Peaceful Piggy Meditation

Children can be so open, so willing. Our stay in California this month with long-time friends Chau and Jim affected us in many ways. We left their house of peace and love with a few special gifts: meditation beads from Vietnam, our Stillness Jar and the book "Peaceful Piggy Meditation." On the next stop, we shared the book with our hosts that have two little girls close in age to our daughter. On our last evening, we gathered in the living room on pillows. The children gravitated to the story of creating a peaceful place in the home. The girls wanted to immediately create the space. Peaceful Piggy suggested a stone for solidness, a crystal for clear thinking, and a flower for beauty. The six year old gathered a crystal, a rubbing stone from her aunt, and a rock she painted for her mother. The nine-year-old brought a crystal glass to use as a bell. My daughter, visiting from Germany, didn't have her own special things with her- so she ran to the art table and made two drawings of hearts to place in the circle. Amy lit the candle and the girls took turns with the bell. After a day full of laughter, tears and emotions, the faces became angelic and still. We breathed together slowly, and in the manner of Thich Nhat Hahn we said words on the in-breath and out-breath, such as Calm, Love, Joy, Peace, Happiness and Kindness. I could feel the energy in our circle, loving and peaceful. We ended with prayers of gratitude. We had another meditation circle the following morning before we said goodbye. Back in Germany, we set up our own special place with our sea shells, rocks, polished stones, and beads from Vietnam. We start our days sitting together in the early morning by candlelight, continuing the circle of peace and love.