While i want to honor my feelings, i have a goal to be more peaceful in my life. I think this has the potential to make my environment calmer and facilitate connections with my family and community. To this end, i have seriously put some attention to my breath; remembering to breathe deeply in times of stress as well as just breathing in general. I literally practice breathing. I've asked my loved ones to remind me to breathe (and i remind them). Multiple times a day i spend time focusing on breathing throughout my whole body, filling my lungs up all the way. It feels good; it's a self reinforcing practice.
I live my life with the idea that what i do personally affects the world. I don't feel there is a whole lot i can do to "stop war" but there's a lot i can do to make peace. I can make peace in my heart, with my breath, my body and in my home. I have noticed that when i am connected to myself, i can come from a place of compassion and calm even in the midst of the emotional storms that can arise in daily life with children and in community. I have known about the concept of being Present and in This Moment for a long time. More recently, i have drawn some attention to my connection with my core; with my power. Being Present is wonderful; this is truly the only moment i have. Being Present and being connected is what enables me to be be fully alive. There's so much that needs to be done in this world to bring things to a place of balance. To me, fostering peace with all i come into contact with seems like the most i can offer. I imagine a ripple effect of peace like a stone dropped into a still pond. Doing and Being are two essential aspects in maintaining peace. I am continually decreasing my impact on the planet as i learn to live more sustainably; i do what i can to make the world a better place. Living at Lost Valley and my involvement with the Heart of Now workshop feel like wonderful contributions to the world i want to help create. I am learning to Be in an energy of Peace. I trust that is contributing to what the world needs, too.
kaseja Wlder is a mom, priestess, temporary earthling and an exploring member at Lost Valley.
(Ed. note: all lower case names and "i"'s in this article are by kaseja's choice.)
(c)2005 Talking Leaves
Summer/Fall 2005
Volume 15, Numbers 2 & 3
Deep Ecology, Permaculture, & Peace