We met to plot the final notes on Drumming Up Peace! last night.  Seven provocateurs huddled in a circle around an oak coffee table in the living room of our leader’s home, to cast a final look at what we’ve created over the past months of weekly gatherings.

These meetings always begin with a ‘grounding’. Kerry Parsons, circle connector, passes around a beautiful crystal wand and invites all of us to share what’s on our hearts, where we’re at, what’s been happening for us since our last meeting. It’s our ‘internal weather report’. A check-in to bring us out of the busy-ness of the day, to check out where we’re at to bring us fully present into the circle.

As I listened to each person speak last night I saw in awe of the wonder and the beauty of the human spirit and our capacity to create.

A few short months ago, Summer of Peace Calgary 2012 was an idea. Now, it’s kicking-off at an event that promises to explode with drums and spoken word and song. Calgary’s poet laureate Chris demeanor will be performing a piece he wrote just for the show, as will spoken word artist Sheri D-Wilson. Amy Wood, an amazing young singer/song-writer will be performing a piece she’s written specifically for the night and Judy Atkinson of Circles of Rhythm will be drumming up the beat of peace throughout the night.

It is an evening not to be missed!

Though I will be missing it.

C.C. and I are off to San Francisco tomorrow morning for a week of fun and laughter, love and bliss together. Three nights in San Fran and three in the wine country at a delightful B&B Sonoma Orchid Inn. We’re staying in the Madronna suite – just the name of it feels romantic!

I am excited.

And sad.

Sad to be missing this event that I’ve helped bring into creation. Sad to not be with my circle.

And yet, I will be there, in spirit. And in spirit, all things happen with grace and ease.

Last night when I got home, I wrote out the poem that began forming while I was sitting in the circle last night (I’ve posted it on my Recover Your Joy blog. The photo background is taken from the airplane as I flew into Vancouver on Friday). And as the muse had her way, I was reminded of how easy it is to make a difference when we let go of our disbelief it is impossible to change the world. It’s not because anything is possible in the limitless possibilities of our dreams. And if we can dream it, we can create it when we move with grace and ease into being present to the miracles that unfold with every breath we take.

Months ago, Kerry Parsons dreamt of creating a summer of peace in Calgary. She invited others to share in her dream, to cast their brilliance on the idea of peace and to co-create an opportunity for peace to make a difference in our world. Friday night, Summer of Peace Calgary 2012 kicks off and in its drumming beat I am reminded that when we engage in peace-making there is no room for war-mongering. When we let go of believing in the impossibility of our dreams coming true, they do.

And, when you have a moment… check out the Peace Academy. I’m teaching there in July — along with a stellar list of other presenters who will be offering up ways and means and possibilities for peace throughout the summer. Do come and be a peace-maker with us!