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PRAYER VIGIL EXPERIENCE

Thank you for sending me the information regarding peace prayer vigils.Today I would like to share with you an experience that occurred April 23.

I arrived at the home of a friend where we were joined by another woman. Our hostess invited us to hold our peace vigil outdoors on a point about fifty feet above the river. A quick conversation about our singing ability led us to the next decision: we would use a drum, chime and Tibetan prayer bell as our means of vocalizing. The dogs, Maggie and Simba, insisted on participating. Usually very boisterous, they sat like statues beside us as we began.

We said the opening prayer in unison, then began expressing our intention with the drum, bells and chime. The drumbeat was continuous. I rang the Tibetan bells and when their sound no longer carried on the air, the chimes were struck. When the light high note of the chime faded, I brought the two bells together again.

After several minutes, I noticed an eagle flying toward us from the Rocky Mountains to the east, as if drawn by the sound of the drum. He soared above the river, then directly over our heads, moving in an upward spiral. A hawk swooped over the river. Below, an otter, beaver or muskrat moved on the surface of the water. A meadowlark sang in response to the bells and chime, filling the pause between their notes.

Then, we sat in silence as these creatures joined in our prayer. During this time, the energy shifted in my body. I felt light and warm. As I opened my eyes I was aware of the changing afternoon light, almost as if a cloud has passed over us, but none was visible. The eagle, far above us now, flew toward the mountains to the west. With one voice we spoke the closing affirmation. The dogs moved about us, while the birds and river animals returned to their homes.

Later, our hostess said she had not seen an eagle for two months or more. They usually winter along the river, then leave with the spring weather. That day was warm and sunny, much like summer here, so the eagle's visit was even more surprising. Perhaps because we live on land that served as homeland and hunting and fishing grounds to Native Americans, we are aware of the eagle's significance to these people. Our prayer experience that afternoon was enriched by the animals who joined us in affirming harmony and peace.

Carol Stilz, 
cstilz@ptinet.net