SPIRITUALSISTAHS

Issue Two April 2009

SPIRITUALSISTAHS

Welcome to the
April issue of
‘Spiritual
Sistahs’, an
introduction to
Interfaith
spirituality for
women of the
spiritual path.

Many Paths - Valid and Equal

Promoting the understanding that no faith or belief system
is above or superior to any other!
Words By Rev. Anita McKenzie

Long before the birth of represented in Buddhist, cultural flavors wherever

organised religion,
religious scriptures and
missionaries, African
people had spiritual
practices developed over
hundreds of years and
based on a thorough
respect for divinity of the
earth, its seasons and other
gifts which they honored
and revered for their life-
giving forces.
Although it is not widely
acknowledged, today Black
people of African heritage
belong to many different
faith groups and are
Sikh, Muslim, Hindu,
Christian, Bahai, Humanist,
Rastafarian, Jewish
Kemetic, Shamanic and
other indigenous
traditions; they are also
Interfaith (to name a few).
African people are
traditionally a deeply
spiritual people and true
to their nature, are able
to recognise that God is
called by different names;
and they have initiated and
embraced many of the
globes spiritual and
religious traditions,
contributing unique
in the world they have
ascended to.
I think that in essence
all religious and spiritual
traditions have the same
loving messages and
values at their core, which
means that we can just
get up the mountain in
different ways.
Often the way in which we
have been socialised into
our values, beliefs and faith
can promote a sense of
separateness from others
whose values, beliefs and

1 - © Spiritual Sistahs 2
Issue Two April 2009 faiths are different to our own.
When we think of our values,
beliefs or faith as being '’right'’
this can imply that the 'other' is
'wrong' and this attitude can
keep us trapped, instead of
enabling us to grasp that basic
human need for divine
connection to God through self
and other.
Let us acknowledge there is a
sad history and current reality of
SPIRITUALSISTAHS
deep conflicts within the human
family, many in the name of
different religions. For millennia,
precious teachings about love
and unity that lie at the heart of
every religion all too often have
been overshadowed by those
who preach intolerance and
distrust of the other. How many
have us felt dismissive another
persons faith based simply on
what we’ve heard about that
faith? True and loving acceptance
are also the lessons of
compassion and humility.
The great spiritual teachers as
open-hearted men and women,
have been able to transcend the
perception of 'difference' and
demonstrate their divine gifts
through embracing all of
humanity, regardless of values,
beliefs or faith. Differences, can
Words of Wisdom
Please feel free to send your comments and
favourite quotes for this section to Anita by
email to; healingimageinterfaith@yahoo.co.uk
2 - © Spiritual Sistahs 2
be approached as a potential
source of enrichment.
By believing there is One God,
or One Truth, and that different
paths can and do lead to the
Source of All, we are being
inclusive and embracing of a
universal truth that lies at the
heart of all religious spiritual
traditions. Let us celebrate with
courage, the values of respect,
reconciliation, forgiveness and
fellowship that different faiths
can offer to us, as we honor and
support peace-making and the
awareness of our unity in the
Spirit of a God that has many
Words of Wisdom
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness
comes as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
"Spread Love
Spread love everywhere you
go: first of all in your own
house. Give love to your
children,to your wife or
husband, to a next door
neighbor . . .
Let no one ever come to you
without leaving better and
happier.
Be the living expression of
God's kindness;
kindness in your face,
kindness in your eyes,
kindness in your smile,
kindness in your warm
greeting.
— Mother Teresa."
names.
Dedicated to the Inner
Journey
— From Prayer At Night by Jim Cotter
“Give me a candle of the Spirit, O
God, as I go down into the deeps of my
being. Show me the hidden things, the
creatures of my dreams, the storehouse
of forgotten memories and hurts. Take
me down to the spring of my life, and
tell me my nature and my name. Give
me freedom to grow, so that I may
become that self, the seed of which you
planted in me at my making. Out of the
deeps I cry to you, O God.”
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame,
the malice, meet them at the
door laughing, and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
~ Rumi ~
Issue Two April 2009
SPIRITUALSISTAHS

Be still
Listen to the stones of the wall.
Be silent, then try
To speak your
Name.
Listen
To the living walls.
Who are you?
Who
Are you? Whose
Silence are you?

What is Spirituality?
Ascending the steps of spiritual development - part 1
Words and photo (above) Rev. Anita McKenzie

Being spiritual can mean different things to compassion, by promoting justice and equality.
different people and is misunderstood by a good
many of us. So to offer clarity, here is one offering:To live one’s life in union with the Divine and to
“Spirit is the life of God within [and between] us" realise the freedom of one’s higher Self is the
ultimate gift available to us as human beings.
— Saint Teresa of Avila
This enables us to pay attention to God’s personal
Holiness or sacredness is not simply a matter of communication with us and to respond to this by
personal spirituality or prayer – it can be expressed personally communicating with God, to grow into
through a commitment to social justice and to an intimacy with God; and to live out the
supporting other people to connect with their consequences of that deepening relationship.
divine or higher self, to their ultimate connection
with a God that is known by many different names. We can therefore explore and apply a spirituality
to life that is less theoretical and more personal
Regardless of where a person is on their spiritual and practical; and which is reflected in the quality
path (to God), there is always an opportunity to of our relationship to all things around us in our
explore a deeper relationship with the spiritual everyday lives. We can choose to contemplate what
aspect of being human. Spiritual development this means for our lives by focusing on the
can help us to learn how to live in peace and with messages of scripture and through our spiritual
practice.
3 - © Spiritual Sistahs 2
 Symbols of
faith...
April Faith Calendar
Issue Two April 2009

Photo (opposite) by Anita McKenzie

Friday 3 April
Hindu - Rama Navami -Birthday of
Lord Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu
and the hero of the Ramayana

Hindu - Swaminarayan Jayanti.

This day marks the birth of Bhagwan Every person is a
Swaminarayan for those of the microcosm of the
Swaminarayan tradition. entire Creation.
When a person
Sunday 5 April brings harmony
Christian - Palm Sunday - The sixth between his
SPIRITUALSISTAHS

and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the G-dly soul

entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the
start of Holy Week.
Tuesday 7 April
Jain- Mahavira Jayanti - The birth
anniversary of Lord Mahavira, the 24th
Tirthankar and the "founder" of
modern Jainism
Wednesday 8 April
Jewish - Fast of the Firstborn -
Observed only by firstborn males, on
the day before Passover. This fast
celebrates the survival of Jewish first
born sons from the 10th Plague of
Egypt.
Thursday 9 April
Hindu - Hanuman Jayanti - This festival
marks the birth of Hanuman, the
Monkey God.
Jehovah's Witnesses - Memorial of
Christ's Death. The only religious
festival marked by Jehovah's
Witnesses.
Buddhist - Theravada New Year. New
Year festival for Theravada Buddhists,
celebrated for three days from the
first full moon day in April.
Jewish -Passover (1st day). The start
of the season of Passover when Jews
commemorate the liberation of the
Children of Israel who were led out of
Egypt by Moses. Work is not permitted
on the first two and the last two days
of Passover.
Christian - Maundy Thursday.
Christians remember Maundy
Thursday as the day of the Last
Supper, when Jesus washed the feet
of his disciples and established the
ceremony known as the Eucharist.
Friday 10 April
Christian - Good Friday is the Friday
before Easter. It commemorates the
execution of Jesus by crucifixion.
Sunday 12 April
Christian -Easter Sunday (Western)
Christians celebrate the Resurrection
of Jesus Christ - his return from death
after the Crucifixion. The most
important Christian festival. Most
years Orthodox Christians celebrate
Easter on a different date.
Monday 13 April
Sikh - Vaisakhi. The Sikh New Year
Festival, which also commemmorates
the founding of the Khalsa by the
tenth Guru (Guru Gobind Singh) in
1699.
Tuesday 14 April
Sikh - Birthday of Guru Nanak
(Nanakshahi calendar)- The founder of
the Sikh religion was born on 14 April
1469. This festival is also currently
and material life,
he brings
harmony
between the
whole of heaven
and earth.
—Rebbe, Menachem
Schneerson
celebrated according to the Lunar
Calendar, but this may change.
Sikh - Hola Mohalla (Nanakshahi
Calendar) is currently celebrated
according to the Lunar Calendar,
but this may change.
Thursday 16 April
Jewish - Passover (final day). The
eighth and final day of Passover.
Note that Passover lasts for seven
days in Israel.
Saturday 18 April
Sikh - Birthday of Guru Tegh
Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675) was
the ninth of the Sikh Gurus.
Sikh -Birthday of Guru Angad Dev
(Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Angad Dev (1504-1552) was
the second of the Sikh Gurus.
Sunday 19 April
Christian -Easter (Orthodox)
Orthodox Christians celebrate the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ

4 - © Spiritual Sistahs 2. P.O. Box 50069, London SE6 9AY, England. +44 (0) 208 465 0027 E: healingimageinterfaith@yahoo.co.uk
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Happenings
Online Interfaith Resources
On Facebook the following net-
working groups have been set up:
African Interfaith, Spiritual Sistahs,
and Global Interfaith Ministers.
www.spiritualminded.podcastpeople.co
m/posts/30981 UK Aware 09
Black Peoples Ministries Fri/Sat 17th/18th April. Green and
ethical lifestyle show 020 8842 7500.
...an inclusive and affirming e-ministry www.ukaware.com
for people of African-Caribbean
descent; their friends & families. See:
www.blackpeoplesministries.com Internet Resources

Mind Body Spirit Festival For Family Worship Resources see:

The UK's biggest personal
empowerment festival is now
celebrating its 33rd year at
The Royal Horticultural Halls
(20th-25th May) in the heart
of London.Visit:
www.mindbodyspirit.co.uk
or call for a free programme
0207 371 9191
Spiritual Minded Radio Show
Check out Spiritual Minded Radio
Show da official debut, da urban
show with da sanctified swagga and
leave ya feedback in da comment
section. New shows posted every
Friday at 8pm.Visit:
Free e-book http://www.familyworship.org.uk/
Download Free E-Book by Esther
Leaders in Interfaith
Austin, Author, Soul Coach, Workshop
Facilitator, Talk Show Host. See: http://
A day to reflect on the characteristics
publishing.yudu.com/Freedom/Af426/
and skills needed by interfaith leaders
ReflexionsSoulStirri
in the 21st century, and to explore in
more depth the interfaith spectrum.
The Incredible Veggie Show Thursday 30th April 10am-4.30pm, at
St. Ethelburgas.
Sat 18th April, 10am - 6pm. Royal
www.stethelburgas.org/
Horticultural Halls, SW1 aainterfaithleadership_leadersininterfait
www.viva.org.uk/london h.html
Internet Resources
For Family Worship Resources see:
http://www.familyworship.org.uk/

5 - © Spiritual Sistahs 2. P.O. Box 50069, London SE6 9AY, England. +44 (0) 208 465 0027 E: healingimageinterfaith@yahoo.co.uk