July 18th is an important day for Peace-makers to celebrate creatively. It is Nelson Mandela's birthday.
Madiba is Nelson Mandela's affectionate nickname, referring to his clan name. He led a vision of the RAINBOW NATION in his home country of South Africa.
I have celebrated Madiba Day for many years, but on the first Madiba Day beyond Nelson Mandela's life, I had the great joy of volunteering my yoga leadership through Bent on Learning to children at Boys and Girls High School -- the site of Mandela's very first American welcome upon arriving to America in 1990.
All morning I led yoga circles with children and volunteers on the giant football field in the sun. In the afternoon we walked for 67 minutes around and around the track of the field, in honor of Mandela's 67 years of service. Our walk was the invocation of the newly-named Nelson Mandela Field. Many of important city and world leaders came to honor the event.
Though his life is complete, Nelson Mandela lives on through each one of us who are willing to learn about him. He lead a movement of peace in his country of South Africa for all the world to learn from: Truth and Reconciliation.
Imagine!!! This man went from prison to President. He went from a stance advocating violent rebellion for the sake of equality against the system of Apartheid, to becoming the leader of one of the world's most transformational peace processes.
In 2001 I visited his country. I helped brainstorm educational processes for Madiba Gardens, inspired by the writing of his memoir which he "planted" in the garden of his prison, as he tended vegetables to share with inmates and prison guards alike. By planting his story, he was seeding his future! For from that story, grew a mighty world leader.
Make a Madiba Garden of your own! There are many approaches to take:
1. plant a rainbow of flower colors... in honor of human diversity and harmony
2. write your own story and your hope from the future.... and bury it under the earth with seeds.
Madiba is Nelson Mandela's affectionate nickname, referring to his clan name. He led a vision of the RAINBOW NATION in his home country of South Africa.
I have celebrated Madiba Day for many years, but on the first Madiba Day beyond Nelson Mandela's life, I had the great joy of volunteering my yoga leadership through Bent on Learning to children at Boys and Girls High School -- the site of Mandela's very first American welcome upon arriving to America in 1990.
All morning I led yoga circles with children and volunteers on the giant football field in the sun. In the afternoon we walked for 67 minutes around and around the track of the field, in honor of Mandela's 67 years of service. Our walk was the invocation of the newly-named Nelson Mandela Field. Many of important city and world leaders came to honor the event.
Though his life is complete, Nelson Mandela lives on through each one of us who are willing to learn about him. He lead a movement of peace in his country of South Africa for all the world to learn from: Truth and Reconciliation.
Imagine!!! This man went from prison to President. He went from a stance advocating violent rebellion for the sake of equality against the system of Apartheid, to becoming the leader of one of the world's most transformational peace processes.
In 2001 I visited his country. I helped brainstorm educational processes for Madiba Gardens, inspired by the writing of his memoir which he "planted" in the garden of his prison, as he tended vegetables to share with inmates and prison guards alike. By planting his story, he was seeding his future! For from that story, grew a mighty world leader.
Make a Madiba Garden of your own! There are many approaches to take:
1. plant a rainbow of flower colors... in honor of human diversity and harmony
2. write your own story and your hope from the future.... and bury it under the earth with seeds.
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