Audri Scott Williams sermon at Unity Center in Cleveland
message from the spiritual grandmothers of the 4 directions
message from the spiritual grandmothers of the 4 directions by Audri Scott Williams
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Audri will be the guest speaker at 2011 Walk for Values USA
Audri Scott Williams, Visionkeeper for the 13 Moon Walk 4 Peace, will be the guest speaker for the 2011 Walk for Values USA on September 4th in Washington, DC.
The 13 Moon Walk 4 Peace team will be in Washington, DC from September 4th through September 9th. The Walk for Values USA will go from 10am to 1 p.m., beginning at the Sylvan Theatre in Washington, DC.
For over a decade, you and walkers in the 13 Moon Walk 4 Peace and the Trail of Dreams World Peace Walk have forged a path of peace and nonviolence. By walking for all of humanity and Mother Earth, you have put compassion into action, truly showing that we can change the world one step at a time.
Walk for Values USA is a unique opportunity to celebrate human values and their practice in every aspect of our American way of life. It is different from other walks because it is not a fund-raiser, protest, rally, or demonstration. Instead, inspired by the teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the revered Avatar from India, Walk for Values aims to raise awareness of the five basic human values of Truth, Peace, Right Conduct, Love and Non-violence. It is open to everyone free of charge.
The first Walk for Values was organized in the city of Toronto, Canada in 2002 by the Sathya Sai School of Toronto. Inspired by the Walk in Canada, Walks have been held in Chicago, New York City, Houston, Dallas, Ann Arbor, Phoenix, and Raleigh. In addition, Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and New Zealand also are hosting walks.
The Walk for Values USA organizers believe that the five basic human values shape the way we think, feel and behave, and when these values are not expressed, the result is anger, distrust, fear, suffering, disrespect, crime, corporate greed, environmental degradation, violence, genocides, and wars. When they are expressed, the result is kindness, compassion, honesty, empathy, tolerance, generosity, forgiveness and a sense of security. Human values are universal and transcend the barriers of race, religion, culture, and ethnicity, and are the pillars of every society.
Walk participants are encouraged to select or “adopt a value” of his or her choice to practice in an effort to help raise the universal consciousness and awareness about the
importance of practicing human values in our daily life.
As the guest speaker, Audri is scheduled to speak from 12:05 to 12:15 pm. She will speak about family values and how participating in community-based service activities can provide opportunities to practice human values in action.
The Walk starts at the Sylvan Theater, which is an outdoor stage near the Washington Monument, proceeds around the National Mall in front of the Smithsonian Institution Buildings and returns to the Sylvan Theater. The expected time for the completion of the actual Walk is one and a half hours.
the walk visits detroit
We arrive in The Motor City and home of Motown on mid-summer night’s eve, June 20. It was after 10pm and already dark as we entered the West Side Unity Church parking lot in a desolate neighborhood in Detroit. The wall of the church had the painting of a lighthouse with the words, “A Lighthouse in this Community”. We knew we must be in the right place.
We were up early on the morning of the Summer Solstice to attend the Detroit City Counsel meeting on the 13th floor of the City Hall. As guests of Counsel Woman Joanne Watson, our team was asked to come up front and introduce our walk. Audri shared a few words that were met with applause. During the course of the meeting, we were each given an award in our name, signed by the City Counsel members called Spirit of Detroit Award.
We listened intently as irate citizens took turns using their one minute to express their complaints, problems, and pleas for help. It was educational and enlightening. Their was a call for an investigation of the mayor and the governor for declaring that the city was unable to care for itself and openly discussing martial law.
The next day, the team walked into the downtown along Grand River Ave. What sights we
encountered! It felt like we were in a war zone, twilight zone, or ghost town. Most of the buildings were abandoned, boarded up, and covered with graffiti. We saw tall buildings being demolished and heard the metallic crunching sound of the demolition equipment echoing through the virtually empty streets. A sign said, “Class A Historic Building for sale or rent” on a beautiful, old, architectural masterpiece now vacant. This part of the city looked like it had been condemned. Audri said she saw the National Guard vehicles, which added to the sinking feeling that Detroit was in trouble.
One of the few surviving businesses in that part of the city was a coffee shop that provided an open mike venue for local artists. They posted a sign with a quote that felt like an appropriate message for the !3 Moon Walk 4 Peace, as well as artists in general. It said, “The Question is not to know who will sponsor the arts (or the peace walk) but what forms are possible in which the artists (peace walkers) themselves will control their means of expression, in ways through which they will have relations with a community rather than a market or sponsor.”
We drove through other parts of Detroit that appeared to be doing well, though we learned some staggering statistics; The City of Detroit has 400 liquor stores and 8 grocery stores. 45% of the adult population are illiterate. In the last decade, Detroit has lost half of its population, from 1.8 million down to 900,000.
We all put prayers into the peace pole that we planted in front of the West Side Unity Church with the words, Peace, Faith, Hope, and Love. ( In the spirit of the biblical quote that “in the end all things shall pass away, save these three…”) We trust that Detroit, the city that in so many ways represents the heart and soul of America, will be like the phoenix rising from the ashes, transformed and made whole again, as the new paradigm emerges. Peace.
13 Moon Walk Team at Lansing Pow Wow
We enjoyed walking through Michigan, a state that I wasn’t too familiar with. Michigan has some of the most beautiful trees I’ve ever seen, is the cherry capitol of the U.S., and is graced with the expansive Lake Michigan, which looks like the ocean, complete with sandy beaches, boats, and beautiful beachfront properties.
The 13 Moon Walk for Peace were invited to be special guest vendors at the Lansing Traditional Pow Wow for the weekend of June 17,18, and 19. Located at a park along side the Grand River, we had a great spot to set up our vending tables as part of a large circle of vendors that surrounded the ceremonial center of activities; Native American drumming and singing, exhibition dancing in full regalia, Native American food, and lots of friendly people. Our host was Mariannie Sayler, one of the Native dancers, who graciously gave us a tent to put over our tables, providing us with both shade from the hot sun and keeping us dry from a few rain showers.
In addition to our usual vending items; books, CD’s, handmade
jewelry, scarves, and various artwork, I presented a new venture, as I offered “What Your Soul Wants You To Know” Readings. It was very popular, lucrative, and a meaningful opportunity to share good energy with lots of people. Audri and Baba were honored as veterans while participating in the circle dance. Audri also celebrated her birthday on June 18 as part of the festivities of the weekend. The diverse crowd at the Pow Wow were very interested and supportive of our peace walk mission. At the end of the event, we offered a water healing ceremony at the Grand River, accompanied by Native drummers.
We completed our stay in Lansing with a ceremonial peace pole planting. Our host, Mariannie Sayler asked us to plant it in her fenced in yard of the house her Grandfather built. Friends and family joined in to bless the pole as a source of peace, hope, prosperity, and unity for a neighborhood in need of help.
from pine ridge reservation, south dakota to chicago, illinois
The team moved from the Pine Ridge Lakota Reservation to the Oneida Reservation in Oneida, Wisconson.
May 11- Arrive at the home of Oneida Elder Dorothy Ninham. With her living room full of Leonard Peltier paintings, she shares her story of her legal work to free Leonard from prison. The family arrives with food and everyone sits in circle for the sacred pipe ceremony lead by Dorothy’s son, Buddy, the medicine man.
May 12- Audri interviews Dorothy for her radio show with more discussion about Leonard Peltier and the American Indian Movement.
May 13- Peace Pole production day with words in the Oneida language.
Evening sweat lodge for men followed by one for women with a ceremonial meal afterwords.
May 14- Audri, Karen, and Mary skype to speak at The Authentic Womens Conference in Virginia in the morning
The team attends a Native American Church for an all night ceremony from 9pm to 7am.
May 15- Early morning ceremonial breakfast followed by planting the Peace Pole in Dorothy’s yard.
May 16- Dorothy’s granddaughter Jessica gives the team a tour of Oneida Elementry School, which is shaped like a turtle.
Everyone says farewell as the caravan moves onward.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin May 19-21
May 19- Arrive and park at the Sisters of St. Francis of Assissi on Lake Michigan. Tour the convent for retired nuns and have dinner with them.
May 20- Peace Pole Ceremony in their peace garden with many of the nuns at 10am.
Chicago, Illinois May 23-31
May 23- Arrive and Park at St. Mary’s school activity center. Dinner with host Mark Whidden.
May 24- Peace Pole production with words; peace, love, respect, ashe.
May 26- Peace Pole planting at Kuumba Lynx
May 27- Bahai Temple in afternoon. Attend Kuumba Lynx performance in evening at Columbia College.
May 28- Dao Temple Ceremony- receiving the Light for the 13 Moon Walk Team.
May 29- Power of Oneness Spiritual Center where Audri talks during the Sunday service.
The walk continued through Indiana into Michigan…
another update from Mary…
April 23 – A 375 mile drive from Oakland, past Reno, mountain ranges of 5000 ft. with snow and icy rain, then into the desert, til reaching Winnemucca, NV. April 24 – Easter Sunday, another 350 miles through Nevada, out-running a hail storm with dark clouds behind , blue skies ahead. East for Easter. Gorgeous mountain scenery on 80 east, entering into Utah, to Salt Lake City, mountain time zone. April 25 – Another 300+ miles today through majestic snow covered mountains, altitude of 7700 ft. into the beautiful red rock canyons of Grand Junction, CO. April 26 – Water healing ceremony on the Colorado River. April 27 – Sight-seeing at the Colorado National Monument Park, with breath-taking scenery similar to the Grand Canyon and Sedona. April 28 – Another 300+ miles across the Rocky Mountains, with highest altitude of 12,000 ft over the Vail Pass, then into Denver, CO.,
parking at Park Hill United Methodist Church through May 2. April 29 – Buy peace pole and begin writing the words Peace, Hope, Inclusive, Acceptance. In the evening, dinner with the National Black Caucas. April 30 – Peace Pole planting at Park Hill Church. Media interview in afternoon. May 1- Church services at Park Hill at 9 and 11. Dinner with Elizabeth Bradden. May 2- Another 300+ miles today from Denver, through Wyoming and into Nebraska. Meet with Grandmother Rita and her son Nathan in the Walmart parking lot. May 3- Nathan escorts the team to Grandma Rita’s house on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. May 4- Buy peace pole and write words, Peace, Compassion, Fortitude, and Generosity. Nathan takes the team to a local homeless shelter and a Oyate Lakota meeting. Meet with Lakota Grandfather Garvard Goodplume,
with an radio interview with Audri on Talking Drum in D.C. Return to Grandmother Rita and her sister, Grandmother Beatrice for a private family sweat lodge with the team followed by a traditional Lakota feast at midnight. May 5- Visit with Grandmothers Rita and Beatrice. The team makes a dinner for the family. May 6- Peace Pole Planting Ceremony. Nathan and Grandmother Rita personally escort the team and their caravan through the reservation as a send off for their 300 mile drive to Mitchell, SD.