At the
Jizo Peace Center's International Peace Day Celebration on
9/21/07, several healers led workshops to deepen our understanding
of universal peace. In the photo from the conclusion of the
day are left to right, top:
Sister
Moutique Ayodele El, who spoke in Yoruba, an African language,
honoring all of our ancestors by praying with water over fruits
and vegetables;
Lee Dunnavant,
writer and poet who, along with Joe and Bobbie Ladin, led
a half hour of poetry reading on peace, including excerpts
from the United Nations Peace Poem created by children around
the world;
Reverend
Chris Falconer who led us in a circle called the Way of the
Council, where each person spoke in turn while holding the
talking stick, and each person's statement carried equal authority;
Alu Ayodele
El, assisted her mother with the Yoruba prayer and ceremony;
and
Nalini
Lasiewicz, musician, singer, and co-founder of Crossroads
of Learning, a tutoring training program for teachers led
us in songs she had written on the dulcimer.
In front
from left to right, Sarah-Jane Owen, fashion institute professor,
artist, yoga teacher, and musician led us in drumming on the
Native American council drum, and did a remarkable sound chakra
healing for us by using various drums, singing bowls and rattles;
Hachi, a sweet German Shepherd-mix dog residing at the Jizo
Peace Center;
Ruth Ratna
Handy, LCSW, founder of the Jizo Peace Center who led us in
meditation at the beginning of the day and encouraged us to
feel the connection with our own spiritual center and with
everyone around the globe also praying for peace and healing
on this day.
Jared
Ramos took the photo after enjoying the workshops.