Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The Internal Feast of Ramadan
Ramadan Mubarak! (a blessed Ramadan) or
Ramadan Kareem! (a generous Ramadan)
For one month out of the year and from sun up to sun down, Muslims commit to not eat or drink, to give up certain indulgences like alcohol or smoking and to not make love (only during the day, remember! ;) and its all in celebration of Allah ( one man's "Allah" is another man's "God"...same thing)
"God gives us 11 months out of the year, so I think I can give him one" said Ahmed, the Jordanian bodega chef where I buy my hummus and pickles.
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and the most sacred of the twelve months. The name Ramadan derives from the Arabic word for 'intense heat' and 'sun-scorched ground'. Which is pretty timely for this summers extreme heat waves around the globe.
There are other significant and magical reasons Muslims celebrate Ramadan.
Some say it scorches out evil like the sun scorches the earth and also just as heat shapes and influences all matter — so does Ramadan shape and influence the believer (the believer of God- one God, remember?)
The first day of Ramadan- which is today August 11th is said to be the first day the Qu'ran (the Holy Book of Islam) was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him).
"The month of Ramadan is that in which the Koran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction; therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days... (sura 2.185, known as The Cow) "
Ramadan is also meant to encourage Muslims to feel and empathize with those who are poor, hungry and homeless and entices all to help the less fortunate and to give to charity.
Pretty Sweet!
There are many historic, spiritual and practical levels of the Ramadan fast which include:
suhoor . Suhoor typically tends to be heavy and is highly regarded by Islamic traditions to benefit of the blessings and avoid crankiness or weakness caused by the fast.
When I was in the Middle East, breakfast was the absolute best meal of the day...consisting of eggs, cheese, dates, pita, mankoushe (lebanese pizza), tea, coffee, juice, fruits and more...
And as soon as the sun sets, its time for iftar, the evening meal often eaten communally.
To break the fast, one eats soft moist and sweet dates. Delicious!
Many of the attributes in celebrating Ramadan remind me of Lent in the Christian Faith, representing the 40 days Christ was in the desert before teaching his sermons.
So with my adoration of cultural traditions, I am going to create my own celebration of Ramadan, to deepen my devotion to the Almight, to appreciate my senses, to go with in and to experience going with out... so I am giving up food for one day of the week until Sept. 9th, when Ramadan is over.
This will be my participation in the holy month of Ramadan. Mash'allah! (Arabic phrase used to show joy and praise)
What things come to mind that you could give up for a month and do you think you could fast during the day for one month...a pretty dificult task but millions do it every year and for hundreds of years?
Isn't it interesting to see how others celebrate the divine? I sure think so!
Ramadan Kareem! (a generous Ramadan)
For one month out of the year and from sun up to sun down, Muslims commit to not eat or drink, to give up certain indulgences like alcohol or smoking and to not make love (only during the day, remember! ;) and its all in celebration of Allah ( one man's "Allah" is another man's "God"...same thing)
"God gives us 11 months out of the year, so I think I can give him one" said Ahmed, the Jordanian bodega chef where I buy my hummus and pickles.
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and the most sacred of the twelve months. The name Ramadan derives from the Arabic word for 'intense heat' and 'sun-scorched ground'. Which is pretty timely for this summers extreme heat waves around the globe.
There are other significant and magical reasons Muslims celebrate Ramadan.
Some say it scorches out evil like the sun scorches the earth and also just as heat shapes and influences all matter — so does Ramadan shape and influence the believer (the believer of God- one God, remember?)
The first day of Ramadan- which is today August 11th is said to be the first day the Qu'ran (the Holy Book of Islam) was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him).
"The month of Ramadan is that in which the Koran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction; therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days... (sura 2.185, known as The Cow) "
Ramadan is also meant to encourage Muslims to feel and empathize with those who are poor, hungry and homeless and entices all to help the less fortunate and to give to charity.
Pretty Sweet!
There are many historic, spiritual and practical levels of the Ramadan fast which include:
- refraining from the physical senses (performed with the mouth/stomach/sexual organs)
- restraining oneself from saying, hearing and looking at negative things
- renewing one's devotion to God
suhoor . Suhoor typically tends to be heavy and is highly regarded by Islamic traditions to benefit of the blessings and avoid crankiness or weakness caused by the fast.
When I was in the Middle East, breakfast was the absolute best meal of the day...consisting of eggs, cheese, dates, pita, mankoushe (lebanese pizza), tea, coffee, juice, fruits and more...
And as soon as the sun sets, its time for iftar, the evening meal often eaten communally.
To break the fast, one eats soft moist and sweet dates. Delicious!
So with my adoration of cultural traditions, I am going to create my own celebration of Ramadan, to deepen my devotion to the Almight, to appreciate my senses, to go with in and to experience going with out... so I am giving up food for one day of the week until Sept. 9th, when Ramadan is over.
This will be my participation in the holy month of Ramadan. Mash'allah! (Arabic phrase used to show joy and praise)
What things come to mind that you could give up for a month and do you think you could fast during the day for one month...a pretty dificult task but millions do it every year and for hundreds of years?
Isn't it interesting to see how others celebrate the divine? I sure think so!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
He first faught with her and then faught for her in 'The Goodbye Girl'
The Goodbye Girl is stands alone as one of my favorite movies of all time!
As an actress, a woman, a narotic and mother (even though I do not have children yet...) I could connect to this film in so many ways.
Written as a play by Neil Simon and shot in Manhattan in 1977...its about the ups and downs of struggling actors in Manhattan who fall into each others laps...first of misery and then of love.
Starring Richard Dreyfus (who won an oscar for the role...and was the youngest man to win the Oscar at that time) and Marsha Mason (who was a powerhouse of an real woman and married to Neil Simon)...it was so well acted, written, choreographed and plotted that I laughed out loud countless times, shed a tear more than twice and related to all characters in the film.
hello! 30 something actors trying to make it in the big city with a heart of gold but no one to share it with...UNTIL...
The Until part is the best. As a woman, Dreyfus was a silly stallion...making the woman laugh and put up her guns all in one breath (as all of us women like to do!)
He first faught with her and then faught for her!!
and every woman wants a man to fight for her...fight to break down the fear barriers we put up simply to survive in this world!
I feel this movie should be seen by everyone...bc its story is sure lived by everyone in that tulmultous and fabulous time of our youth :)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
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