More about People of the Heart's Mission and Vision Three threads weave together to support the mission of People of the Heart... The Braided Way The Braided Way is an Interfaith approach to a very personal yet universal spirituality. It acknowledges and honors diverse walks of life and individual paths to the Divine, encouraging and allowing for each person's right to believe and trust in a Greater Power of their own choosing. Freedom and respect are the key elements that define this inclusive approach to spirituality. We believe Love is the most powerful force in the universe. This is a path to world peace and unity regardless of different religions or creeds. The Braided Way is the respectful ground upon which the primary purpose and vision of People of the Heart rests. Deep Ecology and Interconnectedness Deep Ecology is both a philosophy and a movement that highlights humanity's interconnectedness with all life. Ecology is the study of organisms and their interaction with their environment. When combined with a belief in the value of all life, it becomes a deep ecology that motivates and frees us from the illusion that we are separate. How we treat the earth and other life forms is how we treat ourselves. By developing our own deep ecological inner and outer self, we see perhaps in a new way that we are all connected. As Chief Seattle and our American Indian brothers and sisters understood: Every living thing is our relative. The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth. On the land of People of the Heart, we walk gently, asking the land to guide us in helping it heal. Thus, we heal the earth and ourselves in the process. Spiritual community Spiritual community is our hope for a future here on earth. For it is in community that we grow, learn, and love despite our differences and because of our diversity. In the 21st century, alive, vibrant, grass roots communities may be the medicine that will restore our world. In supportive groups of kindred spirits, we heal and help others to heal. We become present to this moment of life we are living and we reach out to make a difference for others. We slow down and remember we are One. Another word for spiritual community from the Buddhist tradition is sangha, which describes a group of people who come together regularly to share life affirming practices and principles in a mindful way as friends on a sacred path. Here on this magical land, People of the Heart, men, women, and children travel out to the country to gather round and share in a variety of community events. We laugh, we cry, we pray, we sing. We reach out to be of service to the earth and to people in need. We take social and environmental actions when moved to do so. Here city folk can find a respite from noise and activity. Circles congregate for sweat lodge ceremony. Men meet for Masculine focused retreats. Women draw together for celebrations of the Feminine. Mostly, we gather and remember that the Earth is our true home and that we are related to all life through the perfection of divine love!