by Starr Alexander
Daily Lobo
About 800 people participated in the New Mexico One World Celebration a tribute to cultural and spiritual diversity in New Mexico. The interfaith multi-cultural ceremony for world peace was held at the N.M. State Fairgrounds Creative Arts Center Sunday.
The event is the brainchild of Coordinator Eileen Cahoon, along with a small group of friends who felt compelled to help people connect after Sept. 11. One of the event's major sponsors, Alan Oken, the founder and director of the Wisdom School in Santa Fe, was the master of ceremony. Oken has been a student of ancient wisdom teaching since 1967.
"As we attune ourselves to how spirit vibrates into form, we are able to perceive our life force in all of its glories," Oken said.
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The Greater Habitat for Humanity, Peace Action New Mexico, Albuquerque Rape Crisis Center, All Faiths Receiving Home and New Mexico Youth were among the participants and donators to the celebration.
The Creative Arts Center was decorated with colorful lighting displays on the ceiling. World flags were flashed on the stage backdrop by an overhead projector. Two labyrinths were placed on the floor near the main entrance to the center. Used for meditative walk, the largest labyrinth contained 11 purple and white circles, weighed 100 pounds and cost $3,800.
Carlos Smith and Jo Ann Mast, trained labyrinth facilitators, gave instructions to people as they removed their shoes before walking on the labyrinth.
"The labyrinth pattern is based on the design at Chartres cathedral in France," Smith said. "Many cathedrals throughout Europe were destroyed except this one. They used to use it as a pilgrimage."
Many sponsors, organizations and volunteers collaborated to produce the world peace effort. A Prayer Wall illustrated with children's art was created as a messenger of peace. Debra Healy, the prayer wall coordinator, said the prayers would be sent to President Bush and the United Nations in sections.
"Our beliefs are that we are not anti-war, we are pro-peace," Healy said. "We are for humanity as a global thought and we are trying to send a positive message."
The art gallery displayed many works by local artists. One artist, Youn Ja Johnson, created a special Sept. 11 art piece titled, "Art as Prayer and Healing." Johnson is also the creator of the granite artwork titled "First Moon," a tribute to the Earth, on the UNM campus.
Carol Adamec spoke of the spiritual nature of the gallery.
"We have this art and cosmic consciousness going on in the gallery," Adamec said. "We wanted to focus in on our everyday existence and also expand the gallery into other levels of thought."
American Indian traditions were also honored at the celebration by local artist Ralph Davis. His artwork, titled, "The Rainbow Spirit Healing Mandala," was inspired by the design of a supernova.
"The Mandala is spiritual messenger, leader and protector and provider," Davis said. "It turned out to be my teaching aide, because then I started studying everything in depth."
Displayed at an entrance to the exhibit hall is a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:
"The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows."
