Dear Friends,
The sixth annual Mosaic Festival, a celebration of all cultures in dance, music, art, and food. The Simorgh Dance Collective will be sharing several traditional dances of the Silk Road during the Festival. This free festival in San Jose honors our community with a day of belonging, healing, and harmony through art and culture. Art is a chance to strive for our highest potential in this lifetime.
As a former soccer player for Foothill College and San Jose State University (a lifetime ago) it has been incredibly special to watch the World Cup. I never thought I would witness among all players and fans such harmony and team work, compassion, and fellowship in my lifetime. In a world that has known so much division, grief, war, and loss, people from every corner of the globe stood together, not as strangers, but as fellow human beings. From my small city of San Jose, @sjearthquakes @cityofsanjose, to the small town of Lawrence, Kansas, @lalgeriefikansascity @cityoflawrenceks, streets were filled with laughter, music, flags, unity, and fellowship that crossed every border imaginable.
In just one month, the World Cup brought people together and created world peace in ways that decades of political rhetoric rarely have. Sport, music, dance, and art speak a language every human heart understands. Perhaps we need to activate more athletes and artists to be our ambassadors, to represent our nations, and fewer politicians.
On a personal level, this year has been one of the most difficult years of my life. And for many Iranians, this World Cup was bittersweet. Our hearts carried the weight of hardship, uncertainty, and the grief of so many lives lost. Yet somehow, amid all of that, for a few precious weeks, we were reminded that humanity is capable of choosing love over hatred, compassion over conflict, and unity over division. May we continue to celebrate athletes and artists who bring people together. Viva unity!
This month, the San Francisco Public Library is celebrating the culture of Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA). I will offering a short book lecture and participatory dances at most of its branches. Look below for the schedule of appearances.
After too long an absence and by popular demand, my weekly online Sacred Circle gatherings will be resuming Sundays in July. For an hour, our gatherings share Persian mystical meditation, breath work, healing rituals, and discussion on Yarsan Sufism practice. Open your heart, body, and mind in this mystical session of meditation, healing, and lectures.
Hoping to see you soon in dance,
Farima
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
~Ghandi