The seeds of the Rhythm of Peace Project were planted in a meditation group of fifteen men and women offered at the Northwest Center for Health Promotion in Eugene, Oregon back in the winter of 2003, just prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Our group has been meeting twice a month for several years exploring themes of healthy living and renewal.  In the early months of 2003, we began discussing what we could do together to contribute to peace, and how we might combine our commitments to personal health and self-awareness with social responsibility.

We agreed that a daily focus on peace is a healthy way to live.  Our conversations and the natural rapport we’ve developed over the years provided fertile soil for the Rhythm of Peace Project to develop.

We explored the daily themes together over many months, and gathered feedback on the project through our personal networks.  This activity generated the beginning of the Rhythm of Peace community on the West Coast of the U.S. and included participants in Seattle, Washington; Portland and Eugene, Oregon; and San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Orange County, California.  Our shared desire for peace continues to offer us heart-warming moments, encouragement, and a genuine experience of community and good will.

Deborah Aikens completed the book, Rhythm of Peace: Cultivating Peace in Daily Life, in the fall of 2008.  This book was written to be a support structure for making peace a priority each day in the midst of our busy activities.  Jonathon Hensley and his team at Emerge Interactive, in Portland, Oregon built this website for the Rhythm of Peace community.  It was completed early in 2009.  Many people have generously offered their time, resources, and skills to developing the Rhythm of Peace Project.  We're very grateful to all!

We invite you to join us in making peace a daily priority!