Dear friends,
Two pieces of news reflecting the two branches of my passion tree. In the words of Earth hero Thomas Berry (1914-2009), they both concern PEACE OF EARTH.
One: Thomas Berry called for education to be founded on the story of the Universe and be “a pervasive life experience.” His Great Work to enhance the flourishing of the Earth community is carried by the Thomas Berry Foundation, and some of his legacy has been channeled into Sisters of Earth, an informal network of women educators who share a deep concern for the ecological and spiritual crises of our times. I am honored to have been asked to be a Sister of Earth. (To be continued with details about the Children of the Universe Project).
Two: For a couple of years now, I have been the IFLAC Peace Ambassador in the U.S. IFLAC is The International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace. I connected with its founder, Prof. Ada Aharoni in 2001 when I used her poem Teddy Bears for Guns for a performance in Colombia. The invitation to be involved with IFLAC fitted with my connection with artist mystic Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947) who predicated Peace Through Culture. Prof. Aharoni has assigned all the IFLAC Peace Ambassadors to call our leaders to create Ministries of Peace (“as strong as Defence Ministries.”) Quite a challenge, but after all, President Trump said in his inaugural address, “My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier.” There is nothing to lose in trying. And, “The time is always right to do the right thing.” (Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. ) PEACE is what I want most and foremost.
FOR LOCAL SANTA FE FRIENDS:
I highly recommend Voices of Shekhinah: Four Illuminations, an original 45-minute opera by local composer and friend Valarie Morris, on January 26-27-28. The benefit performance recognizes the UN’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day and proceeds go to support the New Mexico Holocaust & Intolerance Museum (NMHIM).
With the Shekhinah, the feminine aspect of the Divine, the opera showcases the historical testimony and stories of three great female Jewish leaders and a contemporary teen as the hope for the future.
WHEN : Sunday, January 26 at 3 PM | Monday, January 27 and Tuesday, January 28 at 7 PM
WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Santa Fe, 107 West Barcelona Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505
PROGRAM: $25 general, $20 seniors/students (or pay what you can), free for under 18 and over 80.
Be well friends,
dominique
The illustration is from "The heartist's Secret"/a Memoir, available through www.lulu.com or through the author.