Cyberweave - Mary Montgomery-Clifford

I can't help but wonder what President Bush and the new administration will think on September 22-23, 2001 when thousands gather on the National Mall next to the Washington Monument for this year's Prayer Vigil for the Earth. The sight promises to be truly amazing, especially the International Peace Village, a circular collection of tipis, a Jewish Sukkah, an African ancestral altar, an international labyrinth, and a Tibetan Stupa.

I became interested in the Vigil after reading a short calendar item about it in EarthLight, The Magazine of Spiritual Ecology, a quarterly publication with strong links to its Quaker heritage. I wanted to know more, so I surfed over the Vigil's web site at www.oneprayer.org. It was well worth the visit. This is a compact, easy to navigate site that tells you about the Vigil, past and present, and about how you can participate, either in Washington D.C. or in a simultaneous prayer vigil event in your town or city.

The purpose and mission of The Prayer Vigil for the Earth is clearly stated on the home page: "The Prayer Vigil for the Earth is a living prayer woven into a seamless tapestry of many traditions through collective experiences of faith. The Vigil is a calling to all peoples to gather, to pray for harmony with the natural world, peace among communities, and the well-being of all Creation."

Click on the "Program" link and you'll get a brief rundown of what to expect at the Vigil, including the International Peace Village; Thirty Hours of Continuous Prayer; Prayers and Ceremonies by Indigenous Elders and Leaders of All Faiths; Honoring the Tree of Peace; The World Peace Prayer Ceremony; Youth Lodge and Program; Talking Circles for All Participants; International Music Offerings; Round Dances for Racial Unity; The Earth Charter; and The United Religions Initiative.

The International Peace Village seems to be the centerpiece of the Vigil. According to organizers, the village is designed in a circle to mirror the shape of our Earth. A fire burns in the center of the circle like a fire burns in the center of the Earth. The circle and the fire symbolize life. They are sacred.

Another major highlight of the Vigil occurs at the end of the event when participants come together with their musical instruments, songs, prayers, and chants in order to create the sound of people in a Celebration and Prayer for Peace on Earth.

The Prayer Vigil for the Earth is not new. Click on the "History of the Prayer Vigil" link and you'll find out that it began in 1993 as an Indigenous Wisdom Keepers event. The scope and nature of the Vigil, however, changed in 1997 at the urging of Lakota elder Harry F. Bryd who stated that it should become a free multi-cultural and multi-faith offering. The National Mall in Washington D.C. was selected as an appropriate location for a variety of reasons ranging from the symbol of democracy to the need for U.S. renewal and transformation to the mystical and Masonic idea that the Washington Monument, as an obelisk, broadcasts information and energy.

Those who can't travel to Washington D.C. can click on the "Join Us" link for information on how they can participate wherever they are. In fact, not being at the Vigil can be just as important as being there since organizers state that one of the key goals has been to create a continuous prayer circle around the world during the Prayer Vigil time period. Organized events can be listed at the site by sending an e-mail with the subject "JOINING" to oneprayer4@aol.com. There weren't any listings for the 2001 Vigil as of the beginning of July. However, there were plenty of examples of past participation, including a sunrise pipe ceremony in Sherborn, Massachusetts, inmates praying for peace at the Maryland House of Corrections, and a group of Catholic nuns who focused on social justice and prayers for the Earth.

Individual participation is also welcomed. The "Join Us" section suggests that individuals or groups can help create the continuous prayer circle around the Earth by just holding the Earth in thought and prayer at sunrise. Another section of the www.oneprayer.org site suggests the following prayer and mediation:

Let this beautiful planet be filled
with loving kindness.
Let this beautiful planet be well
and healthy.
Let this Mother Earth be filled
with great joy, peace and understanding.
Let this beautiful planet, our home, be filled
with good will and the will-to-love.
And so it shall be.

Last, but not least, it must be pointed out that the entire Prayer Vigil for the Earth event is put on by volunteers. In other words, there are no paid staff members. Even so, donations are needed. If you're interested in helping out, click on the "funding" link. Funding opportunities range from $500 for firewood to $4,000 for the tipi circle. Smaller donations are also very welcome.

Do you have a favorite spiritual or personal growth Web site that you'd like me to review? Please drop me an e-mail at Monty764@aol.com. And remember, I also want to hear your story about how the Internet and the World Wide Web have impacted your journey toward self-realization. A short e-mail questionnaire is available by contacting Monty764@aol.com. Just fill it out and e-mail it back. Your contribution will help me complete my Spirituality & the Internet Research Project and, in turn, will help others who are undertaking a similar pilgrimage.

Mary Montgomery-Clifford is a certified web author and developer. Her company, Montgomery Media Enterprises ("Freelancing with Finesse!"), specializes in public relations, events, promotions, writing project and web authoring, development and publicity. Ms. Montgomery-Clifford is currently studying for a Master's Degree with an emphasis on inter-religious studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary and is in the process of completing the Morris Pratt Institute Course on Modern Spiritualism. Contact her via e-mail at Monty764@aol.com, by phone at 773-235-8821 or at her web site at www.montymedia.com

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