places where people will do the Global Grace Day Meditation and Actions:
Meditation and Pilgrimage of different indigenous tribes
Meditation and theatre action in the Bornfree Arts School,
contact John Devaraj: johndevaraj (at) gmail (dot) com
to be confirmed...
Meditation in a Tibetan monastery with Lama Paljor
Meditation in the center of the Nepalese capital. Around twenty young people came together for meditation, candle lighting for GRACE and for a lecture and exchange about the meaning of GRACE.
This Global Grace Day was a very simple, honest and intimate experience. A group of Israelis from the "Peace Research Village" group as well as Palestinians from the "Holy Land Trust" from Bethlehem and friends gathered at the "Tent of Nations" a Palestinian peace place in the Westbank, close to Nahalin/Bethlehem.
The people connected to the quality of GRACE and to all places and people who gathered at the same time in the spirit of GRACE. After the meditation which was read in Hebrew, Arabic, English, Russian and Spanish, they had a beautiful sharing. Many shared the visit to Tamera as a breakthrough and a graceful experience.
Walk to Mt. Shlomo in the Elat Mountains and meditation, contact Ynnon Tal: ynnont (at) gmail (at) com
Meditation with Ohad Ezrahi
Meditation with Shmuel Shaul and people of "Shomre ha'Gan"
Patch Adams and Russian clowns will take part in the Global Grace Day on their Annual Clown Tour in cancer hospitals, orphanages and on the streets. Grace in action!
Meditation in front of the Parliament House and walk through the town, please contact Kadri Allikmäe: katariina (at) minueesti (dot) ee
Meditation at sunrise, please contact Michael Tarozzo: mtaru84 (at) yahoo (dot) it
Morning meditation in the community of the spiritual center
Vienna: Morning meditation and pilgrimage
Poetic report from “Global Grace Vienna” by Kristian Draxl, young peace activist and musician:
“There can be no love without awareness.
To lighten and strengthen our inner fire is our holy duty to gain clarity;
and will power in our vision towards global peace.
On the Global Grace day in Vienna we came together in the name of the Grace fire: To honor the holy energy of the cosmic elements; to honor the holy wisdom of our ancestors and of Mother Earth; to honor the powerful energy of transformation.
We are devoted to Grace. We ourselves are made from the Grace source, and it is in the Grace awareness that we can came together.
Stepping beyond our individualities,
through unconditional love,
for a future without war.
We woke up at dawn to lighten the fire of Grace at the camp. To honor the old ways of living with the Earth, we used a hand drill to heat up the fire. After a day of rain, we were so grateful about the first rays of sunlight that we decided to sing the morning meditation text, like the birds in the forest.
Throughout the day we decided to go for a pilgrimage. Together, we read some parts from the book “Grace” by Sabine Lichtenfels, to inspire our path. Then we walked in silence through the forest to deepen the understanding.
We came back to the camp. Yes, now it was time to share the Global Grace text again, together with our understanding of this powerful movement. We sang some songs, shared a dinner and played a game. Finally, we wrote down our Grace prayers and burned them in the fire close to the ceremony.”
Creative meditation at the Holocaust Memorial, Meeting Point: 7am at the Brandenburger Tor / Peace Meditation in the "Kapelle der Versöhnung", Bernauer Str. 111 - 12am
9th of November 2009 in Berlin – exactly twenty years after the fall of the wall that marked the fight of two superpowers. Close to the former wall, 30 people gather in the early morning for a creative meditation and GRACE ritual - at the “Holocaust Memorial”, a modern building of numerous grey stones blocks conmemorating Europe's murdered Jews in the Holocaust.
In this cold complex, three woman from Tamera Peace Research Center lead the group into a very different space. They read the meditation text in German, English and Hebrew, sing and pray. In a simple way, a new possibility of love and forgiveness becomes tangible. It is a very basic rediscovery of the sacred source and of human truth that opens the hope of a future that leaves behind all the pains of the past. Idit Gurion, who as an Israeli woman studies in Tamera, was part of holding this ritual. She writes in her diary:
“When listening to the meditation text in German, my body shivers. I feel as if I am part of a historical moment in which German and Jewish are coming together in a totally new way. When reading the text in Hebrew, I feel it is not only me saying this words. Again, like before, I sense the chain of generations behind me. A bigger consciousness is present in this moment. After the reading we give flowers and candles to the people, and enter silently to the different paths between the grey blocks of the monument.
I go inside and come close to a big tall block. I touch it, connect to it, and feel the drops of water going down to the ground. I put the flower, a stone I brought from the pilgrimage in Portugal, and light a candle. In front of this altar I bow and make a prayer. A song-prayer is coming through me: “You are my god, You are still my god. I praise You...’’. I sing and touch the rain drops, they blend with my own tears. I feel the pain of the memory and at the same time the hope to overcome inner and outer separations.
Saskia, a young woman from Tamera that coordinates the action, comes to call me to sing ‘’Amazing Grace’’, for my ancestors. I ask her that we will sing to our ancestors. We gather and start to sing. Slowly people are coming from different directions. It is a powerful prayer, in the middle of this grey and cold place. The words are like a new information. I feel this shivering inside and around me when the sentence comes: “GRACE will lead us home.”. Indeed GRACE is leading us home. WE go out and make a closing circle. I say a prayer: “God teach us how to love, how to really love”.
From there we go to a warm and homy place for sharing. We open a circle where people are talking from their hearts about the revolution and the falling of the wall. We also speak about forgiveness and reconciliation. “Instead of guilt we shall cultivate responsibility”, was one of the key sentences.. I thank for the opportunity to be part of this healing work, for the guidance and the deep meetings and coming together we had here. I give thanks to the women soft power and solidarity that was visible in this action.”
Global Grace Day 2009 Berlin, Germany from Grace Media on Vimeo.
Meditation and evening about Grace in Friedberg / Behrstadt, meeting point 8pm in Regenbogengemeinschaft Wetterau, Bismarckstr. 9
Public Silence in the city center. Meeting point: Peterstraße, 4pm
Meditation and community meeting
Meditation and gathering, contact Ivan Ferero: ivan.forero (at) cear (dot) es
meditation in the "Casa del Tibet" with Lama Thubten Wangchen
the Movement for a Free Earth celebrated in the streets with Marching band, arts and new thoughts. Up to 300 mainly young people came together to celebrate Grace.
Report by Leila Dregger, peace journalist from Tamera Peace Research Center:
"The weather forecast on the day before had still predicted heavy rain. But as we go at six o'clock in the morning through the narrow, still sleeping streets of the old city, it is dry. Our meeting point is in Graça, the word grace in Portuguese, and from the Miradouro Santa Luzia the view opens far above the mouth of the Tejo. Once, Vasca da Gama started from here to discover the world with his small fleet. Now, it is our prayers that travel around the world to create a field of thoughts for the opening all the walls, for overcoming animosity, separation and fear. Thank you for the words of meditation by Sabine Lichtenfels and the inner pictures of reconciliation that arise. Thanks as well for the accompanying music by Willi Kirsch on the flute and mono chord. In huge shape and very softly rises the sun behind the wide, blue and pink colored water surface. On this morning, many a passerby was reminded that besides businesses and worries still a very different, much more real world shines upon us. In the afternoon, we flood Rossio with music and joy. The splendorous square of the capital resounds the disrespectful tones of the brass orchestra Farra Fanfarra and soon we are surrounded by a bunch of more than 300 people. One cannot miss seeing or listening to Farra Fanfarra. Around twenty musicians came to fire everyone up with trombones and trumpets. "We want to reach all ages and people and the easiest way to do this is the mixture of music and fun", says later Stefano, who conducts the orchestra as a clown with ebullient energy. Many of us "de-naturalized" themselves with clown noses, wigs and costumes, so we would not be confused with a manifestation. And soon, a happy procession goes through the city, heading towards the GAIA center. Everywhere, people lean out of the windows, come out of bars and shops to dance with us, to clap or just to see what is going on. In every short breathing break, people come to embrace and kiss the musicians. Small cards are spread with sentences like: "Who does not want war, needs a vision for peace. global-grace-day.com" or simply: "Se a mudança - Be the Change".
The GAIA center is located in an old palace in deceased glory. On top of a fitness studio, a meeting point for young people was created who are searching for a different life. Around 150 people gather to see the Jam Session of the popular band Terrakota. But first we can hear very different sounds: The song "Amazing Grace", sung by four young women in a very simple and moving way. Martin Winiecki from Tamera explains the meaning of Grace in a short, powerful speech: To establish a worldwide field for reconciliation and peace, a power we all can create inside ourselves. Mara Vollmer adds to it and speaks very authentic and deep words about the Movement for a Free Earth. The spark lights a fire. The thoughts are received and taken in just like water that falls on dry land. It is as if for long one has thirsted for people who believe what they say and who convey a message of hope in such a simple way. The next highlight of the evening was the live conference with Sao Paulo. Via skype, a crowd of people in the slums of the mega city is projected on the screen, people who listen to the meditation text and cheer at every sentence. In front of it the shining face of Claudio and his kids. In fact, our friend gathered some hundred people from different slums of the city for a Grace concert. For some minute we hear the sounds of a transatlantic Jam Session, over there Samba, here brass orchestra.
In between, the Grace Kitchen led by Ina Voigt has prepared a vegan dinner for more than a hundred people in very tiny kitchen and this without an budget: They had asked and were given the vegetables at the market the earlier day.
One eats, listens to the music, dances, sits in groups on the terrace until the old lady from the first flour asked for silence and we conclude the evening.
Today, for many people rose the sun: The sun of a new life perspective, of the Movement for a Free Earth. Thank you for this wonderful Grace celebration and the joyous conquest of the city."
In Tamera Peace Research Center, the Global Grace Day was celebrated in a very calm and simple way. Close to the stone circle, a guardian fire for all activities around the globe was kept for 24 hours. At sunrise, the community and guests gathered for a ritual with the meditation text and flute.
From the diary of Sabine Lichtenfels, initator of the Grace Movement:
An unusual Global Grace Day on Monte Torre in the North of Portugal
As we ascended the mountain late in the evening on the 8th of November, it became so foggy that we almost couldn't see our way. We decided to rest in a guest house at a height of 1000m. With no idea of where we found ourselves, I set out again the same evening to find a place for the sunrise meditation and I found an small idyllic spot surrounded with bushes and small trees, although I could not know how the wider surroundings might look.
Early next morning, I set out in the half-light of dawn, wrapped in woollen blankets and with my drum in hand.
Sunrise split the heavens open in a fantastic show. It was also a wonderful feeling to see all the friends and peaceworkers before me and to know how many of them are so deeply connected to global peacework. Enormous thanks for this...
Seldom am I able to reach people in my heart as easily as this morning.
I play lightly on the drum for about an hour, which supports me in the meditation.
Later we continue up the mountain. I had prayed to find a good place to stay on top of the mountain and we were led wonderfully to find such a place: a small and beautiful mountain hut. Here I worked on my affirmations.
Early afternoon Delon and I set off again to find a place for the “Global Fire”. It was raining and stormy and looked almost as if we would have to give up any thoughts of the fire and limit ourselves to a fire in the hut.
Then on a road in the direction of Manteige we found a real power place. A huge rock stands there in a birch grove, at an altitude of about 1700m and it gave us shelter from the rain and wind.
We sat here for about two hours drinking tea around the warming fire and connected ourselves to the global vision of peace.
I give thanks for this day, for the joy it gave us and for the assurance and global bond with a worldwide power for peace which is always perceivable. The seeds are germinating and the shoots appearing; a global peace family is finding itself and starting to take the necessary steps.
I thank all those who I know and also those who I do not personally know, for their contribution. May we become signs of the worldwide harvest.
In the name of all who are hungry and cold, in the name of universal love and connection with all creatures.
Thank you.
Sabine Lichtenfels
Meditation - please contact Ana Goncalves: ms.anagoncalves (at) googlemail (dot) com
Sunshine House, Halkida: Morning meditation
Morning meditation
Meditation in the Indigenous community center in New Mexico
morning meditation in the Ganas Community
Meditation at Port Angeles, Olympic Peninsulas, 7:10am, contact Anna Schuster: annaromana.schuster (at) web (dot) de
Meditation and evening about Grace, 8pm - for details contact Rocio Reyes: rociogestalt (at) yahoo (dot) com
The peace community of San José de Apartadó will gather for the meditation at sunrise and spend the day together in an intimate way to strengthen the power for a perspective of life. The peace community has resisted the different armed groups of the Colombian civil war for more than twelve years and are part of building an alternative model.
Meditation with Gloria Cuartas, "mayor for peace" and human rights advocate
Meditation in the indigenous Nasa tribe
Meditation and big musical celebration in the so-called favelas, the slums of Sao Paulo. Claudio Moura de Miranda, peace worker and band leader of the known "Poesia Samba Soul" invites musicians and leaders of different slums for a celebration of life in areas which are usually governed by the brutality of the drug war.
500 people gathered for the meditation. Claudio Miranda de Moura, band leader of the well known “Poesia Samba Soul” brought people from the slums together for a new hope and perspective.