Outcomes of the 24-Hour World Healing Peace Circle March 15/16, 2002 Following are: - Event Summary - Results from the Feedback Forms - The Donation Jar - Craig's Comments - What Next? ===================================================== Event Summary There were about 60 people who attended, a few participating for half an hour, most for an hour or more. There were six present for the opening on Friday evening, and seven for the closing on Saturday evening. There was never more than a minute or two when the meeting room didn't have somebody in it, and I'd like to think there were enough "excess" wonderful intentions, energy, and prayers (and maybe some help from ones we couldn't see) to carry the circle over those intervals. I do know of at least a few people who had committed to participating in spirit, since they had other commitments elsewhere. There were two flipchart sheets filled with wonderful moving visions of what this world can be. I will be transcribing those and will post them on the perpetualhealing.net web site in the next week or so. And now let us keep our eyes (and hearts) open to allowing these outcomes to manifest in the world. ===================================================== Results from the Feedback Forms 43 of the participants filled out feedback forms. The numbers don't add up because sometimes one form had multiple responses to the same question -- such as marking both once a year and every month for question #3, and other times a question was left blank. 1. How did you hear about this event? 9 Email list 2 Newspaper (circle one): Ann Arbor News, Observer, Current, Agenda, Other? [2 for Ann Arbor News] 0 Radio: Do you know which station? 0 TV (local cable) 2 Web search 25 Friend [Craig was the friend for some of these] 14 Other? [posters 6, handouts 2, Church of Today 2, Friends Meeting 2, First UU announcement 2] 2. Is there anything you'd like to see changed to make it work better for you or your friends? Most people left this blank or just said everything was fine. But there were also some good suggestions. As would be expected in any bunch of people, certain suggestions conflicted with others -- especially with regard to the provision for silence. Here is the list, paraphrased: - provide meditation cushions. - liked the chimes and options such as walking meditation. - emphasize silence: people singing or especially walking would be distracting. - please clarify if singing is OK -- would like to be able to. - on fliers clarify if a time duration commitment is needed. - allow it to be clothing optional. - keep the temperature warmer in the room. - add quiet music/rhythm of some sort. - provide simple art supplies (paper/crayons) in case anyone gets inspired. - provide something to help participants feel more connected with one another. - great cookies! - allow meditative movement, chanting/singing -- maybe every other hour. - provide/allow some way for people to connect and ground before/after doing the prayer/meditation, such as talking, energy work, healing touch. Maybe just be sure someone is in the lobby to greet and listen to feelings that people may need to work through when they're done. - liked the simplicity as it is -- allows people to make it what they want it to be. 3. Would you like to see similar events on a regular basis in the Ann Arbor area? 5 once a year 12 every 3 months 23 every month 6 every week 4. Are you involved in an organization (church, temple, etc.) that you think might be interested in hosting a 24-hour event like this? Suggestions included: - Center for Sacred Living - WILPF (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom) - Zen Buddhist Temple (2) - Ann Arbor Friends Meeting (3) - Church of Spiritual Enhancement - S.E. Michigan Naturists - First Unitarian Universalist Church (2) - Ann Arbor Ad Hoc Committee for Peace - Great Oak Co-housing - Church of Today (2) - Shir Tikvah Synagogue in Troy - Shining Lakes Grove, ADF For at least five of these the response said that they would follow up with the organization. 5. Perpetual Healing Circle?? I figure it would take at least 500 people committed to one hour each week to be able to have a world healing/peace circle going continuously. If you heard that 499 people had signed up, and a location was available to host the circle 24 hrs/day, 365 days/year, do you think you would commit to 1 hour per week (for at least a few months) to make it happen? 24 Yes 2 No 14 Maybe ===================================================== The Donation Jar These were the instructions on the donation jar: "This event is Free. The donation jar is provided for anyone who wishes to help cover the expenses. I spent roughly $400 for meeting room, advertising, copying, and postage, but anything donated beyond the first $200 will be given to some appropriate charity (suggestions welcome)." The jar ended up with $173.75 in it. So I thank you for your monetary contributions on top of all your spiritual contributions to this endeavor. ===================================================== Craig's Comments Wow. These responses really blow me away. During the closing circle I felt tears of joy and thanks, and looking over these responses now I feel the same way. I obviously think this is an important thing to be doing at this time on this planet. But when I see how much agreement there is on this idea, I am filled with happiness and hope, because I see that there really is good reason to be hopeful. I guess this is where I say: Thank You! - to everyone who participated in person or in spirit. - to the Friends Center for allowing us to use their wonderful space for 24 hours, and for taking care of all the little things to make us welcome (e.g., signs on the doors, thermostat set to keep the heat on all night). - to my dear friends who provided so much moral support as well as the goodies on the refreshment table. ===================================================== What Next? In the interest of carrying this forward based on all the very supportive responses, I am now looking into organizing another 24-Hour World Healing Peace Circle around mid-June. If others jump in to help organize these things as it sounded like they might, I'd say there's a good chance this could become a monthly event after June. And if anyone really jumps on the bandwagon quickly and wants to organize something sooner than June, I'll certainly help. ===================================================== Craig Harvey 14 Payeur Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 734-971-8576 harvey@ic.net (or harveyearth@yahoo.com) http://perpetualhealing.net