The Farm of Peace Newsletter
The Farm of Peace and Sufi Spiritual Retreat Center, Warfordsburg, PA
Our Mission:
The Farm of Peace is a spiritual community that
provides love, peace,
healing, nourishment and spiritual guidance
to all of
creation. We seek to bring
peace and healing to individuals -- adults and
children -- and the world by putting into
practice the
Love at
the core of all religions.
Dear Friends,
Like many of our beloved readers, we have
spent the last few days digging out from the
amazing snowstorm that visited the region
this past weekend. As I lifted shovelful
after shovelful of the two-foot-deep snow, I
became awed and amazed at its beauty and
texture -- and particularly, its volume!
Allah has given us
water in frozen form that holds such beauty.
Despite the hard work, I
found myself in delight and contentment
during the many hours of shoveling the snow.
(A good thing, since as this newsletter is
being sent, we are being blanketed with even
more snow!)
This winter, the snow has come and gone more
than once, bringing silence and rest to the
environment, and providing wintertime fun for
the adventurous. Pictured here, Rahima Pasko
shares an afternoon of sledding with the Shay
triplets. Their cries of delight echoed
through the hillsides as they careened down
the Farm's steep, snow-covered slopes.
During this quiet time of year, there is
still plenty of activity at the
Farm. The Farm Circle is looking toward
preparing the land for this year's CSA
garden. Just hearing about the plans to buy
seeds for luscious chard, zucchini, pumpkins,
onions, tomatoes -- the list goes on -- renews
the anticipation of summer's harvest through
Allah's bounty, inshallah. The CSA is now
taking memberships, and there is more
information about the CSA and how to join in
this newsletter.
At the
International Peace Center, the
snow storms that have visited us have kept
Maryam busy clearing
paths -- with help from Ahmed DeOliveria. We
are so grateful to
Mu'min Shay, Habib Reineke, Rifqa Parrino and
Jamil Bastress for operating the tractor-plow
to keep Haven Lane accessible following the
snowfalls. Special thanks to Habib, Mu'min
and Jamil for digging out the snowed-in cars
of our guests. Jim Robins has
installed a beautifully hand-crafted cabinet
with shelves in the IPC atrium. And as you
will read below, the IPC also has benefited from
Shakir Hayes's woodworking skills. Bob
Reuben Driscoll is busy attending to the many
details needed to complete the
publication of his book, Returning for My
Brother, which will be published in a few
weeks, in time for the upcoming workshop for
veterans that will be held at the IPC in March.
The Farm is welcoming many guests for zawiyah
retreat and workshops this winter.
Coming up this week, Salima and Habib
Carpentieri lead a four-day retreat for
couples (stay tuned for announcement of
another couples' retreat in the spring). Dr.
Jeanette Habullah
presents Quranic Foundations to Healing, Feb.
19-20. There is still time to register for
this workshop, which will explore the basis
of healing found in the Quran. It is sure to
be a rich weekend, and is open to all. Call
Jeanette at 410-281-1417 for information and
to register.
Our next Healing Intensive Retreat will take
place at the International Peace Center,
March 3-8. This is the ideal opportunity for
deep healing for anyone who has been living
with physical illness, emotional distress,
relationship challenges, or who seeks
transformation from living life in
limitation. Call Khadijah at 443-298-1082 if
you would like to know more.
Other events that you will read more about in
this newsletter include the workshop for
veterans, an introduction to Sufi spiritual
healing in Gaithersburg, Md., and Salima's
annual trip to Morocco -- a journey of inner
and outer delights.
We invite
everyone to come to the Farm,
whether for zawiyah, for healing, to
volunteer, for a
vacation, or
simply to enjoy the peace. You are always
welcome!
Peace and blessings to all,
Halima Reilly, Editor
Sign Up Now for Farm-Fresh Produce This Summer
Join the Farm of Peace CSA
Are you longing for fresh, juicy tomatoes?
Crunchy cucumbers? Crisp lettuce? Winter is
a time to dream of the bounty that summer
brings from the garden. And it's not that
far away! Plans are currently underway for
our fourth CSA garden, and now is the time to
become a member and enjoy a summer filled
with garden-fresh produce for your table.
A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a
community of members who support a farm
operation, with the farmer and the consumers
providing mutual support and sharing the
risks and benefits of food production.
Members buy their shares in advance, which
helps cover the farmer's anticipated costs of
the seeds, soil amendments, labor, etc. In
return, once a week the members get a share
of that week's harvest, whatever it may be. A
CSA is fun for adventerous cooks and anyone
who likes really fresh, just-picked garden
vegetables.
The Farm of Peace garden is run by beginning
farmers and is committed to growing by
organic principles, even though we are not
certified organic. That means we don't use
chemical pesticides, herbicides or synthetic
fertilizers. We use compost, animal manures,
liquid kelp and other natural products to
promote healthy soil and plants. For pest
control we practice crop rotation and
companion planting, use fabric row covers,
remove pests by hand, and (rarely) apply
approved sprays such as garlic oil, neem oil
or others allowed under organic standards.
For 2010, the share price is $500 for 16
weeks of produce. A
share is suitable for a family of 2-4 people.
The season will run from the end of
May/early June through mid-September, with
the exact start date determined by when our
first crops are ready.
We offer pickups at the Farm on Sunday
afternoons. With 10 or more members we can
also deliver to locations in or near
Baltimore, Hagerstown, Frederick, and Silver
Spring/Bethesda.
Click on the link below for a PDF of the CSA
flyer and a commitment form you can fill out
and send in to join. If you have questions,
you can email CSA@farmofpeace.com, call the
Farm at 717-573-2967, or contact our Farm
Manager, Kamila Dinning, at 301-788-3632.
Blessings of Living in Community
by Shakir Hayes
It has truly been a blessing to live by the
Farm of Peace this past year. The natural
beauty of the area keeps me in a near
constant state of wonder for Allah -- the oak
trees by the fields, the animals at the farm,
the wild turkeys, hawks, pheasants, and
pileated woodpeckers that can be seen by the
roads. This past summer I saw my first
scarlet tanager and my first bluebird.
But I am even more grateful for the community
here. I grew up in a large, loving family,
and since college have moved many places
where I felt the lack of that greater
support. Not so here. Seeing everybody at
weekly Jumas and dhikrs, helping out with the
Farm's woodcutting and other goings-on have
fed my heart. It is so fulfilling getting to
know all the
wonderful warm people that gather here to
praise Allah. I have been witness to two
weddings, and got married myself!
The newly operating IPC building has
benefited from many talented builders and
craftspeople, and I am proud to contribute
some of my own skills. I built a bench for
the staff entrance, and two beds for guests.
Two desktops for the office are on their
way, inshallah.
In my working with wood I have developed a
passion for woodcarving, which has been a
wonderful outlet for my appreciation of
Arabic script and geometry. I would be
hard-pressed to find a better context in
which to develop these skills than the
community here. Alhamdulillah!
A Taste of Healing
Introductory Evening in Gaithersburg, Feb. 12
Sufi spiritual healing is a deeply profound
way of transforming physical illness,
emotional concerns, relationship
difficulties, and the challenges everyone
meets in life. The Healing Intensive Retreat
combines Sufi spiritual healing with a
variety of complementary healing modalities
to provide a comprehensive program of healing.
For anyone who would like an introduction to
Sufi spiritual healing as a way to learn more
about the benefits of the Healing Intensive,
there will be a very special evening of
healing in Gaithersburg, Md., on February 12.
Khadijah Gigliotti, Healing Intensive
Director, along with a team of experienced
healers and
teachers, will provide an introduction to
spiritual healing. During the evening,
participants will receive a personal healing
assessment, followed by an individual healing
session.
This is a chance to learn more about the
Healing Intensive and to introduce friends,
family and colleagues to Sufi spiritual
healing in an intimate and comfortable
setting. Everyone will learn simple,
practical steps for enhancing healing in
their daily life.
A Taste of Healing, Feb. 12, 6:30-10 p.m.;
Relaxing Alternatives Wellness Center, 235
Muddy Branch Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878.
For more information and to register, call
Mastura at 301-514-0113. Cost is $25.
And -- the next five-day Healing Intensive
Retreat at the Farm of Peace takes place
March 3-8. For additional
information, please call Khadijah at
443-298-1082.
Journey with Salima to Exotic Morocco
Register Now for This Adventure, April 7-14
This spring, you are invited to journey to
exotic Morocco, land of beauty, mystery and
many Sufi secrets.
Salima leads your adventure in Marrakech,
where she and Fawzia al-Rawi will shower you
with deep Sufi teachings, visits from
healers, dancers, musicians -- and who knows
what surprises will await? Both men and
women are welcome to take part in this
adventure. You will stay
Fawzia's riyad (guesthouse) in old Marrakech,
where donkeys move through the narrow,
twisting streets and the sound of the athan
floats through the air at
prayer time.
"From the first evening on that rooftop under
the stars in Old Marrakech, silent above the
throngs below, to the last night, sitting in
the women's area of the mosque, open to the
sky, the chanting from the inside room
washing over and through our beings, gazing
at the ancient tiles on the walls and
doorways, this was a journey outside of
time. -- Belqis Lynne, on her experience in
Morocco.
Teachings include sacred dance, music and
healing with the Divine Names and the Arabic
alphabet. There will also be time to absorb
the taste of the city, with visits to souks
(bazaars) to shop for Moroccan textiles,
scarves, clothing and other delights.
Cost is $4,000 which includes your teachings,
meals, accommodations and entertainment.
Airfare is additional. Register with $2,000
deposit by February 20. Call Rifqa at
717-573-2956 for information and to register.
Returning for My Brother Workshop for Veterans
March 17-21 at the Farm of Peace
The Farm of Peace is offering a spiritual
healing workshop for all veterans to find
freedom in life after their war experiences.
If you are a veteran or know someone who is,
this retreat may open the door for you to
heal. We will help identify a path to
recovery for veterans and their families.
The workshop will introduce spiritual healing
as a means to transform rage to hope, and
hope to peace and love.
This retreat is based on Robert Driscoll's
book, Returning for My Brother, which
will be
available very soon. In his book, Bob, a
Vietnam veteran, relates his journey to heal
the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) he
experienced since returning from
war in 1968.
This workshop aims to help veterans find a
path to heal themselves first and move from
experiencing the dark inner enemy to the
freedom and inner light of God. Salima
Adelstein and Robert Driscoll lead the
workshop, along with a team of experienced
healers and
bodywork professionals. The workshop will address
symptoms of PTSD such as sleep disorders,
depression, stess and rage.
After finding freedom from the burden of
living with PTSD through an extensive healing
journey that included the benefits of
spiritual healing,
Bob Driscoll has made a commitment to
educating other veterans about the posibility
of finding freedom. Bob's message to
veterans is, "There is light and love at the
end of the tunnel, and the first step to take
is yours."
Find out more about this comprehensive
healing workshop by calling the Farm at
717-573-2956.
Congratulations, Beloveds!
Our community is growing in many ways -- it
is so fulfilling to extend best wishes to two
couples who recently committed their hearts
to each other in marriage.
In January, Maryam Hand, our IPC building
caretaker, and Ahmed DeOliveria (above,
left) were married by Shaykh Nooruddeen
Durkee during a visit to Charlottesville.
Mahabba Bullington and
Richard Miller (above, right) were married
this past November in a ceremony with Salima
at the Farm of Peace.
Congratulations to the happy couples! May your
hearts continue to be filled with the love
that you have for each other. We
wish many
blessings for Maryam, Ahmed, Mahabba and
Richard.
Upcoming Events
Feb. 12: A Taste of Healing. 6:30-10
p.m., Relaxing Alternatives Wellness Center,
Gaithersburg, Md. An introduction to
spiritual healing, with individual assessments
and healing sessions. A great introduction for
anyone considering taking part in the Healing
Intensive Retreat. $25. Call Mastura at
301-514-0113 to register.
Feb. 12-15: Couples' Retreat with
Salima Adelstein and Habib Carpentieri.
Explore the foundations for a loving and
lasting marriage.
Feb. 19-20: Quranic Foundations to Healing
with Dr. Jeanette Hablullah. $150
includes overnight stay at the IPC. $100
without overnight. Call Dr. Jeanette at
410-281-1417 to
register.
Mar. 3-8: Healing Intensive Retreat.
Five
days of transformative healing and teachings.
Salima
Adelstein provides pre- and post-assessments; a
team of experienced healers, teachers and
practitioners are at your service. Enjoy
home-cooked
meals and the beauty of the Farm. Call HI
Director
Khadijah Gigliotti at 443-398-1082 for more
information.
Mar. 17-21: Returning for My Brother
Spiritual
Workshop for Veterans. Helping veterans
find a path
to healing. Call 717-573-4722 for information
and
to register.
April 7-14: Journey to Morocco with
Salima Adelstein and Fawzia al-Rawi.
Experience the delights of Marrakech
including deep teachings from the Sufi
tradition. $4,000 plus airfare. Register by
Feb. 20: call Rifqa at 717-573-2956.
Dhikr: Sundays, 5:30 p.m. & Thursdays,
7 p.m. Sufi healing
circle for healing of body, mind, heart and
spirit. All
are
welcome! (Potluck supper follows Sunday's dhikr.)
Jumah: Every Friday, 1:30 p.m. Gather in
community for prayers and teachings from the
Qu'ran
and Sidi's writings.
Community Free Healing Day: Second
Saturday of the
month, 2-4 p.m. This is a
great way to introduce your friends
to Sufi teachings and healing. There is no
charge.
Next: Feb. 13.
Call 717-573-2956 for information. Community
Free
Healing Day
also held in Silver Spring, Md. Next: Feb.
21
(call 301-565-7878
to RSVP).
Zawiyah Spiritual Retreat: Give your
heart the
gift of walking more deeply in proximity to
God.
Zawiyah is ongoing at the Farm of Peace for
individuals and families. Cost: $130 per day
includes
teachings, room & board. Call the Farm for
information and to register: 717-573-2956.
Salima Healing Seminar. In this
individual
five-day seminar, Salima offers a
unique opportunity for deep healing. You'll
receive
individual assessments and healings with Salima,
and a series of complementary sessions and
bodywork. Call the Farm at 717-573-2956 to
schedule.
Farm Vacations: Enjoy a vacation in the
country for a weekend -- or longer. Stay at
the farm and
enjoy the woods, fields and animals in a
peaceful,
secluded environment, restful and
revitalizing in all
seasons of the year. See www.farmofpeace.com for
more information. Call 717-573-2956 to make your
reservations. The Farm of Peace is a member
of the
Pennsylvania Farm Vacation Association,
www.pafarmstay.com.
