September 2007...
* 8/13 eve to 9/12 eve: Elul. * 9/1: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that harm to the Earth and sentient beings results from ignorance of interdependence. * 9/3: Labor Day--Day to reflect on the sacredness of all work and the value of ethical, meaningful employment. * 9/3: Day gender discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1981); day to mourn all manifestations of sexism. * 9/3 to 9/4: Sri Krishna Jayanti--Birthday of Hindu God Krishna (avatar of God Vishnu), beloved of Goddess Radha (avatar of Goddess Lakshmi). * 9/6: Day Latin American Catholic Bishops espoused Liberation Theology (1968). They believe that the Gospel requires Christians to aid the poor and oppressed in the struggle for economic and social justice. * 9/8 (OC 9/21): Birthday of Blessed Mary, catalyst of liberation and redemption. * 9/8: Baha'i feast honoring the one Deity as Izzat - the Almighty. * 9/8: Animal Day--Day to honor all creatures of the land and to meditate on Deity manifesting as animals - God-Goddess as Ra/Lion & Rait/Lioness (Old Egyptian); Nandi/Bull & Prisni/Cow (Hindu); God as Cernunnos/Stag (Old Celtic) & Mica/Coyote (Lakota); and Goddess as Rhpisunt/Bear Mother (Haida). * 9/8: Death day of Mother Ann Lee (1784), mystic and founder of the Shakers, who worshipped with ecstatic dance and song, and believed Deity to be Father, Son, Mother, and Daughter. * 9/8 eve: Vigil for lost grandparents; night of mourning and healing. * 9/9: Grandparents' Day--Day to give love and thanks to all grandparents; day for all grandparents to celebrate their age and contemplate their sacred duty to share their wisdom with the young. * 9/9: Christian feast of St. Joachim, father of Blessed Mary and grandfather of Blessed Jesus; guide of grandfathers and elderly men. * 9/10: Birthday of Thomas Thayer (1812), Universalist who believed Deity to be at work in evolution and continuing Creation. * 9/11 (8:44 a.m. EDT): New Moon. * 9/11: Day terrorists killed over 3,000 innocent civilians of many ethnicities and religions from 86 nations (2001); day to mourn all victims of terrorism. * 9/11 to 9/14: Iroquois Squash Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the squash harvest. * 9/12 eve to 9/14 eve: Rosh Hashanah/Jewish New Year (Year 5768)--Commemorates Creation of the World by Elohim, the one universal Deity; begins ten days of self-examination and penitence for harm done. * 9/12 to 9/16: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Spenta Armaiti, creator and protector of Earth. * 9/12 eve to 10/11 eve: Ramadan--Muslim month of purification by self-reflection, fasting from sunrise to sunset, peace-making, and helping those in need. * 9/13: Day Israelis and Palestinians committed to peaceful coexistence (1993); vigil for true peace, justice, religious tolerance, and equal rights for all in the Middle East. * 9/14: Birthday of Margaret Sanger (1883), non-violent advocate for education, autonomy, and responsibility concerning sexuality, reproduction, and birth control. * 9/15: Day the first woman was ordained a Congregational/Unitarian minister in the U.S. (1853). * 9/15 to 9/25: Ganesha Chaturthi--Hindu festival honoring God Ganesha (son of Goddess Parvati and God Shiva) as the Challenger - creator and remover of obstacles. * 9/17: Christian feast of St. Hildegard von Bingen (d. 1179)--mystic who sang praises to the Holy Spirit as Grace (Caritas) and Wisdom (Sapientia). She recognized the Holy Spirit to be the feminine aspect of the Holy Trinity, and found Her everywhere in Nature. * 9/19: Appearance of Our Lady of La Salette, Mother of the Harvest (France 1846). * 9/21: International Day of Peace--Day to demonstrate for peace with justice throughout the world. * 9/21 eve to 9/22 eve: Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement--Jewish day of fasting, prayer, reconciliation, making reparation for harm done, and helping those in need. * 9/21 eve to 9/22 eve: Remembrance day for Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (d. 619 or 623), Mother of Islam: first convert to Islam, partner of Prophet Muhammad in monogamous marriage, mother of Fatimah, and liberated businesswoman. * 9/22: Day the world's nations committed to protecting the sky's ozone layer from harmful chemicals (1988); day to mourn continuing air pollution. * 9/22 to 9/23: Coya Rayni--Inca festival honoring Moon Goddess Quilla; focus is on purging sickness and evil. * 9/23 (5:51 a.m. EDT): Autumn Equinox--Marks the beginning of Autumn and point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates the bounty of Mother Earth with feasting and aiding those in need. * 9/23: Old Slavic Dozhinki--At the end of the grain harvest, God Jarilo/Lado betrays Goddess Morana/Lada, and he returns to the realm of the dead. Morana's anger and sadness causes the world to become dark, cold, and dead. * 9/23: Taoist festival honoring the Shen of Winds, West, and Autumn; thanksgiving is made for the harvest. Taoists believe the unity of Yin (Eternal Feminine) and Yang (Eternal Masculine) make up the psyche-matter-energy of the eternal all-encompassing Ch'i. * 9/23: Aki-no-Higan--Day Japanese Buddhists mark the time of change by meditating on the impermanence of life. * 9/23: Beginning of Libra (the Scales of Lady Justice). * 9/23 eve to 9/24 eve: Demokratia--Old Greek festival celebrating democracy, constitutional government, and justice under law. Zeus Agoraios, Athena Agoraias, and Themis were honored. * 9/24: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Obatala, Orisha of Peace and Justice. * 9/24 eve to 10/3 eve: Greater Eleusinian Mysteries--Old Greek festival recalling Goddess Demeter's search for Her missing daughter Kore. * 9/26 (3:45 p.m. EDT): Full Moon (Indigo/Wise-Crone Moon). * 9/26 to 10/4: Navajo Sing--Festival in thanksgiving for the harvest. Estsanatlehi/Changing Woman is believed to represent life, and is manifested in the harvest. * 9/26 eve to 10/3 eve: Sukkot/Feast of Ingathering--Jewish thanksgiving for the fruit harvest. Originally, a dance procession was made to vineyards and wine was offered to Elohim. Also commemorates the years in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. * 9/27: Baha'i feast honoring the one Deity as Mashiyyat - Divine Will. * 9/28: Indigenous Peoples' Day--Day for celebrating the life-affirming spiritual traditions of indigenous peoples world-wide. * 9/28: Birthday of Confucius (K'ung Fu-Tzu) (551 BCE). He taught that societal harmony could be realized when individuals acted with loving care for family, concern for friends and neighbors, benevolence to strangers, and respect for all. * 9/29: Feast of Michael, Angel of Protection, and Uriel, Angel of Justice. * 9/30: Christian feast of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), Soul of the Universe, and source of faith, hope, and love. * 9/30: Birthday of Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207), Sufi saint and poet. He believed the soul to be one with Deity, and thought ecstatic experience of Deity could be attained with music, whirling dance, and chanting Deity's holy names. * 9/30: Birthday of Elhanan Winchester (1751), Universalist who exhorted people to lives of personal ethics and social reform.
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Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2007
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2006 Marija Miovski
www.WheeloftheYear.com
