Just back from the lush forests of Ottawa where I co-led a Sufi-Algonquin retreat with a descendant of the Anishinaabe Omamwiniini First Peoples.
We sang, drummed, did Zikr during the day with birds and with fireflies at night …
To quote Hazrat Inayat, nature is indeed God’s greatest scripture 🙏🏼

There is truly nothing more awe-inspiring than flying above the horizon at sundawn or sunset. It humbles you. And then it makes your soul expand.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “If you are planting a tree and the world comes to an end, continue planting the tree.”
And so we continue - because we still can. And because the mere intention of doing so brings us closer to our life purpose …

They tell me
that autumn
a time when everything
in nature
begins to die
is the best time
to plant new life
You plant hope they say
in the cold, inhospitable soil
knowing that the death
of everything
around you
signals a quiet rebirth
waiting
patiently
underground
with a smile

- Ayeda -