/December Message 2025
Beloved Family, Greetings of love and gratitude as we approach the Holy Day Season, the New Year and Winter Solstice (Summer Solstice for those below the Equator!). Yasmin Spiegel and I returned just before Thanksgiving from a whirlwind journey to Brazil and Argentina. It started with our flight being cancelled and departing two days later than originally planned, The flight time to Curitiba, Brazil - thirty hours!!! Because of the flight delays we only had one day of birding in the jungle and then enjoyed a four day retreat in Curitiba, Brazil with some 60-70 folks at a lovely retreat center. We took a short flight to Argentina, arriving to our destination in the middle of a torrential rain, wind, lightning and thunderstorm! Next day into the jungle for a few more days birding, a visit to the amazing Iguazu Falls and then our retreat in a beautiful jungle rustic setting, but with all the comforts we needed. This retreat was half the size which allowed us to go deep. I initiated Gisele, a physician, who was our exquisite translator, previously a mureed of Anahata in Brazil. In Argentina I initiated Amina (Jessica) a wonderful shaman and dance leader. The Message is alive and thriving in both countries! On a health note, my knees are continuing to heal and now I can see the light at the end of the healing tunnel, much improved from my old worn-out knees! Tamam is also continuing to heal from her lung surgery last June. For the locals, my 2026 Zikr Circle dates are attached. And I am looking forward to sharing the annual Northern California Sufi Sesshin with some of you. This year Murshid SAM’s 55th Urs, January 15, 2026, Celebration will be held in San Francisco with an added Zoom component for those wishing to attend from afar. For our next wazifa practice let us recite YA NUR YA MUNAWWIR. Invoking the Divine Light and manifesting it in our Being! Much love, Shabda |
Wazifa Practice
Recite 101x
YA NUR ~ YA MUNAWWIR
93. Ya NUR (yaa NOOR) ~ YA MUNAWWIR (yaa moo-NOW-were)
An-Nur is the essence of light, luminosity itself. A Qur'anic verse says, "Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth." An-Nur is the light of every soul and an inherent characteristic in every pore of your body. Munawwir is a form of the same root and means the one who illuminates.
It is interesting that the word for "hell" in Arabic is naar, which has the same root as Nur. What makes it hell is that the burning heat there is lacking in light. That kind of burning heat is our inner condition if we don't embody God's loving mercy and compassion (rahma) and instead become full of rage.
Whatever way we may turn, we see the all-pervading light of An-Nur. Even the darkness shines from within it. All the various forms of wisdom and guidance are expressions of An-Nur. For example, Nur-ul-Haqeeqah is the light of truth and guidance on the path. What continues to live on in God when we die is also a legacy of light.
To hear the pronunciation: Ya Nur
Text and Commentary to Study This month we continue studying the Sangatha Cosmic Language of Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan with commentary by Murshid Samuel Lewis. Read Chapter 9 on Will, pages 77 - 83. Click below to download |
BIRDS IN BRAZIL |
BIRDS IN ARGENTINA |
