Path of the Peacemaker

It is always a powerful discussion when we dialogue about Peace, War, Truth and Responsibility. But what really revs up my engine is the daily and often mundane work of this grand spiritual transformation.

It's not on the battlefield or the world stage that many of us will do the good work. The majority of the good work is to be done in our communities: with our family, friends, co-workers and peers. Where we walk everyday is where we can walk as true peacemakers.

Where in our everyday lives, do we tend to fight, bicker, get triggered or feel antagonized? Where do we put up walls, who do we judge and who do we want to shut down? These questions point to the places that can use some new consciousness. As activists, if we try to change the world without changing our warring mindset, we will be creating more of the same in the end.

As we each do our part in vibrating as much Peace in our daily lives as possible...
As we reconcile the subtle battles with those we encounter...
As we transform the warring mentality in our psyches...
...we will be greatly aligned to the brilliance that is Peace itself.

And from that place of brilliance, we will come up with even more inspired actions and innovative ideas to create understanding, cooperation and tangible change on this planet.

Many have asked me what I would do if i was attacked or if i faced the barrel of a gun on the battlefield: I always respond that I will not know until it happens. Also, each situation will call for a unique response. However, if i practice courage, truth & compassionate action with my heart and body everyday, then I will be better prepared to make the best possible choices in more extreme circumstances. If we still get triggered by pedestrian events, we are probably not ready to successfully deal with the military or larger forces.

In my experience, i have chosen different levels of action to disarm a violent situation. The most effective moments where when I carried the consciousness of peace while taking action. Even if the action required some level of force but was delivered with a peaceful mindset, it was received differently than an action coming from anger or hatred.

Though invigorating to hypothesize about extreme circumstances, it is the daily work that I discuss most because that is the training ground and the ground we walk most upon. Also, though philosophy is a beautiful meditation, practicing peace in our daily lives is the Active Meditation. Though agents of change may begin their commitments humbly, the work is profound. The work begins quietly in our homes yet one day will affect us all. If we can stop fighting with our mothers, fathers, siblings and peers... our lives become messages of Truth and Peace that speak more loudly than any speech, campaign or rhetoric.

Here's a toast to the everyday work that we each do, to anchor Peace on Earth... Warmakers and peacemakers are both part of the same sacred contract.

xox little woo
~ July 3, 2010

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