In conversation with sufi mothers around the world on MOTHER
M O T H E R
We grew up believing, “Paradise is at the feet of mothers.” [Hadith of Prophet Muhammad]
For this one, the last 10 years has opened a pandora’s box of enquiry, healing and uncovering deeper layers of understanding linked to the Divine Feminine and ‘Mother". My own journey to motherhood was laced with complications and challenges and then once finally coming into motherhood, I found myself forced to explore my own mothering and to reconcile and make peace with the suffering experienced.
Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Needs
Over time, I’ve come to understand how impactful a mother is to her child’s emotional and psychological development, particularly in the formative years (0-7). Abraham Maslow’s heirarchy of needs made me look further into intergenerational traumas and the realisation that migration, colonilaization and wars have caused systemic paradigms of survival where many parents who never had their needs met may not have had the codes or programmes to support their children.
Today in the 21st Century with more women on anti-depressants than ever before, where the demands of meeting financial security, child raising pressures of managing ageing parents, mothers are more stretched and pulled than ever before. They say it takes a village to raise kids, so how do we come together and bring awareness to a system that pulls many more away from heaven?
My own journey has turned me inside to surrender and look for healing and wholeness so the I can steward life, starting with my own and such that my children might get a fraction more of their needs met than my own were.
For me, it started with turning it over to God and finding compassion. In holding my mother in heart beyond the hurt, pain and damage and to take myself to the edge of understanding, so that her inner child can meet mine and together we might choose something new, fresh and different. It’s a continual work in progress!
This conversation with Khadim Chisti, Shazreh Hussain, Rabia Malik and Leila Bahreinian came from love. A deep love for the Divine, a love for the Feminine, a love for the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), for Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi, Shams of Tabriz and our own teachers Kabir & Camille Helminski. My respect and admiration to the Sufi women around the world who have been mirrors, friends and teachers on this path of healing fills the heart with gratitude as we share with you what came in reflecting together on Mother.
I also want to acknowledge the role of men and fatherhood and perhaps a similar conversation to honour fathering may come to light in time.
A special thanks to Camille Adams Helminski, who’s love for the Beloved Mary, holds a beacon of Light in this world and reminds us of the sincerity, trust and surrender required to keep receiving Light and Wisdom from beyond.
From Ninety-Nine Name of the Beloved (by Camille Adams Helminski)
Bismillah ar Rahman ar Rahim
1. Ar Rahman, The Infinitely Compassionate & 2. Ar Rahim, The Infintely Merciful One
Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim, Ya Wadud
O You who are Infinite Compassion,
Infinite Mercy,
How could we conceive
Of the vastness of your Love?
Every day you nourish us,
everyday You support our limbs
as we move through this space
You have given us,
and those whose portion
has become stillness,
still, inwardly, may travel vast distances.
Your Sun shines every day upon us all,
Whether in remembrance
or forgetfulness,
Your compassion holds our hearts
and would inform us
if we would be pause
to receive Your Knowledge----
and the rains come pouring
into these hearts
when we have opened
in thirst these throats
ready to receive Your Mercy,
clear water for those who are longing.
You return us to our origin----
And everything was created from water---
You Mercy comes to know Itself in us,
Until Rahman is seated upon the throne of the heart,
So that the radiance of that Sunshine
might fill these fragile bones
with strength from the depths
and the heights
of Your Loving,
that like the Prophet Muhmmad
we might, also,
become “a mercy to the worlds.”
For, ‘Truly those who have faith
and do the deeds of wholeness and healing
the Infinitely Compassionate will endow with love.
Ya Rahman, O Infinitely Compassionate One
(the sun that shines upon us all)
Ya Rahim, O Infinitely Merciful One
(the rain of blessing we receive when we turn and open in receptivity)
Ya Wadud, O Infintely Loving One.
Timeline:
00:00 - 2:04 Introduction of the Shazreh Hussain, Rabia Malik, Leila Bahreinian and Khadim Chisti
2:04 - 6:13 What is motherhood?
6:13 - 9:32 Islam and Motherhood
9:32 - 11:15 The Prophet being a mother
11:15 - 18:02 Idealism of being a mother
18:02 - 24:08 Do children who had a nourishing experience with their mother have a higher degree of positive emotional intelligence? Does it guarantee a good and compassionate life?
24:08 - 33:56 Modern Woman: Balancing Career and Motherhood
33:56 - 39:37 Challenges and Pressure of Motherhood
39:37 - 43:03 The imperfection in mothers and God’s Rahma (compassion)
43:03 - 48:22 The demands of motherhood
48:22 - 49:58 The Prophet’s Life
49:58 -52:48 The Spiritual Warrior in every mother