Being in the World and Making a Difference ~ Inner Peace Guided Meditation

News Update:  The world of humans is still not very functional and a bit crazy.  Many people seem to have lost their sense of humor, as well as their “good sense”.

Creation, on the other hand, is still working just fine.

When the world seems to be crazy and getting more so every day, I look for a way to focus my attention and do some good in the World.  For at least 3 months I have been working on a Pollinator Garden project with my friends at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church.  Part of that project is a Saturday morning program with the Oklahoma Native Plant Society, Yard by Yard Pollinator Gardens, and Okies for Monarchs.

In general, all Pollinators are having a difficult time finding enough plants for pollinating and for producing the next generation of Pollinators.  These 3 organizations are very active and committed to “saving Pollinators” and providing small or large gardens for them.

We need Pollinators far more than we realize.  And, our children and their children will need Pollinators as well.  We will always need Pollinators unless we want to pollinate our fruits, vegetables, and herbs by hand!  So, by focusing my attention and energy on increasing Pollinator Gardens, I am doing something useful for now as well as for the future.

The other advantage is gardening projects often get people working together, sharing their knowledge and resources, and getting to know each other!  That does not happen as much as it used to.  When people work together, they get to know each other better.  Also, gardeners tend to be generous, happy to share tools, produce, and their knowledge of Creation !!!  What could be better ?!?!

Also, remember the studies that were done in the last half of the last century about the Super Radiance Effect of scheduled group meditations for Peace in specific places for a specific duration.  One of the most well-known examples was the 1983 Jerusalem/Lebanon Peace Project.  In this case, trained meditators with at least 5 years experience doing meditations came to Jerusalem.  They lived all around Jerusalem and they meditated at a specific time where they lived every day for 2 months.

The data for the study was gathered from the military, the police department, hospitals, and local business associations.  They gathered numerical information from all these sources.

Here are the results during the 2 month meditation practice …

1.  76% reduction in crime
2.  Lower Death rate compared to previous years
3.  Increase in economic activity

This is now known as the Super Radiance Effect or the Radiating Influence of Peace Meditations.  During the past century, there were 53 similar research projects, all showing similar results.

There was a similar project done in Washington D.C. which was structured in a similar way.  That study showed a reduction in crime, as well as a reduction in cases brought to emergency rooms in the general area in and around Washington!

Our spiritual practices, our meditations, and our intentions can have a definite effect on our culture, especially during extremely chaotic times.  Also remember, we, the meditators, are the ones who receive the first benefits of these meditations!

Maybe this is one reason that Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of G~D and all things will be added to you.”  When asked by the Sadducees and Pharisees “Where is this Kingdom?”  

Jesus replied, “The kingdom of G~D is within.” (period, full-stop)

Maybe, that is a clue … !!!

In other words, the time we spend doing our spiritual practices is a pay-off for us and for others.  Remember, a rising tide lifts all boats!

 

Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing practices, and the HeartMath program for Building Personal Resilience.  Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.