Cultivating Peace: Becoming a 21st Century Peace Ambassador

by James O'Dea

Overview

This profound guidebook reframes and expands the mission of building a global culture of peace. Going far beyond conventional techniques of conflict resolution, James O'Dea provides a holistic approach to peace work, covering its oft-ignored cultural, spiritual, and scientific dimensions while providing guidance suitable even for those who have never considered themselves peacebuilders. O'Dea is unique in his ability to integrate personal experience in the world's violent conflict zones with insights gathered from decades of work in social healing, human rights advocacy, and consciousness studies.

Following in the footsteps of Gandhi and King, O'Dea keeps the dream of peace alive by teaching us how to dissolve old wounds and reconcile our differences. He strikes deep chords of optimism even as he shows us how to face the heart of darkness in conflict situations. His soulful but practical voice speaks universally to peace activists, mediators, negotiators, psychologists, educators, business people, and clergy—and to everyday citizens.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780984840717
Publisher:	Origin Press CA
Publication date:	05/01/2012
Pages:	242
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

James O'Dea is the author of Creative Stress. He is the codirector of the Social Healing Project, the lead faculty of the Shift Network's Peace Ambassador Training Program, a past president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and the former Washington office director of Amnesty International. He has been recognized with the honor of "Champion of Peace, Reconciliation, and Forgiveness" by the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance and was a keynote speaker at the Berlin Peace Festival. He lives in Crestone, Colorado.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Peace Is the Real Game Changer 1

Chapter 2 Peace and Freedom from the Inside Out 17

Chapter 3 Expanding Your Comfort Zone 37

Chapter 4 Ending the Transmission of Wounds 61

Chapter 5 Peaceful Communication: Engaged Listening 85

Chapter 6 Peaceful Communication: Facts, Experience, and Truth 101

Chapter 7 Peaceful Communication and Energy Mastery 131

Chapter 8 Achieving Peace through Creativity and Dialogue 157

Chapter 9 Peace Work and Whole-Systems Shift 179

Chapter 10 The 21st-century Peace Ambassador as Evolutionary Leader 203

Conclusion 221

Notes 225

Bibilography 229

Index 233

Editorial Reviews

"James O'Dea is a modern-day bard and is deeply engaged in the Great Turning of our times. He draws on his well of wisdom and history of ages in speaking to our times. James is a wise soul and lover of life." —Lynne Twist, author of The Soul of Money and founder, the Pachamama Alliance

Reviews

"James O'Dea is a modern-day bard and is deeply engaged in the Great Turning of our times. He draws on his well of wisdom and history of ages in speaking to our times. James is a wise soul and lover of life." —Lynne Twist, author of The Soul of Money and founder, the Pachamama Alliance

"James brings a spirit of peace and reconciliation into life with his very being. He is a wise global citizen whose compassionate heart has emerged from the fire of a lifetime of sacred activism. I highly recommend James and the many gifts he brings to our world in transition." —Duane Elgin, author of Voluntary Simplicity

"James O'Dea penetrates to the soul level where the Source of Love lives. By recognizing and loving that universal essence of being within us, no matter who we are, he reveals and heals the violence. He provides us with a path that each of us can follow to heal ourselves and the world. I find that every moment I spend with him is precious and brings peace to my soul." —Barbara Marx Hubbard, author of Conscious Evolution

From the Publisher