The Path of the SingPeace! Pilgrimage

SingPeace! Earth Pilgrimage for Peace & Global Harmony was inspired by  a singing dream that focused two essential elements in my life: music, specifically, singing, and the quest for inner and outer peace. The image of a pilgrimage came up, but one that would take place in a gypsy wagon, a "peace train."

I went online to find a course in my region: "How to Build a Gypsy Wagon." Calling up one of the Founders of Port Townsend School of Woodworking, Jim Tolpin, I told him of my intention. He offered to come to Whidbey Island to present his talk and slide show about his 30-year love affair with building gypsy wagons. I planned to introduce the concept of crafting a culture of peace through sharing song to my community. I invited singer/songweaver Laurence Cole, a master of what I was calling singing 'n mingling participatory singing, to lead songs at the event.

The introductory program for SingPeace! took place in March 2009. In May, I took the course where I had the opportunity to design the wagon. I drew the plans and details of the interior, after which we lofted it and laid it out on cardboard so I could get a sense of the space. On the first day of the class, Jim had offered: "Steve can build it." Steve Habersetzer was co-teaching the course with Jim. So, I hung out with Steve that week, and subsequently commissioned him to manage the project and build the wagon.

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The intensive collaborative process of construction and decor followed, beginning in July 2009. Our singing troupe inaugurated SingPeace! when the wagon was displayed in November at the Port Townsend Woodworker's Show. Our Whidbey Island "homecoming" took place in March 2010, with a 2-day event at Yoga Lodge, where our singer-song leaders, Laurence Cole, Rob Tobias and Sara Tone, were also joined by EarthGym's Barefoot Bard, Mick Dodge.

SingPeace! support for protection and conservation of land and species, stewardship of and learning from the Earth has become a central theme of the gypsy wagon journey."The Garden" as a function of the pilgrimage has generated plans for a "Peace Garden," "Forgiveness Forest Garden," "Garden of Tranquility," and a "Secret Garden." So, as we travel from community to community we will support efforts already underway and encourage new garden planting aimed at healing communities.

Most recently, SingPeace! has become sponsor for Rasur Foundation International's BePeace Course, the first in the Northwest region. Feel Peace, Speak Peace, Teach Peace, via combined methods of HeartMath, for "coherence," and Compassionate Communication for "connection" have  significantly improved students' academic scores while maturing their social skills.  With the gypsy wagon as a staging area, SingPeace! is the celebratory component of this collaborative journey, with its singing 'n mingling, storytelling, puppetry, EarthGym and exuberant play activities.

SingPeace! is launching a North American tour. We have invitations from every corner of the U.S. and locations in Canada. The physical realities of gathering a troupe and caravan, attracting a truck and driver to haul the wagon, enlisting community participation in all aspects of crafting their "piece of the peace," all are among our present challenges. We are establishing an online presence, finding our place within the movement already under way and encouraging greater cohesion at the grassroots and policy levels to realize our goal: "Peace in our lifetime."

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