Ramadan

Sunset photo by Brayden

Last night was the start of Ramadan, an Islamic holy day that marks the discovery of the Qur’an by the Prophet Muhammad.

Ramadan is a month of blessing. The Islamic calendar is totally lunar, so Ramadan is a few weeks earlier each year, at the sighting of the thin crescent moon, hopefully at sundown tonight. By night, Muslims read the Qur'an, and celebrate the compassion of God with special prayers. 

By day, they give to charities, and observe the discipline of fasting: They eat an early morning meal before the sun rises, then eat and drink nothing until after sundown. The Ramadan fast includes abstinence from falsehood and anger, in words and in deeds.

Even though I don't partake in a fast, I observe Ramadan in this same spirit, renewing my relationship with God, and exercising self-discipline and generosity. I hope to build my empathy for Muslims as they observe their month-long fast.

1. Celestial awareness

2. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"

3. Beginner's mind meditation for Being

4. Projects for the week

5. Celebrate Iftar

1. Celestial awareness: 
Ramadan lasts from last night's crescent moon to next month's crescent moon. It's not a seasonal observance because it falls at a different season every year; I think of it as a celestial observance.

As part of my effort to have empathy for Muslim's as they fast, over the years I've attempted to have a heightened awareness of the movement of the moon during this month, and each day's sunrise and sunset. This has grown into a year round awareness. (It also helps that my ducks need to be let in and out of the coop with the sunset and sunrise.)

The beauty of the sunrise and a sunset is that no matter what happens during the day, the sunset will draw the day to a close, and tomorrow will bring a new day, and a new sunrise. The rhythm of nature is soothing and dependable. 

This month I will mark the sunrise with a short daily morning meditation outdoors, and the sunset by stepping out my door to give attention to the sky.

2. Read "The Book of Doing and Being":

I'm reading from this book by Barnet Bain (2015), subtitled "Rediscovering Creativity in Life, Love, and Work". This is a book of creative perspective, to help jiggle me out of the straight line way I usually think into something new: Use the exercises with consistency in order to stay focused on my destination. Practice will ground me and allow my ambitions to take root and grow.

Chapter 3 is Foundational Creativity: Energies of Creation, Part 1. "While a lack of focus and time may be a problem for you, the real issue almost always stems from a misunderstanding of the energies of creation -- the masculine and feminine energies that give rise to all doing and being."

He says that a male-dominated world values Doing (making, will, and action) over the feminine Being (imagining, feeling, and conceiving), and we are all caught in this paradigm. Even such things as seeking to understand and creating meaning are male qualities. This is "a systematic disorder" that elevates will and action over imagination and feeling.

The antidote is to give attention to Being: Physical feelings in the body; imagination; holding the possibility of all things; the potential for birth. "Emotions are the well of creativity for the feminine aspect within each of us."

So, I need to get in touch with my body because all feelings occur there, never in my head. What I "feel" in my head is usually mental anxiety - thoughts about worry, fear, or excitement. I've learned this body disconnect from my male-dominated culture: It's not my personality or my nature!  

 

3. Beginner's mind meditation for Being:

My theme this year is Creative Perspective: To keep a positive and broad perspective; shift my perspective to help myself find equanimity, and also expand my perspective (think outside the box), having the courage to take experimental risks and express myself honestly with words and art.

Today I'll enjoy a beginners mind meditation for Being in Nature projects. Beginner's mind is dropping expectations and preconceived ideas, seeing things with an open mind, fresh eyes, curiosity and wonder.

1. Creative imagining process: Being in Nature is damp, green, pungent, like a forest after rain. It feels liberating and satisfying. I say- "I can be; I must be; I am crawling under the cedars tasting oxalis; I feel calm, free. 

2. Self-inquiry: How can I define Being as a project? Doesn't it then become Doing? I think the project is really writing about how to create space for Being in Nature; then Being; then analyzing how that went.

3. Next steps: My shift is to write a daily prompt for making space for Being in nature - could be called "Nature openings". It will include a time to feel my emotions, and physical feelings in my body; listen to my imagination; and hold the possibility of all things.

4. Projects for the week:

Each week on Thursday I plan the projects I will work on in the next week - one or two kid projects, and one or two Unicorn projects (those that feed ME). This next week I will:

Th: Paint a rainbow + cut paper snowflakes

F: Finish bathroom butterflies + Drawing creatures

S: Finish spring appliqué

Sun: Superfund postcards

M: Being art or poetry, Watershed watercolors

T: Painting and playdoh + Rain walk

W: Fill bird feeder and squirrel feeder + Drawing birds

Doing the smallest thing is a great way to make courageous creative work less frightening; also finding the "minimum effective dose", the amount of work that keeps me challenged and joyful, and if I keep at it will get me to the finish line on time. 

Today I will list specific goals for each day's creative projects, put them on my calendar, also itemize the supplies and preparation steps. 

5. Celebrate Iftar:

The Ramadan fast is broken at sunset each night with a meal called iftar. One year I had this simple Turkish-style iftar meal with Ezogelin (EZ-oh gel-EEN) soup, flat bread, goat cheese, black olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, and dates. The soup is very tasty and filling, and the recipe is here.