Dear Friends,
I wish to thank the San Francisco Public Library for granting me a place in its Summer Stride program at each of six San Francisco public library branches. The Summer Stride program is San Francisco Library’s annual summer learning, reading and exploration program for all ages and abilities. This summer, the program honors the diverse cultures, traditions and histories of Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) heritage. I have a schedule to visit each library branch and for an hour introduce my book The Companions of the Sun and present the history and spiritual dimensions of Iranian dance and ritual. During the program, my dancers and I present a live example of each classical and sacred Persian dance. The audience even has the opportunity to participate as I lead a Persian folk dance with scarves. Afterward, signed copies of my book are available for purchase. If you live in San Francisco plan on visiting the last presentation August 16 at the San Francisco Library Portola Branch.
But if you miss the program at a San Francisco library I continue to give similar author presentations at bookstores and libraries about the Bay Area this summer. Look for me at the Scotts Valley library, Feldmen’s Books in Menlo Park, the Santa Cruz Library, and the Benicia Public Library. Others will come.
My third and last online program of a three part series exploring magic and mythology in ancient Iran is titled Astrological Magic of Ancient Iran. Join me August 9 as we explore the forgotten world of Iranian astrological magic through ancient texts, cosmology, planetary symbolism, ritual practice, and the role of dreams in the Iranian mystical tradition. Look for its details below.
My weekly Sunday morning online Sacred Circle gatherings resume August 9. For an hour, our gatherings share Persian mystical meditation, breath work, healing rituals, and a lecture and discussion on Sufism. For August, our lecture topic will be on the Seven Valleys of Farid al-Din Attar. Each valley represents a stage that the soul must cross to reach divine truth and are named the Valley of Quest, the Valley of Love, the Valley of Understanding, and others. Each of our seven weeks through August and into September one valley of Sufi philosophy will be discussed. Join us and open your heart, body, and mind in this mystical session of meditation, healing, and lectures.
Hoping to see you in dance soon,
Farima
“Be patient where you sit in the dark. The dawn is coming.”
~Rumi