“Then I was standing on the highest mountain of them all, and round about beneath me was the whole hoop of the world. And while I stood there I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of all things in the spirit, and the shape of all shapes as they must live together like one being.
And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people was one of many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the center grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter all the children of one mother and one father. And I saw that it was holy.”
—Black Elk
People are feeling more polarized. Thinking it is us versus them. Thinking “if only those people would change. If only they would get it. If only they would stop…”
- What would happen if we really saw our oneness with each other?
- What if we acted from the truth that we were inherently linked?
- What if we recognized that we are interdependent?
- What if we saw just us?
- How might we see that divisions, hierarchies and inequalities are completely man-made?
- How would a deeply seated consciousness of the oneness of humanity change how we act with ourselves? Our families? Our communities? Our society? Our world?
“If the oneness of the human world were established, all the differences which separate mankind would be eradicated. Strife and warfare would cease, and the world of humanity would find repose. Universal peace would be promoted, and the East and West would be conjoined in a strong bond. All men would be sheltered beneath one tabernacle. Native lands would become one; races and religions would be unified. The people of the world would live together in harmony, and their well-being would be assured.”
—‘Abdu’l‑Bahá
Our primary goal is to learn how artistic expression can illuminate our theme of Seeing Oneness and we accept works from artists of all ages and backgrounds, from the professional to those who don’t consider themselves to be artists. We encourage you to contemplate the theme of Seeing Oneness and create new work or share existing work that you feel sheds light on these questions and would spark conversation and reflection.
“You must become of one heart, one spirit and one susceptibility. May you become as the waves of one sea, stars of the same heaven, fruits adorning the same tree, roses of one garden in order that through you the oneness of humanity may establish its temple in the world of mankind, for you are the ones who are called to uplift the cause of unity among the nations of the earth”
—‘Abdu’l‑Bahá
