Terri's Writings
Peace Exoconsciousness
By Terri Donovan Mansfield & Rebecca Hardcastle Wright, PhD Father's Day & Peace, 2010Dear Friends, In 1792, a Founding Father, Dr. Benjamin Rush, who had signed the Declaration of Independence years before, wrote an essay calling for the creation of a Department of Peace in the United States. This year, as Fathers Day approaches, we ask: How do we collectively work to reduce violence in our homes, communities, country, planet? How do we collectively work to hold peace as an organizing principle in society? As we support our elected officials in taking the needed bold first steps, we also are the leaders in creating communities and cultures of peace, for humanity.
The Peace History of Mother's Day in America
Mother’s Day was born from the passionate work of two women in particular: Julia Ward Howe ("Battle Hymn of the Republic") and Anna Jarvis (flowers to honor mothers). On May 8, 1914, after many years of their successful activism, President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. My focus here is on Julia Ward Howe. Julia Ward Howe envisioned Mother’s Day as a day of solemn council where women from all over the world could meet to discuss the means whereby to achieve world peace. They would also convene as mothers, keeping in mind the duty of protecting their children. Julia nursed the wounded during the American Civil War, 1861-1865. During the Franco-Prussian war in the 1870s, Julia began a one-woman peace crusade and made an impassioned "appeal to womanhood" to rise against war. She translated her powerful Mother’s Day Proclamation (written in 1870, Boston) into several languages and distributed it widely. Julia Ward Howe also went to London in 1872 to promote an international Woman's Peace Congress. Her powerful Proclamation is below. Proclamation of Julia Ward Howe (1870): Last Updated (Saturday, 19 June 2010 21:04)
Pure WaterFor years during my early morning walks, I pick up litter which often translates into God-messages for me. Recently I picked up three items, an empty plastic bottle labeled Pure Water, a Safeway grocery receipt, and a page from the Arizona Republic newspaper dated Nov. 11, 2009. Translation: “Pure Water will be available for all in a Safe Way through the 11-11 gateway.” Could it be that brilliant compassionate souls are at work on this endeavor? I hear “yes”. Love, Terri “Proposed” National Peace Academy Oral History, from Rev. Dave Randle to Terri Mansfield
In 2003, Terri Mansfield, executive director of the Arizona Department of Peace (AZDOP) Campaign, called Rev. Dave Randle in his Utah home. Both he and mutual friend Rev. Joyce Buekers, were involved in the Peace Pole Project for the 2002 Winter Olympics, hosted by Salt Lake City, Utah. Dave was the head of the Salt Lake Olympic Chaplain Committee. http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,195017719,00.html Www.globalhealing.net
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Manhattan UFO
My family and I were enjoying a long weekend in Manhattan. I had spent several hours that day with my peace friend Deborah at the United Nations, my first time there. I was thrilled, and felt like I had "come home" as I walked the halls and corridors of the UN, seeing the Peace Pole, the Declaration of Human Rights, the Assembly Halls, etc. I knew I would be invited to speak there one day on behalf of Peace on Earth & in Space.
Letting Go of WorryWhen I was a little girl, I remember my mom, Alice, saying to my brothers, sister, and me, "Worrying doesn't do us any good." Deep down we know this is true, and yet...we worry anyway. Here is how I consciously chose to let go of "worry"... Several years ago my husband and I were worried about our daughter as she faced unexpected health challenges. Into my life came an angel of a woman named Joann, who asked me point blank, “Why are you worried about your daughter?"
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I took these extraordinary photos on December 14, 2007 in Central Park with my son, Steve. 
