(Left: Claudette Werleigh)

WP board member Claudette Werleigh works in Sweden directing the Conflict Transformation Programme for the Life & Peace Institute. LPI is an international and ecumenical center for peace research and action. Claudette's section works with peace building programs in the Horn of Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Brazzaville, where LPI facilitates a gradual transformation into a culture of peace by working within the local social and cultural context.

Convinced that women are crucial to ensure sustainable peace, LPI works to bring their full participation in conflict prevention and resolution. "Women are the backbone of society," said Claudette. "They possess enormous strengths to give to the peace process, far beyond traditional family care."

In April, Rosemary Williams and artist Janet Slom (foreground of photo at left) facilitated a workshop in Connecticut using art to help participants connect their finances and their souls.

One of the most powerful exercises was a non-verbal conversation through art. Working in pairs, women silently responded to a dot, squiggle or line drawn by the other person. Conversational art enabled these women to see how they respond to messages from others: did they have a dialogue, or were two independent conversations happening? Participants expressed profound gratitude for the knowledge and awareness they had gained by the end of the workshop.

"I have always known that artistic expression brings to the surface our deepest truths. This workshop proved that point, and we will continue to find new ways to incorporate artistic experiences in our workshops," said Rosemary.

Bringing the Arts Focus to New Locations
Women's Perspective board member Julie Spahr and Philadelphia artist Gerry Tuten are in the planning stages of bringing the new workshop to Philadelphia. Discussions are underway to bring the arts focus into workshops in other cities. If you are interested in organizing such a workshop, please call Women's Perspective at 203-336-2238 or email us.

A basic membership of $30 per year will help us develop workshops and create bold new ways of educating women to become financially confident while maintaining their integrity. A very tall order, but one we passionately believe is possible.

Give us your vote of confidence! Become a member of Women's Perspective. Help us continue to inspire women to connect their spiritual and economic power in the world. We need you to support this effort. Whether or not you become a member, you will still receive our email newsletter.

We hope to start a conversation about how your own spiritual practice relates to your financial life. If you would like to contribute to our series on teachings about money and giving in the world's great spiritual traditions, please email us.

The Golden Rule
Spiritual traditions and philosophers consistently express the "golden rule," commanding followers to treat others as they treat themselves. We invite you to explore the wealth of wisdom embodied in these enduring spiritual practices and schools of philosophy, listed alphabetically.

African Traditional Religions: One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.
Bahai Faith: Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself.
Buddhism: Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.
Christianity: So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

Several years ago, a friend introduced me to the three prayers of Anne Lamott. She shares that one of three prayers is always appropriate (and useful) - "help me, help me, help me," "thank you, thank you, thank you," and "Wow."

My life seems to totter between "help me" and "Thank you," but "Wow" has also come in handy. I've since read several of Lamott's others books - Travelling Mercies and Bird by Bird were terrific.

Anne Lamott's newest book is Plan B: Further Thought on Faith. She is an essayist, so each chapter is about some aspect of her life - her teenaged son, a dog that dies, her mother, her faith - the sorts of things we all have in our lives. This makes for jumpy reading, so Lamott is best read one chapter at a time. But I find there is always something I can take from every page or so.

• Desktop copier
• Airline miles
• Graphic design help
• Mac computer (fairly recent model)
• Lateral file cabinets (if you are local in Connecticut)

If you can make an in-kind donation of one of these items, please email us. Thank you for your generosity!