Category: Exploration

Through the Womb of Love (part 2) Journeying Home

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BEGIN TO BUILD THE INNER HOLY MOSQUE OF YOUR HEART and experience grace

  • Make space for ritual prayer and heart-centered meditative connection
  • Reflect on your understanding of the Divine and the relationship you hold with the Divine
  • Be honest with yourself on where you are in terms of surrender, faith, beliefs, certainty and reliance
  • Get to know God by how He describes Himself, relying on His words to speak to you; in humility He may unveil hidden secrets to your heart
  • Be sincere concerning personal shortcomings and practice repentance 
  • Observe yourself with a compassionate eye of love
  • Work on healing core wounds and issues that hinder trust and reliance in/on the Divine; begin with establishing the love, trust, and sincerity within yourself
  • Consciously choose to open your heart, drop into your heart, and empty your heart of all pictures
  • Practice engaged Remembrance
  • Seek out Knowledge and the gnostics for Truth 
  • Reflect on creation and the nature of existence, anchoring words of revelation as revelation
  • Surround yourself with heart-centered beings

Journeying Home 

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT ON

Questions that explore our relationship with God get to the root of our current state. Honest introspection opens us up to another way of being: a doorway into empowerment, depth into presence and meaning, and fortitude in tribulation. We begin to face and heal our deepest wounds as an act of love; wounds that need to be healed, and healing that requires a compassionate and merciful self. We learn how to walk deeply in authenticity and embrace the gifts of our Higher-self. We begin to tap into the innate power of our spirit. We begin to trust, follow, and act on guidance pointed through self-inquiry. Bit by bit, piece by piece, fragment by fragment, we return back the power we once gave away, was lost or had taken away from us, or became frozen in the derangement of an experience. And as the fire of His love begins to burn away the impurities clouding our true vision, we begin to see more clearly.

Say, “Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever [name] you call – to Him belong the best names.” Qur’an 17:110

We Will Lead

After hardship, Allah will bring about ease.

Qur’an 65:7

The Way

 

God will come to you with His grace and comfort after every hardship. 

As long as He finds you at home. 

Rumi 

1.

Establish certitude and depth of connection through prayer and remembrance

2.

Purify and heal through awareness and Divine Invocation

3.

Observe and reflect on creation as sign-posts of Divine Intelligence at play

4.

Unlock hidden treasures through heart dhikr and duʿa (supplication)

 

 

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me. Qur’an 2:152

And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. Qur’an 7:180

We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. Qur’an 41:53

And your Lord says, “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” Qur’an 40:60

 

Through the Womb of Love (Part 1)

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Groundwork for healing – the power of your soul and the interwoven bond of mercy that serves as its container. 

What must it have been like, nestled in that womb? The miraculous gift housing the pre-stages of physical embodiment. Is it possible to feel, know, experience and actually awake into a realization that Grace never left us? Within our reach, say, to find ourselves lifted, and carried, in the simplicity of a prayer? A prayer as humble as: Pour Your Grace over me. May I get out of my own way, I don’t know how to do this, just pour Your Grace over me and guide me to see and get through this. Help and teach me how to trust You, unconditionally. 

At a time when the general “health” of our collective reality is challenged, may this serve as a reminder of our hearts’ anchor. With the stretch of COVID-19, alongside fires of chaos and turbulent uncertainty, many face the day frozen fear-bound. Yet the potential to rise above disruption, exists, and insists — we transform. 

Subjectively current, objectively timeless. Written for every heart. There is no compulsion in religion(1).

 

Rooted in Mercy

As this one opens up this page to begin to write, I begin in the Name of the One who taught us that He is a God of love. And in this search for the words to convey the root of the root of the root the breath sways, lip-syncing the contours of Bism’ Allah Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim. A profound introduction of how we are taught to remember Him: through the Womb of Love. ر ح م R–H–M.

I believe it is important to start here. And to pause, here. How do we know and define our relationship with God? Is God merely an abstract concept or is there an intangible relationship and reality that is felt, experienced, and actually actualized? And in such a relationship, what dynamics predominate? In a universe governed by Laws, it is fundamentally important to muster up the courage to think deeply and traverse these questions with honesty within our own being. 

may forgotten truths of the Divine pronoun hu breathe through us Grace. rooted in mercy, we are. rooted in love, we are. rooted in hu. 

Oh, beautiful HuMan. return to your origin. Return the Sacred to the Sacred. we were born, pure. Rooted in mercy.

 

Omniscient

He (Hu) is All-Knowing

OmniPotent

He (Hu) is All-Powerful

OmnipResent

He (Hu) is All-Present

A Good Opinion of God – حٌسن الظّن بِالله 

Questions that explore our relationship with God get to the root of our current state. Honest introspection opens us up to another way of being: a doorway into empowerment, depth into presence and meaning, and fortitude in tribulation. We begin to face and heal our deepest wounds as an act of love; wounds that need to be healed, and healing that requires a compassionate and merciful self. We learn how to walk deeply in authenticity and embrace the gifts of our Higher-self. We begin to tap into the innate power of our spirit. We begin to trust, follow, and act on guidance pointed through self-inquiry. Bit by bit, piece by piece, fragment by fragment, we return back the power we once gave away, was lost or had taken away from us, or became frozen in the derangement of an experience. And as the fire of His love begins to burn away the impurities clouding our true vision, we begin to see more clearly.

What was it like, pre-eternity? What must it be like, to be immersed in Grace? And has that, really, ever changed?

The power of your soul and the interwoven bond of mercy that serves as its container begins with a good opinion of your Lord. Rooted in mercy.

Our tradition teaches us the importance of holding a good opinion of God (husn al’dhan billah). 

حٌسن الظّن بِالله

This one simple point, and focus of our discussion here, has everything to do with the way we perceive reality, the motives driving our actions, and the outcomes meshed with the infinite and paradoxical nature of the Divine.

Let’s begin with the analogy of ‘baby in a womb’ to take us to the root of the root. A baby, in all its developmental stages, never needs to ask to receive all its given. This is rahmah, the mercy, of our Rabb, our Lord, the Absolute Giver, Most Merciful, and Infinitely Compassionate. His gift of continuous love, protection, and nourishment. 

And yet, as our Lord, He is also to teach us and help us grow and expand while maintaining full authority and control over existence. These are some of the deeper meanings captured in the name Rabb. So as we go through life, some experiences are pleasant. Some, not so much. Others, classification: hell. And yet within every one of these experiences He remains as the only constant, with the ability to attend to this one universal human need: 

My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need. Qur’an 28:24

Tumultuous experiences in their very nature are trials that push us outside of our comfort zone. Understood from a souls’ perspective, experiences that shake the foundation beneath our feet hold the biggest opportunity for growth and expansion — and draw us in closer proximity. And yet if we can remember no soul will ever be given more than it can bear and seek refuge in the Governor of All Affairs — we might find ourselves suspended in His infinite mercy. 

Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Qur’an 2:286

This one affirmation anchors strength, rekindles hope in moments of despair, merges certainty within the uncertainty, and creates a bridge for crossing. 

We are co-creators of our reality. This means we take part in creating what we experience. And every form that manifests begins in thought. Most of us operate without conscious awareness of the mental noise. The circumstances we find ourselves in are not just ‘handed down’ to us. Change the inner — you change the outer. What we experience is neither a punishment nor a reward. It is a mirror. We were created in the Divine Image to know the Divine. Yet many of us are weighed down by veils that cause a sense of separation. By holding a good opinion of our Lord, relying on words of revelation to understand the One Love, we can work our way back into balance.

Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. Qur’an 13:11

But what if I’m not there? How do I get there? Is there hope in midst of darkness? Never underestimate the mercy of the Most Merciful nor forget the importance of having a good opinion of your Lord. He is Al-Mujib, the One Who Responds, and is closer to you than your jugular vein(2).

The seeds of courage, resilience, patience, inner resolve and strength reside within. Center through the storm. Fear is founded on separation. Return, to the Merciful Source of Love, accessible to all. Access the latent power of your soul from deep within.

 

Awakening in the transition, closing prayers

With refined graceful resolve, we take an honest look at our relationship with the Divine and begin to turn things around. For some, it’s a faint hello, can you hear me? Help me believe. For others it is more affirmative: I know you hear me, strengthen my conviction please. And for the lovers, it is a silent plea in constant motion that whispers: increase me in knowledge, increase me in love, solidify in me the truth — in Being. 

 

One sincere prayer from the heart can move mountains. Together, let us take a deep breath and exhale slowly huuuuu and enter into the present moment of the Real.

Give me the strength to embrace every experience. Help me feel and tune into Your Presence, the loving Presence of Hu.  

‘O Ever-Living, O Self-Subsisting One, in Your Mercy I seek relief.“’(3) Ya Ḥayy Ya Qayyūm, bi-Rahmatika astagheeth. 

يَا حَيُّ ، يَا قَيُّومُ ، بِرَ حْمَتِكَ أسْتَغِيثُ

‘O Ever-Living, O Self-Subsisting One, by Your Mercy I seek help, rectify for me all of my affairs and do not leave me to depend on myself, even for the blink of an eye.’ (4) Ya Ḥayy Ya Qayyūm, bi-Rahmatika astagheeth. ‘Aslih lee shawnee kullahu wa law takilnee ‘ilaa nafsee tarfata ‘aynin.

يا حي يا قيوم ، برحمتك أستغيث ، أصلح لي شأني كله ، ولا تكلني إلى نفسي طرفة عين

 

 

NOTES:

(*) The word Abed in Arabic is translated by many as slave. I choose the alternative word choice servant for translation to limit the negative connotation associated with the word slave. It would take a deeper discussion to convey the deeper meaning embedded in slave. The term slave would require one to hold the capacity see past the veils of darkness and step into the light of its true origin. In order to bypass, for the sake of context within this post, the deep meaning contained in the English word to translate Abed has been used.

Qur’an Translation: Sahih International

 

References

(1) Qur’an 2:256

(2) Qur’an 50:16

(3) Hadith Reference Tirmidhi

(4) Hadith Reference Hakim

 

Recommended Resources:

Nouman Ali Khan’s work. Free available lectures accessible via YouTube. An in-depth study of the Qur’an available on Bayyinah TV via subscription basis.

Caroline Myss’s work (comprehensive). See YouTube Spiritual Direction series relative to current period challenges.

Merging science and spirituality: Gregg Braden’s work (comprehensive). Reference to gain a deeper understanding on quantum physics in layman terms. Thorough research explaining the power of prayer, and the lost mode of prayer.

Institute of Spiritual Healing: Foundations of Spiritual Healing. Practices and teachings of the Shadhilliyah Sufi order; learn how to access the Sound Code for healing.

 

 

 

Is this not but an opportunity to draw closer?

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Groundwork for healing – a short piece exploring our response to a pandemic (subjectively current, objectively timeless).

Written at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, where the language of fear noosed into play verbatim, a subtle and gentle peaceful energy of love continued to flow into the heart of all of creation. Why is it then, that the reaction of many, was welcoming and propagating variants of psychological and emotional distress? It almost seems like suffering, at its core, is optional, not inevitable. See adversity through the eyes of the Beloved, who continues to call us back to wholeness, and to the potentiality to experience every experience through the peaceful lens of Love.

As groundwork for healing, it invites you to take an active role in embodying the Light within to reflect the peace and the love. Whose side do you choose, love, or fear? At a subtle level, which role do you play, victim-to-circumstance or game-changer?

 

Virtuous names, awaiting your invocation

I open this conversation honoring the Names of Divine Beauty and Majesty reflecting on The Corrector, the Balancer, the Distressor. It is not the first time in history crisis strikes. With Allah SWT’s permission, vast spaciousness has been created to allow the environment to breathe and the human to reflect. We must not forget that. A virus, by definition, is not alive, technically that is. The gross manifestation and infiltration into our systems: ecological, physiological, financial etc. is very alive.

Humbled before He Who Gives Life, and He Who Takes Life, as He pleases; ever-so-mindful and hopeful of the Ever-Living, Al-Hayy and The Sustainer of All-Life, the Self-Subsisting, Al-Qayyum. Trusting in Al-Wakil, Al-Wali, Al-Muhaymin, Al-Qadir. We are not alone in this.

May we open our hearts and cease to be indifferent. We are not alone. Our united hearts, the uniting hearts of all believers, is critical for our time. I imagine if there was one universal message transmitted by COVID-19 it would be: All is One. Trust in Allah SWT — the governor of all our affairs.

Endurance, beautiful patience

The world as we know it will not be the same. We must come to terms with that. The impact hits hard: economical, social, political. For many of us, its taxing: mentally, emotionally, psychologically and, spiritually. We must come to terms with that. The outbreak, infectious and widespread, is not within the parameters of our own control. Times are most likely to get worse, before anything gets better, soon. We must come to terms with that. The emergence of this global crisis is no coincidence. We must not be foolish enough to think that. And yet, in the midst of the storm, our anchor remains revelation: be patient and put your trust in a Merciful Lord who constantly, without flinch, pours grace over you, and “He bringeth them out of darkness unto light by His decree” (Holy Qur’an, 5:16).

As we relive what COVID-19 means to us, may we take note. Perhaps, ever so subtle, a slight discomfort arises in the mentioning of its name, the implications of its effect, the re-emergence of memories related to the reality you experience, take note. And then, handover all affairs to the Governor of All Affairs.

Affirming, life

I imagine, the COVID-19 pandemic, is both a trial and an opportunity, at the individual and the collective level. In its’ awakening, humanity is forced to look at where we got it all wrong. We are all responsible, at some level, and it is up to each one of us to allow the shadows within us to be brought up into the light. Now faced to acknowledge and accept what is, will we fully awaken in the process? Will we fully awaken? The changes that need to manifest in the outer world must start within.

We are responsible for the quality of our thoughts, emotions, and feelings. Show gratitude through Al-Shakur, we’ve taken so much and given back so little. Remember Al-Nur, He who is the Light of the Heavens and Earth. Trust in Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum, forces of darkness and destruction are balanced when we affirm life. Be conscious of Ar-Razzaq, He always provides. Open up to give through the hands of Al-Ghaniyy, Al-Karim, there are many in need. And be confident in Al-Qadir, His Might transcends time, space, and dimension and He only needs to say for it to ‘Be’, and it ‘Is’.

Each of us is encouraged to discover a very personal relationship with the resonance of each Divine Name. To co-create reality is to breathe life into the manifestation of Divine Attributes through meditation and prayer. Help spread harmony back into a chaotic field cracked from the imbalance and darkness within our own hearts. 

Powerful forces of change, prayer and meditation

There is deep solace in prayer. The cards have been dealt. The pandemic is, real. Junction points, however, are pregnant with potential. Our power to heal, sprout, rebuild, and shift, in parallel to the events of our time, is paramount. Our tradition reminds us that prayer, dua, is the  ‘weapon’ of a believer. 

Prayer, emphasizes: is this not but an opportunity to draw closer, bring forward positive change? Choice, reasons again: how will you respond?

Social distancing and the enforced ‘separative’ regulations that have become almost the new mainstream normal, need not, and cannot, distance the power Love. We must access the latent power that resides within. The power of our souls. A birthright, instinctive, knowing, and impactful. It levels trust: trust in the unseen.

We can consciously set the intention to do this. To unite our hearts and allow the breathe to move the invisible creative force of Love to create the change needed in the world. When we intend to meditate or pray in synchronization, we honor the Truth that All is One. Darkness dissolves in light. Healing can be instantaneous. Surrender brings in relief.

We do not just pray to God, or, for God. We pray in, with, and through God.

Prayer is alignment to the Beauty and Majesty of All that Is. We humble our own will, the desires of the ego, to align to the will of the Divine, and allow submission to be the means of that which transforms us.

Pray, peace. Pray, love. Pray, union. Pray the feeling, the emotion, the thought alive in action. Pray in the realm of the imaginable world ‘as if’ — seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, sensing with thought feeling and emotion that the prayer was already answered. In one reality, it is.

 

 

 

 

Surrender, allow for deepenings and openings

Surrender is humility and humility is in surrender.

We are here to heal, ourselves, and in healing ourselves, we heal humanity. Let us not forget, in parallel, the outbreak traversed the months of Rajab, Shaban, and Ramadan. These are very sacred months. Instill habits of cultivation and then firmly plant them into soil ground. Particularly in times of darkness, there needs to be unwavering conviction to serving the light. Trust in Divine intervention. Pray, as One. Be the difference you want to see in the world — our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual bodies mirrored as health in our world.

May we witness the peace, strength, life and vitality that emerges through our unified efforts. We hold the most powerful gift to create change — and it is the gift of prayer. May we be of those who invoke Him in our every step. Is this not but an opportunity to draw closer?

As the Ocean merges as One with the shore-line, through the Beauty of Remembrance, can we turn our homes into a Light-house during this period of trial and hardship, and serve all of His creation?

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