It’s a Peace Rally!
In light of all that has happened with El Paso, I decided to organize a peace rally. That’s why I haven’t been back to write as much here lately.
I’ve been working hard on creating an event centered around peace.
Here is a press release I have sent out to news outlets where I live:
Turning Pain into Peace, Grief into Love –
Peace Rally for the International Day of Peace, in honor of Cynthia’s aunt who was a victim in the El Paso shooting, and all victims of gun violence
The day’s events
Asheville, NC: On Sept. 21, Cynthia Calhoun will hold a peace rally at Rainbow Community Center, 60 State St., Asheville, NC, for the International Day of Peace. The rally begins on the courtyard at 3:30 pm with an introduction to “Love and Kindness” and “Heart Breath” meditations, both of which create an atmosphere of peace and have many physical benefits. These secular meditations will be followed by a speech from Cynthia about the story of finding out about her aunt in the El Paso shooting and how she decided to turn her pain and grief into a message of spreading peace and love. At 4:30 pm, Cynthia will moderate a peace panel. Panelists include Ponkho Bermejo (co-director of BeLoved Asheville), Leslie Boyd (health activist and involved in the Poor People’sCampaign), Amy Jablonski (candidate running for NC Superintendent of Public Instruction), Kathy Kelly (peace activist, and a co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence), and The Venerable Pannavati (co-director of Heartwood Refuge). At 5:45 pm, the “Mandalas for Hope” artist reception and show will begin, featuring mandalas by Cynthia and members of Rainbow Community School for sale. 100% of proceeds will benefit Everytown Fund, GreenPeace, and BeLoved Asheville.
Why and How
Cynthia chose meditation, a peace panel, and an art show for her rally because they all relate to peace. She is a meditation teacher who has discovered the power of silence to find insights, and to teach others to find peace within themselves. In addition, she wanted to bring different people together to discuss their vision of peace and how to create a better world. Cynthia has a practice of creating mandalas and by donating them to raise money for good causes through the peace rally, she aims to help promote more unity and peace. Cynthia’s message is to “use the power of going within to become your best self in service to the world.”
A little more about Cynthia and the rally
Cynthia is a certified meditation teacher and digital marketer. She was inspired to do a peace rally on the International Day of Peace to stand for unity and love, to bring people together in meditation, to talk about peace, and to raise funds for three organizations: Everytown, which works to reduce gun violence, Greenpeace, that strives to create a greener, healthier world, and BeLoved Asheville, a non-profit working to better the lives of people in Western North Carolina through love and justice. The peace rally is free and open to the public and will take place outside, on the courtyard of Rainbow Community Center.
I have been hard at work organizing food, tents, the people, the marketing and more with it. I’m sharing the speech I’ve written for the peace rally with a local Rotary Club tomorrow (Sept. 9). I’ll get more practice with it before delivering my speech to the peace crowd on September 21.
As I organize this rally, it’s full-steam ahead until Sept. 21. Afterward, I will take a step back and rest. I won’t be posting here quite as much while I spend some time going on retreats, doing a bit of traveling, visiting family, and welcoming the cooler months with more “hibernation.” But in the
If you live in the Asheville area, come on out. Afterward, I’ll share my speech here with you. I also need to get back to visiting blogs and commenting. Thanks for your patience. I’ll be around to say hello soon!
Aw, Cyndi, I couldn’t love more that, you have organized this peace rally in remembrance of your Aunt and to help send your message of peace, as well. That said, I wish you the best in the final steps of planning, as well as on the day of the rally. May hugs and so much love to you, my sweet friend!!! xoxo <3
Sweet Janine, Ah…forgive my tardiness in commenting. 😛 But, the peace rally went well and I hope my aunt was smiling. 🙂 Thank you for your best wishes – I felt them as I finalized my plans for the rally itself. Many hugs and love to you, my dear friend! xo
Lil Sis, I went to my first peace rally back in 1966. I’ve probably attended dozens of them over the years. Blessings to you for holding one.
Are we more peaceful now than in 1966? I want to believe we are. I really do. But the cynic in me says “not a chance,” and perhaps the cynic is winning out right now. We had such beautiful dreams back in 1966, but I see very little in the way of results fifty years later.
I hope I’m wrong.
Hugs coming your way
Big Bro – everything you say here about peace rallies – including when you first attended one – makes sense and it’s all not very surprising. It was surreal to do – there were definite moments of “whoa! WHAT am I doing?” lol. Are we more peaceful than in 1966…I suppose it depends. I read somewhere that for humans, we ARE at the most peaceful time in recorded history. I’m not sure how true that is, but I’d like to think so. But, I do often wake up thinking about our planet and all that’s going on with it. I think if we humans don’t change our ways, we could be in for a rough ride in the future. Whewee! But maybe the voices of the world will synchronize and we will all listen.
Hugs to you!
Dearest Cynthia,
I love that you are doing this, while the trigger for it is still painful, I feel intuitively that this path is where you are meant to tread, leading you on your own journey of further discovery..
I went back into your links to 2017 peace day post which features that amazing poem ‘ The Peaceful Hawk’ and I read it again with a renewed heart and vision,
I can only surmise the amount of work involved in such organisation of such a major event Cynthia, but I also know it will be a huge success..
The world now needs so many more hearts connecting this way, and you should be proud that you are pulling together a community to share their hearts in peace..
We are living in volatile times of division, division which is perpetuated by those who are afraid of our growing lights.
So the more who can gather in love, harmony and peace the better..
For we are helping consciousness access the higher frequencies needed for balance upon this planet.
Take all the time you need my dear friend.. your journey is only just beginning in what I KNOW will be a fruitful and rewarding one as you unite others in love and peace..
Much love Cynthia.. and many blessings your way <3
Sweet Sue,
I *always* love your words of wisdom. I have missed them in my absence to plan for the rally. Truth be told, I have enjoyed this time away, filling my cup with a hike in nature the day after the rally (which went well), and visiting my mother in law who recently had hip surgery. Overall, I had about 60 people in attendance and we raised $439 (401 euro) from all the artwork.
I will say that I learned a lot from the rally: there were moments of stress and fear. I had no idea how big the crowd size was going to be. With the climate march only the day before, along with five other peace rallies in my city the day I had mine (I didn’t know this when I started planning), I was grateful to have the crowd I did. The meditations went well, my speech went well, the peace panel was phenomenal, and the art show had artwork from so many in the community where I work. There was a lot of planning for sure – bringing all the different people together from all over the place. And even at the last minute I had two back out from the peace panel and I still managed to find a fellow Buddhist nun two hours before it started to sit on the panel. It was all beautiful. The school where I work made connections with the Buddhist refuge in terms of mindfulness education, and there were people who seemed to come out of the woodwork to help me. I can only feel a sense of deep gratitude for the beautiful people who all came forward in the name of peace. They are out there….
To that end, I hope we can raise the consciousness of the planet, soon. I have been waking up in the mornings with my heart and mind focused on the plight of the climate and the pillaging of the planet. I try to be grateful, but in recent weeks, I’m feeling much more anxious about the need to do something about these crazy warm temperatures, hurricanes, and people seem to be acting particularly crazy lately – ie the shooting that affected my family. It’s like I’m feeling a shift and it’s making me…I dunno…want to shout from the mountaintops that we must LOVE and be good stewards of the gift of the planet.
That said – and I know it’s not coincidence – I have not wanted to be publishing much on my website at all. I was at the art store today and I’m just feeling this strong pull to make more mandalas. As if they’re wanting to take me on a journey. I got a new drawing notebook and markers. I will admit that too often, I think of the end result of this work: where I might sell my mandalas, who might buy them, or whatever. Just when I start to think that lately, a voice has been sternly telling me to just “feel my way through this journey” – to not plan it, to not create for others, to not think about it too much, but just to create. To go within and allow the mandalas to grow outward. I don’t know what that means for here. Of course I will come back and do things here, but…my heart has been elsewhere of late. It all started with the news of my aunt, but really, in the days and weeks before that I had been questioning what in the world I’m doing over here.
Ah well…perhaps I just take it all too seriously. And I should send you an email… hehe. I know this winter I will be focused on developing my intuition, remote sensing, using my intuition, that sort of thing. I wanted to find a block of time to really focus on that and opening my chakras…I am literally feeling the need to connect to a higher plane…through love and gratitude but also because this physical existence can be so painful at times…lately I have really been feeling the pain of the planet. *sigh*
Sending you big hugs across the pond, dear friend. And so much love.
You know Cynthia, I feel that Spirit works in its own mysterious ways, and you finding that Buddhist nun two hours before the start, just shows how things are in alignment for you..
You know I am with you totally on Mother Earth and saving our planet. I also believe as you stated upon my own blog in your comment that WE affect the Whole.. And our energies contribute to altering our magnetic frequencies.. And as Gregg Braden has often stated about 911 and our hearts/beat/rhythm all plays a part in the Unity and Harmony of our planet because we are not separate but a part of it..
Now having said that, it makes sense as our human selves are raising our awareness, and our frequencies change, so many of whom are confused and who are not awake.. Instead are feeling those energies which put them out of balance, because they are not aligned as we have trained ourselves to be.. Or have no concept of energy and its affects..
Energy is energy, it cannot be destroyed only transmuted, transformed..
And people have no idea how Thought Manifests.. How Thought is ENERGY and so what are we all feeling?? As our governments battle and squabble, arguing fighting and blaming while not finding solutions to any of its problems…
The energy is a river, it flows.. It goes out into the Ether.. WE are that Ether too… We are so, so much more than we think we are Cynthia.. Which is why your thoughts brought the solutions to you as you filled those two to fill your panel..
When we get embroiled in the energy of that confusion, it may not even be confusion, it may be passion.. It may be so wanting to make a difference to the world.. But we feel frustrated in the fact our small actions are not enough.. It all adds to that stress, that energy pot which circulates around the world..
Now give we are a planet of energy, our weather too is a cycle… It is affected by those frequencies, those Magnetic pulse waves that resonate about the world pulling in those jet streams, Solar storms also affecting the magnetosphere where we see the beautiful Northern Lights..
Understanding that our Earth is a living breathing planet.. With her own evolution and who is also transcending on a planetary level..
So, so, much I could share with you my friend I have come to understand.. More so in this last year than at any other time.. But our planet is a reflection too of our nature.. Blowing Hot and Blowing Cold.. Seasons no longer seem to be as distinctive as they once were.. We are ALL of us evolving shifting moving and finding our balance.. So too is our Earth Mother..
These shifts have happened way back in our ancient past.. The Ying and Yang.. Polarities…
Now there are those who wish us to buy into the divisions… through politics, climate, and other issues as we pour our emotions into them.. And the more energy we pour into this Matrix.. Of a negative kind, even via our positive protests, its all creating.. All of it..
So I am learning to be mindful of my own thoughts so much more these days..
I am learning to just observe… Watch these patterns as they unfold and see how they are affecting us… The Schumann Resonance being one of those points.. Which confirms to me just How much our thoughts, our passions, our anger etc just as you explained in my blog post is affecting the whole..
So I am so with you on going within your own creative space to be.. My own thoughts of late have been along similar lines Cynthia… Taking a long break from blog world.. Even though I would so miss my friendships made I would not lose touch with those of you whom have become firm friends..
I am undecided as yet how to approach this feeling inside of me..
Like you I want to be of service to others, but also need to allow the service to self to grow within to develop deeper..
I am more awake than ever my friend and to just what this matrix is all about.. And can not put into a few words my inner most thoughts.. But I know you get them. As you too are following your own inner guidance.. We are so alike in so many ways..
So I know your inner peace will unlock that which needs to be free Cynthia..
And my love is boundless back my friend as I send so much love your way <3
Love Sue
Sweet Sue,
I just love your comments. While I sometimes take a little bit to respond to them – I love to savor them, think about them, and then give them the time and attention they deserve – they always prove thought-provoking and cup-filling. You’re right about all of this: our energies, the way we interact with each other. Those divisions you spoke of: indeed. I have thought from time to time that those divisions are the very things that are symbolic of a lot more people awakening. There are those who would cling to the old ways of pillaging and resorting to military action to settle disputes. Then there are those who would sacrifice their own lives in the name of peace to help bring about a better awareness on this planet.
Just yesterday, I was telling someone that if we had heeded the Native American Indian way of honoring the earth and honoring each other, we wouldn’t be in this mess. I also smiled at the thought, “what if the European colonization of the Americas went differently and THEY were the ones who had worked with the natives and learned from them, instead of bringing their guns, germs and steel.” While I know that I can write well, translating my words into a well-written fictional novel about how life would be different if the natives had been allowed to live out their lives and actually teach the conquistadores a thing or two about living in harmony would be difficult – at least for me. But then again, when a person is synchronous with their talents and contributions to the world, things just happen.
To that end…speaking of synchronicity. The Sunday before last – while I was still taking a break from writing here on the blog – I went to visit Heartwood Refuge, where Pannavati lives. She asked me to do a retreat. In April 2020, I’m going to lead a mandalas + meditation retreat. 🙂 This whole experience with the peace rally taught me a few things: that it’s okay to take a break from time to time, that trying new things and getting out of my comfort zone is good, and that when you work with the highest regard for others, with pure intentions, amazing things happen. And so…here we are.
I hope you’ve been well, dear friend. I’m ready to get back into the swing of things but in the meantime, I’m enjoying the change of seasons and trying to maintain the balance – and silence! Sending you the biggest hugs!
What a wonderful way to remember your Aunt. I am so sorry that she was a victim of such a horrible act.
Hi there, Pat,
Thank you for your sweet message. The rally went well. I loved bringing all those people together in peace. It was inspiring and powerful. 🙂
Have a wonderful week!
-Cynthia
Dear Cynthia,
Thinking of you yesterday and hope the peace rally was healing for you and all who attended.
Your heart is big and the ripple effect you cause really matters.
Love you and BIG hugs,
Maria
Sweet Mar,
Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness. You have such a heart of gold and your beautiful spirit always makes me smile. I hope that we really created some serious peace in those meditations. It wasn’t a huge crowd – 60 people – but they were all into what I was saying. It went well: the meditations, my speech, the peace panel, and the art show. We raised $439 that went to the three organizations. It was just powerful – people are still coming up and talking about it, which makes my heart swell. Thank you sweet friend for all your kindness, too!