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Russell and Gina Garcia saw a lot of changes in the Bahá’í world, especially in the four decades since the Californians settled in New Zealand. But one consistent motivation for their service to the Faith rings as true now as it did in the 1970s: As Russ told many people, in many ways, over many [...]
Baha’is in Key West, Florida, know the event’s not the thing, it’s part of a process of community building. It’s amazing, though, how the power of music has helped move that process along at the southernmost tip of the continental U.S. Many sectors of Key West rallied around a weekend of activities in mid-November that [...]
Amin Ghadimi recalls “lots of literal sweat and tears” being shed by Baha’is at Columbia University in New York City as they toiled to mount the premiere Oct. 28 of “Education Under Fire.” Hearteningly, friends old and new pitched in to give the documentary, which trains a spotlight on Iran for the denial of higher [...]
Super Bowl Sunday comes just once a year, but Super Soul Sunday is here to stay. “Super Soul Sunday”, a new three-hour programming block on The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), aims to provide programming that nourishes mind, body and spirit. The weekly program includes short films from actor and life-long Baha’i Rainn Wilson’s production company “Soul [...]
“All Art is a gift of the Holy Spirit. When this light shines through the mind of a musician, it manifests itself in beautiful harmonies.” — Abdu’l-Baha Singer-Songwriter Adam Crossley continues to make beautiful harmonies throughout the country as he shares music from his latest single solo album, Anvil of a Heart. Along the way [...]
Prisoner writes, with out lights, half a mile underground He’s won the hearts of the murderous thieves he can’t see, that surround And the rain cries for him And the chains bind to him Like they’ll never see him again Like they’ll never know him again Like they’ll never hold him again Hold him again, [...]
Multimedia on laptops, video on smart phones, apps for tablet computers — what’s next? The landscape for mass media is evolving year by year at an astonishing pace, and fresh possibilities for storytelling blossom steadily as the public embraces new technology. Recognizing that, the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of Communications teamed with U.S. Bahá’í Media [...]
Baha’is who are published authors often find ways to incorporate belief into their works. Here are two. Karen Anne Webb: Spiritual search is no fantasy A change in publishers slowed the Centerville, Utah, Baha’i’s series of fantasy books. But only temporarily. She’s again crafting stories that “get people asking questions rather than running in the [...]
HIDDEN IMAGES – A Collaborative Photo Devotional
On July 24, 2011 friends from diversity of backgrounds attended the “Hidden Images” devotional gathering at the Baha’i Center in historic Tainan, Taiwan. “The process was simple. Each person received one quotation from a major religious background: Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Baha’i. The task was to interpret the words as expressed in reality [...]
Media Boot Camp at the Association for Baha’i Studies conference – Aug 2011
Calling all media producers, photographers, radio and podcasters or anyone who might be interested in participating in a Media Boot Camp. U.S. Baha’i Media Services and the Office of Communications invite you to participate in a special program being held in conjunction with the Association for Bahá’í Studies (ABS) conference in San Francisco, Calif. on August [...]
Improvised percussion adds awe and wonder to the 5th annual choral concert
The Baha’i House of Worship welcomed 1,400 people to the twin concerts concluding its fifth annual Choral Music Festival on May 29. It also had another visitor: a powerful thunderstorm that doused the area with more than an inch of rain — and supplied some “improvised percussion” to accompany the classical, gospel and spiritual songs [...]
Women’s retreat uses music, art, dance to nourish souls
Spiritual retreat celebrates women’s strengths and provides mutual support
No Boundaries: An English Translation of a Poem by Mrs. Mahvash Sabet
Roxana Saberi posts on her official website an English translation of a poem by Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, one of the seven members of the Baha’i leadership group in Iran, now serving their 20 year prison sentences. The poem is the story of why Mrs. Sabet and Mrs. Kamalabadi were transferred within the notorious Gohardasht prison.
Naw Ruz message to Iran’s people inspires launch of online documentary series about human rights
Three short films released today, featuring interviews with Iranian Baha’is whose families have been persecuted by the Iranian government, mark the launch of a series of mini-documentaries – titled “Angels of Iran” – that focus on the country’s human rights record. Executives chose the day celebrating the ancient Persian new year, Naw Ruz, as the series launch date to send a message [...]
Now in its fourth year, the “nineteen days” website started as a collaborative project between Baha’i friends and fellow bloggers, Amy Youssefian Sahba and Leila G. T., as a creative way for them to share moments of their early mornings and evenings for the nineteen days of the Baha’i Fast. Since its second year, they have invited [...]
Since its start in 2007, the annual Baha’i House of Worship Choral Music Festival has attracted musicians and sacred music lovers from around the world. As many as 200 singers spend three days together, learning and rehearsing the a cappella choir parts. The festivals culminate with free, public performances, often for full audiences in the [...]
Positive Hip Hop: Common Market
Carl highlights the band Common Market in his blog Losing Sight of Land. “The first thing you’ll notice about Common Market is the intelligence that they bring to hip hop. Scion’s lyrics are a melting pot of story and biography, and his raps are an adventurous romp through an array of expertly delivered vocabulary words [...]
Singers may still apply to participate in the fifth annual Bahá’í House of Worship Choral Music Festival, set for Memorial Day weekend, May 26–29. Two public devotional concerts and participation in the Holy Day observance on Sunday, May 29, will culminate three days of fellowship, rehearsals, deepenings and other sessions. The festival each year attracts [...]
James Moody was world-renowned as jazz master
Saxophonist and flutist played with Dizzy Gillespie, had own bands
I Believe That Peace is Possible
Listen to Helena Marie Carnes-Jeffries read her “This I believe” essay: I Believe That Peace Is Possible, posted on the blog site Every Person is a Philosopher.
Baha’i presentations attract listeners and feature speakers, artists from a wide area
Andy Grammer Rocks!
In Yours Ambiguously blogger E.E. Talisman shares this rockin new music video by Baha’i artist, Andy Grammer. This video is interactive – you get to choose what adventure Andy takes!
Cape of Good Hope — Love, Compassion, and Race
Moving Pictures, a blog about films that challege, inspire, and provoke thought, reviews the film Cape of Good Hope by Baha’i film director, Mark Bamford. “This thought-provoking comedy explores the ever-present friction between class, race and faith in modern-day South Africa, tracing the intersection of multiple lives.”
“Music as a ladder for your souls…”
Justin Johnson, in his blog, Pearls of Inner Significance, shares some of his very favorite uplifting/beautiful/contemplative pieces of music or chants and wants to know what your favorites are.