Sunday, September 21, 2014

International Day of Peace

Today is International Day or Peace, and so this morning we headed up our driveway to hang different flags for peace in the garden; some down a the entrance to the house and another one over at the shed/studio.

We bought his flag in Italy years and years ago - I think of it now as peace with sweet peas. Sweet peace.


One of my small pebbles for peace hanging at the front door,


Along with Mary-Janes, and Luthien's flags.



And my book pages...


Up at the top of the driveway, Barry's peace prayer wheel turns quietly.


There was a  bit of a breeze at times today.


Detail of Barry's metal flags from last year 


We also spent time out the back with our peace bell and the weathering peace flags from previous years.

Barry's old umbrella flags.


Some of my printmaking cloth flags and Jennifer's discharged fabric flags. Both sets are weathering so beautifully. Peace persists.


I don't really know what to do or say about peace when there is so much destruction at play in the world.  All I can think to do is to mark these special days; to show others that we care about peace; make time in our own days to stop, reflect and dream of peace.  We will be gonging our peace bell at dusk, sending peaceful vibrations across the valley, and hopefully further afield.

I sat today and pondered what it might mean if people just stopped fighting and hating for this one day. Just today.  How wonderful that would be. And then I thought, if we could do it for one day, then maybe we could do it for two... and then...

I wish you peace... and kookaburras amongst the peace flags.

14 comments:

  1. thank you for sharing your many flags with us. I must hang mine out today. its been hanging on the blog but not outdoors! It would be wonderful if we could have a day of peace all over the world. maybe some would realize what a week or a month or a year of peace could do!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lyle - I hop your flag made it outside! It is a special one. Maybe the Un could set a single day of peace as a goal next year - not just to mark it, but to DO it! Go well.

      Delete
  2. What beautiful expressions of peace, Fiona. It seems as though it should be so easy to make/have peace...as you say, beginning with just one day, then why not two, and so on... It's unfathomable to me that people should desire anything but peace. Though I say this from a position of privilege, and I imagine that the outlook of many is compromised by circumstances. Still, if we who can will take some steps toward peace, maybe more will follow...
    PS You have inspired me to scatter a little more peace - it's sort of a belated twist on the "peace" alphabet for ALaW 2013 - so thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will be leaving a comment on your post soon Lisa - I read it and loved it! I struggle at times with how to encourage peace, but I think I am one small person and I can talk about it, share it, promote it and I can touch some lives. Perhaps the more of us that do, the more peace will ripple out. Go well.

      Delete
  3. peace to you and to barry. i don't know if peace is possible. i don't know if no war is possible. but i want to believe it's so.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is rally hard to know Velma, but I do dream and hope and imagine...

      Delete
  4. A wonderful day of peace you've had... I love knowing that your gong sounded across the valley at dusk, I also love that the kookaburras sat right near my words hanging on your tree, written by your hand in a land far away. So much is possible, why not PEACE? I am dreaming peace and doing my best to BE peaceful. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Valerianna - It was great that the kookaburra sat just there wasn't it? I was in the house and tried to zoom as best I could - very happy to have caught your words as well! Amazing things are possible and we need to keep on hoping, dreaming and believing peace is. Go well.

      Delete
  5. I would love to have heard your peace gong, Fiona. A lovely post! Peace to you and Barry, always.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Carol and I hope you get the chance to listen to the bell...peace to you as ever...go well

      Delete
  6. Een prachtige ode aan de vrede !
    Kon het ooit maar werkelijkheid worden.
    Wij proberen in ieder geval om in ons gezin en in onze naaste omgeving vredevol met elkaar om te gaan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A beautiful ode to peace !
      Could it ever be , but reality.
      We try at least to peacefully with each other to go . In our families and in our immediate environment.

      So true Marleen, we can each only do our bit...go well.

      Delete

I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.