Sharing Space

As I jump into a new decade of life, I want to celebrate with you all by sharing a dream-like video of the amazing young Russian dancer, Vladimir Edward Pomeshikov. Sending you all peace and loving-kindness. And yes, keep it fluid! xx https://www.facebook.com/reel/1721493016292752

Sending you lovely folk greetings from Kenya.

Yesterday was the Chinese New Year, and today is Losar, the Tibetan one. It's also the beginning of Ramadan and the start of Lent. As well as being a potent New Moon. So if you're going to do any significant practice, TODAY IS THE DAY!

www.mind-springs.org

A lovely new friend of mine was pondering the pile-up of stress that comes with the traditional New Year on the 1st January. She realised that in the West, the year started too soon.  New Year’s resolutions kick in before the 12-day Christmas feast is over. And the dark, Yin time of the year gets hijacked by the Yang energy of doing and productivity. Yin-uary becomes Yang-uary. The traditional seasonal rhythm of dying back and patiently waiting for life to stir is disrupted. People get ‘dug up’

Salaam, dear Ignacio, and thank you for your lovely words. I only have a moment as I am in a online meeting concerning the K-W Unity Mosque's upcoming observance of Ramadan. I admire and am grateful for your spiritual curiousity! In Islam, God Consciousness is known as Taqwa. Taqwa involves a profound and highly personal awareness of God in every aspect of our lives, shaping our very essences, and impacting on all we are and all we do. Taqwa can also be described as a state of mindfulness of God's presence in all of the universe and deeply within ourselves. Taqwa involves living a life aligned with the will of Allah, our one God. Please let me know if you have questions or thoughts that you would like to share! Peace! xx

Salaam – greetings of peace! When Alistair invited me to write a post about Ramadan for this Sharing Space page, I inwardly hesitated, for two reasons. Firstly, I wondered: how do I describe in a few paragraphs a soul-regenerating month that is observed by over 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide, and reverenced since the 7^th century? Secondly, can I write an unbiased post about Ramadan, given my personal position as a “radical” Muslim Imama (female Imam) who refuses to accept a traditional rendition of the Holy Qur’an from an antiquated and patriarchal perspective, and who insists on reading the Qur’an with my own eyes, and with a new feminist, non-racist and queer+ trans affirming viewpoint? After considerable thought, I have decided to go ahead with the post, but please know that I write from my own perspective, and do not speak for all Muslims! 😊

I believe that Ramadan, which begins next…