History of the Prayer Vigil

	History of the Prayer Vigil The 2006 Prayer Vigil marked our return to the Washington Monument. After a 3 year absence, the site pulled us home and the result was an unprecidented spirit of unity and co-creation. The 2005 Prayer Vigil took place in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Our prayers went out to all of the victims of this natural disaster. On the eve of the Vigil, one of our most beloved volunteers, Craig Lavender passed away from a 7 month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was remembered throughout the Vigil and prayers from many different faiths were offered for him. Such incidents bring the Vigil family closer together. The circle was powerful and the resolve of the participants remains strong Here is one persons impression of the 2005 Prayer Vigil expressed in a poem: . One Prayer Tents and tipis Form a Sacred Hoop Anchored by the Fire Different Faiths Different Drums One heartbeat We Dance together The Path of Heart Driven by the Drum and the Song We are the Fire We are the Drum We are the Dance We are the Prayer And we are strong Like Sacred Smoke – we go everywhere See us, Know us, Join us. AHO. Cedar Wolfsinger 22 September 2005 During both the 2003 and 2004 Prayer Vigils we faced the challenge of putting on the event during hurricanes. In 2003 Hurricane Isabel made an unusual trek right up the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac Rivers and hit Washington DC on the Thursday before the Vigil. Although we started the Vigil in a hotel conference room, miraculously our site opened up late Saturday morning and the Vigil went on as planned. Special blessings were given to the water and to the Potomac River that weekend. In 2004, we were threatened with Hurricane Ivan, who made his way from the west on the Friday evening of the Vigil weekend. And although storms and tornadoes raged all around the Vigil site, the site itself was just fine. And by late Saturday morning the skies were blue and the air fresh and clean. The Prayer Vigil for the Earth has come to be known as a circle of circles. And as the number of circles increases and become more interconnected, our collective commitment to work for a healthy planet where humanity and all other species live in peace, and in balance and harmony has become more steadfast. Never was this commitment demonstrated more strongly than during the 2004 Prayer Vigil. In spite of other events in DC cancelling because of the threat of the storm, we, the volunteers, participants and organizers made a collaborative decision to go forward with the Vigil. And what a sweet and magical Vigil it was! Saturday evening in particular demonstrated a strong blend of traditions. HH Swami Parmanandji of India shared his his simple, yet powerful Hindu wisdom in a fireside Talking Circle. Baba Ngoma once again graced us with the African drum. The Shinji Shumeikai led simulataneous prayers and Taiko Drumming with others in Japan; Shekyh Abdul Kerim al-Kibrisi and others from the Islamic Center in New York led a chant where all participated. Rabbi David Shneyer did a group teaching of folk music and talks about returning to the sacred path. Native American elders also shared stories, drumming and song late into the night. 2004 was perhaps our most intensely focused Vigil and our sense of community grew to hew heights. And during the closing prayers, conducted by Dineh Grace Smith Yellowhammer, a bald eagle circled directly over the Vigil site. The rare appearance of eagle was an affirmation of our commitment to continue the Vigil into the future. And the 2004 Vigil did not really end on Sunday. Many of our Native American Elders participated in the Grand Opening of the National Museum of the American Indian and our organization, The Circle, marched in the procession. Children from the four directions carried a flag of a white dove with the the earth in it's heart. A symbolic representation of the Prayer Vigil's mission that was gifted to us by Jean Alley from Washington state. What a joyous way to end the 2004 Vigil! The 2002 Prayer Vigil for the Earth had a very different appearance than previous years. Gone was the circle of teepees and instead we had a variety of structures that gave the circle lots of open space. The Prayer Vigil had been evolving to be more and more inclusive (re: interfaith activities) each year, and this was the time for including different structures as well. We had the labyrinth, stupa, sukkah, many small canopies with a large pink one in the center. Activities for children were vastly expanded and included an amazing production of a beautiful original nature play involving many actors, gorgeous props and wonderful songs. The kids stayed enthralled throughout the performance. Another interfaith highlight was the Sunday morning breaking of bread together. Baskets of bread pieces were distributed by children and then more than 20 different blessings on food were shared. It was a powerfully moving time for all of us. The basics certainly brought us together. People came from many places including a large contingent of Shinji Shumeikai from Japan with their huge taiko drums. We also were blessed with our very own Native American drum made for this Vigil as well as Baba Ngoma (father drum) with his traditional African drumming. At the end, all the drums blended together for a very memorable experience. We also had a lot of women's participation with a talking circle for peace and much singing and dancing throughout the weekend. Each year the Vigil has had it's own atmosphere, and the 2002 still had a lingering feeling looking back to Sept 11, 2001 as well as creating something new to take into the future, especially more participation by the women and children. The 2001 Prayer Vigil for the Earth came at an unprecedented time in United States History. Coming only a week and a half after the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, we were not at all sure we would even be allowed to hold the event, as the city of Washington, DC was under heavy security. There was enormous support from the participants and the general public to hold the Prayer Vigil. Everyone agreed the time for Prayer was never so needed. The National Parks Service gave us the OK to go ahead with our plans, and the Vigil went on as scheduled. The Thursday before the Vigil the weather was very stormy, but Friday dawned with a beautiful sunrise and clear sky. All the flags were still at half staff around the Washington Monument. The sunrise ceremony on Saturday featured Mayor Anthony Williams' mother Virginia, who gave everyone a warm welcome to Washington DC and offered some beautiful songs. All of the 2000 participants returned in 2001. Make sure to check the "Vigil Experience" page to get some first hand accounts of the 2001 Prayer Vigil. The 2000 Prayer Vigil was a memorable event for all participants. As people walked up the hill next to the Washington Monument, they were greeted by the sight of a large information booth and thousands of waving Japanese children's Peace Flags which encircled 15 fifteen tipis, a Jewish sukkah, a Christian altar, a Hindu Yantra, a Tibetan stupa, an African style labyrinth, a sacred White Pine tree from the Japanese Shinji Shumeikai faith, and various special altars designed to invite further contemplation. As they entered the gate of the 2000 International Peace Village, they were invited to smudge (a Native American purification ceremony) and to join us in respecting, learning, and participating in each other's sacred ceremonies, songs, dances, and prayers for the well-being of the Earth. As a 100% volunteer event, we were amazed once again by the quality of the 33 hour continuous program. One participant captured the feeling well when he said; "I am in awe of the spiritual conviction, dedication, and talent, which comes across with every person's and each faiths offerings." This year four traditions impacted hundreds with their teaching prophecies. Many people chose to walk around the Stupa, offer rice at the Yantra, follow the path of the labyrinth or join hundreds of others for the Talking Circles, and most decided to stand in line to receive jyorei, a Shinji Shumeikai healing through focused light and love. The Prayer Vigil continues to evolve as a wonderful ixture of multi-faith, multicultural, and multiethnic sights, sounds, and activities. The 1999 Vigil had a special focus on Youth featuring dancers from Unity by the Bay, prayers from the Youth of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington DC and inspiring music from teenager Melissa Marshall of the Rosebud Sioux tribe. Complementing the program participants were youth activities such as the making of friendship bracelets, storytelling and arts and crafts. Filled with hope and enthusiasm, the youth brought a special energy to the circle. In 1999 structures from other faiths joined the tipis, enhancing the ever widening circle. A Labyrinth was designed on the ground to provide an opportunity for walking meditation. The 1998 Prayer Vigil was truly an Inter-faith event. Prayers, musical selections, dance and drum were offered by representatives encompassing a wide range of cultures and spiritual persuasions. The evening program was especially magical when a Circle of All People danced and sang to African drums and the folk music of a Jewish Rabbi.In 1998 the circle of tipis opened to include structures and dwellings from other cultures and religious traditions. Every year sacred Peace Pipe Ceremonies are held to bring forward one Indigenous spiritual tradition and educate the public about Native ways. In 1997 the theme of the Prayer Vigil was "Working and Praying Together to Provide a Sustainable World for All of Our Children". Continuous prayer took place around the Earth as supporting prayer circles took place as the sun rose in each time zone. Many of the participants in these ceremonies are listed in the "Join Us" page. In 1995, other cultures began to bring their ceremonies to the Vigil. The Wittenberg Center introduced a "Bless The Eagle" ceremony in 1994 where participants created a prayer circle around the Capitol. During this event, sacred ceremonies were performed to bring racial unity and to bless future generations. The first thirty hour "One Mind, One Voice, One Heart, One Prayer" vigil was held at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., USA in October 1993. The Vigil was inspired by a vision of an Eagle that called for healing and prayer in the US Capitol. The vision emphasized the importance of including Native Wisdom Keepers to begin healing national wounds and bring respect to Native culture and spirituality. Each fall since 1993, Native American Wisdom Keepers and others have gathered before the flames of a sacred fire enclosed by a circle of tipis, to share their ceremonies and teachings with all who attend.