Our Peace Prayer Wheel
One of the most beloved traditions of the Peace & Spirituality Center is our Peace Prayer Wheel, a practice that invites visitors to pause, offer a prayer for peace, and join a larger circle of hope, compassion, and intention.
Prayer wheels have their origins in Buddhism and are a common sight in Tibet and northern Nepal. Traditionally, prayer wheels contain sacred texts, prayers, or mantras—words believed to carry deep spiritual significance. When the wheel is turned, the prayers are symbolically set into motion, extending blessings, compassion, and goodwill into the world. Each turn becomes an act of mindfulness and a reminder of our interconnectedness with one another.
Our beautiful Peace Prayer Wheel was created by artist Chris Moench of Axis of Hope Prayer Wheels in Bellingham and was generously gifted by CSJP Associate Annie Welch in memory of fellow CSJP Associate Kris McMains. Since then, it has become a meaningful part of life at the Center and a cherished symbol of our commitment to peace.
Visitors are invited to write a prayer intention and place it inside the wheel. Some prayers express gratitude and joy; others carry hopes for healing, reconciliation, comfort, justice, or peace. We welcome prayers for ourselves, our loved ones, our communities, and our world.
The Peace Prayer Wheel is often incorporated into our Labyrinth Walks for Peace and other peace-centered gatherings and celebrations. It is also available whenever you visit the Center, offering a simple yet meaningful opportunity to pause, reflect, and pray.
Whether you understand prayer as a conversation with God, a connection with the Divine, or an expression of hope offered to the world, we invite you to turn the wheel, offer your intention, and become part of this ongoing tradition of peace. Together, we continue the simple but powerful practice of holding one another—and our world—in compassion, hope, and prayer.