Madrid, Spain
report by Nicole Cressiot
On May 19, about 30 people gathered in the garden of Rosa, a friend of Byakko and the SOPP. Rosa’s grandchildren, including a very energetic baby, were with us, creating a wonderful atmosphere of pure joy. The majority of the people were there for the first time, as last year’s gathering was smaller and more intimate.
After a brief introduction by Maria Caterina Putignano about the SOPP, its history and background, several people offered a prayer of their choice, as well as poetry. I offered the prayer for world peace, after a short explanation about its origins.
We then prayed for peace in each country, grouped by continent. Specific music representing the continent and its culture was played (for Europe, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, which is the official EU hymn), and then, everyone intoned the prayers for each country (for example, “Albania, Peace in Albania”) in a very joyous manner. Every participant kept the rhythm and stayed totally focused—even the children, who prayed from their hearts all the way to the end. We asked the children to carry the Earth flag to a piece of music by Vangelis called “Conquest of Paradise,” a very stirring and emotional piece.
The day concluded with a shared picnic, everyone having brought delicious food, as even more people arrived and continued to share and reflect on this special moment of peace for the world. We received some confirmation of the immense work of the prayers when a beautiful rainbow graced us in the evening. We also received a short video made by one of the grandchildren after he was back at home, in which he stood in front of a world map and expressed in a few words what he had done that day and what it meant to him—a precious gift to us all!
The next day, May 20th, four of us decided to continue the peaceful vibration by silently walking through the heart of Madrid, where thousands of people mingle, and where we found a beautiful tree to offer INs of gratitude to the earth and the Divine Spark IN. It could not have been a better conclusion to these two days filled with peace, love, light, and much emotion.