Palestine, check out: this in-person event I hosted a couple weeks ago with Palestinian pastor Munther... [ more ]
Chantel EhlerThank you! I'm curious to learn if there are other events like this as well. Cheers. [ more ]
Peter Digitale AndersonHi Chantel, yes there is! You can watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/qV_lhrxTv64?si=eO5Rl5PrBaZ0zO98 [ more ]
My name is CT Ehler, and I am a legal service representative and mediator. Peace and Justice issues always intrigued me, and for a long time I was genuinely interested in Alternative Dispute Resolution before I changed my profession. I long time volunteer and activist, former teacher and clinical healthcare practitioner, I transitioned into the legal and mediation profession during the 2020 pandemic. I also started a podcast to explore these issues as well, but I admit it's not a very popular topic to podcast about peace!
I am drawn to advocacy issues, and learning more about how we can connect people to conflict resolution strategies for empowerment in a supportive way.
I am really open to exploring and learning more about Weavers and the Peace and Justice community. I am excited to learn and grow together.
01. How Memory Of Overland Silk Rd Inspire 21st Cntry Resurrectn- West to Mdle East -Peace, Justice & Prosperity for All (B2J) ! 02. Memory of Historic Silk Road Twin-Hub-6th Cntry BC-1st Cntry AD at Hub 01. Bactra to Jerusalem (B2J) _No-Path of Anguish by War+Poverty 2025+ ?
We have launched an online repository with 50+ conscious leadership resources for trainers/coaches/change-agents. It is free and available to all. Feel free to share with others!
Our Peace & Justice healing session on Relational Grounding: Hearing Each Other's Stories on Wed., July 3rd built upon our listening theme from our June session with weaver @Orly Israel. Orly has created The Listening Table, a movement that invites us to set up listening tables in community spaces with the agreements: No judgment. No advice. No charge.
For our July session, co-facilitator Elaheh Pooyandeh led us in an exercise of deep listening that leads to what she calls a Shared Pool of Meaning. Elaheh invited participants to be storytellers, responding to one of the following two prompts:
How have you been healed by having someone listen to you?
What you might be able to heal by listening?
We then moved into breakout groups of three people. For the first five minutes, the storyteller responded to one of the prompts. The 1st listener then shared what they heard from the storyteller in three minutes, while the 2nd listener described in three minutes what they heard from the first two speakers. In the remaining ten minutes, the three talked about what surfaced for them in their listening.
Following the breakouts, every participant had an opportunity to share what this experience of deeper listening was like for them. Comments included:
This brought back a lot of memories.
It was a very valuable experience and expanded my identity to include parts of me from my 20s and 30s.
This was very powerful. I got more out of this than I thought I would.
Enjoyed this experience. It brought me to a place of gratitude, reminding me why I'm doing what I am.
We all gained something, whether telling or listening.
You feel very listened to and realize you can step back from the story you're telling and find your way into another person's story.
A wonderful exercise that maps to one of our goals which is to seek peace within.
I have been a lifelong listener, but haven't always listened to myself. It's important to share your story.
One person pointed out that each person in her group was from another country, which had its own value.
Another member advised us of the organization The Human Library that began in Denmark and invites us to conversations of deep listening as we challenge stigma and stereotypes by approaching one another as "open books."
In our next session, Peace & Justice Open Mic: What's Calling to You? on Wed., Aug. 7th (11:00am to 12:30pm Central; 9-10:30am Pacific; 12:00-1:30pm Eastern), participants will have the virtual "floor" to talk about what's emerging for you in your work for peace and justice.
Mark Your Calendars! For Gandhi's birthday, on Oct. 2nd, we will join again with the Euphrates Institute to hear from international peace educator Paul K. Chappell, beginning at 10:00am Central. More to come!
Avi DeyTitle: SHIRKAT-- Urdu Word Meaning Participation, Partnership, and Company Avi/Cafe Twin Fx Summary: 2023 Global Seed Grants https://lisleinternational. org/about/board-meetings/ interaction/#flipbook-df_1644/ 4/ Nankana Shahib, Punjab, Pakistan a place where, People of different cultures, sects come together to laugh, share, learn and interact This place, Nankana Shahib, a place of Sikh Heritage, project brings toghter, Joint dialogues, Joint training, joint exposures, joint social... [ more ]
Darlene CainI show up in spaces that promote peace and love to our communities and bring love from my heart [ more ]
Julie Lillie@Tom Short that sounds very impactful, what a way to 'reach out in service'! @Maggie Osborn a simple gesture like friendly body language can indeed go a long ways! Thanks for sharing! [ more ]
Excited to see this group getting started! Thanks to the organizers for the work you've already put into it, and will continue to do so.
I'm a movement organizer, circle keeper, and peacebuilding trainer based in Minneapolis, MN, but also working internationally. I came into peacebuilding through religious work. Through years of working in vulnerable and disenfranchised urban communities, often with people with very different backgrounds and experiences than my own, my priorities and beliefs shifted from telling people about the heaven that might be waiting for them, to working with them to experience "heaven"βshalom, peace, and reconciliationβin our communities. That shifted my focus to community development, interfaith and intercultural dialogue, community organizing, and social justice activism.
In the wake of George Floyd's murder in 2020 and the subsequent uprising in the Twin Cities, my local peacebuilding has focused on different aspects of racial healing and justice work. In my work with Peace Catalyst, I also spend time training people in peace and conflict skills while helping to cultivate a peacebuilding movement in faith communities and neighborhoods.
I'm attracted to the positive, constructive possibilities of conflictβleaning into conflict, welcoming conflict, sometimes even escalating conflict, because we believe there is something better on the other side of it. Conflict is not a problem but an opportunity.
Many traditions embrace this. Peace studies talks about positive and negative peace, the construction of good versus simply ending hostilities. Kingian Nonviolence talks about the Beloved Community, where conflict is present but is handled with love. My peace church traditions understand shalom, peace, as the creation of good in community. Other nonviolence traditions teach the embodied model of "two hands", with one hand extended in invitation, and the other hand held up to stop the harm.
This, I think, is the place where justice intersects with peace. Peace is not peace unless it is a just peace. The work of growing and building peace, of healing hearts and communities and societies, means struggling for justice, equity, and inclusion for everyone, even as we mend relationships and cultivate reconciliation.
Avi DeyTopic/Embrace Conflict in Pursuit of Peace" : Understand the 21st Century value of the ancient Zoroastrian spiritual philosophy of Perennial Good vs Evil struggle in human existence. But now we can Link via SHIRKAT-- Urdu Word Meaning Participation, Partnership, and Company Summary: Shirkit A place of Cohesion. Place: Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan. Diane Brause (Mentor) : This place, Nankana Shahib, a place of Sikh Heritage, project brings toghter, Joint dialogues, Joint training, joint... [ more ]
Avi DeyTopic/Embrace Conflict in Pursuit of Peace" : To really have a deep dive appreciation, one need to understand the 21st Century value of the ancient Zoroastrian spiritual philosophy of Perennial Good vs Evil struggle in human existence. This philosophy was passed on to the Hebrew when they were freed from slavery by Cyrus The Great in Babylon. emEventualy, to Christianity, all sects today, 2 generations after Jesus. Remember and appreciate today this spiritual heritage to go forward here in 21 . [ more ]
Who are the young peacemakers in your communities?
Peace Catalyst is accepting nominations for the 2024 Young Innovators award, celebrating peacebuilders under 30 who are experimenting and trying new ideas to transform their communities, build bridges across divides, and create just and equitable social change.
Young peacebuilders can be nominated by someone else, or they can nominate themselves, and can live anywhere in the world. Winners receive a $1000 award to use as they see fit. Winners will be announced at the Alliance for Peacebuilding's 2024 PeaceCon, September 10-12.
It will be low-key, to begin at an agreed upon timeframe this month/June and you can engage flexibly - just as an opportunity to digest/discuss this big topic and readings. Feel free to invite others who might be interested!
Using the "open mic" process, members were invited to share challenges with peacemaking they wanted to explore in more detail in breakouts. Our first prompt from Elaheh Pooyandeh was: How can we better accept the truth and the reality of things that we are facing? The second from Marion Transetti was: How can we better balance the demands of our peace activities with our lives, our families and work?
Following twenty minutes of dialogue in our breakouts, Elaheh and Marion shared what they heard and learned from others in the small groups. Elaheh talked about how we are creating something together - and the challenges of dislodging conflict over centuries. She talked about the importance of taking small steps and having clarity on what is ours to do, our unique role. While it is hard to accept that we don't have to do everything ourselves, we can internalize that each of us is a piece to the puzzle. Marion learned that each of us must periodically give ourselves time for a "reset" to review our priorities and honor what we really need. We must let go of what we can't control and find support through a network of people we trust.
Barry spoke to the importance of having an identity and invited us to be part of the Peace Brook network he is spearheading with Chicago residents. Julie pointed out that we can list our "weaving organizations" on the Weave Peace and Justice Group page under "Resources," at Weaving Organizations.
We wrapped up with a quote by Sister Joan Chittister: Perseverance with hard things can be the source of the greatest pleasure, the deepest satisfaction. What we work hard to achieve, we value most.
We are inviting you to our third and final online session of How We Make Peace with Kawtar and David. It will take place at 3pm EDT on Sunday April 7βsix months after October 7. We hope you can join us.
Once again, Kawtar and David will plumb the depths of their own experience of this war. Then they will hold each other through it.
Weβre also pleased to announce, as promised, our first in-person event. It will take place in New York City at NeueHouse on April 9 at 6pm. At our last gathering we set the intention to do a live event in New York City. We remain committed to the purpose of making visible and accessible a narrative of healing as the path to peace. We are extremely grateful for your support and donations, which has made this possible.
Itβs free. You just have to to register below and please share with those in your network who you think would be allies of this work:
Our session to reflect together on bringing our most noble self to peacebuilding slowed us down to reflect with one another on deep questions that inform our practice.
Elehah centered us with a breathing exercise that asked us to imagine the efforts of peacebuilding through our senses. Where does peace sit within our bodies? How does the idea of peace and justice engage our sense of touch? What does it taste, smell or sound like? How does it look?
In 1:1 dialogue, we explored this, as well as what is working in our practices and where we are feeling stretched. Spiritual guide and facilitator Tom Kotlarek, who came to us from the Euphrates Institute, led us through a series of reflections and questions.
Our co-facilitator Elaheh Pooyandeh is from Iran, and Tom had us hold in our hearts the airstrike that struck the Iranian embassy in Syria, killing two generals and five guard members. He also asked us to think about the divisions we experience in our own countries and how we find peace amidst them. He asked, "What do we need to do to get at peace with what is happening?" He had us scan our bodies again to understand how we're doing and how we want to feel as we approach challenging situations. Our goal, as he described, is to have our own sense of calm act as a benchmark so that we can bring light, kindness and constructive action to difficult situations.
@Barry Koren invited us to think about the type of energy we are exchanging with people and if it is giving us the results we're seeking.
Elaheh closed our session with a slide from the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People that had us look closely at the "Circles of Influence" in our lives and the "Circles of Concern." The more we focus on our "concerns," the more we shrink our good energy that builds what we can influence. Elaheh invited us to put our focus on what we can do to create peace in our world.
We're excited for our May Day Peace & Justice Open Mic Session on Wed., May 1st (11:00 am to 12:30pm Central; 12:00pm to 1:30pm Eastern; 9-10:30am Pacific). This will be a free-flowing session for you to discuss peace issues weighing on your mind.
1 -April 10: a webinarto explain in more detail why the Djibouti bases should be closed.
During this webinar, you can alsobecome a "messenger of peace"by signing up to drop off petitions and thousands of signatures at an embassy near you.
2 -May 29 & 30: first "delivery" of signatures to the embassiesof the 8 countries with a base in Djibouti.
This isa GLOBAL action!We'll be delivering the signed petitions to the embassies of these 8 countriesEVERYWHERE in the world, (almost) at the same time.
We already have peace ββmessengersββ in Africa, Canada and Japan.Become a messenger for your country or city.Simply reply to this message and tell us this is what you'd like to do.
Link to register for the webinar and to follow the progress of the campaign:
In today's session, we explored together the concept and actions of surpassing our fear as community peacebuilders. For future sessions, we will follow a pattern, alternating between sessions for learning and growth; gathering for healing; and improvisational exploration to address emerging peace and justice issues.
Elehah Pooyandeh, a peace educator and mediator in Iran, anchored our session in a reflection on the source of our life force and love. She asked us to reflect on someone that we love dearly, observe responses to that love in our bodies, and direct our attention and feelings to that loving energy. We explored how to approach our activism from this center of love within us and how to return to it as needed.
In 1:1 dialogues, we shared our names, delving into their origins and how they contribute to our identity and our work for peace and justice.
Tom Kotlarek, our co-facilitator incorporates meditation to transcend fear with love, helped us identify fears that "activate" us: the fear of failure and the fear of social abandonment. Tom emphasized the importance of recognizing these fears and where they reside in us, using them to gain clarity in our approach and stretch with love towards justice. Just as we lift the amount of weight that will strengthen, not tear, our muscles, so can we stretch our limits to build capacity and growth as activists for social change.
For our breakout groups, we discussed the question, "How would you like to stretch beyond fear as a community peacebuilder?" Thoughtful responses included: working collaboratively with others; being mindful of what we absorb; challenging social perceptions, embodying courage for future generations; and accessing God - or what is holy and sacred in our lives.
Our next opportunity is the workshop, Trauma Aware Peacelearning, a 90-minute virtual workshop on Wed., March 13th from 6:30-7:45pm Central.
At our next monthly virtual Weave Peace & Justice meeting on Shifting Peace Within Yourself, scheduled Wed., April 2nd from 11:00am to 12:30pm Central, Tom Kotlarek will lead a guided meditation healing session.
If you'd like to join us as a co-facilitator, please reach out to me at: kteemuse@gmail.com.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and to those reading this summary!