"You were born with wings. Why prefer to crawl through life?"
-- Jalal ad-Din Rumi
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In the Celebration Circle we honor and nurture the Sacred in ourselves, each other, and all Creation.
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Photo by Jack Sanford
The night of our recent Winter Solstice Concert in the Cave Without a Name, a dear friend of mine introduced me to her Sufi teacher, Nizami, and asked if he could sing a prayer as part of the program. I didn't know anything about him, but quickly agreed because the sparkle in his eyes was unmistakeably clear and bright. Little did I know that Nizami was a 17th generation Master Musician in the Sufi tradition from Pakistan, and that his "little prayer" would turn out to be a clear, strong chant that had everyone in the Cave singing and dancing with abandon, virtually floating on air as we left the cave!
And now he's coming to the Circle this Sunday, in addition to offering a workshop in the afternoon. This is a unique opportunity to hear the majestic, moving poetry of Rumi spoken and sung in the original Farsi language, accompanied by his world-renowned sitar playing. Check out http://www.ustadnizami.com if you want to learn more. I really hope you can join us for the deeply poetic experience of being transported into the heart of a piece such as this one: "Gazing into the Light"
GAZING INTO THE LIGHT
The lamps are different,
But the Light is the same.
So many garish lamps
in the dying brain's lamp-show,
Forget about them.
Concentrate on the essence,
concentrate on the Light.
In lucid bliss, calmly smoking
off its own holy fire,
The Light streams towards you from all things,
All people, all possible permutations of good, evil, thought, passion.
The lamps are different,
but the Light is the same.
One matter, one energy, one Light,
one Light-mind,
Endlessly emanating all things.
One turning and burning diamond,
One, one, one.
Ground yourself, strip yourself down,
To blind loving silence.
Stay there, until you see
You are gazing at the Light
With its own ageless eyes.
- Jalal-ud-Din Rumi
(Translated by Andrew Harvey - A Year of Rumi)
With blessings,  
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Sundays
Photo by Gary O Smith
THIS SUNDAY
February 28th
"The Sacred Arts of Rumi"
Join us in welcoming Nizami, a wonderful Sufi teacher playing traditional music of India and Pakistan. In the afternoon, Nizami will also be offering a workshop on Sufi dancing, as well as singing the poetry of Rumi in the original Persian. Find out more about that part of the day below.
NEXT SUNDAY
April 7th
"The Theology of the Matrix"
Guest Speaker, Rev. Bret Lortie, minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of SA joins us as he and Rudolf "trade places" Sunday morning. And, join us if you can, the night before, for our "Matrix Movie Night" (details below).
Sunday Morning Circle meets at 11:00 am
at the Jump Start Theater
located at the Blue Star Arts Complex
Building B
In the heart of King William
(near the corner of Alamo and Probandt) |
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Wednesday Meditation Circle meets from 7:30-8:30pm each week at the San Antonio Quakers' Meetinghouse, located at 7052 N. Vandiver, at Eisenhauer Rd., two blocks west of Austin Hwy. Come experience a calming, centering blend of sacred silence and guided meditations in one of the most beautiful sacred spaces in San Antonio. Sessions are typically led by Rudolf, employing Tibetan singing bowls, acoustic guitar, flute and chanting. Open to all: suitable for beginners and experienced meditators alike; drop-ins are always welcome. Love offering.
THIS SUNDAY, February 28th -
"The Sacred Arts of Rumi"
Join us in welcoming Nizami, Fulbright Scholar and 17th generation Sufi musician from Pakistan, considered one of the foremost masters of the tabla, sitar, and harmonium. He'll be offering an incredible performance in the classical music of India and Pakistan, interspersed with readings of Rumi and Hafiz in their original Persian, alongside his own translations. His soulful, authentic offerings speak from the mystical dimension of Islam to the boundless universality of the heart. If you love Rumi, or if you heard Nizami singing at our Winter Solstice event, you'll know this is a special treat not to be missed. $25 donation helps support Nizami and the Circle. 2-3:30 pm at CircleSpace, 120 Guadalupe St.
Saturday, March 6th 7:00-9:00 pm
"The Theology of the Matrix: Movie Night and Discussion"
If you love The Matrix, come out to CircleSpace for a chance to watch it again (or for the first time), with your favorite Circle folks. We'll watch an hour-long abbreviated version of the movie projected on the 'big screen', followed by a discussion facilitated by Bret Lortie, who'll be speaking at Circle the following morning on "The Theology of the Matrix". We'll provide lots of popcorn...you bring the drink/s of your choice, and maybe some to share! We're gathering at CircleSpace, 120 Guadalupe St. FREE
Sunday, March 21st 2:00-4:30pm
"Spring Cleaning: Cleansing YourSelf from the Inside Out"
A practical, pleasurable, and experiential workshop by Lawrence Cohen, M.D. which will give you powerful tools for releasing toxic build-ups in your body, mind and spirit. Dr. Cohen is a noted medical doctor and Director of the Center for Complementary Medicine. His work incorporates an extensive knowledge of yoga, nutrition, biofeedback, Eastern/Holistic Studies, spirituality and homeopathy, as well as many years of Emergency Room and general medical practice, giving him a truly holistic perspective on health. The workshop will be held at CircleSpace, 120 Guadalupe Street. $20 suggested donation. Reservations requested.
Saturday, April 10th 10am-3pm
"Living in Harmony"
You'll want to be sure and join us for our 6th Annual Day in the Garden at the HillCountrySculpture & MeditationGarden in Kerrville. Treat yourself to a rich and wonderful day in a magnificent, natural setting, spent enjoying guided meditations and uplifting music (Rudolf Harst), plus gentle yoga (Willie McDaniel) and walks through an amazing sculpture garden. For an added treat, consider spending the night in the beautiful Elm Cottage Bed & Breakfast also located on the grounds, located at 1985 Bear Creek Rd., Kerrville, TX, 78028, just an hour's drive from San Antonio. Pack your own lunch; drinks and dessert provided. Suggested donation $40. Reservations requested. Mapquest map and directions: www.elmcottages.com
Sunday, April 18th 2:00-4:00pm
"Freeing Your Inner Storyteller"
Join master storyteller Elizabeth Ellis for an "informance" that will help you unlock the power of your own storytelling. Part workshop, part performance, Elizabeth will give you the nuts and bolts of telling an amazing tale, illustrated by her own craft. With time to work on and practice our own narrative, this will be a fun, interactive workshop not to be missed! CircleSpace, 120 Guadalupe St. $15 donation, reservations requested.
Saturday, April 24th 10am-6pm
"Viva Fiesta!"
Join us at the King William Fair, a wonderful, family-friendly Fiesta event located in the historic King William neighborhood, just a few blocks from Jump-Start Theater. Once again, the Circle will be selling paletas (frozen Mexican fruit bars) at a booth adjoining Kids Kingdom, which makes a good base for roaming the fairgrounds. Admission is $5 for adults; children 12 and under, free.
Friday, April 30 - Sunday, May 2nd
Spring Retreat - "Joy Within"
Slumber Falls Camp & Retreat Center, New Braunfels
Come and enjoy a relaxing, refreshing weekend retreat facilitated by Rudolf Harst. Experience the Sacred thru the Path of Delight, by engaging in a 3-day feast of the senses featuring body prayer, meditation, music, movement, art, fine food and more. And all of this costs only $195 - just $150 if paid by April 18th! (see registration form for details)
For Reservations/Info on any of these events, please contact: circle@celebrationcircle.org or 210.533.6767. Also, don't forget to check out www.celebrationcircle.org for new and updated info. |
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Abundant Gratitude
To Gary O Smith, for capturing such joy with his camera during our Valentine's Day celebration ... and to Joia & Chloe ... for being ... JOY! And if you're ready to reconnect with your Joy, our upcoming Spring Retreat is titled "Joy Within." | |
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