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| Message from the Sunray Peace Village |
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Welcome to another in a series of personal messages from people who have visited the Sunray Peace Village.
This last weekend, we celebrated the New Moon Harvest at the Peace Village.
"It is a year's abundance realized for the benefit of all. We give thanks for the harvest. We think of all the people who are hungry and are alone, who are without homes. We offer food and prayers so those who are hungry may receive the abundance. At harvest, we save the best seeds on our family shrines to remind us of the wisdom potential which is the perfect activity within each of us." Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo
We would also like to let you know about a Peacekeeper being held in California, and teachings on Sacred Dance and Sound at the Peace Village.
 On November 6-8, Peacekeeper training will be offered in Sausalito, California. For more information, you can call 415-459-4025, or e-mail krenee@comcast.net. A copy of the flyer can be found at the Sunray Meditation Society blog.
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The Peace Village as a Circle Within a Circle
 In the summer of 1991, my husband and I were planning a road trip across country, meandering from our home in California to see Martha Cederstrom in Maine. Martha had given us a brochure of workshops that were being taught at the Peace Village that summer, and so we picked the workshop based solely on what we thought would be our arrival date, which seems like a darn funny way of picking to me now!
I think Mark Hamdi may be the only person who was there that week of summer who still attends regularly. I can still see him in my mind that summer, I can even remember the Tibetan wool vest that he wore. By my second day there, Mark saw that I was up and about early in the morning, so he asked if I would walk through the camp ringing a morning bell each morning while I was there. I accepted, and took that as a very grave and awesome responsibility. Guess he had me pegged. Funny how that first responsibility enlarged exponentially, eh?
I remember that when Martha saw us afterwards in Maine - we didn't know each other very well then - she looked at me hard and asked, "So how was it?" I babbled on about all that had happened to us during our stay, but of course now I look back and can see what a turning point that visit was. Funny how clueless I was!
On that first visit, Venerable Dhyani was not on the land, so I came back the next spring for a Peacekeeper to meet Venerable. When I told Martha of my plan she looked at me hard again and said, "You're going all alone?" I was the only person at that Peacekeeper from California; many folks expressed amazement and something like, "You're from WHERE?" Now, when in our summer encampment at the Peace Village, people say, "I'm going to California," they mean that they are going to wander down to our large site of many tents by the pond and sit in our kitchen for a nice chat. And laughs. 
Last summer I could not be present. But I was so proud that Martha's daughter Sophia climbed the tall ladder and dressed the arbor in my stead. I watched Sophia come into this world, take her first steps at the Peace Village, and next summer I'll be at her coming of age ceremony there. The Peace Village is circle within circle within circle; each time I have been on the land, another spiral is generated within me. I am looking forward to the next.
And many more laughs.
Joy Joy Joy,
Mary Kitchens
Mary lives and teaches in Northern California.
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| Please periodically check our Peace Village and Sunray Meditation Society blogs. For Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo's teachings, you can also find them at Beauty Way.
Please forward this e-mail to let others know about the Peace Village. Thank you. |
May all beings benefit,
Sunray Peace Village |
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