What if it’s not about solving problems, but about practising peace?
It was in 2011, at a place called Chocolate Lake, that I discovered a whole new practice via Toke Moeller, that I later came to know as:
It is an international movement that brings the practice of peace into our personal awareness and courage, working with body and nature. It felt strange at the time, and yet it called me.
Over in Slovenia, that same year my colleague Mel Geltch was also discovering this practice via Toke. “I laughed at my awkwardness as I wielded the bokken (wooden sword), with feelings of inner strength, calm and belonging,” remembers Mel.
“Adapting Aikido as a metaphor for personal leadership was the genesis for the Dojo, expanding to include the gentle collective inquiry of the Flow Game (a game to gather clarity), and many more practices, as diverse as the peace practitioners who show up.”
Mel shares how it took her years to step into some level of comfort with the bokken (wooden sword) as a physical embodiment of her ‘inner sword’ and self leadership. We are all learning the importance of the cut, and personal power in our lives.
10 years later, in 2022, Toke invited the community to reflect if we see ourselves as Dojo makers for practicing peace. That invitation strengthened the commitments of many including Mel, Paul and myself.
Across the Percolab archipelago, in Canada, France, Australia and Vietnam, we are all creating local Practicing for Peace dojos, often with guests from around the world who practice with us and offer their gifts. We follow some core patterns, and each Dojo is unique based on the dance of life and people who come. For the Quebec summer 2025 Dojo we created a little document that offers a feel for one version of what a Dojo can be.
Mel reflects how the Dojos in Australia have also evolved as a space for all to share their peace practices – everything from archery, dance, headstands, walking meditation to practices of non judgement, deep listening, poetry, music, jigsaw puzzles and origami.
“It’s a space to connect back to self, mates and place. Heading back into the world a little stronger, together.” says Mel.
What is the simplest practice—within, between,
and among us
that would make harm less likely
and offering more possible of living peacefully
here and now?
Toke Moeller
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Written by Samantha Slade