Hearts for Peace

This is a copy of the format from our actual group. We would ask if vitual members can join in with the meditating, envisioning, and healing.

The Format of the Hearts for Peace Circle

THE WELCOME
A facilitator reads :

Welcome to the Hearts for Peace Circle. Let us now take a few slow, deep breaths together.

We join here in sacred communion to create an atmosphere of love, trust and respect, where we listen to and wholeheartedly receive each other without judgement or criticism. Such deep receptivity evokes honest expression, and creates the possibility for both personal transformation and global healing.

THE WEAVING

Each member of the circle in turn repeats the following :

We acknowledge the spirit within and receive (say the name of the person sitting to your left) into our hearts with love.


At this point we may have a reading or a poem (provided by any of those present).

A facilitator reads :



Dear God
We come together asking that you heal our circle, our nation, our world.
e surrender to you our thoughts and attitudes, and empty our minds that they might be filled by you.
Reveal us to each other as you would have us see each other.
Reveal the world to us as you would have us see the world.
Guide our listening, so that we hear what you would have us hear.
Teach us and inspire us.
Use us on your behalf.
Amen


THE CIRCLE OF LIGHTS

A facilitator links all members of the circle with a short visualisation involving threads of light, prior to the meditation.


THE MEDITATION



We now enter into a meditation to the sound of relaxing music for 20 minutes.

THE ENVISIONING



At the end of the 20 minutes a facilitator ends the meditation with some guided envisioning :

We see within our mind’s eye the light at the centre of all things. We place upon our internal altar our visions of a healthy world. Doing so, we invoke a realm of love that dwells beyond the veil of human illusion.

For the next moment, let us see within our mind’s eye the world at total peace. We see brothers and sisters of all different cultures embracing. We see children smiling, families celebrating in the streets. Together we see this world as so.

For the next moment, let us see within our mind’s eye a world of plenty. We see communities living in bounty, abundant food on every table, organic and locally grown. Every family has a home, solar and wind-driven power, clean rain collected and used for watering gardens, all systems working together towards a sustainable future for all. Together we see this world as so.

For the next moment, let us see within our mind’s eye a world in total health. We see children nourished, adults rested, life’s pace is slow. Together we see this world as so.

For the next moment, let us see a planet healed and whole. All air is perfectly clean. All waters are perfectly clean. All animals and people in natural flow. Green forests perfectly intact. Our lands are deeply nourished, with the next seven generations at the forefront of our minds. Together we see this world as so.

For the next moment, let us see all governments, corporations and communities working together for the good of all. We see co-operation and compassion as guiding principles for all that we do. We see people joining together in celebration, working for justice for all. Together we see this world as so.

Those of us who wish to can now express our own visions for the world. Please take a moment to honour and receive each person’s sharing before moving on to the next.

THE PRAYER

At the end of the envisioning, the following prayer is read :

Dear God
We deliver our prayers and visions to you. May we become as stars of light in the darkened skies of earth.
Correct all things and heal all things.
Thank you, God. Amen

DISTANT HEALING

It is important when sending healing energy that we protect ourselves and therefore we use a technique created by the late Dr. George King, called The Practice of the Presence. In this short guided visualisation, used at the beginning and the end of the healing, we invoke a cleansing violet flame to protect us as we heal others.

We now go around our circle and send healing to specific people. We take it in turns, going round the group in a clockwise motion. Once we have finished naming those we wish to send healing to, we say the name of the person on our left. We go around the group twice to ensure everyone we wish to name is mentioned.


THE SACRED SHARING

Our group now has a general discussion of any matters which are pertinent to the subject of peace, enlightenment and well-being.

THE CLOSING PRAYER

Dear God
Please bless all people in the world. Use us, God, in whatever way you would have us serve. Make us who you would have us be, that we might do as you would have us do.
Thank you, God. Amen

SOME USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PEACE CIRCLE

1. We currently meet once a month.

2. The idea originates from a Group that was called the Global Renaissance Alliance, and in particular from a talk given by Marianne Williamson in October 2003.

3. Our purpose is to send out prayers and positive envisionings phrased in the present tense in order to create a better world for all.

4. We believe that a group is more powerful than the individuals added together. It has been said that the effectiveness is squared, so, for example, 8 people meeting together are the equivalent of 64, and so on.

5. We need peace and quiet to meditate and therefore will shut the doors 15 minutes after assigned meeting time so please be punctual.

6. Because we believe that thoughts and words are powerful, it is important to phrase them in the positive, for example: “I see a world of Peace” rather than “a world with no war”. This may take a bit of practice, so please do not worry if you make an occasional slip.

7. We listen to each other in a non-judgemental way.

8. Everyone will get the opportunity to talk if they so wish.

9. We value and appreciate people from all Faiths and positive belief systems.

10. We believe in the power of prayer.

11. Members are welcome to bring relevant prayers, articles etc. for readings and discussion at appropriate times during the meeting.

12. We meditate for twenty minutes in order to be more effective when we envision and when we send absent healing.

13. Everyone can bring names to mention when we send absent healing. We go round the group twice to ensure that everyone who needs it is mentioned.

A QUOTE FROM MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.