Remember, remember - Potluck dinner and Zikr Allah December 28 at Zawiyya al Mu'min!

Potluck meal beginning at 6, Zikr Allah at 7:30-

no experience expected only love of the Divine Being

every moment

a voice

out of this world

calls on our soul

to wake up and rise

this soul of ours

is like a flame

with more smoke than light

blackening our vision

letting no light through

lessen the smoke and

more light brightens your house

the house you dwell in now

and the abode

you'll eventually move to

now my precious soul

how long are you going to

waste yourself

in this wandering journey

can't you hear the voice

can't you use your swifter wings

and answer the call

-- Translation by Nader Khalili

"Rumi, Fountain of Fire"

Cal-Earth Press, 1994

Use your swifter wings and answer the call, join us for zikr at Zawiyya al Mu'min, 1000 Urlin Ave. Apt. 1507, Grandview Heights OH 43212
Call 488-3337, 446-3337 or e-mail hilal1001@sbcglobal.net for information or directions.

Global Peace Celebration, New Year's Eve

A Special Peace-Full New Year's Eve with the Dances of Universal Peace Global Peace Celebration Monday evening, December 31, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
On New Year's Eve Dances of Universal Peace groups around the globe link together in shared celebrations towards global peace. Again this year Munira Elizabeth Reed and others from our local group and beyond will offer another special peace focus earlier in the evening:

Aramaic Lord's Prayer Cycle Chants and body prayers to the lines of the Aramaic Prayer. A special event towards peace within and without, 5:00-6:15 p.m. Gathering time and orientation to those new to this prayer or zikr cycle will be at 4:45 p.m. Come for a peace-filled New Year's Eve.Join in either one or both of these programs. No prior experience required. (Still time to make it to other parties for later evening celebrations!)

Come to one part or two or all:

• 4:45 - 5:00 p.m. - Orientation to those new to the Aramaic Prayer Cycle
• 5:00 - 6:15 p.m. - Aramaic Prayer Cycle
• 6:15 - 7:00 p.m. - Heavy hors d'oeuvres and holiday snacks. Those who wish can bring something to share. No obligation to bring anything but oneself however!
• 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - Dances of Universal Peace Global Peace Celebration. Joining with Dance Circles and others who work for peace around the globe for a peace concentration!
• 8:30 p.m. - More visiting around refreshments, or depart for quiet evenings at home, or move on to other parties!

Everyone welcome. All dances, simple circle dances, are taught. No experience required, just an open and willing attitude. Children are welcome in the dance circle. No charge. Donations appreciated towards space rental.

Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214( Just east of High St. in Clintonville, one block north of North Broadway)

For more information contact Mary Jo Marraffa at 614-436-0866

Reminder: Universal Worship, December 9

It's been a couple of weeks since I announced this so I thought a reminder was in order. Universal Worship Dec. 9, potluck lunch afterward, please come! ( if you check the blog it has directions and description etc.)
Hilal

Indian Classical Music Concert with Hans Utter and Jim Feist

Our friend Hans Utter, who played his sitar for zikrs with Sheikh Firdousi many times, invites us to a house concert on December 1 in Worthington. If you've not been able to attend Hans' house concerts in the past it will be more than worth the effort! - Hilal

This is the link to the flyer:
http://www.hansutter.com/concert%20flyer.html

In case the link doesn't work, here's the info in a less decorative form:

Indian Classical Music Concert
Sitar and Tabla
Saturday December 1st,8 Pm
194 Sinsbury Dr. Worthington, Ohio 43085
Light refreshments will be provided
Hans Utter: Sitar
Jim Fiest: Tabla

The Performers
Hans Utter has studied sitar with master sitarist Ustad Shujaat Khan of the Imdad Khan Gharana for the past decade. He performs regularly in the US, Europe and India.
Jim Feist has been performing and teaching the tabla for the last 16 years. He has traveled to India several times to learn tabla from the late, legendary Ustad AllahRakha, and Vibhav Nageshkar. He has performed around the world with a variety of artists.
RVSP/ INFO 614.436.7427614.262.8296
http://www.hansutter.com/
http://www.classicaltabla.com/

Universal Worship, December 9, 2007

Please join the Columbus Sufi community at 11:00 am on Sunday, December 9 at Zawiyya al Mu'min, 1000 Urlin Ave. apartment 1507, Grandview Heights, Ohio for the Universal Worship Service of Hazrat Inayat Khan. The Universal Worship Service takes texts from many religions of the world, combines them with songs or dances and embeds all into a service with a candle ceremony and the prayers of Inayat Khan. We'll share a potluck meal after the sevice. Call Hilal at 614-488-3337 or 614-446-3337 for directions or more information.

Zikr Schedule for November & December 2007

When you plant a tree

every leaf that grows will tell you,

what you sow will bear fruit.

So if you have any sense, my friend

don't plant anything but love,

you show your worth by what you seek.

Water flows to those who want purity

wash your hands of all desires and

come to the table of Love.

Do you want me to tell you a secret?

The flowers attract the most beautiful lover

with their sweet smile and scent.

If you let God weave the verse in your poem

people will read it forever.

-- Translation by Azima Melita Kolin

and Maryam Mafi

"Rumi: Hidden Music"

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 2001

My friends, don't plant anything but Love, come to the table of Love
Potluck meal 6:00, Zikr Allah about 7:30, dessert to follow.
November 2 and December 28 at Zawiyya al Mu'min, 1000 Urlin Ave., apartment 1507, Grandview. Tell the door person downstairs that you want my apartment - if they want a name tell them you want to see Jane Smirniotopoulos, the apartment phone is 488-3337.The door will be unlocked so just come in and welcome!!

Fraternity of Light Retreat

Healing Body, Heart, and Soul

One way of healing is working with energy, and the other is through self realization. This must
be an experience rather than just my words. We must feel the forces that move the galaxies –
and eventually the sap in the trees – a kind of cosmic power, which the Sufis call the Divine
power. --Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan

Date: October 19 -21, 2007

Time: Arrive 5:30 PM Friday and end 1:00 PM Sunday after lunch
Place: Shaw Lodge, Camp Asbury in Hiram, Ohio.

Cost: $ 125.00 (includes all meals)* if registered by October 9, 2007.
cost is $145 after October 9. *price includes breakfast Saturday through lunch on Sunday.

To register, contact Barb Rashida Williams by phone or email at: (330) 677-5415
or e-mail: heart1@sbcglobal.net

**Please RSVP by October 9 so we know how to plan meals and to receive the early registration discount**

Fraternity of Light members receive an additional 10% discount

Autumn is a time of when all of nature comes into its fullest expression bringing forth the inherent richness of Life. If we make a retreat in autumn it facilitates this same expression within ourselves and our lives. --Moinuddin

…About the Healing Body, Mind, and Soul Retreat
As you relax in the peace and beauty of Nature, the Healing Body, Mind, and Soul Retreat will offer a
variety of healing perspectives and experiences; it will create sacred space to explore those aspects of healing most relevant to you at this point in your life.

During our time together, there will be opportunities to explore healing from both a deeply inner and personal level, as well as from a planetary and universal perspective. Throughout the weekend we willspend time in silence, yet also share, laugh, and enjoy one another in community.

Each person will be able to experience the retreat at his/her own pace.

*A Retreat allows us a pause in which we may step out of our normal mode of living in order to reflect upon our lives and gain more clarity, and ultimately become more aware of what our real objective is in life. A retreat is an opportunity for a lot of reflection, a time to explore those skills which will open upf aculties that we are not using and insights of which we are not aware. It is an opportunity to unleash the spiritual power that will enable us to fulfill the purpose of our lives.–Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan.

This retreat will be guided by a number of highly experienced individuals, each with over 20 years experience in healing, meditation, and the retreat process.

All are welcome!

Zikr Allah at the new Zawiyya al Mu'min

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Music Master"

You that love lovers,
this is your home. Welcome!

In the midst of making form, love
made this form that melts form,
with love for the door,
soul the vestibule.

Watch the dust grains moving
in the light near the window.
Their dance is our dance.

We rarely hear the inward music,
but we're all dancing to it nevertheless,

directed by the one who teaches us,
the pure joy of the sun,
our music master.

-- Version by Coleman Barks
"The Essential Rumi"
HarperSanFrancisco, 1995

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You that love lovers, this is your home. Welcome!

Join us as we remember our music master. Join us on Friday,September 28, beginning at 8 pm at Zawiyya al Mu'min, 1000 Urlin Ave., apartment 1507, Grandview. Tell the door person downstairs that you want my apartment - if they want a name tell them you want to see Jane Smirniotopoulos, the apartment phone is 488-3337.The door will be unlocked so just come in and welcome!!

Contact Hilal at hilal1001@sbcglobal.net or call at 614-446-3337 if you have questions or need directions

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dances of Universal Peace, September 22

We will celebrate the Dances of Universal Peace on Saturday, September 22 at at 7:00.

The Dances of Universal Peace are simple, meditative, and joyous circle dances that celebrate the variety of spiritual paths on Earth. They may be seen as a modern day expression of ancient practices of body prayer.

Everyone with an open and willing attitude is welcome to attend, and all movements are taught. We invite children to join the dance circle, or sometimes children's activities are offered during the dance meeting.

There is no fee to participate; donations gladly accepted.

7:00-8:30 p.m.
Columbus Mennonite Church
35 Oakland Park Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43214
(Just east of High St. in Clintonville, one block north of North Broadway)

The theme for this week is An Interfaith Harvest.

Ramadan Begins Tomorrow

For Muslims, Ramadan begins tomorrow. It is a month of fasting, abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is a time for worship, reading the Quran, and performing acts of charity and personal devotion. For more information on Ramadan see this chart from Beliefnet.

Moves: Zawia al Mu'min and Sept. 16 for the 99 Names

On September 9, Zawiya al Mu'min will move to 1000 Urlin Ave, Apt. 1507. Enter off Goodale Ave west of Grandview Ave., curve around to parking lot on the top of the hill.

Consequently, we will move the location and time for the first of the 10 intensive all-day workshops on the 99 Most Beautiful Names as well We will meet 1 Sunday a month on the third Sunday of the month for 10 months, focusing on 10 of the Names each month.

We will first read about the meaning of each Name and then chant it 1000 times. We'll start at 10 and plan on ending around 4. We will have food and drink on the table, so you can come and go as you like, but we ask that you try not to disturb the atmosphere.

The first meeting will be September 16 from 10 am to 4 pm at Zawiiya al Mu'min, 1000 Urlin Ave., Apt. 1507, treating the first 10 Names, which are:

• ya Rahman, the Merciful
• ya Rahim, the Compassionate
• ya Malik, the Sovereign
• ya Quddus, the Most Holy
• ya Salam, the Peace
• ya Mu'min, the Faithful
• ya Muhaimin, the Protector
• ya 'Aziz, the Mighty
• ya Jabbar, the Repairer
• ya Mutakabbir, the Majestic

( *the order and short translations are from Asma'ul Husna, M.R. Baw'a Muhaiyaddeen)

If you have questions, call Hilal at 614.446.3337.

Remembrance of Light: Zikr Nur-i-Muhammed

Saturday August 25
7:30 p.m.

Columbus Mennonite Church
35 Oakland Park Ave
(one building off High Street, turn East off High)

For more information contact Hilal at 614.261.3337 or email at smirniotopoulos.1@osu.edu

This ceremony of Zikr from the Chistia branch of the Sufi tradition was given to help awaken the human senses to the light of consciousness in nature and the entire manifested cosmos. This light, which the sufis call Nur, points to the Unity of Being, beyond individual names and forms. When the human being awakens to its capacity to contain the consciousness of the cosmos, then it awakens to its original, ecological self and fulfills the purpose of life.

Neil Douglas-Klotz, Ph.D.

Murshid Saadi Shakur Chisti

Munira Elizabeth Reed and friends will be leading Saadi’s Zikr of Light

Informal, no experience required.

Simple movements with simple chanted phrases

All are welcome!

Dances of Universal Peace Begin Again in September

The Dances of Universal Peace are simple, meditative, and joyous circle dances that celebrate the variety of spiritual paths on Earth. They may be seen as a modern day expression of ancient practices of body prayer.

Everyone with an open and willing attitude is welcome to attend, and all movements are taught. We invite children to join the dance circle, or sometimes children's activities are offered during the dance meeting.

There is no fee to participate; donations gladly accepted.

7:00-8:30 p.m.
Columbus Mennonite Church
35 Oakland Park Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43214
(Just east of High St. in Clintonville, one block north of North Broadway)

2007-2008 Dates

September 22--An Interfaith Harvest
November 3--Dancing Peace
December 31--New Year's Eve Event
February 2--Remember Who You Are
March 22--The Earth Springs Forth
May 3--Special Event With National Dances of Universal Peace Guest Leaders
June 21--Solstice Elemental Peace Ritual (at Whetstone Park)

For more information contact Thallia Blight at centralohiosufi@yahoo.com or 614-486-9530
or columbussuficircle@gmail.com

Sura Fateha Zikr on July 28 , 2007

This month Munira will lead Murshid Saadi's zikr based on the Fateha, the first Sura of the Quran. This is a very beautiful and powerful zikr cycle. 7:30 on Saturday, July 28 at Zawiyya al Mu'min, 172 E. Maynard Ave. We'll share desserts and coffee or tea afterwards. Call Hilal at 614-261-3337 or 614-446-3337 if you'd like more. information

Universal Worship and Discussion of Schedule Changes

Please join the Columbus Sufi Circle at 11 on Saturday , July 7 at Zawiyya al Mu'min, 172 E. Maynard Ave., Columbus, Ohio for the Universal Worship Service of Hazrat Inayat Khan. The Universal Worship Service takes texts from many religions of the world, combines them with songs or dances and embeds all into a service with a candle ceremony and the prayers of Inayat Khan. Potluck lunch to follow.
Call 614-261-3337 ( Hilal or Jane) or 614-446-3337 for directions or more information.