More than 25 people gathered at Devereux Beach Thursday evening, Sept 10, for the Sit for Peace. Residents arrived with chairs, blankets and cushions to meditate together, listen to the surf and reflect on peace as the sun set over Marblehead.
“It’s always the right time to sit and meditate, be calm and grateful to listen to the surf amongst my community,” said Marblehead resident Sheena Nancy Sarles.
The Sit for Peace was a follow-up to the well-attended Mother’s Day Walk for Peace.
“It’s about bringing the community together with the simple intention to hold peace in our community and to hold peace in the world,” said organizer Ellen Petersen.
Petersen said the idea grew out of the May walk, which some people could not attend because the long walk was challenging. At Devereux Beach, with parking and walkways nearby, people could simply take a seat.
Participants were encouraged to turn to one another and share what peace means to them.
“I meditate on my own, but whenever I have the opportunity to meditate with others, that always just multiplies the feeling,” participant Pat Chase said. “Try to count to three… and just respond instead of just reacting to things. Taking a moment to center so that we can be gentle with ourselves and gentle with each other.”
Alicia Hart said she was “sick and tired of us constantly being at war.” She said it was nice to be around others who favor peace and just want to be in a beautiful setting and contemplate peace.
Petersen welcomed the group and used a Tibetan singing bowl to set the tone for coming into stillness.
“It’s a bowl for healing and spreading blessings into the world,” she said.Participants then observed 35 minutes of intentional silence. Afterward, Petersen read John O’Donohue’s “Blessing for Peace.”
In closing, Petersen said, “When the community comes together with these intentions, it ripples out to our own families, our community, other communities, and to the world.”
