A little piece of peace

This is the theme I set for the latest activity which I have started alongside my creative display in our local library.

The theme of peace is always an important one and the world around me kept leading me back to messages around peace. Here’s how:

Several times recently my attention has been drawn to one (or more) white doves which we are lucky to have living within our local area. Each time I have noticed one, it has been at a key moment which has reminded me of the importance of finding and focussing on peace within my own life.

This is always a magnificently timed reminder that before all else, we need to look inwards to resolve in order to bring about wider ripples of peaceful change around us.

The second story is this:

When walking along a gravelled driveway in one of our neighbouring villages, my eye was drawn to an unusual shape. Amongst millions of stones, this white form looked familiar.

When I looked more closely, I realised that it was in fact a small ceramic dove, which had ‘peace’ etched into its side. It had lost its tail and presumably been rejected for its imperfection, maybe cast out into a sea of similar looking pebbles. Perhaps its story was different to this. Whatever its origins, I noticed it and this small creation impacted my own life.

At the time I was in a conversation with a friend, so it didn’t seem appropriate to be stopping to photograph it as I would usually do. When I got home, I considered its significance further, and decided I would try to find it when I was next in the area.

The path runs alongside some houses and when I did stop to look again, a lady who lives there came out, asking what I had lost and if she could help me to find it.

I explained that I hadn’t lost anything and told the story of the little dove. She probably thought I was a bit odd, but offered to look out for it and said she would put it somewhere for me to find if she came across it.

Fast forward to other day, when once again I was walking the same path. This time, my eyes were instantly drawn to a shape, now familiar in my mind’s eye, but in a different place to where I had first seen it.

I picked it up as there was no writing to be seen and turned it over. It had been face down in the soil of the driveway, so was grubby, but sure enough I brushed away the dirt to reveal that it was indeed the original little dove with ‘peace’ written across its back.

The lady in the house opposite the path was outside at the time, so I showed it to her as proof of its existence (and possibly to influence how odd she thought I was. Or maybe not!!!)

Either way, I was delighted. What are the chances! The universe really wanted us to have this message. She offered for me to keep it, but I explained that finding it again was all I really needed and said that I thought she should have it as a message now too.

Wouldn’t it be so lovely and simple if we could influence one another’s sense of peace in this way? Here is peace. Pass it on. Just like that. But peace is not a word, an object, a picture, a group or a movement. It is a focus, an energy, an intention.

When our external world seeks to divide us by focussing on our differences, focus in on your own sense of peace.

Do it now. Do it often, repeat it until it is within your nature, until you see it reflected everywhere in the world around you. Do it in whatever small ways you can and make it strong. Then pass it on. Send it everywhere and to everyone who needs it.

Peace is a powerful tool. Do not allow the illusion of division- whether that be through labels, roles, status or borders divide you from that which you have in common, that which you share with all other living souls.

When your sense of piece is shattered into pieces, remember to truly see other beings. Remember to look into their eyes. Remember to smile. Remember how to accept and truly connect. See the heart in everyone and in all things. See the soul.

My Grandma used to say ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.’ Don’t let us be divided by the spelling.

From my heart to yours

Ether Real

I’ve chosen an illustration which I created as the focus of one of our ‘Art of Healing’ groups, which I called ‘Prayer for Peace.’I created the artwork and encouraged those who attended the group to use the activity as a  starting point for exploring what peace means for them.

If you’re interested in buying a print or taking part in a session, please get in touch.