​It is the season of Advent, a time of soul preparation. The term Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means "coming." At Christmas we celebrate the coming of a new life who brought a higher vibration of Light and Love into the world. The world was changed forever, but that was just the beginning. The baby whose birth we honor at Christmas grew up to proclaim for us: “You are the Light of the world.” And he went on to tell us not to put our light under a basket, but like a city on a hill, we are to shine our light brightly so that others may see the Good that we do.

Each year at this time, Christian faiths light candles representing Hope, Peace, Love and Joy. But they are just flickering candles if we are not doing anything to bring Hope, Peace, Love and Joy to the world.

​​As we look at the current state of our world – particularly as we bear witness to the egregious suffering inflicted upon our animal brothers and sisters by our human brothers and sisters - we know that there is still so much darkness desperately seeking Light. It seems almost hopeless until we remember that we are that Light. When we demonstrate Kindness and Respect toward ALL beings, choosing Compassion over killing, our Light shines brightly, high on a hilltop.  

​A new world and a new awareness is coming. We are creating it by our vision and compassionate action. We are creating it through our purposeful commitment to awaken the world to a more loving way of being that includes everyone. We are creating it by being an example of non-violent living in the world. Our numbers are growing. Our message is growing. Consciousness is shifting. The slumbering giant of normalized animal exploitation is beginning to wake up.

Together we are actively bringing Hope, Peace, Love and Joy not just to humans, and not just to animals. But to ALL beings.

​“Those of us who have the light should display the light and offer it so that the world will not sink into total darkness.” Thich Nhat Hanh

Mother-Father of Creation
I am filled with gratefulness
As I awaken to the wonder of all that is
Animated into being by your breath
Sustained by your will
Nurtured by your heart
 
The glory and majesty
Of all that I see before me
Is revealed
The vibration of Life is in everything
The stone
The water
The tree and its leaves
Every blade of grass
Every ant and caterpillar
In the song of the birds
And the silence of dusk
 
The living world breaks into a chorus!
I feel blessed to be in its midst
And intricately connected
To all that is

Life's vibration beats in me too
Animated into being by Divine breath
Sustained by Divine will
Nurtured by Divine heart
 
Yet pain lies hidden
​In the shadows
​Wanting to be seen
I pause…and hear
Beneath the vibrant sounds of life
The tormented cries of those
We mistakenly believe to be ours
 
The four-legged
The water born
The winged ones
 
My heart breaks
 
Each is breathed into being by the One
As are we
They are one with the One
As are we
And we are one with them
 
Human friends, I implore you!
Be bold
Peer deeply into the eyes of these
Sisters and brothers of ours
Dare to feel the desires of their hearts
Listen and you will hear
Their yearning to be free
​
Free to move and turn about at will
Free of mutilation
And the smell of death
Free of prodding, genetic manipulation
And forced insemination
Free from cages, pens
And crowded transport trucks
Free to play in the mud
​Breathe fresh air
Feel wind on their faces
And the heat of the sun
Free to be with chosen companions
And live a long life
 
Are they not like us?
 
As we come to the table tonight
Let us remember the hearts
​Of our animal friends
When we choose what we shall
Eat and drink
And wear on our bodies
 
And let us remember
That they were created for Creation Itself
Not for us
The Life force dwells within all beings
The sound of freedom rings
Kindness and Compassion urges us
To live as One
 
And so it is