A Calm Storm

The blog of Sholeh Samadani Munion

Category: Thoughts

a few thoughts

– There needs to be a good balance between spending time with people and being alone. Too much of either and it is possible to go a little bit crazy. – Walking through ivy league campuses makes me feel smarter….

Rumor and Gossip

“Why this great unrest — wars and the rumors of wars, changing of dynasties, earthquakes, cataclysms? The people cry “Peace, peace; when there is no peace!” Are not these the outer sign that man has lost the inner truth?” -Abdu’l-Baha…

the present and future

I never have more than five minutes to write. If there were more minutes there would be more pages. Forgetting more than remembering. My feet ache with two miles walked under heavy bags, with the feeling of concrete next to…

Turning point

There are things to do. Decisions to be made. I’ve been home for nearly 2 months, and it has been a much needed break from the last few years of work (and before that, school). So…I’m working on that. Being…

Streams of light

“In this wondrous age, however, praised be God, the commandments of God are not delimited, not restricted to any one group of people, rather have all the friends been commanded to show forth fellowship and love, consideration and generosity and loving-kindness…

month 18

The eyes of strangers touch, leap across crowded spaces, and safe smiles reach the lips, are traded, and fade.  The touching of eyes crosses space, marble floors, dirt paths, and place settings with coffee stains and the remnants of sugar…

I like…#7

Sleeping/reading in the sun homemade flan old stones and large spaces balconies the mix of roses and jasmine at night doorways silence at the right moments orange blossoms conversations with people at least twice my age details   Naw-Rúz (the…

Politics

It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the current election in the USA, but I feel that it is important to be very clear about how I, as a Baha’i, discuss these matters. I decided to…

I like…#6

Handwritten letters Outtakes at the end of movies Emails from my little sister Sing-alongs Laughing and not being able to stop Saturday morning brunches Hearing from you (I Like: #1,#2,#3, #4, #5)

storyteller

Sweet little lady, bare feet in the summer grass. Her eyes closed, face up to the sky, there is forever stretched around her. Perfect, perfect, and her heart just stops just one moment as she breathes in the universe…as the…

Science and Religion

My last post regarding science and religion was touched on very lightly, so I thought I’d explain a bit of where I am coming from.  The following excerpts explain much better than I ever could. “Among the ancient philosophers the infallible…

Recent news

I read an article today alerting me to a slightly disturbing facet of Facebook’s new marketing campaign: your online purchases at external sites are being shared with your friends on Facebook.  Not only would you possibly be endorsing products (and not getting…

Reading into things

Hands can tell you so much about a person. The way they look when dishes are being washed, or gently brushing the curls on a child’s head.  The way a hand is gently surrounded, or holds. Eyes communicate first, and…

I Like…#5

quick glances on trains new haircuts violins in rock music fat little babies in winter hats balconies and cloud-watching at night crumbling stone walls with tiny green fingers of ivy funny book titles: (I Like: #1,#2,#3, #4) I will write…

Reflections

“Love is the means of the most great happiness in both the material and spiritual worlds!” -Abdu’l-Baha Sometimes I don’t know how I got here (physically, spiritually, emotionally). Most days everything feels normal…and then there are the times I find…

Over halfway

September 8th marked the halfway point in my service in Haifa.  9 months left. I know that I’ve changed, that I’ve stayed the same.   There are so many beautiful moments, and I wish I could gather every beautiful soul into…

The end of summer

Night skies are less heavy with your feet off the ground, sitting three steps up. But still somehow weigh on me with the flower scents from gardens across the street, with the emotions of evening rain hanging over my head….

Today

I was born on a Sunday. One of my favorite stories is about when my parents brought me home from the hospital. My parents put me in my crib, and they say (here my dad always jumps in and states…

Things I like… (#4)

(Credit to Vahid for this picture) cobblestone streets really great handwriting tea at Bahji in the afternoon spanish moss on willow trees vegetable stands on the side of the road broken pieces of colored glass in the sun old cemetaries…

wait.

I am strangled by time zone differences and my inability to communicate. I spent the day doing nothing except watching documentaries and baking gluten-free cookies. I didn’t even clean, respond to emails, make phone calls…not one useful thing. Oh, well…

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