Waging Peace + Justice NOW! Christmas & New Years Opportunities for Action: 29 Days Until Global Marches for Justice on 17 January 2011
Daily Blog on the Birth of the Justice Movement by Dr. Paul S. Zeitz
all prior blogs can be found at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-paul-zeitz
by Dr. Paul S. Zeitz
Monday, 20 December 2010
Denver, Colorado
29 Days Until the "Global Marches for Justice" in Washington, D.C., around the USA and the World on 17 January 2011
Good Evening Fellow Unreasonable People Waging Peace and Justice:
The spirit moved me to do a second zeitzblog today, after reading this evening Starhawk's blog in today's Washington Post:
"This year, Solstice coincides with a total lunar eclipse. The last time this happened was in 1544. The earth aligns directly with the sun and the moon, casting a shadow on the moon's face. The moon is a Super Moon, at its closest to the earth. And, so my astrologer friends tell me, we are also directly aligned with our Milky Way's Galactic Center, where the galaxy gives birth to stars. We are in a great birth canal, on the night when mythically Mother Night gives birth to the Sun Child of the New Year." To read the full blog go to:
http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/starhawk/2010/12/out_of_darkness_light_solstice_and_the_lunar_eclipse.html
Since I'm in Denver this evening, my son and are going on an evening hike to wake this miracle in the making. I'm inspired to imagine the possibility that this celestial alignment is what is create the synchronicity for all people on the planet to join together and usher in the Era of Justice.
Many of the winter holidays (e.g. Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukah, etc.) originated from the celebrations of the winter solstice by our ancestors, so I've been studying these holiday a bit further this year. Here are a few inspiring tidbits I came across this week:
Kwanzaa: The Nguzo Saba (7 principles) of Kwanzaa are Unity, Self-Determination, Collective work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics (e.g. NEOPEACE: New Economic Order for Peace) Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. Here's a link to learn more:
http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/NguzoSaba.shtml
Christianity: Yesterday, my son and I visited the Chapel at the Airforce Academy in Colorado Springs, and it was extraordinary house of worship:
http://www.usafa.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/090413-F-2661B-018.JPG
My favorite verse of the New Testament is John 10:10 which says, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." I am inspired by these words because I believe they speak to the sanctity of all human life, every single human life, every single child, every single woman, and every single man. Everyone one of us is sacred and it is my view that all of us a collective responsibility for serving all others.
Hanukah: Hanukah is the celebration of the "miracle" of light. In trying to understand "miracles" Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi when recently teaching about Hanukah explained:
"So God says to Moshe, (in effect), "You want to know what you're seeing over here? You won't be able to see it if you keep a lock on your habits. If you can get rid of your habitual apperception by taking the lock off your habit, then you will see what's behind the burning bush and you'll be able to hear the voice of God speaking to you."
In other words, if you keep your habits you will not have access to the miraculous, but if you unlock your self from the habit, then the miraculous order is real for you."
For the full teaching from Reb Zalman, here is the link:
http://www.rzlp.org/wordpress/?p=355
Opportunities for Waging Justice & Peace Action during the Holidays
1. Check out the Justice Movement website regularly, as a brand new upgrade is coming in the next few days:
www.justicemovementnow.net
2. Consider a "fast for global peace and justice" in a way that works for you. I'm in day 4 of my fast and I'm feeling great and I don't even miss all the food. Here is a link to my prior discussion of this opportunity:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-paul-zeitz/take-commited-action-for_b_798084.html
3. Use the gatherings you are having with family and friends to discuss the possibilities that the Justice Movement can become. Generate ideas for the "American Idea" and "Global Idea" competitions which are planned to be launched on 1 January 2011. Here's a link to a summary of possible ideas:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-paul-zeitz/global-action-alert-call_b_798740.html
4. Channel your spiritual energy towards serving justice for all, NOW! When I am praying and meditating, I imagine drawing "love, justice, peace" energy up from the center of the Earth, up through my body, out the top of my head, circling the Earth and then swooping back to the center of the Earth and then waging upward into all 7 million of us! This is a fun game!
Heading out now for the winter solstice lunar eclipse......the fun never ends!!
In peace and solidarity for bold action now,
Paul S. Zeitz