Woman of the Twelve Stars – Constantina Wood (Finalist Apocalypse Prize)
Day One
Believe that each and every one of us can bring about peace by changing our own attitude to ourselves and others.
We create war by our angry thoughts.
We create injustice by our own prejudices.
We create poverty by our own greed.
We create sickness by our own fear.
We create sorrow by our own envy.
We create hatred by our love for power.
We create division by our indulgence in gossip.
STOP
Capture every thought. Check every action. Change.
We create peace by our loving thoughts.
We create justice by including those who are different from us.
We create wealth by sharing what we have freely.
We create health by having faith that all will be well.
We create happiness by encouraging others.
We create love when we do not need to feel we are right or better than others.
We create harmony when we choose only to hear and speak what is beneficial.
Negative Hand Print
Day Two
Open hands can’t hold guns.
Open hands can’t grab.
Open hands can’t hit.
Open hands can’t hide.
Open hands can’t deceive.
Open hands can’t accuse.
Open hands can’t abuse.
STOP
Check how you use your hands. Stand still for five minutes with your hands open and see how it feels inside yourself.
Open hands welcome peace.
Open hands allow others to share in all.
Open hands soothe and caress.
Open hands show our vulnerability.
Open hands reveal all that we are.
Open hands show our willingness to accept our own faults.
Open hands welcome others in.
Buddha of serenity
Day Three
Love yourself.
Learn to love yourself.
Learn to love your failings.
Learn to love all the things that have gone wrong in your life.
Learn to love the things you cannot do anything about from your past.
Learn to love the stupid things you say, have said and probably will continue to say.
Learn to love the whole being that is you with all the lumps and bumps and bits and bobs and nonsense.
STOP
Regard the Buddha above and see:
He is covered with lichens and mosses and chips of weathered stone, bird droppings and spatters of mud.
He is serene and silent and not phased by what anyone says who may come to stand by him.
He has weathered his existence and remains himself with complete acceptance.
He has withstood all the elements that have berated him.
He has lost a hand but holds on.
He emanates love.
He is love.
Praying girl
Day Four
There is chaos.
There is chaos all around us.
There was chaos at the beginning of creation.
There is chaos in our lives.
There is chaos in our minds.
There is chaos in our feelings.
There is chaos in our spirit.
STOP
Consider this chaos.
Chaos is.
Chaos is like a stormy sea.
Chaos is the foundation of all existence.
Beauty has been created out of chaos.
We can step outside of chaos and draw it together like pieces of string.
We can knit it together and form the fabric of a new Universe.
We can embrace creation which includes chaos and not become chaotic.
Tall Angels
Day Five
Sometimes we feel alone.
Sometimes we feel isolated.
Sometimes we feel no-one understands us.
Sometimes we feel marginalised.
Sometimes we feel hated.
Sometimes we feel persecuted.
Sometimes we feel hunger – physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual.
STOP
Look up and see the angels. Ask for the gates of understanding to be opened to you. Ask to SEE.
All the time we are surrounded by others, seen and unseen.
All the time the angels stand watch over us.
All the time God knows what we feel.
All the time we are included in the Kingdom of Heaven.
All the time we are loved with a great outpouring of love.
All the time we are being comforted.
All the time we are being fed by the love of God which sustains us completely if we can just believe.
Sketch for icon – St. John the Baptist
Day Six
We are waiting.
We have been told to repent.
We have been told to forgive.
We have been told to give.
We have been told to help.
We have been told to sow peace.
We have been told to love.
STOP
Consider our failings; our inability to live up to ideals we set ourselves; our inadequacy in understanding that others cannot live up to the ideals we set on them. This is the foundation for lack of peace in the world.
We are waiting.
While we are waiting let us play.
While we are waiting let us be a little silly at times.
While we are waiting let us learn some things about ourselves as human beings.
While we are waiting let us admit how foolish we all are.
While we are waiting let us admit we have no power to overcome this idiocy that is the state of humanity.
While we are waiting let us love each other anyway especially those who are most hated.
My First Painted Image of Christ – monochrome
Day Seven
A Dream of a New World in Seven Days
Wouldn’t it be something if all nations could lay down their weapons for seven days.
Wouldn’t it be something if we could all give freely to others for seven days.
Wouldn’t it be something if we could stop judging others for seven days.
Wouldn’t it be something if we could all call one another, have a laugh with each other and tell silly jokes for seven days.
Wouldn’t it be something if world leaders would all stand united, hold out their open hands and admit their powerlessness to change things and to ask for help.
Wouldn’t it be something if money became obsolete and we all decided that it is better just to learn to become true human beings and not use resources as a means of power over others.
Wouldn’t it be something if we could simply see that how to learn to love has already been given to us.
