Sufism is an age-old lyrical path, which is now captivating the attention of ‘New Age Gurus’ and ‘Seekers’ alike. A Sufi is humanity’s most passionate poet and conveys the messages of love and peace through mystical lyrics, music and dance. One of the greatest Sufi poets, Rumi, said that music is the highest expression of love and dance the highest expression of music.   Read more...

I just discovered that the Japanese gave a Peace Bell to the United Nations in 1954! Did you know about it? I didn’t, but then I realized that if my mother were still alive, I probably would have. She was a tourist par excellence.

I’m planning to visit the United Nations on our mini-holiday to New York in May. Amazing, isn’t it, that I lived there for 17 years and never knew about the bell? I hope I’ll get to see it. Here’s a little background material.   Read more...

Several years ago when I first came to Japan, I took an Ikebana class from an older woman named Senoue Sensei. She had studied English in the school where I was working at the time, but had found verbs and grammar too tedious to learn. Needless to say, she soon quit.

However, she had a very keen interest in foreigners, so in order to be in touch with them, she started giving Ikebana lessons. “Flowers are universal. They speak to everyone the world over. So, my medium for international communication is through these magnificent creations of nature,” she said.   Read more...

That is the title and theme from these last couple of days along the Trans Canada West Coast edition of Canada’s linking highway. As we run (and may I say, a tad quicker than usual because of the winds of support at our backs), the ever-faithful “Knuckle Heads” steer cars clear of two runners intent on making their marathon.

Andy is now named “steady Eddy,” as his while-riding camera techniques are becoming the stuff of Hollywood legend, capturing shots of us along this famous Canadian Highway on the far west coast! Jeanette is our “holistic talker” with stories on herbs, different flower concoctions and the like. While Rick (now extended to Richard), is the thinker in the gang, figuring out the next bike move to keep the rear of the posse patrol clear of traffic.   Read more...

I was recently talking to a friend that had just returned from vacation. She told me how difficult it had been to really allow herself to just "be," to just relax. She felt pretty sure that she didn't know how to do this. She has been reading about present moment awareness and is learning different ways to try to do this, but when it came time to practice, it was difficult for her.

This got me thinking about how much we try to distract ourselves with activities and things to do so that we don't have to be with ourselves. We are so busy that we have to schedule time to just check in with ourselves to see what feels alive in us at that moment. This has been a chronic problem in our society for quite some time.   Read more...

Here’s quite a website for peaceworkers! The URL made me laugh out loud. International Peace and Conflict. Talk about a juxtaposition.

Yes, I suppose peacework is most often about conflict, but what I liked about this resource is its community. Here’s what they say about themselves.   Read more...

We almost jumped right out of Racy Verna when we saw BOTH our moms' faces in the crowd of welcomers at the Ferry dock, here in Victoria on Saturday! What a way to enter back onto home field, seeing a whole collection of our closest and most treasured family and friends.

It was a strange mix of emotions as we rode the final 20 minutes towards downtown Victoria. Crossing the border back to Canada represented so much and was rushing at us like memories from one’s youth, a collection of pictures running across our minds, remembering all we’d been through to reach this moment.

And then, like a shot from a cannon, we caught up to real time as we saw familiar faces in a familiar setting, all there to shower us with love and welcome us home!   Read more...

The word is out: We want project of chicken. What? Project of chicken!

Our women's group will put together the little savings it has and buy chickens together. After keeping them in a chicken house, feeding them chicken food and having chicken light bulbs shining over them for 40 days, they will be ready to sell.   Read more...

I join Robin and Joris in visiting Ala’s house. We have a question for him and, I’m curious to see how he lives. Ala is our translator and one of our bridges to the community. He studies at the Arab American University. He is one of those people whose bright eyes betray a busy inner life. It’s after sunset, and as we walk, the streetlights switch off. Power cut.

There are around 10 people in the room, all men. Brothers, cousins, Ala’s father, an uncle and a neighbor. We sit down, and at once I feel tense about the situation. Where do I hide my female self?   Read more...

Hotel Wal-Mart from B-Rilla on Vimeo.

I'm currently in Missoula, Montana and we just spent the night at a Walmart parking lot. It's actually our 5th or 6th night at a Walmart parking lot. I'm not too sure.   Read more...