A single thought for peace is a song we can sing together, and it doesn’t require a consensus on politics, solutions, or belief in the same God or non-God.

The social realm of “somewhere else” gets smaller and smaller every day. Though this feels like an ugly, invasive thing, it is the consequence of the internet and our expanding consciousness. Somewhere else no longer exists.

Somewhere else is here, now—in the space we all inhabit.

We’ve always been in this together. It was an illusion that it was possible to have a “them” and an “us” on a tiny planet in the middle of the mega-grand universe.

The Dalai Lama discusses our humanistic values in a recent interview, stating that prayer won’t solve terrorism. (Much of this is discussed on a recent post by Waylon Lewis, founder of elephant journal, which can be found here.)

The Dalai Lama is correct. Prayer won’t solve terrorism.

What prayer does is connect us.

Prayer is the beginning, not the end result.

Prayer is how we cope and find direction.

Prayer brings peace to a chaotic mind processing horrific situations.

Prayer is where we begin.

And all this comes from me—someone who is a professed believer in the religion of “I Don’t Know.”

I think prayer, if it were heard from outer space, sounds like a well-done om. Om is a sacred sound that, as best anyone can determine, began in ancient India. Today it is used in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and at the end of many yoga classes.

An unfettered om resonates from one body to another. Vibration is a way that we communicate with each other, not only through our ear drums, but throughout our bodies.

A 2013 study of choir members found that their heartbeats synched when they were singing together.

According to Björn Vickhoff, lead researcher, the vagus nerve is regulated by our breath, and it translates that information to our heartbeat. He believes the choral members’ synchronized breath caused the physiological anomaly.

Last week I saw this in action when President Obama spoke at the Dallas memorial for five slain police officers. When Mr. Obama finished, the choir sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Toward the end of their rendition, the gallery of people began swaying to the music. The change in the energy of the room was palpable.

I’ve sat in circles with Native Americans during celebrations, and though at the time I didn’t know what was happening, my intrinsic separateness felt bonded to everyone gathered. This occurred for me again at a Train concert when the audience sang the lyrics for “Calling All Angels.”

Prayer, a single thought for peace, is a song we can sing together.

I find my own om with a drumbeat. I have a flat drum called Ancient One. She and I organically drum together—which means we don’t follow rules or sheet music. When my drum and I are engaged, my fears, disappointments and grief vanish.

The intention while I’m drumming is to connect with all manner of life: the trees, the sky, the planet, animals, rocks, fish and humans. Within our drumbeat I find us, and we sing together.

I invite you to sing along—#OMForPeace. Set the intention to blend with our world and everything living here. Allow the vagus nerve to send a signal to your heart and the hearts of others. With our heartbeats connected it is simpler to speak about the pain we’re experiencing and create solutions to the problems we’re facing.

We are each one—one of all.

Prayer is the beginning.

Let’s begin.

~

Author: Deb Lecos

Image: Courtesy of Author

Editors: Toby Israel; Catherine Monkman

~