Soul Restoration 1

Ok so I just got done watching the awesome videos for SR1 and read the instructions etc and am only now realizing (duh!!! kinda slow i am ..) that although I can do this as a group with friends, I may not share my log in info. Each of you who wants to do this, needs to register (and pay) for the class. And after seeing what all is involved and the personalization that Brave Girls does for each participant, it makes total sense to do it that way. So please check out the website and if you haven't signed up yet and are still debating, please do sign up for this LIFE CHANGING, INCREDIBLE class! Although I'm inviting you to sign up, I'm actually not sure if registration is even open at this point, since classes have begun, but do look into it please. If anything, maybe you'll be able to do it the next time....AND I'll probably blog about my experience at the end of it anyways.  (whenever I do finish).

As always, please feel free to ask questions or post comments.

Love and Light always!

From one sufi to another...

Anita

Anyone wanna join me?

So I've signed up for this awesome online class called "Soul Restoration 1" which is this fun, artsy, 8 week long course offered by Brave Girl's Club for women. Please read the description below and check out the website with additional details in terms of time commitment and materials required. I hope you decide to embark on this brief but crucial journey of self-discovery.

So here is a direct copy and paste from the website:

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Soul Restoration is a course that is often beautifully healing and even life-changing.

You will learn the art of  ‘soul crafting’ (creative art projects, collage, journaling, etc.) including fun & effective methods to help you get unstuck, back on track, and restored to your best self!

This enjoyable and powerful workshop is designed to help you really really think and hear your own soul again…to help you remember what brings you the most joy, to realize & remember all of the things that you are good at and that make your heart sing…to get back on track and to unleash the courage and motivation to stay on track….to reunite with your soul.

This workshop is a method of helping you become reacquainted with your deepest self through remembering and reuniting with your inner ‘Truth-Teller’. You will be helped to discern truth from lies…lies that can be holding you back and making you feel less than who you really are…to remember your dreams, your potential, your gifts and talents, all the possibilities and unique answers for your life(because it is different for each of us).

Soul Restoration is intended to help every woman to find and then keep the bravery needed to stay joyfully true to your own path.

Here is the link to read more about the class:    http://bravegirlsclub.com/soul-restoration-1

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I hope you'll decide to invest in yourself!

Love and Light,
From one Sufi to another,

Anita

Life is too short...so live life fully NOW!

Life is short or rather, life is unpredictable. Nobody knows when their time is up. This isn't something we care to think about but life and death are simply a reality of our existence in the human form.


Some of us age to a ripe, golden phase of seeing our hair grey, our skin wrinkle and our bodies bend with time. If we're lucky, we can be grateful for the wisdom and awareness that only life experiences can bring us. If we're really fortunate, we'll be surrounded by love in the form of family and friends. But then there are others whose life is cut short for one reason or another. The promise held in the years left still to live is a reminder to us all that indeed, life is too short!


So let us all live each day to the fullest.
Let us speak kindly and lovingly to everyone we come in contact with starting with our spouses, our children, our parents, our friends, our co-workers.
Let us appreciate the ones closest to us, be it in proximity or emotional ties.
Let us slow down to appreciate each beautiful moment and take time to smell the roses.
Let us take the time to express our love and gratitude to our loved ones.
Let us take the time to express our gratitude to God always for granting us another BEAUTY FILLED (BEAUTIFUL) DAY !
Let us take time to figure out our dreams and make plans to turn them into goals.
Let us then start taking steps toward achieving the goals.
Let us forgive quickly, apologize earnestly, love passionately and give unconditionally!
Let us remember to BREATHE and BE PRESENT in each moment!!!


Please do share your thoughts on how you would live differently if you knew your expiration date or that of your loved ones.


Love and Light,
From one sufi to another,


Anita

Pillars of our lives!

We all have certain principals (pillars) that define and govern our existence. Some we inherit from our faith, while others we embrace on our own. In an email conversation with a dear friend, I found myself defining the principals that I strive to live my life by. This got me thinking...so welcome to the inside of my head!  

Islam has 5 pillars which govern and define every Muslim's life. They are every Muslim's responsibility to respect and follow. 

The 5 pillars of Islam are:

1. Imaan or Faith - This clearly defines the belief in the "Oneness" of God. Muslims, along with Christians and Jews are called, "People of the Book". All three religions have common denominators which includes the belief in ONE God and in a Holy Book, namely the Quran, the Bible and the Torah.

Back to Imaan or Faith, this comes in the form of a declaration that every Muslim makes, "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God."

2. Salah or Prayer: This defines the responsibility of every Muslim to say their prayers five times a day. This further strengthens the intimate relationship shared between God and his follower. 

3. Zakah: This defines the form of tithing or giving a portion of one's earnings to help others. The belief is that giving Zakah purifies the income and consequently everything touched by that purified income.

4. Sawm or Fasting:  Every year in the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, abstaining from food, water and sexual relations with their spouses. Fasting is seen as a form of self-restraint which leads to purification, a deeper appreciation for life and gratitude to Allah.

5. Hajj or Pilgrimage:  This defines the obligatory visit to the holy land, Makkah for all Muslims who are physically able and financially capable of making this trip. Every year, millions of Muslims from around the world make the holy pilgrimage where they are stripped of their worldly belongings and are dressed in simple clothes. Thus, all are the same in the eyes of God, regardless of their bank balances and zip codes.

As a Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim, I also adhere to a few more expectations which include: Dasond (tithing 12.5% of my income) and allegiance to His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan, who is a direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and our first Imam, Hazrat Ali. 

But in addition to these pillars and expectations, I have my own 6 pillars that further define my existence and journey on this earth.

They are: 

FAITH, TRUST, BREATHE, SURRENDER, HUMILITY AND GRATITUDE!!!

So I strive to live my life with complete FAITH in God. I TRUST HIM and know that HE has me in the palm of his hands...and so when things get tough, i BREATHE and SURRENDER to HIS will and know that whatever happens will be the right thing.!!! Oh and ofcourse,  I also strive to live life with humility and constant gratitude!!!!!!

Thus, when i am told that I am spoiled, i say,  "Shukar!" (Shukran Lillah Wal Hamdullilah - All Thanks is due to Allah and All Praise is due to Allah.)

Ofcourse, I have my days when I am not feeling so humble and grateful. In fact, not too long ago, I went through a period of months where I was pretty upset at HIM. In fact, I was straight up angry. I even challenged HIM to put on HIS boxing gloves and meet me in a ring so that we could duke it out.  Although, this was literally just a few months ago, I honestly can't even recall what I was so upset about. These days, I am in a pretty good place!!! I am feeling extremely blessed and grateful for HIS many graces and thus it's easy to feel humbled and grateful to HIM for all of my blessings. Shukran Lillah Wal Hamdullilah - All Thanks is due to Allah and All Praise is due to Allah. That's not to say that my life has drastically improved or changed. In fact, things are pretty much the same as they were a few months ago. But what's different now is my attitude! 

I invite you to take a few minutes to count your blessings and offer a heartfelt THANK YOU!!! Please do share your thoughts. I know we are here to teach and learn from each other!!! So PLEASE be generous with your wisdom and do share!

Love and Light

From one Sufi to another...

Anita

References:

- For further information on the 5 pillars of Islam, please google it. There are numerous websites that describe in little and or great detail to appeal to one's interest in the subject.

- Do check out the following websites to learn more about us Ismailis. 

www.theismaili.org

www.akdn.org