AtlantaToJuarez

Prayer Flag for Abused, Murdered, Missing Women Throughout the World

2009-11-02T15:48:00.000-08:00

This is about the second prayer flag with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary on it, for the women and children exploited, abused, and missing throughout the world. Similar to Tibetan and Native American tradition in the sense that every stitch on this flag is made with prayers and meditation, it's not to be bought or sold on exhibition to raise funds of any kind. On February 17, 2008, a vision came to me of a prayer flag for the murdered, missing, and exploited women in towns along the US-Mexican border. The flag is made up of pink crosses which form the image of the Virgin Mary. The pink cross for the last few years has been used to represent these women. This flag was delivered to a Mexican minister and his wife in El Paso who knew women's organizations well and promised to deliver it to them discreetly. This new flag is similar in every aspect, with its encompassing the women and children of the world who exist under conditions of extreme poverty, exploitation, missing and murdered. I am doing this flag for the Blessed Mother because she has requested this. These women and children are of great concern to her. She is requesting that this be given the greatest importance because it affects the entire peace of the world and the core of humanity. Addressing and solving this huge problem is of key importance to achieving peace in the world. She says we cannot have success in solving other world problems without addressing this one.

Update

2009-10-29T04:14:00.001-07:00

I am working on two flags right now. One is the ongoing Creation flag. The new flag is 6x9 feet with white background, with an image of the Virgin Mary aka the Immaculate Conception. This will be made like the last one with pink crosses sewn with prayers of meditation representing murdered, abused, enslaved and impoverished women and children throughout the world. The starting point focuses on Juarez, but it encompasses women and children anywhere throughout the world where they are mistreated.

Photos of Prayer Flag August 4, 2009

2009-08-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

Final Entry

2009-08-12T04:36:00.000-07:00

This vision started out February 17, 2008, when I asked the Great Spirit of Life to give me a vision. What came to me was this flag for the women of Juarez, which was a picture of the Immaculate Conception which was made up of small pink crosses, sewn with prayers. Pink crosses represent the murdered and missing women from the factories along the Mexican border. They also represent women and children in conditions of poverty equaling slavery throughout the world.

There has been a struggle that I have been devoted to since 1981, when my dreams and visions led me to the Four Corners area where I met Grandfather Thomas. I met him when I heard him speaking about things that I had seen in my dreams and visions for the months before I came there. So I must bring this up as I consider it of the greatest importance that it be included in my final entry. Please help stop the land in the Four Corners area from being mined. According to the Hopi prophecy, your children’s children’s children will remember you for this with gratitude.

I started this blog also to show the struggles of one American who has no high school diploma or GED. I bring up my education in the hope of showing that it doesn’t take education to seek truth or higher consciousness. It does, though, require sincerity and tenacity to overcome fear and prejudices. I have found in this journey that finding true reality lies in continuous breathing, continuous change, and not holding on to anything.

After I delivered the flag, I had a new vision: a 9x12-foot flag (the dimensions aren’t important) also sewn with prayers and meditation, with a 6-foot hole in the center. When you look through the hole, you see the creator’s art work, you see creation.

In closing, I have these last two things to say. A woman asked me what kind of prayer she should do. Maybe I can’t answer that directly, but I’ll give a prayer that I aspire to. The prayer goes like this: Great Spirit of all heaven and earth, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, light. Where there is sadness, joy. Great Creator, grant that I should not seek so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love, for it is in giving that we receive and in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born into eternal life. This is my version of the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. Finally, as I look through the center of the flag, I see myself.

Hökto.

Prayer Flag

2009-04-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

2009-04-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

This prayer flag is showing the creation of life in progress. As you view the art work in the center, you may see, feel, or hear the Artist at work. As I sew and pray I enjoy being close to this art work and the Artist. About the Artist, whom I call The Great Spirit, some comment and say the Artist who created this work I see before me has no focus or centered creativity. As for me, I am very creatively centered by observing this work. This flag is open to the public 24/7 for viewing and working on.

Prayer Flag April 2009

2009-04-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

About the 2009 prayer flag

2008-07-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

I feel the flag came to me as a gift from the Great Spirit. Call it a suggestion on something I can do with my time. That’s the way I saw it--perhaps because I have not lived a life like Gandhi or Martin Luther King. I will say that in my opinion the Great Spirit gives me ideas like this flag which come to me all of a sudden—this time while I was driving— the way I feel about it the Great Spirit gives me freedom to make decisions on just about everything in my life, including this. Now I want to talk about the center of this flag. This is a first for me, but I don’t believe it’s the first time that this has been done. It became clear to me this morning that I should explain the center and the surrounding rainbow. Or let’s just say I finally found a way this morning to explain it. The rainbow was chosen for one simple purpose—it’s the easiest way for me to describe all beings of the earth and sky. The center, which will be shrouded, I will not be sewing on. The artist’s name is nameless. That is to say, the name that can be named is not the eternal name. What I mean is the Great Spirit will sew the center. What will be in the center will be what I call in my lack for better words the Big Love One. It will be the Great Spirit’s work only. Around the perimeter all are welcome to sew, but the center is reserved for the Great Spirit only. Any Zen master or any other high master will probably already know what’s in the center, but it will be the Great Spirit’s work, and as in ancient times to the present it is possible for this image to bring healing and enlightenment to the open heart. I will first make an attempt to deliver it sealed and with permission only (that is, consensus) to the All Nations in New Mexico. If they accept it, it will be revealed there, or possibly sooner or later because this is too sacred to be pushed on anyone or dropped in someone’s lap. I feel like I at the present am the keeper of this sacred gift. I hope that it’s received in the spirit it’s given and will be willing to unveil it privately if necessary to the Native Americans before being shown publicly, to avoid any kind of perceived disrespect or interference with what I believe to be a sacred if not most sacred gathering of nations. They will decide if they accept it, whether they will be the keepers of it, or how they want to present it. In conclusion, it could very well reach the rainbow gathering, that’s not really up to me. This can be considered my first attempt at reaching their council. I feel since this flag has been given to me and the nature of the Great Spirit that we are all given choices and, for better or worse, this is my choice.

The Big Love One 2009

2008-07-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

I’ve had something come to my attention this morning. My new prayer flag will be a prayer flag for the Rainbow Family. It will be 6 feet by 12 feet and hand-embroidered. In the center will be a circle with an embroidered rainbow outside on its perimeter; this circle represents the Big Love One. There will be many spiritual symbols of a positive nature from around the world. The center circle will be shrouded on both sides until the Fourth of July 2009, when it will be uncovered. This flag will be hand-sewn like the last one, with a prayer for each stitch—praying while stitching—and you are welcome to sew on the flag along with me. This flag hopefully will be given to the Rainbow Family Council and hopefully will fly at the prayer circle on the Fourth at rainbow noon. One thing that occurred to me – it would be nice to see the flag at the front gate on the First of July and at Welcome Home on the Second of July, and somewhere on the trail or at Kid Village on the Third of July. I hope this prayer flag makes it home. May the Great Spirit keep you on the good road.

The Flag is Delivered

2008-07-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

On Saturday July 5 the flag was delivered to a Mexican pastor and his wife in El Paso. They were very happy to get this and assured me it would be delivered. And let it be said that the flag was folded properly and delivered by a U.S. Marine, and it’s on its way to Juarez to the women’s group. I’m going to continue collecting prayers for these women until these murders and disappearances along the border end or until there are so many people helping that my services are no longer needed. I’ve already received my next project—an international prayer flag for all the women and children who are suffering. People have asked me many times what motivates me to do this, and it’s actually a very simple answer. Before man showed his face on this earth, some creatures and then humans had a policy—women and children first.

The Day After

2008-07-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

I talked to the press yesterday—Fox 5. They said they might do an interview with me. Last night I stayed in some ancient Indian ruins, and while I was sewing on the flag it dawned on me that the Marines are the ones who traditionally put up the flag (when they’re present), so I feel honored to carry this flag as an ex-Marine and will treat it with all the respect that a Marine treats the flag. Perhaps the mission that I’m on is to not necessarily deliver it personally into Juarez but to take it across America and to see for myself what’s happening along the border, which I have. I do believe this flag will eventually reach these women or they will hear about it. Everyone I have met on my journey has been incredibly supportive of these women when I talk to them personally, except for one man who wanted to send his wife to Juarez. I suspect but do not know yet that this flag might take on international colors. Something has come to my attention through the people I’ve met and my dreams and visions that there is a great attack from multiple sides on the Catholic church. This attack is not by one organization and not by a combined effort, and I will not mention these religious orders or financial groups’ names. That’s not necessary; anyone who has eyes or ears knows who they are. But I will say that these groups attacking the church have as much or more of the same problems and their reasons for attacking are not holy. Now I have a sacred transmission from heaven. It needs to be said this way or else it will lose its power. God is in all. God is one. Quarreling among the churches is forbidden and sacrilege. Stop fighting over God’s property. Your children’s children will thank you. May the Great Spirit of all things open your heart. May you walk the good road in the direction of truth.
P.S. It's no longer a curse but a blessing to stay here amongst you.

Independence Day

2008-07-04T09:57:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was outside of the mission in El Paso, still waiting to talk to a priest. So I started picking up trash around the mission grounds, every cigarette butt and crumb I could find. I really enjoyed this because I felt the presence of Sister Bernadette with me. It’s the Fourth of July, I’m up in the Guadalupe Mountains. It’s becoming clear to me that delivering this flag to Mexico would cause more harm than good to these women, because I have had no one to give me any help in getting it over the border, especially the Catholic Church. Or maybe I’m blind. If I had no kids, I wouldn’t stay here another moment. But for the sake of my kids I am cursed with having to stay in this world. I have shown the flag to the church people and others. I don’t see what’s so nice about sewing crosses on this flag, because each time I sew a cross and pray, as was promised to me I can see these women’s fate. I’m not going to apologize for the way I feel because this is my heart, right or wrong. And I’m not going to apologize or make excuses for all the frightened people including myself who hesitate to help these women wholeheartedly. I’ll be in this area until Sunday waiting for some brave hearts. Mine is weak, so I must stay in the rear. This flag has now been blessed by the Great Spirit, and Mother Mary is gathering souls. As the teachings of Buddha have taught me, we all come home someday.

Big Bend National Park

2008-07-03T06:43:00.000-07:00

Big Bend National Park in Texas is one of the largest of America’s national parks, over 801,000 acres. I was there for a week, and the rangers and Big Bend Forest Association get an A-plus with a star for their outstanding work at keeping the park well maintained; they make visitors feel welcome and they were very polite and accommodating. Now am in El Paso and have been going to a Catholic church there and sewing on the flag at an old Spanish mission church.

Observations

2008-06-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

I’ve made an observation in collecting prayers. For the last three or four weeks, I’ve been working building signs and working on the tornado damage in Macon, and looking for prayers for the book. I’ve met many church-going people. I’ve offered to come to their churches with my book so they could see what I’m doing, pass the word around, and maybe put some prayers in the book. I’ve lost count of how many church-going people I’ve talked to. I’ve gotten in the last three weeks probably three prayers in the book. When I was doing nothing but collecting prayers and putting a lot of effort into talking to people about this, I got more prayers. The reason that I see for this is, for instance: I’ll be standing somewhere—like at a store or a gas station or a park—and someone will indicate to me through their behavior (or at least this is what I believe) that I might approach them and show them the flyer. I try to be polite. I try not to preach. And I watch the person’s reaction to what I say to see how far I should go in asking for a prayer. If they feel uncomfortable, I stop. So far—to my shock and disappointment—my observation is that half the people I’ve spoken to far across the state of Georgia and through Emails nationally and internationally respond back showing no real care or concern. This doesn’t surprise me because I can’t always find the perfect opportunity to present something like asking for a prayer.

I hope to God my prayers will always be free and not so precious that I can’t give them without suspicion, which is what I’ve come to grow used to in the last few weeks. I believe that these circumstances I find myself in—people, mostly good decent Christians superstitious of giving prayers to be typical of a society that nowadays gets most of its products from people who cannot afford to buy the products they’re making, who live in poverty while they make goods for the major companies of America, which always leads to what’s happening in Juarez, not to mention a loss of jobs in America. So, in summation, I will be watching this blog and my Email, and I’ll continue on my journey but I have changed the agenda. I will fill this book with prayers; and, because I am not asking for money and paying for this myself, I will continue to work in the sign business for 40 hours a week so that I can pay child support and bills. But in the time I am not working, my real mission—what I’ll be working for—will be to fill this prayer book, finish this flag, and deliver them to someone like Amnesty International so that they can deal with it, finding a home where it was intended to be with the people whom the prayers were written for. Now I will tell you my boss’s name and some other things. I am collecting these prayers for the Great Spirit of all things; you know him by many names. And I am collecting these prayers for Mother Mary. I feel very honored and very privileged to give my life to collecting these prayers and to help bring an awareness of what true slavery is.

In conclusion, thank you for all your prayers to those who have written or sent them—all seven or eight of them that were sent over the Internet. I have over a hundred or so prayers in my book. And I would also like to apologize to everybody for my not being better at getting prayers. I will work on that. This is probably due to the lifestyle that I’ve lived and my lack of training in this field of work. It’s my lifetime goal to perfect this work. The book and flag will be delivered when they’re finished. I am leaving on the 23rd of June from Macon headed out to Texas. If the book isn’t filled by the time I reach Juarez, I will continue until it is.

Aftermath of tornado

2008-06-07T04:19:00.000-07:00

In helping recovery efforts from the tornados that devastated Macon, I began working for a sign company. My work involves fabricating signs and repairing signs that were damaged by the storm. Gathering prayers for the book continues, and people have inscribed some very touching sentiments. I am adding more crosses to the flag and show here a photo of the tiny crosses, each having been sewn on with a prayer.

Tornadoes Devastate Macon

2008-05-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

Multiple tornadoes cut through Macon and Bibb County on Sunday causing extensive damage estimated to be about $100 million, plus $10M in tree loss. The most devastating tornado hit Bibb County at 5:50 am with wind speeds between 111 and 135 mph. Volunteers are needed for debris removal and other tasks, and I will do my best to help.

Capital Theater in Macon, Georgia

2008-04-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

The Capital Theater is an old 1930s classic theater that has been turned into a dinner-movie enterprise with a bar, and it has a friendly atmosphere similar to the American Music Hall in San Francisco. From time to time they have guest chefs who, in my opinion, are world class. The meal I ate there was as good as any of the finest restaurants anywhere I've been. The theater people I spoke to were glad to receive copies of the flier and sent their prayers. One last thing about Macon: I found out there are 300,000 cherry trees planted there. I had a very positive response from people in Macon in regards to the journey I am making.

Cherry Blossom Festival

2008-04-03T17:15:00.001-07:00

Went to an ice cream social at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon and passed out some Atlanta-to-Juarez fliers. The rain held off, so the blossoms looked beautiful. The Japanese cherry trees were a gift from the Japanese government many years ago, and the Japanese ambassador was at the festival and met with the mayor of Macon. The flag now has over 500 crosses sewn on it, each sewn with one or more prayers. Two prayers often used are the Prayer of St. Francis and the Rosary.

Easter Sunday

2008-03-25T21:26:00.000-07:00

On Easter Sunday morning I went to the Macon Sunrise Service. About 200-300 people were there, including clergy and the press. Before the service started, I did some tai chi. After enjoying the service, I stayed around for a while and talked briefly to the press.

Indian Mounds

2008-03-13T14:49:00.000-07:00

I went to the Indian Mounds in Macon, Georgia. This is the Ocmulgee National Monument maintained by the US National Park Service. This site preserves and displays a collection of archeological artifacts dating back more than 12,000 years (nps.gov/ocmu/index.htm). While I was there, a school class came through; the teacher and the kids signed the prayer book. There were 5-6 college students who came along and also signed the book. The flag now has 130 pink crosses sewn on with 130 prayers.

Beginning the Journey

2008-03-11T17:39:00.001-07:00

I began this journey on March 9 in Atlanta, and it will end on the 4th of July, 2008, near El Paso and Juarez. I am collecting prayers in a book that are prayed and made in America for these women and children, and I have a flag which will have 400 or more crosses sewn on it, each sewn with a prayer.

ATLANTA TO JUAREZ 2008

2008-03-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

ATLANTA TO JUAREZ

FAIR WAGES AND SECURITY FOR WOMEN
TO, DURING, AND AFTER WORK

Women are being killed at alarming rates in Mexico and other countries, but the perpetrators are overwhelmingly never brought to justice. This problem has been termed "femicide," the most extreme expression of gender-based violence accepted culturally and by the State when its laws don't criminalize violence against women and/or the lack of political will results in almost total impunity for the perpetrators of such brutality. Approximately 400 young women have been murdered or abducted in the cities of Juárez and Chihuahua, Mexico since 1993. In Guatemala, over 2,500 women and girls have been murdered since 2001. The brutality with which the assailants abduct and murder the women goes further than the act of killing—many of the victims are tortured, raped, mutilated, beaten, shot or stabbed to death. In all cases the victim’s gender is a significant factor, in the kind of violence perpetrated and the level of response by authorities.

The authorities need help to solve these murders. Government agencies need us to ask “how can we help?”

YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN ME ON MY JOURNEY ACROSS AMERICA TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF THE WOMEN OF JUAREZ AND OTHER CITIES WORLDWIDE AND TO GET SIGNATURES AND ENDORSEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THIS CAUSE.
JOIN PART-TIME, FULL-TIME, OR FROM HOME VIA THE WEB.

THE JOURNEY STARTS AT MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S CHURCH IN ATLANTA ON MARCH 9, 2008, AT NOON AND ENDS ON JULY 4 AT NOON NEAR JUAREZ ON THE US-MEXICO BORDER TO PRAY.

For more information contact atlantatojuarez@live.com
For background info see www.amnestyusa.org/bordertown