Link TV has been honored to have Karen Armstrong, one of the world's most respected thinkers on religion, as a guest on our Global Spirit program "The Spiritual Quest". So when we heard about Armstrong's inspiring new project -- the Charter for Compassion -- we knew that Link had to get involved somehow.

Armstrong's wish for her TED Prize was for help to create this Charter, which officially launched on November 12, 2009. Billed as "a call to bring the world together," Armstrong's Charter aims to unite all religious and spiritual traditions under the principle of compassion, based in the ethical code of the Golden Rule: "…Treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves."

The names of all signatories to the Charter will be sent to world leaders on December 31, 2009, so your time is running out to add your name to a list of distinguished individuals -- including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and author Isabel Allende -- who affirm peace and compassion as the core principle of our divided world. As our friends at YouthNoise have pointed out, the "coolest parts of this Charter is that we can all join in its message by signing, and the signature isn't only a personal pledge, but a pledge that will be sent to world leaders who have countries in conflict."

You can learn more about the Charter for Compassion by watching this video below. We also encourage you to watch Karen Armstrong on Link's "The Spiritual Quest" episode of Global Spirit here, where she gives background on the Charter at the 45:10 mark of the video.

After being in production for over 3 years, Global Spirit has launched! It is showing on national television and streaming for free to a world-wide audience online.  We created this blog to accompany the series, with the hope of keeping in touch with the wonderful new people and communities to which this show is appealing.

We will approach our blog entries from two different perspectives: 1) Personal Journeys: the real, personal stories and experiences of people who are on spiritual journeys. People who are seeking truth, exploring what it means to be human, and connecting with life in a deeply personal and meaningful way; and 2) Behind-the-Scenes: a look at Global Spirit as a web & television series. We will include updates from the producers and program guests, interviews, book and film recommendations, basically anything related to this world of creating innovative programming on culture, philosophy, spirituality and science.

We hope you will help us build a unique and inspiring web community around this blog, by sending comments and impressions our way. We want to know what's interesting, insightful, curious, and exciting about the series and guests, and in your life, so that we can continue to create programs that resonate with you... 

Check back soon when we give you Behind the Scenes: Update from Alan Ereira, Director of "From the Heart of the World." In April, he went back to visit the Mamas in Columbia and has some exciting news.

Megan McFeely, Director of Outreach
Adrianne Anderson, Co-Producer

I would like to introduce myself. I am Megan McFeely, the outreach director for Link TV’s Global Spirit.  I am also a fellow traveler on the path of personal exploration. I feel it is my individual responsibility to the whole of life to become who I really am…free of anxieties, fears and beliefs that are outdated – those things that keep me stuck  -- so that I can be an living example of what it means to be free (I am not there by any means just my lofty goal!)   My posts to this blog will be about my life experiences that relate directly to  the topic of discussion for each show and I would like to encourage you to engage with me by sharing your insights and experiences.

I am thinking about reconciliation and it clear to me that it is inextricably linked to forgiveness. One cannot reconcile with out forgiving. I have had several experiences of this in my life from the simple apology that comes after an argument to a long separation from a family member or friend that takes a little more effort.  What I know from this experience is that I have to take responsibility for the hurt I may have caused others. I must recognize what I have done – see where I may have been out of integrity or where I may have been wrong and own it.  AND I must come from my heart -- it has to be authentic or it has no meaning and will have no impact. To do this it seems that I must feel the pain of having wronged someone and acknowledge their pain …even feel it, or no true reconciliation can occur.  And from this place  forgiveness seems to just happen. The heart opens and you feel love for the other person.  This is my experience but I would love to hear yours. Thanks for taking this journey with me.