Season of the Magical Child

I don't see that I'll ever stop celebrating winter holidays no matter if I declare or not...it would mean not participating in my family gatherings and even though we're secular...we have traditions. However, things will be changing. I'll be celebrating Baha'i holidays as part of my "investigation" and most likely they'll have more religious significance than holiday celebrations have ever had for me. They'd almost have to since I've never been religious. However, my mother and I call winter the "Season of the Magical Child".

About ten years ago, I wrote a short piece for a neighborhood newspaper about our views and while it isn't exactly the best writing I've ever turned out, I thought I'd include an excerpt today because I still believe the world would be a better place if we treat one another as if we really are children of God. How could you abuse or treat another unkindly if you truly view that person as a child of God? And equally important...how could you be unkind to yourself if you looked into the mirror and saw a child of God looking back at you?

"Imagine if each one of us was welcomed into the world with reverence as a magical child with "Christlike" possibilities? Why do we not drop to our knees at the announcement of every birth?

Imagine a world where every child is thought to be a savior."

Excerpted From Season of the Magical Child Healthy Thoughts 1999

If you study story and myth in every culture, you'll find many references to special or magical children born in the deep of winter who are misunderstood and thought to be trouble until they finally emerge into magical children who inspire or create miracles. I like thinking we're these miracle children ourselves and that all we have to do is start believing it and seeing it in one another.

What if we (me too) took these words to heart:

O Thou kind Lord! These lovely children are the handiwork of the fingers of Thy might and the wondrous signs of Thy greatness. O God! Protect these children, graciously assist them to be educated and enable them to render service to the world of humanity.
O God! These children are pearls, cause them to be nurtured within the shell of Thy loving-kindness.

Thou art the Bountiful, the All-Loving.

- `Abdu'l-Bahá

I think it has to start with the indiviual first. I can only imagine the changes we'd see if we saw ourselves as pearls and nurtured ourselves within the shell of God's loving kindness.

OK, on to another less important topic. The agave syrup marshmallows were a dud. The Persian candy on the other hand, was a little better.

Thank you for visiting!

p.s. I excitedly told my husband that my new signature colors are hot pink and orange. He paused to visualize and said, "Hmm, sounds a bit gaudy." Clearly he's not spent any time on Flickr falling in love with these.

Happy Solstice & Sacred Jenga...

I'm sorry I've been away for awhile...I've been immersed in my work and in handmade holiday gift making. I made this little orange pomander with cloves and star anise to remind me that even though we've had our third snowstorm in two weeks, the Solstice will mark the return of the sun. Something to think about during what we think of as a cold dark season, but really, after today, the darkest part of the year is behind us (in the U.S. at least).

My friend Kelly is some kind of creative super genius and always comes up with projects that blow my mind and which don't involve major expense. I was at her house one day and saw she had set up her Jenga game and had written quotes and sayings on the pieces so that she could pull a piece here and there for inspiration. She called it Sacred Jenga.

I thought of my mother and her love of anything "daily inspiration" and decided to make her a set using a seldom used Jenga game my husband and I had around. I painted and covered the pieces with paper and then set about finding quotes and even making some up that I thought she mind find helpful. As I was cutting and painting, I thought about the Baha'i faith and the manifestations and decided to include quotes from each one. I think this would be a great idea for parents to make and use with their little children if you want to play Jenga and also encourage a little learning...(not that I oppose play for play's sake!).

I know that being new to the faith, it was fun for me to find "manifestation related" quotes...If you click on the photo the quotes are easier to read, but try to avoid it if you can...the up-close of the pieces isn't especially flattering. :) In real life they look much more well done.

It was fun spending time making a gift for my mother, but I learned a few things too...I feel like a little kid writing that!

Anyway, even for adults, it's a nice daily thought or meditation tool and made from game pieces you can find at a thrift store or yard sale for under $1.00.

There are 54 pieces, so I also included quotes from other people we admire.

I'm enjoying these snowy days spent making holiday gifts. Money is tight for us, but I find so much joy in using what I have from my own stash of supplies.

I also made this for my mother out of beads I already had on hand from when I went a little bead nutty several years ago.

I love gemstones and know the bible makes reference to several by name and I wondered about the writings of the writings of the Baha'i faith.

A little investigating revealed mentions of rubies and pearls and of course...one can't help but notice the term "Gems" here. This fascinates me because these mentions and comparisons to gems signify something thought of as valuable...gems of thought or a gem of an idea.

It's so exciting I can't stand it!!!!!

Then, of course, in the midst of all my gift making, I found something to remind me that while the material world of gift giving may be fun (and hopefully heartfelt), there are other gifts far more important.

"O son of spirit! The best beloved of all things in My sight is justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes."

Baha'ullah.

Have a peaceful day everyone.

Off to make agave marshmallows. I'll let you know how they turn out.

Some Things Are Worth Fighting For

I'm a fan of music...all kinds. I love everything from folk and hymns to electronica and most of what's labeled "alternative rock." I'll miss Odetta. Her music always gets me.
She was a fixture in the peace movement of the 60's and while that was before my time, my parents played folk/peace songs daily for much of my childhood in the 70's, so believe me...I know them all.

I remember assuming that because of my parent's commitment to peace they were against all war. I said as much when I was about ten and my father corrected me by saying, "Some things are worth fighting for". My mother would probably clarify these words for him now, but they stuck with me for long time...Can we fight for things we deem as right without waging wars?

I'm drawn to the Baha'i faith because of the commitment to peace and a recognition of what disparity of income and racial inequality can do to a society... I did some reading over here, and while there are many many lines that give me comfort, there are some that made me uncomfortable...

"...The fundamental principle underlying this solemn Pact should be so fixed that if any government later violate any one of its provisions, all the governments on earth should arise to reduce it to utter submission, nay the human race as a whole should resolve, with every power at its disposal, to destroy that government. Should this greatest of all remedies be applied to the sick body of the world, it will assuredly recover from its ills and will remain eternally safe and secure."

Excerpt from a statement made by Abdu'l Baha

Hmm. On one level it makes complete sense...but, I wonder what tactics we would use to "destroy" the sick body of the world? I know that many terms cannot be taken literally, but "reduce it to utter submission" seems pretty clear. I totally get the point being made, it isn't lost on me, but language is important, in fact language is everything and some of these terms sound violent to me. In keeping peace, I believe language is key.

Even in our personal lives. For example, if you admire a dress in a store while shopping with a friend by making the statement "This dress is pretty"...rather than "I think this dress is pretty"...your statement can be argued with or in a subtle way, forces the person listening to either agree or disagree (most women just nod their heads if they don't agree by the way...or say something to the effect of how it would be great for you). If you preface the statement with an "I think" or an "I believe"... the friend can then decide for themselves without disagreeing with you...no one can disagree with how or what we think and feel...they may not like what we think, but they can't disagree.

I know...I know...it seems so subtle, but while I'm not the best practitioner of non-violent communication, I believe Marshall Rosenberg understands how the subtleties of language have an effect us and certainly get in the way of peace negotiations or even divorce negotiations for that matter. The first chapter of his book is here...you have to love the Internet. Oops, I meant I love the Internet. :)

Of course, the excerpt from the statement by Abdu'l Baha is simply an excerpt from a much bigger piece and not the heart of the faith, but it did make me stop to think about how I feel about it.

I thought back to what my father said, about some things being worth fighting for. If we had basically achieved world peace in part by eliminating poverty and racism and a rogue government sought to operate in a way that would threaten to upset the balance, I suppose that would qualify as something worth fighting for....However, hopefully we're talking hard negotiation and not bombs because I think bombs end up destroying more people than governments.

Here is one of my favorite Odetta version peace songs. "I'm going to lay down my sword and shield down by the riverside..." I love those lines. And, please allow me confess that my husband would laugh if he read my statements about non-violent communication and he'd be justified...he's been a victim of my seared verbal outrage served up with a side of blanched vocal frustration...but, I'm getting much better! :)

p.s. Thank you for the help Emily...I can't wait to hear from Suamico Baha'is!

It's Naive To Think We Have Any Other Choice

Just a quick note, I posted on the studio blog about this because one of my friends and customers sent me a link and I was so inspired ... I think it needs a home here too.

It's part of a project called Playing For Change that brings together musicians from all over the world to help (and inspire) peace and communities in need. It's worth watching Mark Johnson's interview with Bill Moyers. He talks about how music connects us all and he brought his small team to places (many dangerous) all over the world to record musicians...it's taken him ten years to get it this far...I cry because we need more people like him.

He got the idea one day while in the subway...he was walking by and saw monks all dressed in white singing in a language he didn't know. He looked around and realized that over 200 people had gathered, had stopped their busy day to listen to this music and realized it was a uniting factor. People have said he's naive for thinking his project could work to help unite the communities of the world...his response?

"It's naive to think we have any other choice."

Here are two very moving videos---I dare you to watch these and not fall on the floor a mess and turn into a sobbing wreck of a human being!

Stand by Me

One Love (It isn't Bob, but somewhere he's glad we got the point)

Follow-Up

OK, so now I know ambergris, rose, hyacinth and musk are mentioned in Baha'i writings...and I'm sure we'll find more mention of fragrance as I explore.

Of course, these mentions are usually when comparing the love of God as sweeter than any fragrance, but one can't help but think that when Baha'u'llah was writing/speaking the message that he used scents as comparisons... so one could assume he thought the scent of rose or flowers beautiful enough to say that divine connection is even more so.

Most musk scents are synthetic these days and this is one case where I'm fine with a synthetic scent over a natural scent as real musk comes from the scent glands of animals. I had the opportunity to smell real musk once. I was in a tiny aromatherapy shop and the owner, well aware of how much I appreciate rare oils, pulled out a small box from the back room...it contained vials of precious oils from her private and not often shared collection. UGGH! That was my reaction to real musk oil from India. How gracious of me. I was honored that she shared, but would never smell it again...so strong and positivly teeming with life-force...you couldn't help but think of the poor animal that was sacrificed for our love of scent. Never again.

I was over on Baha'i Words today and today's passage (?) gave me such peace.

O God, my God! Aid Thou Thy trusted servants to have loving and tender hearts. Help them to spread, amongst all the nations of the earth, the light of guidance that cometh from the Company on high, Verily, Thou art the Strong, the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Subduing, the Ever-Giving. Verily, Thou art the generous, the Gentle, the Tender, the Most Bountiful.

~ Abdu’l-Baha

The Gentle/The Tender combined with The Powerful/The Mighty. I love this. I've felt so much peace inside since discovering the Baha'i Faith. I've always felt a bit overwhelmed by my own desire to be tender and loving...it isn't easy because tender and loving people are often mistaken for weak people by those who don't know any better. Though, I must confess that while the words comfort me for who I know I am inside, they are also instructions because let me tell you....I have a fierce temper...and I mean fierce. I was a plate thrower as a teenager and in my twenties, and while I don't throw objects anymore, I still throw tantrums on occasion....very attractive behavior for a 39 year old! :)

It's taken me a long time to realize that I can be tender and gentle without being a doormat or losing my natural exuberance and enthusiasm for life. In the past, I've had a hard time balancing all these parts of me and I know I'm not alone.

I have a show this weekend in Madison...it's tiny and this is a relief. I can relax and have fun...but, for now, it's back into the studio to work away the night.

Thank for your helpful comments everyone.

Other news: I'm planning a trip to nearby Chicago to visit the House of Worship and to have Persian food at Reza's.

Oh, my husband hasn't been that excited about my interest in the faith and in fact, thinks the whole thing is weird (he's not religious at all-so it's not like there's conflict). He reads my studio blog daily, so I was a bit hurt and surprised when after a few entries on this one he said he thought I was way off track and that he probably wouldn't be a loyal reader.

Tonight he called (he's away on business) and said he'd like to pick me up a gift...a book on my new interest...the Baha'i Faith. He asked me for suggestions on what would be a good title for someone new. I said that I had The Prophet's Daughter and The Power of Prayer...he asked me to think about it and let him know.

Any suggestions?

It's funny....we've been together so many years and he's never shown any trace of discomfort with anything I've been interested in...from psychic readings to sacred geometry, so this was such an odd reaction from him. I think his desire to pick out a book on the faith as a gift to me is extra nice considering his feelings about this. He's a Taurus....they don't like change, so we shall see. Perhaps if he sees me becoming a little more tender and loving instead of tantrum-ey he'll get right on board! :)

Sweet-Scented Streams

It's been a busy week in the studio and I'm finally caught up. It feels good. Only one more show of the season and then I have to get cracking on holiday gifts for my family. I took the handmade pledge and with only two exceptions (my brother and husband) my gifts will be handmade this year.

I don't know what will happen next year...or how I'll handle the holidays if I declare, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

I'm excited because I may enroll in this class. I've not been the best steward of my body over the years. I'm better now, but still paying a price...I have a great deal of weight to lose and some bad habits (not sleeping enough) that need to be changed.

I like the idea of pairing my first class with my need for help learning how to respect and tend my body.

I know at this stage, someone visiting this blog may be thinking "Laura, ask not what the Baha'i faith can do for you..." but, this is how I do things...what I can do for the faith will come later.

I immerse myself in the writings and prayers and then find ways to practically apply them to my own life. It's how I learn. If (or when) the time comes, it may be how I share.

I think I've been a little worried with this blog that perhaps my way of coming to understanding may seem fairly self-absorbed and while it may be and perhaps someday I'll reread these entries with a different view, for right now...I learn as I go.

I love taking pleasure in even a line or two of a prayer and then applying it, usually in a very literal way, as a means to opening up understanding of the next line.

For example, this one has lots of references to fragrance..sweet-scented streams, fragrant breezes of Thy joy, essence of the fragrance of Thy beauty...

I used to be a practicing aromatherapist, so anything that mentions scent and fragrance immediately pulls me in. It's like my code language. When I see the words I can't help but to begin to envision ways to use them to help me reflect on what the true meaning of the prayer or meditation is.

In this case, when I read the line "sweet-scented streams" I knew that a fragrant bath was in order and that I should incorporate scents native to Iran/Persia such as marjoram, lime, cardamom and rose into my bath. I knew when I read (and reread) the meditation, that I'd create an environment very much suited to my kind of learning.

I know that Baha'is are all over the world, but because I'm new to this, I find myself interested in Persia (I think it annoys my mother that I don't say Iran, but everything in reference to the culture of Iran is still called Persian...or so it seems).

I already knew about Ibn Sina (Avicenna) from my studies on essential oil distillation, so it's fun to make connections and I knew I just had to include rose otto in my bath...rose has always been a favorite whether it's Bulgarian or Turkish and scents like rose, marjoram and lime would have most certainly been familiar to Baha'u'llah as they were used in the medicine and cuisine of his time and region.

So, as I settle into the tub and into my reading more in-depth, I feel somehow connected by the scents and I'm tending my body at the same time.

Scents have the power to relax us or stimulate us...they have a profound and scientifically proven effect on the limbic system of the brain and for me, the fragrance from plants and flowers connects me to the spiritual world as well. We all find our own way to navigate learning and understanding the words of Baha'u'llah and his reference to fragrance is mine.

The connection made through fragrance makes it easier for me to work my way through other words/sections that I don't understand.

Just a tip for those of you who may like taking warm baths with pure essential oils (the life-force of plants), if you mix just a few drops with honey the essential oils will disperse into your bathwater with ease...and always be careful...some oils are too strong to use more than a drop or two.

Does anyone know if there is a list of specific flowers and spices that might be referenced (if any) in Baha'i writings? I'd love to know...

p.s. I didn't have any pictures of streams, so in went a picture from my rose bush...it's a tea rose. :)...Aghaaha! Please don't let my bad sense of humor keep you from coming back.

p.s. double s: I just discovered this poem by Persian poet Hafiz...it's not truly related, but it is beautiful and we can all relate to the fear and subsequent reward of opening.

How
Did the rose
Ever open its heart

And give this world
All its
Beauty?

It felt the encouragement of light
Against its
Being,

Otherwise,
We all remain

Too

Frightened

-Hafiz

Shining Lamps & Brilliant Stars

All my life I've been drawn to candles and firelight. I've always liked it when people refer to "the light within" or the "spark of life" in a person. To me, the biggest compliment someone can pay me is to say that I'm glowing or look so happy I'm shining.

When I lived in Chicago, a good friend of mine got me into novena candles or 7-day candles (the larger ones burn for seven days straight). I never used them to manifest anything material or to bring me love as some do, but over the past twenty years or so, they've become a regular fixture in my life.

I almost always choose white or solid colors as opposed to ones with saints or religious icons imprinted on them. They're about $1.50 at most ethnic grocery stores and you can even find shorter ones (called Shabbat candles) in the Kosher section of almost any store. They can also be found in New Age bookstores, but are usually much more expensive.

I set them at various places around my house and I always feel a little tickle of pleasure as I walk into a room and see a soft familiar glow in the corner.

Another love is starlight and the same thing applies...I like to think of myself (on good days) as a shining star and truly believe we are drawn to one another because of the glowing lights of our spirits as we make our way through the world...sometimes people see us and sometimes they don't, but each person has their own way of glowing.

Using the word brilliant to describe light has also been something I've done as long as I can remember. Imagine my joy when I discovered this prayer:

"Oh God, guide me, protect me...make of me a shining lamp and a brilliant star.
Thou art the mighty and the powerful."
Abdu'l Baha

Saying this ones makes my heart sing and even though it is usually difficult for me to think in terms that anyone or anything could be mighty and powerful without being oppressive, I have no problems saying this one at all. I so want to be a shining lamp and a brilliant star!!!

In the past, I've avoided any religious prayers that referred to God in that way. I guess you could say that I've got problems being humbled and feeling controlled...however, there is something about the Baha'i faith that is shifting this for me and allowing me to feel the words as opposed to just reading them and rejecting them.

I'm also excited about learning more about the manifestations of God prior to Baha'u'llah...I'm going to start with Zoroaster and while I know that there isn't fire worship, fire does play a part and I find this exciting.

My new thing is to take a bath each night by candlelight while reading The Prophet's Daughter by Janet A. Khan. It's interesting, but I have to train myself for this kind of reading/studying...I haven't done it in awhile.

I mentioned in another post that I am looking forward to some of the Baha'i celebrations...and I have to admit that while I know the prayers are more important than the food and cheer, that I look forward to making things that I haven't made before.

Rosewater Pistachio candies for example (Gaz). Of course I know there is no such thing as traditional Baha'i food, but you'd be hard pressed to read a lot about the Baha'i faith and not find mentions of thing like Persian rice and cookies at feasts. Count me in!

I love to cook and bake and while I'm right in the middle of a detox and can't have any sugar or grains (or dairy) I look forward to the time when I can bring platters (I like overkill) of treats to various events.

Which reminds me...I have not begun to explore my local community for study groups yet. I will do that in time. For the short term, I'm just enjoying reading and learning on my own...and with your comments and messages of course!

Here's a tutorial I found for the Persian candy Gaz...There is a short sponsor message ahead of it, but it's fun to watch and I love Natasha Levitan's gentle nature. By the way, she also makes an apple face cream!