Tag Archive | peace

Thoughts and Prayers For Orlando

Our Thoughts & Prayers

We have shared our deepest sympathies too many times on days like today where our news is blanketed with terror, sadness, intolerance and hate. Whatever the reason a young man had for resulting to mass murder, his actions and hate will never be justified and should never be tolerated.

At some point America needs to learn that these hate crimes are terrorism born here at home. An entire community around the U.S. has been threatened and targeted too many times, simply because of who they have chosen to love.

Love is the life force that allows all humans to survive throughout their life. It raises everyone up with compassion, caring and, well love. There is no greater gift we can give to the world around us than to love one another.

Everyone here at Springwolf Reflections and Spring’s Haven extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families and friends. Along with everyone in the LGBT community who are crying and constantly looking over their shoulders. That’s no way someone should have to live. And it is the result of all terrorist acts. Continue reading →

Our Prayers To Brussels

Mar22

Healing Through Compassion & Affirmation

Thoughts & Prayers For Our Brethren In Brussels

We have shared our deepest sympathies too many times on days like today where our news is blanketed with terror, sadness and intolerance. This is not the time to demean, insult or threaten a population of people who share a nationality with those who have chosen violence to express their anger and hatred. We hope everyone around the world will show compassion and refrain from directing their fear or anger toward innocent people who themselves are fearful and filled with sadness.

We also hope and pray that the political rhetoric remains calm, that wisdom be placed in the hearts and minds of our world leaders as they and their officials face the challenges brought to us all by these acts of terror.

Everyone here at Springwolf Reflections and Spring’s Haven extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims, their family and friends in Brussels. Along with all the people of Belgium and Europe who are now in the shadow of sorrow and fear. Continue reading →

In Peace and Tolerance

Dec10

Diversity

A Statement Of Unity
News Release 12.10.2014

Spring’s Haven and Springwolf Reflections release a statement on the recent violence that has highlighted racial inequality and violence against humanity.

Everyone here at Spring’s Haven and Springwolf Reflections share concern with many in the world and within our Pagan communities regarding inequalities between people not only in the American justice system, but within our societies and cultures as well. And on the recent release of a U.S. Congressional report on torture.

As Pagans, we view all life as sacred and as such, all lives matter. That belief extends not only to human life, but ALL life. We see our Divine world in the context that I am not the Goddess, you are not the God. But you and I, and all things seen and unseen throughout the Divine Cosmos make up the Divine Consciousness of the All and Everything. Continue reading →

Interfaith Prayer For Olympic Peace

Jan23

The Winter Olympics Begin
February 6, 2014

A World Wide Event
February 1st, Saturday at 12:00pm Eastern U.S.

As concerns mount over next month’s Olympic games, Russian President Vladimir Putin is insisting he’s got things under control. Many governments are offering assistance and making plans to protect their athletes. The U.S. announced they are making emergency evacuations plans for Americans in case something does occur.

There is an overwhelming atmosphere of concern, dread and fear associated with the Olympics. This negativity adds to the growing concern of violence. We’re asking that all those interested, share in a unified world wide moment to hold the coming events in positive energy in thoughts of peace and safety.

Join us and other organizations around the world for an interfaith moment of peace on Saturday February 1st, at 12:00pm Eastern.

It doesn’t matter where you are. It doesn’t matter if you’re religious, spiritual or atheist. Everyone who would like to send positive thoughts of peace is welcome to be part of this event. You don’t need to attend a meeting, go to a special location or leave your home even. Where ever you are at this time, simply take a moment to add your thoughts and/or prayers to this world wide energy event.

For 2 minutes, close your eyes and think of Sochi, Russia. Imagine the City and the surrounding villages blanketed in peace and love. Think of all the young men and women who have worked so hard to share their talents and abilities with their fellow competitors being safe and secure. See family and friends, and people from around the world visiting Sochi for the games, making new friendships and enjoying their time cheering on their favorite competitors in the games. See them all under a blanket of peace, compassion and love. Safe and secure from the moment they arrive, until the moment they arrive home in their own town and country.

If you desire to say a prayer during the 2 minutes, we invite you to do so. You can join in and recite this prayer we will be saying. Or you can share your own prayer to bring peace and safety to the games, the city and all the people within it.

During the Olympic games in Sochi Russia,
May all beings everywhere find peace in their souls,
May all peoples find kindness toward their fellow humans,
May our differences subside and be replaced with compassion,
May we discover understanding and acceptance of each other,
May peace ring through our voices and actions,
May the actions of all come together in love and kindness.
May all those attending the games be held in safety,
May the all arrive and return to their homes protected and secure.
And so it is that peace and kindness reign over us all.

You can find many prayers and blessings of peace at The Chaplaincy Institute, An Interfaith Community. They have many beautiful prayers for peace at The Peace Seeds. You can choose one of theirs, create one of your own, or simply hold good thoughts for these Olympic games in your head.

We hope you’ll join us and these other cities around the world for this special 2 minutes of positive thoughts and prayers for safety and security during these Winter Olympic Games.

Washington, D.C. Sat 12:00pm	Buenos Aires Sat 2:00pm	Rio de Janeiro Sat 3:00pm	London Sat 5:00pm	Paris Sat 6:00pm
Cairo Sat 7:00pm	Tehran Sat 8:30pm	Sochi Sat 9:00pm	Kathmandu Sat 10:45pm	Astana Sat 11:00pm
Bangkok Sun 12:00am	Beijing Sun 1:00am	Tokyo Sun 2:00am	Brisbane Sun 3:00am	Wellington Sun 6:00am
Pago Pago Sun 6:00am	Honolulu Sat 7:00am	San Francisco Sat 9:00am	Calgary Sat 10:00am	Guatemala City Sat 11:00am

Please share this event with your friends, family and spiritual communities. The more positive thoughts we share at the same moment in time, the more good we can create around the games and hold everyone in safety and peace.

You can also Like and Share this event on Facebook.

Thank you.

A Pagan Welcome & Blessings To Pope Francis

Mar13

The 265th Successor of Saint Peter

Congratulations, welcome and many blessings to the newly elected Pope of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis.

I would like to extend my blessings and prayers to Pope Francis. May the GreatSpirits watch over him and his office, empower his compassion and fairness, infuse his tolerance for others with love and peace, and guide his decisions now and in the future with equity, charity, open-mindedness, and equality for all. And So It Is.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite. He was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires. He was ordained for the Jesuits on 13 December 1969 during his theological studies at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel.

One of Pope’s Francis first remarks were for his predecessor, saying “First of all I would like to say a prayer pray for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI. Let us all pray together for him, that the Lord will bless him and that our Lady will protect him.” Continue reading →

Sunday Homily: What Is Spiritual Love?

Nov11

Respect & Tolerance

The Love Of Tolerance

All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness. The important thing is they should be part of our daily lives. ~ Dalai Lama

Spiritual love is the exercise of love, compassion and respect for all things, seen and unseen throughout the Divine Universe.

It is taught in all religious and spiritual paths. It is shared as the utmost character to achieve. We know this, we hear it, we talk about it and perhaps even preach it. But do we practice it?

In times of disaster people don’t ask what religion do you practice, what sexual preference do you favor before they hold out a helping hand. We see the plight of others who have been devastated by storms or earthquakes and we rush to their aid out of compassion and care.

A human being is part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. … We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive. ~ Albert Einstein Continue reading →

Sympathies and Prayers for Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Aug5

The Gift of Compassion

Everyone at Spring’s Haven wish to express our deepest sympathies, prayers and thoughts for the family, friends and community of the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

This world is large enough to accommodate all beliefs and to share our knowledge, wisdom and understanding in peace. We can allow others to believe as they choose without threatening our own spiritual path or compromising our own enlightenment.

Hate and intolerance have no place in our society or our country! This senseless violence harms everyone not only here in the U.S., but all souls around the world. By remaining silent when crimes of hate occur, one condones the act. By standing up and denouncing the hate out of tolerance and expressing compassion for the victimized we elevate the standards of morality and eliminate the screams of arrogance and overbearing dictatorship either formal or informal.

As my friend Rev. John E. Lewis Jr. said today:
Undermining the religious, political, moral or philosophical views of others in favor of elevating the religious, political, moral or philosophical views of self is arrogant, pathologically absurd and ultimately self-defeating. These dangerous tactics are on the increase by certain individuals and groups who actually believe they will convince others of their conceived supreme position. It may appear to be effective in the short-run, but in the long-run it will fail miserably, and in the process demean the common decency and civility of collective society. Never can any individual or group ultimately succeed by discrediting others in favor of self.

Our our hearts and prayers go out to everyone affected.

Paganism vs Satanism – Learning About Tolerance

May8

Tolerance And Unconditional Love

I have always contended that the more we learn about each other, the more we build tolerance and peace within the world. I was invited to a round table discussion on The Ænigma Project to discuss Satanism. When I shared that appearance with friends and colleagues they were turned off. A few immediately said “Why are you talking about such a dark subject?” or “I avoid that scary stuff”. This from people who claim that their purpose in life is to practice and teach “unconditional love”. Well I don’t believe in unconditional love, but interestingly enough I seem to be the one practicing it, along with the other members of the show’s panel and those who did tuned in.

I can appreciate the “ickiness” perspective from the general public. But from colleagues, I must say I was highly disappointed. Being open minded and practicing what you preach is a necessity to any spiritual leader, teacher or minister/priest/priestess. If you can’t walk your talk, who are you serving? Continue reading →

"Believe In Yourself, Even When No One Else Does."
~ Harvey McKay ~
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“Take a chance on faith. Not religion, but faith.
Not hope, but faith.
I don’t believe in hope. Hope is a beggar.
Hope walks through the fire and Faith leaps over it.”
~ Jim Carrey ☆ 2014
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“I describe myself as a simple Buddhist monk. No more, no less. And I am one of the seven billion human being. Basically we are the same… your emotion, my emotion, your mind, my mind.., same physical. So I always look [at it] that way. We are the same.”
~ Dalai Lama 2012 ~
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"Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
~ Bruce Lee 1971