Wolves, Polar Bears, and Penguins, Oh My…

And Sea Turtles, Elephants, and yes, Tigers and Bears! Simply choose one and follow the links to educate yourself as to its present circumstance as a animal on our planet.

Defenders of Wildlife sends me regular email updates about the urgent needs of our planet’s wildlife as well as the status of the environmental bills on the tables before our congress-people. This group is my favorite to support because of the wide ranging education, information and hands on, integrative action they take on behalf our endangered, threatened and vulnerable species. A visit to the Defenders site guides you to whatever topic you require to educate yourself, along with a call to action which is the key.

I am becoming impatient as I write this because I’m pissed off annoyed at the latest news about the wolf kills in Idaho where well established and well known wolf packs are continuing to be massacred by the Idaho Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, in what they are calling wolf hunt “derby.” Actually their derby includes killing “as many animals as possible” ~ but wolves are the favorite target. And it’s all for sport. Read about this from fellow bloggers at the University of Georgia Animal Legal Defense Fund.

So we in essence have the continued barbaric aerial hunting of wolves in Alaska for the thrill of the kill (thanks Sarah), and we have these sport-o Idaho hunters decimating key Idaho packs; the latest female killed was known as “a master strategist, a leader and a mother.” Sounds like most mothers I know. I keep hoping we’ve evolved beyond this “thrill of the kill” mentality where we continue to kill, consume, devour, conquer, until there’s nothing left. But sadly, here we are.

Bulls-Eye

From what I have read “decreasing the herd” is totally unnecessary (there’s no science to support the wolf massacre). While they claim that it is to protect the livestock of the ranchers, there are other workable methods that many humane ranchers are implementing with the assistance of Defenders and other programs like it.

Still, wolf massacre is sanctioned by the state of Idaho. Even in the sport of hunting, there are rules and protocol, lost to these wolf killers.

If you take a look at endangered or threatened wildlife, these days it seems it is within our conscious power to make the necessary changes to protect our wildlife and our ecosystems. Action is imperative because, seriously, our polar ice caps are melting and leaving our polar bears without their natural habitat for hunting, den building, giving birth, and caring for their young.

My son often enjoys a blog called: Fail Blog @ www.failblog.org, where videos of goofy bloopers and non sequitur behavior are caught on video or photo for laughs.

Well, here is a visual FAIL and it is NOT funny!

"FAIL!!" ~ With what we know, this is NOT right!

We know enough to stop the madness and to make the changes. We can argue about the cause of global warming all day, but it really doesn’t matter any more. It just is. Jeff Corwin of the “Feeling the Heat” series in partnership with Defenders of Wildlife, calls the Polar Bear “the Ambassador Species” as they would be the first to benefit from immediate action on behalf of global warming. We would see the results in the shift in their circumstances if we are able to halt their impending extinction. The hairy truth is that they will be extinct within 50 years if we do nothing. And between now and the next 50 years, the polar bear population will continue to dwindle as they scramble for their own existence.

Take Action

There are so many ways to dip in, increase knowledge, awareness and desire to embrace our responsibility to our planet that sustains us. We have resourced so much from Mother Earth. We humans have knowledge, the ability to reason, we have consciousness, we have the ability to embrace and surrender to the interconnectedness of all living things. Our Earth has a Soul and She is ours to tend…. She is a living, breathing, regenerating organism. Mother Earth would not hesitate to poot us all off the planet for a gigantic cosmic do-over if need be, and take note, she is already burping and farting. In fact, Mother Earth is acting kind of pissed lately.

This is where we live, today, now. This is the time. All life on Earth needs Humanity’s attention in small ways and grand. Tending a garden, planting a tree, teaching a child, or taking up a cause in which you are passionate. Passion from within is key.

Our present circumstances are our call to action. Defenders of Wildlife, or any organization that the heart feels the call towards – that is our call to acti0n.

As we enter this holiday season, take some time to allow your heart to feel the magnitude of the times in which we live… and then, take action.

Blessings,

Stacey C.

The Wisdom of Dog Shit

I have owned three German Shepherds over the last twenty years. Big Dogs need Big Walks. I’m thinking that makes me a Big Dog. Luckily I have primarily lived in the hillier neighborhoods and the good girl that has been walking with me for the last 9 years is my Shepherd mix named Mystic… best dog ever.

Many Miles & Hills w/Mystic

Big Dogs also leave big piles which on trails usually just end up composting back into the earth. This takes time however, so until such time… it is part of the scenery to be enjoyed by all. And by the way, watch your step.

Perhaps with too much time to think, I began to notice that every single day the dogs would excitedly sniff the same pile of shit over and over, as if it were new each time. Then one day, they were done.

So of course, I am in a dialogue with them, “yes, that is the same pile of shit you smelled yesterday and the day before…” And such a simple message in this…Every day, revisiting the same shit (same situation, same relationship, same argument, same conversation in-your-head, same, same, same).

Our bodies process our food, extract its nutrients and then move it on through and out. It is the waste, the toxic stuff we can’t use, our bodies are done with it and we get rid of it. The body definitely has its own wisdom, but our minds often get caught up in loops, traps and webby patterns that capture a our attention.

I know that dogs are doing the whole “my scent is so  awesome, who goes there” thing, but seriously, every day?? It’s the same pile you analyzed yesterday. I’m telling you, that dog shit has staying power.

After awhile, however, it is probably just habit. Walk the same trail every day, pee on the same bushes, leave your own pile in the same place each time … a ritual is at hand. Wow, time for a new trail. Deepak Chopra teaches that thoughts are a form of energy. Becoming aware and conscious of your thought process allows you to guide yourself out of the loop and turn your attention elsewhere. One way to learn the skill of awareness and self observation is by learning to meditate. Deepak is a big proponent of learning to meditate and he has created accessible methods to beginning a meditation practice. A simple google search will lead you to tons of information to get you started.

And it may literally be time for a new trail as the body and mind will sync up and familiar body mechanics will trigger the same thought process you analyzed yesterday.

When you find yourself stuck in a psychological process, you may want to ask yourself (your inner wisdom) what you need in order to move on. Is there something deeper that you need to know or grasp? Trusted friends come in handy at this stage. Oftentimes, simply asking will allow the energy to shift and break the loop open. Or, you may simply need a new trail.

The other point I made about happy dogs and their interesting piles is that once they are done with something, they are done…. On to new, more interesting things. Dogs live in the moment. They are not thinking about the last pile while sniffing out a new one.

Whether it is a thought process you find repeating itself, or a story you are telling yourself that simply no longer applies, when you have your moment of clarity, it’s over.

These days we hear a lot about “what you think, you create.” The problem with that is that we cannot control our thoughts. However, practicing conscious awareness and re-directing thoughts that don’t serve us is the key. This is a way of working with yourself, not against yourself. Spending energy “trying to be positive and think happy thoughts” is a complete waste of energy, and frankly, way too much pressure. Meeting yourself in an honest moment and guiding yourself to a more productive place is more natural guidance that works with what you’re bringing.

Good Girl!

Besides, sometimes we need to keep smelling the the dog shit ten different ways before we fully appreciate our freedom when we  leave it and move on. It no longer smells so fresh, and there are no more interesting ways to analyze its fascinating properties.

Think about it…

Blessings,

Stacey C.

In Service of Courage

In Service of Courage

I came across Debra Oakland on Twitter and linked through to her blog program called Living in Courage. Upon reading her bio, I was taken with her story. My heart went out to her and I was so impressed with her… well, courage. Debra knows loss intimately. She writes, “…over a 6 year period, I lost my 21 year old son, my unborn baby girl in my 8th month of pregnancy, 2 brothers to AIDS, and my father.”

I cannot imagine the depth of this much loss packed into such a time frame, nor do I understand why some seem to get more of their share in one lifetime. The death of a child is not something one can process easily. There is simply no where to “put it” in the psyche as it is anti-everything that seems normal to us about the cycles of birth, growing old, death. Our children bury us, not the other way around.

To Debra I say, You have my full support as you continue to live a life of richness and courage in the face of so much loss. I am grateful for that piece that is in you, that essence place, that has given you the strength to create from the ashes. As a person with great reverence for the often fragile processes of the psyche, I honor the weaving of a story that creates the net in which you can rest, live, create and walk forward in your dignity, in your courage. Debra leads by example from a place that she knows in the cells of her being. That’s a powerful gift. Life has taken a lot from Debra, yet she chooses to give more in return, and serve from a place she calls courage.

As a mom of two teenage sons, I cannot fathom the loss of my children. I personally feel I would fold my cards and exit out the back if anything ever happened to them. As a widow, I walk side-by-side with my mother in law as she continues to live with the loss of her only son ~ the father of my boys. Yesterday was the nine year marker of his passing ~ and there were tears and candle lighting on the other end of the line when I called to check in on her, dear one. At 87, all of the men that she cared for in life and who cared for her, have passed. Her husband, her brother, her son… and yet she continues to courageously wake up each morning and go about her day, her memories, her constant companion.

My friend Annie

My friend Annie who I’ve known for almost 25 years, posted a Facebook status update today which reads:

On this day, many many years ago, my mother died at age 32; I was motherless and rudderless at 11. This event defined my life like nothing I can describe. The best part is that it thrust me into beautiful depth. I’ve traveled from shatteredness to wholeness and my story is still unfolding as daily, I see that “There is in God, some say, a deep but dazzling darkness.”

My friendship with Annie is a testament to the generous nature of Life in the face of loss. Annie’s birthday is June 18th and my birthday is June 18th. Annie lost her mother to illness when she was 11 years old. I lost my mother to illness when I was 11 years old. Annie has woven this loss into the tapestry of her whole life and continues to live, learn, love, dig and tend the garden of her soul… as do I.  We have walked side by side in life and given each other courage along the way, as friends, as motherless daughters, as mothers raising children, as sisters linked by that line of support between us, that inexplicable karmic connection.

In the process of loss and grief, there are not just one, but many moments where you know you must choose between life or death.  It’s your choice. Although it often seems as if there really is no choice because the other choice, is simply a non-choice ~ at least to me. Choose Life, which takes courage, or be among the walking dead which plays itself out in many ways. Oftentimes we are cast into a metaphorical death, like the Phoenix who eventually rises from his own ashes re-born, renewed, strengthened. Digging into that beautiful story line is perhaps for another blog post.

Debra Oakland’s call to courage is the epitome of turning her grief into service and healing. In doing so, she offers a pathway for others. Those that come across the ashes of her story and the program that has arisen out of those ashes, may be inspired to discover how they might turn their personal tragedy into a journey that creates a healing salve for themselves, and others, and so on.

In her blog, Debra writes about people she feels exemplify a life lived and expressed courageously. I’m loving her blog post:  Charter for Compassion – A Courageous Way to Live. Ms. Armstrong treads the delicate subject matter of the nature of the monotheistic God of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and those who follow this God. It takes courage to forge this path and speak it amidst the West’s volatility around the subject of religion. Ms. Armstrong has in turn created The Charter for Compassion, funneling her life’s exploration into a call for compassion. Karen Armstrong is in service of Compassion.

Debra Oakland’s blog contains abundant messages, resources, stories about living a life of courage, along with some support along the way. If you find you are in need of inspiration and desire to connect with others on this path, please spend some time with Debra! Her logo is a roaring lion. Remember, all the lion wanted… was courage.

Blessings,

Stacey C.

When Fathers Remain Silent

I’m loving this blog post, an open letter to London’s Tate Modern, by Mark Philip Venema entitled “These Girls of the Future will Kick your Ass!”

Girls of the Future

It takes a protective and pissed off father who is willing to speak out in this way to shed some attention on the sickness in our culture around the sexualization of children for the sake of “art.” Mr. Venema is referring to the Tate Modern’s controversial Exhibition “Pop Life” which included a 1975 portrait of the then 10 year old Brooke Shields. This particular piece has been removed and is under review while the principles debate whether it is art or child pornography. Venema challenges the Tate Modern to create a valuable dialog about the real issues of our world in regards to child exploitation as opposed to what they are passing off as an important dialog in contemporary art.

One of Mark Venema’s points in regards to sexualization of children in the name of art is that “silence equals consent.” And I would add, the silence is deafening. Viewing these images may cause you to feel uncomfortable. You may hold your daughter a little closer. But the challenge is to Speak Out against this abuse of power, in honor of your daughters and daughters everywhere.

Where is the father’s voice in honor of all of the little girls who are taught by our culture that their value is in their sexualization and objectification. Who is protecting these girls and forming their strong identity as girls of the future.

It becomes a matter of ~ whose voice is louder?

Fathers hold a very specific key for their daughters in regards to the formation of their feminine identity,  self worth, sense of boundaries and potential in the world.

I want to hear from you!

Blessings,

Stacey C.

Release Yourself… the Spell Does Break

The first time I heard this song Mercy by Duffy I was so happy, like when a song hits you just the right way and makes you happy. The lyrics are perfect:

“I don’t know what you do but you do it well, I’m under  your spell.”

All I could think of was, “What woman (or perhaps even, man) hasn’t been in this kind of situation at least once?!”

You know the kind of relationship of which I speak. The kind you feel captured by. Not enraptured, but captured. The relationship where you love the person, but you love yourself more… yet you can’t quite get out. If only they would release you so you could be on your way. And you’re back there making love that one last time, for the tenth time. Really, this is the last time…

Raging co-dependence aside, this is the type of relationship from which you learn your biggest lessons about your self worth. If in fact, you’re seeking to learn such lessons. The more you struggle with it, the harder you have to work to get out of it, the more you get pulled back by some mysterious force that seems bigger than you, then the deeper you have to dig inside of yourself to locate the real trap. You’re caught in some sticky web, some parallel universe where you know the right move, but somehow your legs are not listening to your brain when its telling them to walk out the door and drive away. The spell is cast and you’re begging for mercy… “why won’t you release me?” You’re asking the wrong person.

I have been on both ends of this type of drama. Eventually, we all experience this in one way or another. Call it relationship Karma or the dance of hell, or some complex mass of unconscious patterning, whatever you prefer. We usually experience both ends of this deal before we learn to respect ourselves and the other person enough not to jump back on the merry-go-round. Trouble is, we’re often riding it again before the “how did I get back here?!” self-inquiry sinks in.

The mystery is… what is the hook? What is it that captures you in that liminal space between your self-respect and that crazy place where the sane you is lecturing this other-you who is getting messages from elsewhere??

I think the real question is, what is the hook for you? You will have lots of experts around you… your friends, your mother, your therapist perhaps. There will be as many possible answers as there are people to advise since we’ve all been there.

On the one hand, yes, there is a specific pattern at play. It is actually kind of scary how text-book it seems after the fact. On the other hand, some of our partners, lovers, etc, are just really good at playing us. Are they aware of it? Sometimes. Other times… completely, clueless and unconscious. That’s why it’s up to you.

Once you find yourself begging for mercy and asking yourself the important questions, then you’re at the beginning of your way out-the-door. Is it your desire to be loved? Is it your habit of meeting the needs of the other before your own? Is the other really that irresistible? Is is a repeat of a dynamic you had with a dysfunctional parent? None of the above? All of the above? These are places that cut deep in us.

There is a lot going on inside of us in the realm of relationship and connection. Get to know yourself in that place so that you can have mercy on yourself!

Once you get it, once you see the hook inside, the spell breaks. The chains are loosed ~ pick your favorite metaphor. Then you can release yourself.* Then you’re able to sing that song as your way of celebrating your new-found wisdom, and passing some along. Then you can walk out the door, you know, at that point where you’re telling yourself to leave, and your legs, your body, your heart… they’re all listening.

Sing it!

Thanks for playing.

Blessings,

Stacey C.

*Please note: Definitely not referring to abusive relationships in this blog post. If you find yourself in that situation, please seek help and take good care.

Beautiful Feet and Lotus Blossoms

It seems that my beautiful feet have been dancing around the writing of this blog post for a couple of weeks now. I am not sure why since I have been thinking about this phrase, “Beautiful are the feet of those that bring the good news” for a couple of years now.  Actually, this is more than a phrase. It is my own personal charge to myself and…it is a bible verse.

From the Old Testament:  Isaiah 52:7  How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation…” (also quoted in the New Testament, Romans 10:15)

As I was evolving out of the structures and indoctrination of my Christian belief system, it took a few years to decompress and get my bearings. What I realized was that my spiritual practice through the the Christian faith, was an authentic and deeply meaningful practice of ritual, meditation, service and study. It was an authentic vehicle for the expression of my truest spirituality, until it wasn’t.

“Beautiful are the feet of those…”   interesting how this verse stayed with me

When I let go of my previous way of life that actually had a clear break with the death of my husband, I was very conscious of not engaging in religion jumping ~ basically jumping and flailing over to another belief system, which felt disrespectful to me. Instead, I threw myself into a very dark place of atheism and moved forward from there. All I could see in my mind’s eye was darkness. It was a bit crazy making after twenty years of faithfulness to one religion, but something was irreparably broken inside of me. So, I let the darkness be and made friends with it much like a traveling companion. The darkness turned to mist and then the mist eventually began to lift.

My natural curiosity and spiritual nature opened me to exploring how other faiths experience the great Mystery that is called God, Yahweh, Allah, Lord, Christ, Buddha, Krishna, Brahman. There is such a binding interconnectedness at the authentic core of religions and religious practices. Whereas the Christian doctrine teaches One God, One Pathway through Jesus, a look at the whole of religious and spiritual traditions practiced by humanity throughout the ages reveals a One God, Many Pathways philosophy. The Metaphysical traditions define the god force as energy beyond the physical to be tapped into. What is fascinating to me are the many names and images, both male and female,  given to this One-God, throughout the history of humanity on the planet.

As the story goes, at the Buddha’s birth, he took seven steps and lotus blossoms appeared at his feet thereby ordaining his life as the enlightened one. The Buddha’s lotus feet walked many dusty roads and hills  The Buddha ultimately reflects you back to you… your god-self, or sacred self. Gaze at the Buddha, and see your truest self reflected therein. The Buddha is the god-mirror. Deepak Chopra says, “God is our highest instinct to know ourselves.” The more we know of ourselves, the more we have to offer to Life.

The Lotus Blossom is a most ancient, sacred symbol in the Eastern traditions. You will notice that statuary of the Buddha  often depicts lotus blossoms carved into the feet and often the hands reflecting back, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news…” of the Self, the Spirit Self, the God Self  within all of us that is sacred and untouchable regardless of what life brings. It may become buried or hidden, but it is always present. To me, this is the lotus seed of grace that blossoms as we take notice, and that which gives us beautiful feet with which to walk the planet and serve our loved ones… and humanity.

Dusty sandals of people with beautiful feet.

In the last few years as my sons have become young men, I have been feeling that inevitable shift as they need me less and need me differently. It is the natural progression of things. “Beautiful are the feet of those…” There it is again. I believe this well loved verse remained close by because regardless of spiritual practice, it informs me on a level that transcends doctrine. I began wondering about my transition out of this season of parenting during which I have been devoted to being present for my sons. The image of leather sandaled feet leaving intentional footprints came to me. Perhaps my feet have a toe ring and red polish, but they leave footprints of grace and intention. I find this to be a good place from which to make the important life decisions I am facing in the next few months.

I was grateful the moment I connected the feet of the Christ with the feet of the Buddha. It made so much sense to me. The beautiful feet are yours and mine, the pathway to be discovered ~ or remembered amidst the circles, spirals and labyrinths that often define our lives on this planet. Allow others to inspire you. Amidst all of the craziness, I am amazed and grateful for all of the beautiful feet walking the planet and leading by example so that others may be inspired to discover their own beautiful feet.

Beautiful are the feet of those that bring ___________________________________. **You fill in the blank.

Blessings,

Stacey C.

**Remember, it is not what you do that defines who you are, but who are that informs what you do.

Extraordinary Elegance

I sat mesmerized as I watched David Gregory interview Maria Shriver Sunday morning on Meet the Press. I was mesmerized by her elegance and her ability to articulate her love and admiration for her uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy, amidst the grief she is carrying for the loss of both Teddy and her beloved mother, Eunice Shriver, within a short two-week period.

Much has been said since the announcement of Senator Kennedy’s death last week, about how much loving dedication he exhibited towards his family after the still unfathomable assassination of both of his brothers, J.F.K and R.F. K. in the 1960’s.  Ted Kennedy, the youngest Kennedy of that generation, stepped in as patriarch, son, brother, uncle, father, husband and rock to the many that comprised the Kennedy family ~ while working tirelessly for the people to the very end.

Maria Shriver mentions in her interview what an extraordinary brother Uncle Teddy was to her mother “…visiting hospital rooms and I.C.U.’s all across the country” to be there for his ailing sister. It is as if Eunice’s safe passage to the other side, then allowed Ted Kennedy, the last of his generation, to release himself to the great mystery, leaving silence where once was a vibrant, passionate, visionary voice.

“As a public servant, Teddy’s heart was extraordinary.”

It is worth viewing the entire un-segmented version from the Meet the Press interview with Maria Shriver in order to grasp the poignancy of her tribute to her uncle, as well as witness the Kennedy blood that is coursing through her veins and continues to guide her life purpose and service to humanity.

Maria Shriver is extraordinary. She comes from a family dedicated to public service, and as we as a country have witnessed, this has been both a blessing and a burden. As she pays tribute to Senator Kennedy, to her mother Eunice Shriver, and to her family, you get a sense of the wisdom she carries from the deep losses, alongside the dignity of  endurance, and the enduring spirit of the Kennedy family’s call to public service. Interwoven in this story are the thousands of lives the Kennedys have touched and Maria mentions how “extraordinary the peoples’ response” has been to Teddy’s passing. The people are an intricate part of this grand story, interwoven in the past and the present.

When questioned about how Senator Kennedy’s death marks the end of an era she says,

“The goal for each human being is to live your life, the life you choose that is in your heart, this is about something bigger than yourself.”

It is one thing to be a Kennedy and to have grown up with this call to action. For most of us, our extraordinary lives are perhaps not as visible. There really is no way to compare each person’s life path, each person’s individual calling, but this is Maria Shriver’s message… to “Live your own life and change the world…” a calling each person reading this can take to heart to embrace the value of your own life and service and ability to affect change through your authentic self expression, your own life’s work.

I believe that throughout our lives, we are growing into ourselves. There is always opportunity for re-imagining oneself and refining your work and expression in the world.

As First Lady of California, Maria Shriver has hit her stride and seems tireless. Take a look at the inspiring projects coming out of her office. She spends her time inspiring and empowering people from all walks of life, in service. I am loving the The Women’s Conference, 2009. It is being held on October 26 and 27, having been expanded to two full days.

Passages are times of remembering, mourning and taking stock of Life among the Living. The losses are devastating, yet life calls us forward. Maria Shriver embodies an Extraordinary Elegance that beckons and cajoles people out of disbelief, gives hope and inspires vision. She sees the extraordinary lives of ordinary people everywhere. She calls you out. She leads by example and gathers rich resources ~ that being “We” the people  to help, support, serve, inspire, one to another.

~ Stacey C.

Maria Shriver is on Twitter

Update: Watch webcast videos of the Women’s Conference 2009. Rich resources + Maria Shriver shares her story of her experience of her mother’s death and the moving, truthful panel on grief and loss.

In Service of Peace

In June, I discovered Yoko Ono on Twitter because I had come across information on the 40th anniversary of John and Yoko’s Bed-in for Peace. I spent some time familiarizing myself with Yoko’s work, impressed by her self knowledge and her singular message of peace that emanates from her many global projects, her artwork and her music.

Yoko’s global projects become complete with the participation of you, the viewer.

‘A dream you dream alone is only a dream.
A dream you dream together is reality.’
Yoko Ono

The dream she dreamed with John Lennon became their life’s work together and just as she was married to John Lennon, she has remained committed to their profoundly simple message by honoring Lennon’s memory and their mission together, while continuing to develop her life’s work in service of that message ~ the call for Peace ~ a mission that was revitalized after the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.

Spending just a little time on Yoko’s web site Imagine Peace, connects the viewer with ideas and information that inspire her message. Yoko Ono does not proselytize, she simply reaches out from the heart with her authentic message…. for those who have ears (hearts) to hear. Impressive.

Embodies her message from the heart

When you embody your message and your life’s work serves that message, you become an inspiring ambassador. You not only inspire others to capture your vision, but you inspire them to develop and embody their own life’s purpose more fully. This is what Yoko Ono does. She is not fighting for or against anything. She is not protesting or yelling anything into someone’s camera to make a point. But her every footprint, her every project, her written word, her music, her inter-active performance art ~ gently carries her message while looking directly at you over the top rim of her characteristic sunglasses.

I am blown away by the magnitude of the Imagine Peace Tower. I recommend spending some time perusing the images and grasping the intention of this project which Ms. Ono conceived of 40 years ago. This is public art on the grandest scale… and a grand gesture manifest to honor the memory of John Lennon and dedicated to him on what would have been his 67th birthday. It is a magnificent vertical beam of light that radiates the intention of peace out to the world and is powered entirely naturally so as not to deplete the environment.

Dedicated to the memory of John Lennon Reykjavík, Iceland

You add to the impact of this public art piece by sending your wishes for peace to the Imagine Peace Tower to be housed therein. Your wishes, along with hundreds of thousands of others are radiated out to the planet when the Imagine Peace Tower is lit.  The call to action is to spread the intention of peace by sending your personal wishes for peace. The combined intention of the participants is a powerful energy and you become a part of something greater. The togetherness, the community engages the message of peace.

Remember who you are and why you’re on the planet.

With all of the demands upon us, the roles we must play, the money we must make, and the things we must accomplish in our lives, it is easy to forget and to become lost in the mire of cultural noise and meaninglessness. Our voices get drowned out, we become drained, we burn out and we numb out on auto-pilot. But the act of remembering is an inner homecoming. Creating life from that authentic place is the beginning of embodying our purpose. This is not easy, but I believe it is our task. Nor is this some solo journey since, together, we become agents of reflection and inspiration to one another.

Yoko’s message is Peace, and she embodies this message with her exploration and expression of her life’s work. I have always been drawn to Ghandi’s oft-quoted phrase, “There is no way to peace… Peace begins with me.” And, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Ghandi was beckoning people to embody their message. Ghandi himself, led with his own body. Be it. Be.

Your quintessential service to humanity is not about “doing” anything, but is expressed by your being fully who you are and living from that place.

I am grateful to have discovered Yoko Ono from this purview. She was blessed to have a powerful, life-changing, deep love and purpose with her partner, John Lennon. But she has as ever, remained true to her own life force as a woman, a mother, and an artist as expressed through her art, poetry, writing and activism. Rediscovering Yoko Ono at this stage of my life has reminded me of my own powerful life force, and the simplicity of my own authenticity.

Limitless undying love that
shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on
Across the Universe

John Lennon, 1968

Peace to you ~

Stacey C.

** In the comment section below, let me know what you are in Service of ~ or that which you would like to explore and develop. Just know that what you may share, may just inspire the next person. What is your calling, your message ~ that which you embody. Feel free to link to your blog or web site.

Inspire. Be inspired.

Surya Source by Stacey C.

Surya Source is in service of the dialog, the stories and the life that is happening all around us. Humanity (our collective selves) is telling many conflicting stories on our life-sustaining planet and we are all interconnected on an intricate global level.

I am more interested in what lies beneath all of the surface-skimming stories that seem to barrage us daily and captivate our attention.

That which I find Stimulating in people or events…

The Symbols to which we gravitate…

The ways we are in Service…

Seriously?! The “Are you Kidding Me??” moments we all experience from time to time…

The Stories we are telling every day… for we are all telling one story or another. One of my professors at Pacifica Gratduate Institute said, “Every time you open your mouth, you are revealing your mythos ~ your story.” Is it time for a change of scenery or a change in the cast of characters around us?

Embrace your own human story as you are weaving it.

People who inspire me are Sublime…

And more about me, Stacey C. as my own story and service continues to evolve.

~Stacey C.

You can follow me on Twitter … it’s kind of fun over there