Creating Peace

From Part 1: Peace Puzzles "Now, think about the muscles of the arches of your feet, and let them go. Imagine the sensations of muscle relaxation in the arches of your feet occurring and going farther and farther. As you do, the sensation you'll have is that your arches come down till they press lightly on the instep of your shoe, and you feel a bit flat-footed. Let go loosely. "Think about the muscles of the lower part of you legs, on the calves of your legs, and let them go. Imagine the sensations of muscle relaxation in the lower part of your legs occurring, and going farther and farther. As you do, the sensation you'll have is that your ankles feel loose and floppy, and your legs are heavy on the floor. Let go loosely. "Think about the muscles on the upper surface of your upper legs, and let them go. Imagine the sensations of muscle relaxation in the upper surface of your upper legs occurring and going farther and farther. As you do, the sensation you'll have will be that your seat seems to sink deeply into the seat of the chair. Let go loosely. "Think about the muscles on the inside surface of your upper legs, and let them go. Imagine the sensations of muscle relaxation on the inner surface of your upper legs occurring, and going farther and farther. As you do, the sensation you'll have will be that your knees feel as though they roll apart on their sides. "Think about the muscles on the underneath surface of your upper legs, and let them go. Imagine the sensations of muscle relaxation on the underneath surface of your upper legs occurring and going farther and farther. As you do, the sensations you'll have will be that your legs feel heavy and loose, heavy and limp, resting deeply into the seat of the chair, and heavily on the floor. Let go loosely. "Think about the muscles of your back and let them go. Imagine the sensations of muscle relaxation in the small of your back occurring, and going farther and farther. And as you do, the sensation you'll have will be that your back seems to settle back deeply into the back of the chair. Let go loosely, sinking back deeply. "Give your fingers a stretch. Stretch them out fully, and then let them go, relaxed. "Let go the muscles all up and down your arms. Imagine the sensations of muscle relaxation up and down your arms occurring, and going farther and farther. As you do, the sensations you'll have will be that your arms feel heavy and limp, heavy and loose, resting deeply into the back of the chair, and heavily into the arm rest. Let go the muscles of your arms loosely. "Think of the muscles of your shoulders, and let them go. Imagine the sensations of muscle relaxation in the top, front and back of your shoulders occurring, and going farther and farther. And as you do, the sensations you'll have will be that your shoulders seem to droop down loosely, and that your shoulders rest evenly and deeply into the back of the chair, so there's even pressure into the back of the chair both at your spine and at your shoulder blades. Let go, sinking back, drooping down. "Think about the muscles of your forehead and let them go. Gently push away all thoughts and worries from your mind for the present. Lots of time to think about things later. Let your forehead become smooth and calm. Relaxed. "Let your eyes go out of focus, looking far away, and let your eyelids close lightly. "Let go the muscles of your mouth and lips. Imagine the sensations of muscle relaxation in the muscles of your jaw occurring, and going farther and farther. And as you do, the sensation you'll have will be that your jaw droops down loosely, until there's a small gap between your teeth. Let your jaw go loosely, drooping down limply. "Let your lips become soft and puffy, relaxed. And let your tongue rest loosely on the floor of your mouth. Relax loosely. "Let your whole body feel limp and heavy and loose, resting heavily down. Imagine yourself like a wet rag draped over a chair, limp and heavy and loose. Let yourself feel loose and limp. Loose all over, and limp. "Good. That's fine. How do you feel?" Adam's speech was no longer slow. The three others opened their eyes. Their eyes were slightly moist, and they all seemed reluctant to be roused. "I expect you all felt just a bit more relaxed than you are used to feeling. From Part 2: Practical Peace This second part of Creating Peace attempts to use what the authors have learned in a combined hundred or so years as psychologists to derive practical or workable ways to foster peace. We will have succeeded if you understand and pursue even some of the ideas expressed. If we succeed, we will hold ourselves gratefully indebted to you. We pray the Prince of Peace will bless our minuscule efforts.