| From West by Northwest.org Voices of Peace The Peace Pole Project By Lucy McIver Jun 21, 2003
A Peace Pole is garden sculpture that reminds us to pray for peace, to remember how large the world is and that all people, worldwide, seek peace. This is my story of how the Divine Spirit taught me to manifest my prayers for peace onto a Peace Pole. In March, 2003, it was becoming apparent that the U.S. administration was pushing towards a war with Iraq. I was sitting in a Quaker silent Meeting for Worship. Everything in my spirit was fighting against the great injustice of, yet, another war. I closed my eyes and prayed for a way that my spirit might live towards peace. Out of the stillness came an image of a Peace Pole. I had only seen one of these in my life. I knew, though, that our garden and our friends' gardens were the perfect place to bring peace, nature, and transformation all together. The next day I began the Peace Pole Project! As the war started I found myself praying for peace while shaping clay into tiles displaying the word "peace" in different languages. When the tiles were fired I selected four languages for each pole.
While in that creative process of discerning the shapes, color and words I realized I felt quiet and grounded. I was bringing peace into my life and expressing peace visually. The whole process became a wonderful form of prayer. A Peace Pole Prayer A peace pole, A simple 4 x 4 that organizes my prayers for peace. A guide... A reminder of life's vastness, Of belonging to the collective of humanity. I planted a peace pole in my garden, A friendly stopping point That opens my heart to all people, All nations, To the Divine. This peace pole reminds me To celebrate life, To sing for joy, To smile and laugh, To inwardly feel that I can choose To live in peace. Working on a peace pole, My hands in clay, creating ceramic tiles. Spirits of humanity and The words of peace come alive. These spirits joyfully present the word "peace" In the languages of the world. Looking like ordinary people of the earth. Farmers, mothers, children. These spirits emerge from the clay. They play with doves, carry an olive branches, Dance in flowers, or simply stand in prayer. Spirits appear on ceramic tiles And stand as witness to the transformative process. The tiles are fired directly in flames, then Pulled from the fire while glowing red. They're placed in a chamber of combustibles
Which is closed and choked from oxygen, then finally dropped into water to cool. These raku tiles resemble ancient stones, Crackled, bubbled, smoked, looking like they've Come from the fires of creation. Each tile baring the word "peace" In a different language.. "peace," "shalom," "salam," "pax," "paix," "pas".. Creating a peace pole Brings me into a place of deep prayer, A timeless moment to know That Spirit lives within my heart And the hearts of all people. A testament that we can live in peace! I have now completed Peace Poles for other gardens. When others purchase a pole I donate the proceeds from the sale to our Quaker Meeting, ear-marked for a special committee that works with young people who are facing military recruitment. This committee is called A.R.M.S. –Alternative Responses to Military Service. Many of our children express their love for peace. But how do they survive in a world that stresses military involvement as the very goal of American patriotism? How can they express their love of their country and support their beliefs of living a life of peace?
If you want more information about Peace Poles check out the web site Peace Poles. There you will find information about the history of the Peace Pole movement and how to order commercially made poles. However, if you wish to purchase a custom-made peace pole for your garden contact Lucy@fullcirclegroup.net. You will be supporting the work of the A.R.M.S. committee and your garden will celebrate a vision of world peace – where the people of our Earth respect one another and live side-by-side in peace. You may visit another West By Northwest.org article by Lucy McIver, Circles, about the nature of life and death. © Copyright 2000-2004 by West by Northwest.org |
