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!

Refresh And Gladden My Spirit

Artwork courtesy of Gary E. Stewart

I have so much to share of what I've discovered about the Baha'i Faith that I barely know where to begin or even when to begin since I'm kind of busy preparing for what should be a busy time of year in the studio.

I do want to write this quick post about how the Baha'i Faith doesn't have any food mandates or rules about food.

The idea being that food mandates such as, "Well, we don't eat this or that ..." create separation from one another. Of course, there is respect for religions that do have mandates, but in the Baha'i Faith they (we?) work to create a sense of oneness and avoid things which simply by their nature cause separateness, even if they seem benign.

It goes much deeper than this, but I find this one aspect interesting because one of the first things I wondered when I learned of the faith was what rules regarding diet might I have to follow if I become a Baha'i.

There aren't any (other than the fasting times).

Interestingly enough, there's also guidance on how sleeping and resting is absolutely essential. I'm notorious for making sleep a low priority and kind of like the idea of having to rest because "Hey, I'm got orders from God!" However, in all seriousness, the guidance is less about your health as an individual and more about needing to be rested and stay clear for God.

I'm not seeking religion as a means to be guilted into caring for my physical body, but I like that there are teachings (still not sure what to call them) about tending the body. I have neglected my body and frankly, need a little extra encouragement on why self-care is important.

I wrote something to a friend awhile ago about how I'm unsure about various aspects of the faith, but how I want to understand and yet, I also want to be understood. I don't know if I mean by the people in faith or by God. I'm seeing that this may not (at my early stages) be the perfect religion (view of God), but I'm giving it a fair shot and I want to be given a fair shot in return even though I'm not a perfect follower...Odd, I don't want to be judged just as I don't want to pass judgment on something I don't fully understand yet. I almost don't know what that means.

Before I close...this is my favorite Baha'i prayer...I say it three times a day.

Oh God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my power. I lay all my affairs in thy hand. Thou art my guide and refuge. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to thee, O Lord.

Abdu'l-Bahá

I'm not in a twelve-step program, but know the lingo and this reminds me of when I've heard people say, "turn it over to God" or "let go and let God".

At least that's what I get out of this line, "I lay all my affairs in thy hand"...though it's deeper to me because it isn't just about resting troubles in God's hands and hoping for a good outcome, it's about putting all affairs (good, bad or ugly) in God's hand or the hand of the Universe and being peaceful in doing so.

I like the line, "Thou art my guide and refuge" because it makes me feel like no one is asking me to give up control...just to come in and be part of the team. That there is guidance to be offered, but it's a creative partnership. Plus, I love the word refuge...it makes me think of safety and peace. Kind of like comfort is available too. Like suddenly realizing you have a best friend you never knew you had before and this friend has nothing personal in his or her way that could ever interfere with wanting the best for you...no matter what.