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Saturday at the Parliament
I started the morning with a Presentation, Observance, and Discussion on Celtic Mysticism: an introduction to its arts and traditions with Michelle MacEwan and Cath Connelly. Evidently these two ladies both out in Celtic mysticism proposals to the Parliament and were asked to combine forces. Though they both live in Australia they met after that introduction when they were both in Connamara, Ireland. Ms. MacEwan is a "Celtic mystic and spiritual activist who continues a line of mysticism in the Scottish and Irish traditions" (though she eschews the word "Pagan"). Ms. Connelly is a Christian whose current project involves exploring the Celtic figure of Brigid and her representations as Celtic Saint and as Goddess. She is a professional Celtic harpist who performs, records, teaches and facilitates harp and spirituality workshops throughout Australia.
With music, storytelling and breath meditation they asked us to listen to and trust the voice of the heart. The voice of the mind which tells us we aren't good enough and can't do things should be recognized but not allowed to stop our creative impulse. By harmonising heart and soul, we awaken our instinct and power of sovereignty enabling us to be co-creators of a sustainable, diverse and harmonious world. It was a really nice way to start the morning.
Then I went to Hindu meditations for the Earth. The first presenter, Swarnalata Rangarajan, spoke on the use of the Sri Chakra Yantra and other mandalas (a geometric projection of the world/psyche reduced to an essential plan). She showed us many mandalas from various cultures and talked about the elements of center, triangles, squares and other features. We went through the enclosures of the Sarvanandamaya chakra. She mentioned Kolam art, which is women's art of drawing a mandala on the threshold of homes and temples every morning. I love the idea of such a pratice!
Then Acharya Shrinath Prasad Dwivedi talked about expressions of Mother Earth in the vedas. He also proposed that because we all have a divine spark inside us and are thus all divinely connected we should respect all people. And because we have been and can be reincarnated into other animal forms that we should have the same respect for all of life. He also spoke of the Hindu practice of offering prayers to all you interact with - as you get out of bed, ask the Earth Mother for permission to walk upon her breast; praise and thank the beings who provide your food, etc.
The other panelists didn't show and there was an over-loud, persistent questioner dominating that part of things so I left.
At 11:30 was the presentation by my colleagues of the San Jose Interfaith Steering Committee on "Developing an Interreligious Community: How Silicon Valley Used the Partner City Process". I admit I didn't take notes. (a) I have read the proposal and (b) I was holding up my flip video camera filming it. Hopefully I can put together the slides which should be up on http://www.interfaithspace.org/parliament/ soon with the video and get that up soon.
Then I headed off to the Magick Happens fair that the local community was doing. I browsed the merchants and went to a talk by River Higgenbotham and Patrick McCollum and heard a short Wendy Rule set plugging the masquerade/concert tonight. I should really be taking a nap so that I have a prayer of lasting through the evening. Think I'll go do that.
With music, storytelling and breath meditation they asked us to listen to and trust the voice of the heart. The voice of the mind which tells us we aren't good enough and can't do things should be recognized but not allowed to stop our creative impulse. By harmonising heart and soul, we awaken our instinct and power of sovereignty enabling us to be co-creators of a sustainable, diverse and harmonious world. It was a really nice way to start the morning.
Then I went to Hindu meditations for the Earth. The first presenter, Swarnalata Rangarajan, spoke on the use of the Sri Chakra Yantra and other mandalas (a geometric projection of the world/psyche reduced to an essential plan). She showed us many mandalas from various cultures and talked about the elements of center, triangles, squares and other features. We went through the enclosures of the Sarvanandamaya chakra. She mentioned Kolam art, which is women's art of drawing a mandala on the threshold of homes and temples every morning. I love the idea of such a pratice!
Then Acharya Shrinath Prasad Dwivedi talked about expressions of Mother Earth in the vedas. He also proposed that because we all have a divine spark inside us and are thus all divinely connected we should respect all people. And because we have been and can be reincarnated into other animal forms that we should have the same respect for all of life. He also spoke of the Hindu practice of offering prayers to all you interact with - as you get out of bed, ask the Earth Mother for permission to walk upon her breast; praise and thank the beings who provide your food, etc.
The other panelists didn't show and there was an over-loud, persistent questioner dominating that part of things so I left.
At 11:30 was the presentation by my colleagues of the San Jose Interfaith Steering Committee on "Developing an Interreligious Community: How Silicon Valley Used the Partner City Process". I admit I didn't take notes. (a) I have read the proposal and (b) I was holding up my flip video camera filming it. Hopefully I can put together the slides which should be up on http://www.interfaithspace.org/parliament/ soon with the video and get that up soon.
Then I headed off to the Magick Happens fair that the local community was doing. I browsed the merchants and went to a talk by River Higgenbotham and Patrick McCollum and heard a short Wendy Rule set plugging the masquerade/concert tonight. I should really be taking a nap so that I have a prayer of lasting through the evening. Think I'll go do that.