Over 100 people joined us online for the first Solstice of Peace! Many brought candles, and as Sheikh Ghassan said, “We are the candles – is that not enough?” Thank you to all who joined on zoom or by lighting a candle or joining inwardly to pray for light and peace on the longest night of the year.
“In the midst of darkness, light persists.” – Mahatma Gandhi, Speech (1947)
“The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.”
– Isaiah 9:2
“The lamps are different, the lights are the same” ~ Rumi
“In your light I see your beauty,
In your shade I find your mystery.”
– Hazrat Inayat Khan
Muhammad’s Prayer of Light
O God,
give me light in my heart
and light in my tongue
and light in my hearing
and light in my sight
and light in my feeling
and light in all body
and light before me
and light behind me.
Give me, I pray Thee,
Light on my right hand
And light on my left hand
And light above me
And light beneath me,
O Lord,
Increase light within me
And give me light
And illuminate me.
EVENT DETAILS:
December 21st, 7:30pm EDT, Online on Zoom
Join Sheikh Ghassan Manasra, David Less, Michael Macy, Abed Manasra, Macey Markowitz, Chris Miller, and the Abrahamic Reunion for a special peace event, as part of the Solstice of Peace, a global night of peace.
#solsticeofpeace #solstice #light #peace #salam #shalom #interfaith #abrahamicreunion
The Solstice Peace Project is calling for events around the world during the Solstice, the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and shortest night in the Global South.
From the Solstice of Peace Website:
Solstice Peace Project To celebrate peace on the Dec. 22, the Winter Solstice, the day that heralds the return of the light in the Northern Hemisphere. The project would use the solstice to prompt linked actions worldwide that encourage peace.
There is a heaviness touching the hearts of people worldwide. It not just the wars in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It’s because we are connected on so many different levels and feel each other’s distress deeply.
This is why we can lighten the world’s burden by praying for peace and performing actions – both symbolic and substantial in their hopefulness – to promote peace. We can emphasize the power of peace by focusing on peace and amplifying its impact by coming together to call for peace.
The Goal
To ignite the light of peace in the hearts of participants and to encourage the spread of peace at a time of increasing conflict and violence.
The Roots
The Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is traditionally a time for welcoming back the light. Winter Solstice: honoring the Return of Light. It is also a time of specific observances in various religious traditions, including Hannukah (Dec. 7-15 2023), Christmas (Dec. 25, 2023), Bodhi Day (Dec. 8, 2023) and Yalda Night (Dec. 20-21) in Iran and other parts of Central Asia.
Actions
These actions would focus only on peace, eschewing politics and the taking of sides.
1
To reach out to religious community leaders to ask for their support. To request religious leaders to encourage their congregations to hold services for peace on Dec. 22, 2023. As it is a Friday, mosques and synagogues will be holding services anyway. We would encourage the addition of a special Friday service for Christians and the holding of special services in Hindu and Buddhist temples and Sikh gurdwaras.
2
To invite communities worldwide to hold an event promoting peace on Dec. 22, the day that heralds the return of the light in the Northern Hemisphere. The event could take be in any form – a religious service, a concert, a reading, a moment of communal silence,
3
To encourage people to place a candle in their window to promote peace on the night of Dec. 21-21 as a symbol of the presence of peace and to encourage the promotion of peace.
