2007 Feminist - Human Rights - Social Justice Dates

* 1/1: Day the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect freeing Confederate slaves (1863); day to mourn African victims of slavery and racism (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of African Americans. [President Abraham Lincoln made the Emancipation Proclamation on 9/22/1862.]

* 1/1: Day the first woman was ordained an Episcopalian priest in the U.S. (1977). [Rev. Jacqueline Means]

* 1/1: Day the World Trade Organization (W.T.O.) was created (1995). Day to peacefully demonstrate to ensure that international trade complies with international and domestic standards concerning human rights, environmental protection, consumer protection, and labor practices.

* 1/4: Day ethnic discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1969); day to mourn all manifestations of racism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: signed/adopted 3/7/1966; entered into force 1/4/1969.]

* 1/5: Birthday of Guru Gobind Rai Singh Sahib, tenth Sikh guru (1666). He believed that only those who love find Deity, and exhorted Sikhs to show compassion for humanity. [Sikhs visit gurdwaras (temples), where the Adi Granth is read, hymns are sung, and a communal meal is shared.] [Guru Gobind Singh lived 1666-1708; guru 1675-1708.] [a/k/a Guru Gobind Singh Parkash]

* 1/8: Death day of Galileo (1642), astronomer; day to mourn the persecution of scientists by religious authorities. [Birthday 2/15/1564]

* 1/10: Day North Korea (DPRK) withdrew from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (2003). [North Korea announced its intention to reactivate its nuclear program in 10/2002, ejected I.A.E.A. inspectors in 12/2002, and is now in the process of developing nuclear weapons. Pursuant to the Agreed Framework of 1994, North Korea agreed to abandon an earlier nuclear program in exchange for agricultural, energy, and economic aid. North Korea alleges that the U.S. did not deliver all its promised aid, and North Koreans are suffering from starvation due to a long-term famine. North Korea also believes that the U.S. plans to attack it after attacking Iraq because it was labeled part of the "Axis of Evil." It objects to the build-up of U.S. troops on/near the Korean peninsula. It has said that an attack on North Korea would trigger "Total War" and a "Third World War." North Korea has also said that it would view economic sanctions as an act of war. On 2/6/2003, it threatened a preemptive strike on U.S. troops in the demilitarized zone (DMZ). North Korea has one of the largest armies in the world. It could attack South Korea and Japan, and may have the ability to strike as far as Alaska, Hawaii, and the West Coast of the U.S. North Korea requested direct dialogue with the U.S., but the U.S. refused to negotiate directly with North Korea until China agreed to host talks. (The U.S. has no formal relations with North Korea.) Talks occurred on 4/23-24/2003. On 4/24/2003, North Korea announced that it had a nuclear weapon. On 5/12/2003, North Korea withdrew from an agreement with South Korea to keep the Korean peninsula nuclear-free. Six-nation talks began in August 2003 and continued in February 2004 and June 2004. However, North Korea refused to attend talks in September 2004. On 2/10/2005, North Korea suspended its participation in the talks.] [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: signed 7/1/1968; entered into force 3/5/1970. The International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) is authorized to enforce compliance with the Treaty.] [Agreed Framework Between the United States of America and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea: signed 10/21/1994.]

* 1/12: Day genocide was outlawed world-wide (1951); day to mourn all victims of genocide. [Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide: signed/adopted 12/9/1948; entered into force 1/12/1951.]

* 1/13: Death day of George Fox (1691), founder of the Quakers. Quakers experience Deity within and practice egalitarianism, social activism, and peacefulness. [Born 7/1624: exact date unknown]

* 1/15 (Obs. 1/15): Birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929), Baptist preacher and non- violent advocate for the rights of African Americans. [Death day 4/4/1968]

* 1/16: Day El Salvador's 12-year civil war ended (1992); vigil for true peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Central America. [The 12-year civil war between leftist rebels and the military government of El Salvador ended 1/16/1992.]

* 1/20 eve: Rosh Chodesh--Jewish women gather to celebrate the feminine aspect of the one universal Deity. [a/k/a Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat, Rosh Chodesh Shivat, Rosh Chodesh Shivath, Rosh Chodesh Shevat]

* 1/22: Day the Supreme Court recognized women's right to reproductive autonomy (1973). [Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)]

* 1/22 eve to 1/23 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite--Day to honor peace and compassion.

* 1/29: Birthday of Thomas Paine (1737), Deist who recognized the inherent rights of all men and women, and opposed non-democratic government. Deists believe Deity to be consistent with Nature and reason. [Death day 6/8/1809] [a/k/a Common Sense Day]

* 2/1: Day President Abraham Lincoln approved the Constitution's 13th Amendment, outlawing all slavery (1865). [The 13th Amendment was approved by Congress on 1/31/1865 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 12/18/1865.] [a/k/a National Freedom Day]

* 2/1 to 2/28: Ethnic Equality Month--Time to honor all peoples and their positive traditions; time to meditate on the equality of all peoples, on the respect due to them, and on God-Goddess manifesting as African, Asian, Oceanic, Middle Eastern, European, Hispanic, and Native American. [Expands idea of African-American History Month a/k/a Black History Month.]

* 2/4: Vigil for peace, religious tolerance, and equal rights for all in Sri Lanka - now in the throes of civil war. [The civil war arises out of the legal preference given to the Sinhala people, the Sinhalese language, and the Buddhist religion over the Tamil people, the Tamil language, and the Hindu religion. The Sri Lankan civil war has been ongoing since 1983. On 2/22/2002, the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers guerrilla organization signed a cease fire and, on 12/5/2002, an agreement was reached to develop a federal structure of government with regional autonomy. However, the Tamil Tigers pulled out of peace talks in 4/2003, claiming they were being marginalized.] [Sri Lanka gained its independence on 2/4/1948.]

* 2/6: Day to mourn all the women and children who have been subjected to female genital mutilation. [Female Genital mutilation is also known as "FGM" and "female circumcision". FGM results in severe pain, bleeding, disfigurement, urine retention, recurrent infections, painful menstruation, sexual dysfunction, infertility, and complications in childbirth.] [International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting established on 2/6/2003 by the Inter- African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC).]

* 2/7: Birthday of Frederick Douglass (1817), non-violent advocate for the rights of African Americans. [Death day 2/20/1895]

* 2/11: Day the first woman was consecrated an Episcopalian bishop in the U.S. (1989). [Bishop Barbara Harris]

* 2/14 (A 3/27): Beginning of Old Egyptian Proyet/Emergence month of Paenrenenutet/Pharmouthi, dedicated to Neteret Renenutet and Neter Nepri. [Priests and priestesses made offerings of food and drink to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that all people had abundant food and drink.] [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 3/27] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Paenrenenutet day 1]

* 2/15: Birthday of Susan B. Anthony (1820), non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [Death day 3/13/1906] [a/k/a Susan B. Anthony Day]

* 2/15 to 2/16: Mahashivaratri--Hindu fast, night vigil, and feast for God-Goddess Shiva-Shakti (union of Will and Power), who dances to create, destroy, and re-create the universe. Tantric Hindus believe Shiva is within all men and Shakti within all women. [a/k/a Shivaratri, Mahashivaratra, Shiva's Night, Bhole ka Vrat, Shiva Vrat, Shiva's Fast, Shiva Puja]

* 2/19: Day the President ordered the internment of loyal Japanese Americans during World War II (1942); day to mourn Asian victims of internment and exclusion (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Asian Americans. [Executive Order 9066 was signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt.]

* 2/23 eve to 2/24 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa) - as creatrix, midwife of birthing creatures, protector of the young, and punisher of child abusers.

* 2/25: Tara Puja--Tibetan Buddhist fast of Bodhisattva Goddess Tara. All are equal in Her circles; She is worshipped with meditations on mandalas and chanting of mantra. [8th Tibetan day]

* 3/1 to 3/31: Gender Equality Month--Time to honor both genders; time to meditate on the equality of women and men, on the respect due to both women and men, and on Goddess-God manifesting as woman and man. [Expands idea of Women's History Month.]

* 3/8: International Women's Day--Day to mourn victims of gender-based oppression and misogyny (past and present), make peace, and celebrate women's empowerment.

* 3/9: Day slavery was outlawed world-wide (1927); day to mourn its continued existence. [Convention to Suppress the Slave Trade and Slavery: signed/adopted 9/25/1926; entered into force 3/9/1927.]

* 3/10: Death day of Harriet Tubman (1913), who risked her life to guide slaves to freedom. [Birthday unknown]

* 3/12: Day Pope John Paul II, in the name of the Catholic Church, asked Deity's forgiveness and apologized: to Jews for anti-Semitism, to Muslims for the Crusades, to peoples of other religions for forced conversions to Christianity, to Christians of other denominations for intolerance to them, to dissenters for the Inquisition, to women for their humiliation and marginalization, and to the poor and the powerless for indifference to them (2000). [On the first Sunday in Lent in the Jubilee Year, as a part of the liturgy of the Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Pope John Paul II made this public confession with the aid of seven cardinals and bishops. The Pope also forgave the sins of other religions against Catholics and other Christians.]

* 3/16: Day Pope John Paul II expressed remorse for the failure of Christians to prevent the murder of six million Jews during World War II (1998). [This was expressed in "We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah".] [Pope Pius XII, who became Pope in 1939, was silent about the Nazi persecution of Jews, other than a 1942 Christmas message that acknowledged that "hundreds of thousands of persons...because of nationality or race, have been consigned to death".] [Pope John Paul II also expressed sorrow for the suffering of Jews at the hands of Christians in a note left at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on 3/26/2000. However, Pope John Paul II planned to beatify Pope Pius XII, until protests dissuaded him. And, in spite of protests, he beatified anti-Semitic Pope Pius IX on 9/3/2000.]

* 3/16 to 3/20: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Spenta Mainyu (Holy Spirit), creator and protector of humans. [a/k/a Hamaspathmaedaya, All Souls, Parsi Muktad, Irani Farvadigan]

* 3/18: Day the first woman served as imam, leading a public, mixed-gender, Muslim congregation in Jum'ah prayer, and delivering the sermon (2005). [Dr. Amina Wadud is an Islamic scholar, feminist, and professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Wadud is the author of "Qur'an and Women: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective," the first interpretive reading of the Qur'an by a woman. Dr. Wadud says that the Prophet Muhammad approved the practice of women leading mixed-gender prayer.] [Since 3/18/2005, other women have served as imams for mixed-gender congregations.]

* 3/19 to 3/27: Navaratri/Gangaur--Hindu festival honoring Great Goddess Maha Devi as Gauri - life, growth, and fruition. Tantric Hindus recognize gender equality and reject caste. [a/k/a Chetra Navratras, Navaratra, Gauri Tritiya, Devi ki Karahi, Devi Vrat, Devi Puja]

* 3/20: Vigil for peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Iraq. [On 11/8/2002, the U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 1441, which required Iraq to destroy all of its weapons of mass destruction and to cooperate with weapons inspectors searching for these weapons. The Iraqi government claimed to have already destroyed these weapons. As of 3/17/2003, Chief U.N. Weapons Inspector Hans Blix had found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and Chief I.A.E.A. Weapons Inspector Mohamed ElBaradei had found no evidence that Iraq had resumed its nuclear program. The U.S. claimed to have knowledge of the location of these weapons, but the weapons inspectors searched the alleged locations and found nothing. On 3/3/2003, the U.S., the U.K., and Spain introduced a resolution asserting that Iraq was in material breach of Resolution 1441. It proposed to authorize use of force if Iraq failed to prove disarmament by 3/17/2003. France, Russia, Germany, China, and Syria indicated that they would oppose this resolution and any authorization of force. They proposed to continue weapons inspections and to use U.N. peacekeepers to aid the inspectors. (France and Russia also threatened to veto any authorization of force.) Failing to gain the support of a majority of the Security Council, the resolution was withdrawn on 3/17/2003. On 3/17/2003, President Bush declared his intent to invade Iraq in 48 hours. Following this, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan ordered weapons inspectors to leave Iraq. On 3/20/2003, U.S. forces began an aerial assault, targeting leadership compounds in Baghdad in an attempt to kill Saddam Hussein. U.S. and U.K. forces also began a ground invasion of Iraq. Iraq resisted, using guerrilla war tactics, shooting missiles at Kuwait, and torching some of its oil fields. The U.S. and the U.K. claimed that more than 44 countries supported this war, but only Australia and the Iraqi Kurds sent military forces. Muslim "holy warriors" from other Arab countries have aided Iraq, answering the call to "Jihad." During this war, civilians were used as human shields and were unintended victims of military attacks. Burning oil has also caused environmental damage to the entire region. By 4/11/2003, the Iraqi government had collapsed, the leadership had disappeared, much of the military surrendered or was defeated, and most of the country was under Coalition control. However, sporadic fighting continued throughout the country, developing into an insurgency. "Liberation" brought anarchy, including mass looting and destruction of property. Coalition forces failed to keep civil order in areas under their control. They failed to stop ethnic violence and looting of hospitals. In spite of Coalition promises to safeguard Iraqi museums and archeological sites, the Baghdad Antiquities Museum and other museums and archeological sites were looted of their antiquities. Even nuclear sites were allowed to be looted. Civilians also suffered from lack of food, water, and medical care. However, no weapons of mass destruction have ever been used or found. This war against Iraq without U.N. Security Council authorization and made in "anticipatory self defense" was not justified under international law and sets a dangerous precedent undermining international law and security.] [Though coalition forces continue to fight the insurgency in Iraq, Iraqi sovereignty has been returned to Iraqis: Civil governing authority was initially vested in an Iraqi Governing Council on 7/13/2003. An Interim Constitution was adopted by this council on 5/8/2004, and an Iraqi Interim Government was vested with full sovereignty on 6/30/2004. An Iraqi Transitional Government was elected on 1/30/2005. A permanent constitution is expected to be adopted by 10/15/2005, and a new government is expected to be elected pursuant to that constitution by 12/31/2005.]

* 3/21 eve to 3/22 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and defender.

* 3/22 eve to 3/23 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes--Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.

* 3/28: Death day of Scott Cunningham (1993), who taught a reverent, ethical, egalitarian, and ecological form of Wicca. [Birthday 6/27/1956]

* 3/30: Day the Constitution's 15th Amendment went into effect, recognizing the right of all ethnic peoples to vote (1870). [The 15th Amendment was approved by Congress on 2/26/1869 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 3/30/1870.]

* 3/31: Birthday of Cesar Chavez (1927), who won recognition of migrant workers' rights through organization and non-violent protest. [Death day 4/23/1993]

* 3/31: Vigil to mourn China's annexation of Tibet (1959) and the killings, torture, and religious persecution of Tibetan Buddhists. [Day the Dalai Lama fled into exile following the Chinese invasion of Tibet.]

* 4/1: Old Slavic feast of Lada and Lado, protectors of lovers and youth.

* 4/1: Day that same-sex marriage was first legally recognized (2001). [Same-sex marriage has been legalized in the Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003), Spain (2005), and Canada (2005). Many countries recognize same-sex civil unions or domestic partnerships (e.g., Denmark (1989), Norway (1993), Sweden (1995), Greenland (1996), Hungary (1996), Iceland (1996), France (1999), South Africa (1999), Germany (2001), Portugal (2001), Finland (2002), Liechtenstein (2002), Croatia (2003), Israel (2004), Luxembourg (2004), New Zealand (2004), the United Kingdom (2004), Switzerland (2005), Andorra (2005), and Slovenia (2005)). In the U.S., the state supreme courts of Hawaii (1993), Vermont (1999), and Massachusetts (2003) ruled that the bar to same-sex marriage violates their state constitutions. Subsequently, Hawaii adopted (1998), and the Massachusetts legislature proposed (2004), a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The Hawaii and Vermont legislatures were given the option of recognizing civil unions, which Hawaii (1997) and Vermont (2000) both adopted. California (1999), D.C. (2002), New Jersey (2004), Maine (2004), and Connecticut (2005) have also legalized same-sex civil unions or adopted same-sex domestic partnership laws. However, some U.S. states have passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage (e.g., Alaska, Nevada, Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and Kansas), and others have statutes or judicial decisions banning same-sex marriage. A federal statute (Defense of Marriage Act -- 1996) bans same-sex marriage under federal law and allows states to not recognize same-sex marriages contracted elsewhere.] [Christian denominations that perform same-sex marriage ceremonies include the Metropolitan Community Church, the Unitarian Universalist Association, the United Church of Christ, and the Ecumenical Catholic Church. Congregations of Reformed Judaism and congregations of Reconstructionist Judaism also perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Some Episcopal churches, Presbyterian churches, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) meetings, and congregations of Conservative Judaism also perform same-sex marriage or blessing ceremonies.]

* 4/2 eve to 4/10 eve: Passover/Pesach--Jewish festival recalling their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and celebrating freedom from oppression. [Observed with dietary restrictions, the Seder meal (representing their hardships), and recitation of the Haggadah (relating the Exodus).] [a/k/a Pesah, Feast of Unleavened Bread]

* 4/6: Mahayana Buddhist festival of Bodhisattva Tara/Kuan Yin/Kannon; celebrates Her "birth." She declared women the spiritual equals of men. [2nd Chinese month, 19th day]

* 4/6: Day the Hutus began genocidal massacres of Tutsis in Rwanda (1994); vigil for true peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Africa. [Over 800,000 were killed.]

* 4/7: World Health Day--Day to pray for healing of all those chronically and seriously ill; day to advocate for adequate health care for all. [Day the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) was founded in 1948.]

* 4/7: Birthday of William Ellery Channing (1780), Unitarian who believed all concepts of Deity to be aspects of the one Deity, and preached religious tolerance. [Death day 10/2/1842]

* 4/11: Day Pope John XXIII called for world peace, recognition of human rights, and justice under law (1963). He recognized that peace will only be realized when social justice is realized. [The Pope believed that it is the function of government to create a juridical order, in harmony with the moral order. He recognized that each person is vested with rights and duties that are universal, inviolable, and inalienable. The Pope said that each person has: the right to live, the right to the means necessary for life, the right to freedom of speech, the right to pursue the profession of choice, the right to an education and to receive information about public events, the right to religious freedom, the right to found a family, the right to work, the right to a just and living wage and work conditions conducive to family life, the right to own property, the right of meeting and association, the right to emigrate and immigrate, the right to participate in public life, and the right to legal protection of these rights. He indicated that government, with due regard for the equality of all, has a duty to accommodate the rights and duties of all, preventing the rights of some to impede the rights of others. Government must be particularly concerned with the welfare of the weak, minority groups, and refugees. The Pope believed that governments should, in their international relations, also act with truth, justice, and respect. He also believed that wealthier countries should aid the poorer ones. He encouraged countries to work together through the United Nations and other international entities. The Pope condemned the arms race and the development of nuclear weapons, and said that disarmament is necessary for world peace. He disapproved of war, recognizing that weapons of mass destruction could not serve justice.] [This is expressed in Pope John XXIII's Encyclical on Peace on Earth.]

* 4/12: Day Saudi Arabia's top Islamic authority condemned forced marriage as un-Islamic and banned the practice (2005). [Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, who heads the Council of Senior Ulema (Scholars), said forced marriage is against Islamic law and those responsible for it should be jailed. He said: "Forcing a woman to marry someone she does not want and preventing her from wedding that whom she chooses...is not permissible" under Islamic law. "Anyone who insists on forcing a woman...to marry against her will is disobeying God and His Prophet (Muhammad)."]

* 4/14: Day the Sikh Khalsa was created (1699). Men and women initiated into the Khalsa seek harmony with the divine through introspection and service to the dispossessed.

* 4/15: Holocaust Remembrance Day--Day to mourn Jewish victims of genocide and anti- Semitism, make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Jewish Americans. [a/k/a Yom Hashoa]

* 4/17: Day Cambodia fell to the Khmer Rouge, who caused the deaths of more than a million civilians (1975); vigil for true peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Asia.

* 4/19: Day Nicaragua's 9-year civil war ended (1990); vigil for true peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Central America. [The 9-year civil war between rebels and the government of Nicaragua ended 4/19/1990.]

* 4/20: Akshay Tritiya--Final day of Jain fast; day of Jain pilgrimage. Jainas practice harmlessness, simplicity, and charity to attain enlightenment and unity with Deity. [Jainas who have undertaken fasts are rewarded with sugar cane juice.] [a/k/a Akshaya Tritiya, Akshaya Thritiya, Akshyatritiya, Akshay Trutiya, Akhatrij, Varshitap Prarana, Varshitap Parna]

* 4/20 eve to 4/21 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite--Day to honor peace and compassion.

* 4/22: Day the world's nations guaranteed asylum to those persecuted in their homelands on account of their ethnicity, religion, or political opinion (1954). [Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees: signed 7/28/1951; entered into force 4/22/1954.]

* 4/25: Day for meditation on Tantric Bodhisattva Deities Avalokitesvara and Green Tara, consciousness and empowerment of Compassion. Buddhists recognize the equality of all sentient beings. [a/k/a Tara Puja, 8th Tibetan day]

* 4/26: Day to take your children to work to teach them the value of self-sufficiency. [a/k/a Take Our Daughters to Work Day]

* 4/27: Death day of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1882), Transcendentalist Unitarian who believed in equality, self reliance, and the immanence of Deity in humans and in all Nature. [Birthday 5/25/1803]

* 4/28: Day publication of photos taken at Abu Ghraib prison revealed the physical abuse, sexual abuse, and humiliation of prisoners by the U.S. military, in violation of international law (2004).

* 5/1: Day Pope John Paul II affirmed that capitalism must be tempered by social justice and restrained by human rights and environmental laws (1991). [Pope John Paul II rejected communism and totalitarianism, as well as consumerism and unbridled capitalism. He reaffirmed the fundamental rights of workers to their own labor, to dignity in work, to reasonable working conditions, to humane working hours, to a just and living wage, to a family life, to associate with other workers for their collective good, and to participate in a democratic process of governance under the rule of law. He indicated the government has an obligation to seek full employment of all workers through its economic policies, to provide social security for those unable to work, and to provide unemployment insurance and retraining for the unemployed. He also reaffirmed the right to private ownership of property, including technology, but cautioned that the government should not favor the wealthy over the poor. Rather, it is the responsibility of the government to protect all people, but especially the poor and the vulnerable, from exploitation by rich and powerful companies, particularly in times of economic and industrial change. He also indicated that governments should not allow companies, in the name of capitalism, to exploit the natural resources of the Earth irresponsibly and destroy the environment.] [Expressed in Pope John Paul II's Social Encyclical, issued on the 100th Anniversary of Rerum Novarum, the Social Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, which it strives to reinterpret.]

* 5/3: National Day of Prayer--Day to pray for freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and separation of religion and government throughout the world.

* 5/4: Birthday of Horace Mann (1796), advocate for universal nonsectarian education. [Death day 8/2/1859]

* 5/5: Cinco de Mayo--Day celebrating Mexico's struggle for independence; day to mourn Hispanic victims of exploitation (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Hispanic Americans. [The Battle of Puebla occurred on 5/5/1862.]

* 5/8: Christian feast of St. Julian of Norwich (d. 1419) - mystic who believed Deity to be Father and Mother, everywhere in everything.

* 5/10: Death day of Theodore Parker (1860), Unitarian slavery abolitionist and social justice activist. [Birthday 8/24/1810]

* 5/12: Dakinis' Day--Day Tantric Buddhists make offerings to Mother Tantra; day to unite will and power to manifest positive social change and environmental healing. [Observed primarily by Tantric initiates.] [a/k/a Mother Tantra Puja, Tsog, Tsok, 25th day]

* 5/12: Day the first woman was ordained a rabbi in Conservative Judaism (1985). [Rabbi Amy Eilberg]

* 5/14 eve to 5/15 eve: Celebration day for Muhyi ad-Din Ibn El-Arabi (d. 1240), Sufi saint who honored Deity as a unity manifested in all Nature, both genders, and countless forms. [El-Arabi lived in Spain and wrote "Bezels of Wisdom" and "Meccan Revelations". He theorized about divine immanence ("Allah is Nature, and Nature Allah"), divine transcendence ("Allah is above Nature, which Allah created"), and the unity of being.] [Birthday & death day unknown] [a/k/a Muhyi ad-Din Ibn El-Arabi Wissal]

* 5/17: Day the Supreme Court concluded that ethnic-based segregation of schools violates the U.S. Constitution (1954). [Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)]

* 5/18: Remembrance day for Moses de Leon (d. 1305), Kabbalistic mystic. He ardently loved Einsoph, the one universal Deity, made up of the Tetragrammatan (God-Goddess Yod-Heh-Vau- Heh). [He also conceived of the one universal Deity as the Tree of Life (11 Divine Sephiroth).] [Birthday & death day unknown]

* 5/20: Day the Supreme Court recognized that discrimination against lesbians and gays violates the U.S. Constitution (1996). [Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996)]

* 5/21: Death day of Jane Addams (1935), social worker, feminist, and peace advocate. [Birthday 9/6/1860]

* 5/23: Birthday of Margaret Fuller (1810), Transcendentalist and feminist who argued that women, as well as men, have immortal souls. [Death day 7/19/1850]

* 5/28: Memorial Day--Day to contemplate all the horrors of war, mourn war's victims, and support relief efforts for them.

* 5/29: Death day of Baha'i Prophet Baha'u'llah (1892). Baha'u'llah believed Deity to be male, female, and beyond gender. [Birthday 11/12/1817] [a/k/a Ascension of Baha'u'llah]

* 6/1 to 6/30: June dedicated to Old Roman Goddess Juno - partner of Jove (God of Happiness), protector of marriage and family, and punisher of abusive and adulterous spouses.

* 6/1 to 6/30: Gay and Lesbian Coming Out Month--Time to celebrate all forms of love and family. [a/k/a Gay and Lesbian Pride Month]

* 6/3: Day the first woman was ordained a rabbi in Reform Judaism (1972). [Rabbi Sally Priesand]

* 6/4: Day to mourn the massacre of the peaceful pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China (1989); vigil for democracy and respect for the human rights of all in China.

* 6/5: Baha'i feast honoring the one Deity as Nur - Light. Baha'is recognize ethnic equality.

* 6/11: Birthday of Mordecai Kaplan (1881), founder of Reconstructionist Judaism. He perceived Deity to be a genderless Cosmic Force of Nature, and promoted a Judaism that recognizes gender equality. [Death day 11/8/1983]

* 6/13: Christian feast of St. Anthony (d. 1231), guardian of the poor and the powerless, and guide of social justice activists.

* 6/14 (A 7/25): Beginning of Old Egyptian Shomu/Harvest month of Mesut-Ra/Mesori, dedicated to Neteru Ra and Rait. [Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that there would be security and protection for all.] [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 7/25] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Mesut-Ra day 1]

* 6/16: Birthday of Fr. Sergei Bulgakov (1871), Orthodox Christian mystic who believed the one universal Deity to be Father and Mother, Spirit and Matter. [Death day 7/12/1944]

* 6/17: Day to celebrate Starhawk's work in reclaiming the Goddess and raising Goddess- consciousness. She teaches an eco-egalitarian form of Wicca. [The Wiccan rede is: Do what you will, but harm none.]

* 6/17: Day a fatwa condemned "honor killings" as un-Islamic and banned the practice (2002). [An "honor killing" is the killing of a woman by her relatives because she has been raped, is suspected of sexual activity outside of marriage, is pursuing unauthorized courtship, has refused an arranged marriage, or is seeking a divorce.] [Sheikh Atiyyah Saqr, former head of the al-Azhar University Fatwa Committee said "Islam strictly prohibits murder and killing without legal justification. Allah, Most High, says, 'Whoso slayeth a believer of set purpose, his reward is Hell for ever. Allah is wroth against him and He hath cursed him and prepared for him an awful doom.' (An-Nisa': 93) The so-called 'honor killing' is based on ignorance and disregard of morals and laws, which cannot be abolished except by disciplinary punishments...[P]eople are not entitled to take the law in their own hands, for it's the responsibility of the Muslim State and its concerned bodies to maintain peace, security, etc., and to prevent chaos and disorder from creeping into the Muslim society."]

* 6/17 eve to 6/18 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and defender.

* 6/18 eve to 6/19 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes--Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.

* 6/21: Taoist festival honoring Shang-Ti/Heavenly Emperor, Father of Justice and Law, and manifestation of the Te (Virtuous Inner Power). Also celebrates the peak of the masculine Yang half of the year and the Shen of Fire, South, and Summer; prayers are made for strength and maturity, and offerings are made to the ancestors.

* 6/21: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Babalu Aye, Guardian of the Disabled.

* 6/21: Day Unitarian Universalists adopted seven unifying Principles (1985). [U.U.'s affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.] [adopted 6/17-6/21/1985]

* 6/23: Tara Puja--Tibetan Buddhist fast of Bodhisattva Goddess Tara. All are equal in Her circles; She is worshipped with meditations on mandalas and chanting of mantra. [8th Tibetan day]

* 6/25: Day the first woman was ordained a Universalist minister in the U.S. (1863). [Rev. Olympia Brown]

* 6/25: Day the Supreme Court recognized that government-sponsored prayer in public schools imposes religion on students and violates the U.S. Constitution (1962). [Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)]

* 6/26: Day torture and extrajudicial killing were outlawed world-wide (1987); day to mourn their continued existence. [Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: adopted 12/10/1984; signed on 2/4/1985; entered into force 6/26/1987.]

* 6/28: First day of the Stonewall riot (1969); day to mourn victims of homophobia (past and present), make peace, and celebrate lesbian and gay empowerment. [Rioting occurred June 28-29, 1969.]

* 6/28: Day the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay prison have the right to challenge their detention in U.S. courts (2004). [Rasul v. Bush, 542 U.S. __ (2004)] [Subsequently, on 7/15/2005, in Hamden v. Rumsfeld, the D.C. Court of Appeals validated the military tribunals set up to try the Guantanamo detainees.] [Over 500 men, including juveniles and elderly men, have been held at the prison since 1/2002 without being accorded the rights due to them under international law, including access to legal counsel and a trial heard by a neutral judge. Though many were taken prisoner in the conflict in Afghanistan, they haven't been recognized as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention.] [Inmates have also alleged that they have been subjected to torture and inhumane treatment in violation of international law.]

* 6/30: Vigil for peace, democracy, religious freedom, ethnic equality, and the end of slavery and genocide in Sudan. [Since 1983, when Islamic law was adopted in Sudan, civil war has pitted Arab Muslims against African Christians and animists. As a result, over 2 million have died, most through forced starvation. Government troops have been accused of torture, rape, enslavement, and the murder of women and children. On 6/30/1989, a military coup by Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir brought authoritarian rule to Sudan. In 1991, Islamic law was imposed on non-Muslims in the areas within his control. Since February 2003, in the Darfur region, the government-supported Janjaweed militia has been terrorizing the African population, many of whom are Muslims. Over 100,000 civilians have been killed there, 405 villages have been destroyed, and 1.2 million have been displaced. Many have been tortured and raped. Crops and livestock have been stolen or destroyed. The Janjaweed militia is also blocking aid from reaching refugee camps, so those in the camps are starving. Though a ceasefire was signed on 4/9/2004 between the government and the two rebel groups, and though a peace accord was signed on 1/9/2005 between the government and the main rebel group, the Janjaweed militia's violence against civilians continues unabated. On 9/9/2004, the U.S. accused the Sudanese government of genocide and, on 2/2/2005, the U.N. conceded that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed. On 3/31/2005, the U.N. Security Council approved a resolution to prosecute those who have committed such crimes before the International Criminal Court.]

* 7/1: Canada Day--Day to celebrate the union of diverse peoples, languages, and cultures into one nation.

* 7/1: Day the International Criminal Court came into being to prosecute those who commit acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, international terrorism, and war crimes (2002). [Anyone who plans, orders, or carries out such an act (even if ordered to) is legally culpable. The I.C.C. is a politically neutral tribunal, governed by international (and U.S.) standards of due process.] [The U.S. has refused to ratify the statute creating this Court. Day to lobby for U.S. ratification.] [The I.C.C. Statute was adopted by 160 countries on 7/17/1998, at the U.N. Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court in Rome, Italy.] [After threatening to stop providing U.S. troops for U.N. peacekeeping missions, on 7/12/2002, the U.S. was granted immunity from I.C.C. jurisdiction for U.S. troops serving as U.N. peacekeepers. The U.S. is also negotiating bilateral agreements with countries to gain immunity from I.C.C. jurisdiction for U.S. troops. The E.U. has objected to this practice.]

* 7/2: Day discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender, and religion was prohibited in public accommodations and employment (1964). [The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson.] [Pub. L. 88-352, 78 Stat. 241, 42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.]

* 7/4: U.S. Independence Day--Day to celebrate the right of all peoples to exercise peaceful, democratic self-determination. [Day the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress in 1776.]

* 7/4: Death day of Thomas Jefferson (1826), who ensured that the U.S. Constitution would protect basic rights and liberties. A Deist, he practiced a religion that was based on Nature, reason, and ethics. [Birthday 4/13/1743]

* 7/10: Day Pope John Paul II acknowledged the evil of sexism and apologized for the Catholic Church's past oppression of women (1995); day to mourn the continued subordination of women by the Church. [The Vatican issued a declaration on 11/18/1995 indicating that the Church's ban on ordaining women was an infallible teaching. Because of the lack of litigation or media attention, the Church has yet to address the problem of priests' sexual abuse of nuns. The Church has also failed to reward retired nuns with pensions, in spite of a lifetime of service.]

* 7/11: World Population Day--Day to meditate on the social and environmental costs of overpopulation.

* 7/11: Day Srebrenica, Bosnia, fell to attacking Serbs (1995), beginning a massacre of thousands of civilians because of their ethnicity and religion; vigil for true peace, justice, religious tolerance, and respect for the human rights of all in the Balkans. [Though it was declared a U.N. "safe haven," Srebrenica, Bosnia, was attacked and fell to Christian Serb aggressors on 7/11/1995. 8,000-15,000 civilian Muslim Slavs were killed there from 7/12-7/17/1995 because of their ethnicity and religion. On 8/2/2001, Bosnian Serb General Radislav Krstic was convicted of genocide for his part in the massacre.]

* 7/12: Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne (1690); vigil for true peace, justice, religious tolerance, and equal rights for all in Northern Ireland. [The Battle of the Boyne, which marked the defeat of Catholic James II by Protestant William III, occurred on 7/12/1690. Following this defeat, the law discriminated against Catholics. Protestants annually celebrate their victory over Catholics on this date, providing an impetus to civil strife. Catholics and Protestants committed to peaceful coexistence, power-sharing, and disarmament by signing the Good Friday Peace Agreement on 4/10/1998.]

* 7/14 to 7/25 (Icelandic 7/19, Old Icelandic 7/12): Old Norse/Icelandic Mid-Summer Althingi--Community gathering for democratic decision making. Forseti and Tyr, Gods of Justice and Self-Sacrifice, were honored. [Toasts of mead and ale were made in honor of the Deities.] [The Norse Nine Noble Virtues are: Courage, Truthfulness, Honor, Fidelity, Self-Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, and Steadfastness.] [a/k/a Mid-Summer Blot, Midsumar, Midsumardag, Midsommerdag, Forsetiblot, Tyrblot, Almannathing, Althing]

* 7/15 eve to 7/16 eve: Remembrance day for Sufi saint Haji Bektash (d. 1337). He initiated women into his order equally with men and advocated gender equality in Islamic society. [The Bektashi order is also open to all ethnicities, nationalities, and classes.] [All are equal, regardless of gender or ethnicity; nobility is shown by conduct alone. See Qur'an Surah 49 Vs. 13.] [Birthday & death day unknown]

* 7/16: Birthday of Mary Baker Eddy (1821), founder of Christian Science, who honored Deity as Father-Mother God. [Death day 12/3/1910]

* 7/18: Day South Africa's apartheid was internationally outlawed (1976); birthday of Nelson Mandela, non-violent anti-apartheid activist. [Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid: signed/adopted 11/30/1973; entered into force 7/18/1976.]

* 7/18 eve to 7/19 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite--Day to honor peace and compassion. [a/k/a Aphrodesia]

* 7/19: Day women demanded recognition of their equality to men in the legal, political, economic, religious, and domestic spheres (Seneca Falls, New York 1848). [Declaration of Sentiments drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott & other Founding Mothers at the Women's Rights Convention 7/19-7/20/1848.]

* 7/20: Vigil for peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Colombia - now in the throes of civil war. [Colombia is embroiled in a long-lasting civil war fueled by drug-trafficking. Civilians are being caught between the military, paramilitaries, and guerrillas. Colombia's Independence Day was on 7/20/1810.]

* 7/26: Day discrimination against the disabled was prohibited in public accommodations and employment (1990); day to celebrate empowerment of the disabled. [The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law by President George Bush.] [Pub. L. 101-336, 104 Stat. 327, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.]

* 7/28: Day the Constitution's 14th Amendment went into effect, guaranteeing due process and equal protection of the law to all (1868). [The 14th Amendment was approved by Congress on 6/13/1866 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 7/28/1868.]

* 8/5: Death day of Isaac Luria (1572), Kabbalistic mystic. He taught of the Shekhina (the feminine manifestation of the one universal Deity) who restores cosmic order. [Born 1534: exact date unknown]

* 8/5: Day that six women, who were ordained Catholic priests without Vatican authority on 6/29, were excommunicated for failing to renounce their claims to the priesthood (2002).

* 8/6: Day to mourn those harmed by the atomic bomb attacks on Japan (1945); day to advocate for world-wide prohibition of all weapons of mass destruction. [Hiroshima was bombed on 8/6/1945; Nagasaki was bombed on 8/9/1945: over 270,000 civilians died from the bombs and radiation.] [Use of weapons of mass destruction is now recognized to constitute a crime against humanity and cannot be justified under any circumstances.]

* 8/6: Day the Voting Rights Act became law (1965) - register to vote! [The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson.] [Pub. L. 89-110, 79 Stat. 437, 42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.]

* 8/8: Vigil for democracy and respect for the human rights of all in Burma. [Day a pro-democracy demonstration opposing the authoritarian military government was attacked by government troops (1988); catalyst for the military crackdown.]

* 8/10 eve: Laylat al-Mi'raj--Commemorates the night journey of Muslim Prophet Muhammad to heaven. He conceived Deity to be a compassionate, genderless unity. [a/k/a Lailatul-Miraj, Isra Miraj, Miraj al-Nabi, Israa', Me'raj]

* 8/13: Birthday of Lucy Stone (1818), social worker and non-violent advocate for women's rights. [Death day 10/18/1893]

* 8/15: Day India was partitioned into India and Pakistan, and Kashmir joined India over Pakistan's objection (1947); vigil for true peace, justice, and religious tolerance for all in South Asia. [India has a secular democratic government and its populace is largely Hindu. Pakistan has a military government and its populace is largely Muslim. Kashmir's population is largely Muslim, but its ruler chose to join India on 10/26/1947. The U.N. proposed a plebiscite to determine the Kashmiri people's preference on 1/5/1949, but it has never been held. India and Pakistan have fought 3 wars over Kashmir, and now have an uneasy peace.] [Both India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons and have threatened to use them. Both have also refused to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.] [On 4/10/2003, India threatened to attack Pakistan for allowing Pakistani terrorists to attack the Indian Parliament in 12/2001 and for allowing continuing attacks on Kashmiri India. India asserted the same right to preemptive war as asserted by the U.S. and the U.K. in attacking Iraq. However, on 4/19/2003, India's Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee called for peace talks with Pakistan and offered to normalize relations. Pakistan's Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali has indicated an interest in peace talks and agreed to normalize relations.]

* 8/17: Vigil for peace, justice, religious tolerance, and respect for the human rights of all in Indonesia. [Since 1/1/1999, due to forced conversions to Islam, there has been interreligious violence between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia. Indonesia Independence Day is 8/17.]

* 8/18 eve to 8/19 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa) - as defender of rights and liberties, and punisher of rapists and oppressors.

* 8/19 (A 9/29): Beginning of Old Egyptian Akhet/Inundation month of Menkhet/Paopi, dedicated to Neteru Amen-Ra-Atem and Amenet-Rait-Mut. [Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that there would be strength and freedom for all.] [Kemetic calendar (leap year)] [Alexandrian calendar 9/29 (leap year)] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Menkhet day 1]

* 8/20: Tara Puja--Tibetan Buddhist fast of Bodhisattva Goddess Tara. All are equal in Her circles; She is worshipped with meditations on mandalas and chanting of mantra. [8th Tibetan day]

* 8/22: Dakas' Day--Day Tantric Buddhists make offerings to Father Tantra; day to unite will and power to manifest positive social change and environmental healing. [Observed primarily by Tantric initiates.] [a/k/a Father Tantra Puja, Tsog, Tsok, 10th day]

* 8/23: Feast of the Furies--honoring Nemesis and the Erinyes, Old Greek Goddesses who punish murderers, abusers, and exploiters of others.

* 8/25: Day to mourn the Iraqi attacks on civilian Kurds because of their ethnicity (1988); vigil for justice and respect for the human rights of the Kurdish people. [On 8/25/1988, the Iraqi government began the 4th Anfal campaign against the Kurds in Northern Iraq using chemical weapons. The Iraqi government first launched chemical weapons attacks against the Kurds in Northern Iraq on 3/16/1988. 60,000-100,000 Kurds were killed during these campaigns. Saddam Hussein is being tried for genocide for these attacks.]

* 8/26: Day the Constitution's 19th Amendment went into effect, recognizing women's right to vote (1920). [The 19th Amendment was approved by Congress on 6/4/1919 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 8/26/1920.] [a/k/a Women's Equality Day]

* 8/27: Birthday of Mother Teresa (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) (1910), Catholic nun who served the poorest of the poor and saw Deity in each person. [Death day 9/5/1997]

* 8/28: Day of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s peaceful march on Washington, D.C., for recognition of the rights of African Americans (1963). [Rev. King made his inspiring "I have a dream" speech at this rally.]

* 8/28: Opening of the Second World Parliament of Religions (1993), attended by members of all the world's religions. A Global Ethic was adopted that condemns hatred, aggression, oppression, and environmental abuses committed in the name of religion.

* 8/29: Birthday of Henry Bergh (1811), non-violent advocate for animal rights; day to advocate for laws protecting animals from abuse. [Death day 3/12/1888] [Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.]

* 8/31: Remembrance day for Tahirih (d. 1852) - feminist, poet, scholar, and preacher of the nascent Baha'i Faith. Baha'is recognize gender equality. [Born in 1917; died in 1852 between 8/16 & 8/31.]

* 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. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: adopted by U.N. General Assembly 12/18/1979; signed 3/1/1980; entered into force 9/3/1981.]

* 9/3: Day Pope John Paul II beatified symbols of progressive religious authority (Pope John XXIII) and autocratic religious authority (Pope Pius IX) (2000). [Pope John XXIII instigated the reforms of the Vatican II Council in 1962, and advocated freedom of religion, peace, and social justice. Pope Pius IX adopted the doctrine of papal infallibility at the Vatican I Council in 1870, and rejected the doctrines of separation of church and state, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech in his Syllabus of Errors in 1864.]

* 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. [The Second Latin American Bishops Conference was held in Medellin, Colombia on 9/6/1968.]

* 9/8: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Oshun, Orisha of Love and Compassion.

* 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. [Birthday 2/29/1736]

* 9/8 to 9/15: Paryusana Jain festival of recitation of holy scripture, fasting, self-discipline, introspection, and reserve. Jainas grant forgiveness to others, ask forgiveness of others for harm done, whether knowingly or unknowingly, during the past year, and make vows to avoid causing future harm. The festival ends with a communal meal. [ends at Samvatsari a/k/a Samvatatsari] [a/k/a Paryusan, Paryushan, Paryushan Parva, Paryushan Mahaparva, Pajjusan]

* 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. [Al-Qaeda terrorists, using passenger planes, struck the World Trade Center (in New York, N.Y.) and the Pentagon (outside Washington, D.C.)] [Al-Qaeda terrorists have struck other targets, including a nightclub in Bali, Indonesia, on 10/12/2002; trains in Madrid, Spain, on 3/11/2004; trains in London, England, on 7/7/2005; and a resort in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 7/23/2005.] [Fatwas (religious edicts) condemning terrorism have been issued by Muslim clerics.]

* 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. [Declaration of Principles was signed by Israel & the P.L.O. on 9/13/1993.] [The History of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict]

* 9/14: Birthday of Margaret Sanger (1883), non-violent advocate for education, autonomy, and responsibility concerning sexuality, reproduction, and birth control. [Death day 9/6/1966]

* 9/14 eve to 9/15 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and defender.

* 9/15: Day the first woman was ordained a Congregational/Unitarian minister in the U.S. (1853). [Rev. Antoinette Blackwell]

* 9/15 eve to 9/16 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes--Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.

* 9/17: Christian feast of St. Hildegarde von Bingen (d. 1179)--mystic who sang praises to Holy Spirit Wisdom (the feminine aspect of the Holy Trinity) and found Her everywhere in Nature.

* 9/21: International Day of Peace--Day to demonstrate for peace with justice throughout the world. [a/k/a U.N. International Day of Peace]

* 9/22: Death of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib, first Sikh guru, commemorated. [Guru Nanak rejected caste and believed in the equality of all people.] [Guru Nanak Dev 1469-1539] [a/k/a Guru Nanak Dev Jyoti Jot]

* 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. [Yorubas/Santeros worship the One Deity Olodumare.]

* 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. [Founder of Confucianism.] [Death day 11/29/479 BCE]

* 9/29: Feast of Michael, Angel of Protection, and Uriel, Angel of Justice.

* 9/30: Birthday of Elhanan Winchester (1751), Universalist who exhorted people to lives of personal ethics and social reform. [Death day 4/18/1797]

* 10/2: Birthday of Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi (1869), Hindu advocate for human rights and self-reliance, who practiced active non-violent resistance to injustice. [Death day 1/30/1948] [a/k/a Gandhi Jayanti]

* 10/4: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orunmila, Orisha of Wise Counsel and Protection.

* 10/4 to 10/7: Tewa Deer Dance--celebrating the cosmic duality of feminine and masculine. The Tewa recognize gender equality and honor both male and female ancestors.

* 10/11: Birthday of Eleanor Roosevelt (1884), advocate for world-wide recognition of the rights of all. [Death day 11/7/1962]

* 10/11: Opening of Vatican II Council, during which the Catholic Church committed to ecumenism, freedom of religion, and social justice (1962). [The Council met from 10/11/1962 to 12/8/1965.]

* 10/12 (Obs. 10/8): Columbus Day--Commemorates Europeans' colonization of America (1492); day to mourn Native American victims of conquest and oppression (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Native Americans. [a/k/a Native Americans' Day, Dia de la Raza (Mexico), Thanksgiving Day (Canada)]

* 10/12: Day the first woman was ordained a Methodist minister in the U.S. (1880). [Rev. Anna Howard Shaw]

* 10/12 to 10/21: Navaratri/Durga Puja--Hindu festival of Great Goddess Maha Devi as Durga, protector of the powerless; celebrates Her destruction of evil and restoration of cosmic order. [a/k/a Asuj Navratras, Navaratra, Sanjhi, Dassehra, Dussehra, Devi Vrat, Devi Puja]

* 10/14 eve to 10/15 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite--Day to honor peace and compassion.

* 10/19: Tara Puja--Tibetan Buddhist fast of Bodhisattva Goddess Tara. All are equal in Her circles; She is worshipped with meditations on mandalas and chanting of mantra. [8th Tibetan day]

* 10/24: Day the first woman was ordained a Presbyterian minister in the U.S. (1956). [Rev. Margaret Ellen Towner]

* 10/25 eve to 10/27 eve: Feast of Divine Justice - source of just law - honoring Goddess-God as Maat-Thoth (Old Egyptian); Goddess as Themis (Old Greek), Torah (Jewish Kabbalah) & Justice (Christian); and God as Forseti (Old Norse).

* 10/28: Old Slavic feast of Baba and Dedo, protectors of families and elders.

* 10/29 eve to 11/1 eve: Apaturia--Old Greek festival in which newcomers and children were welcomed into the community.

* 10/31: Day to mourn the women tortured and killed as "witches" because of their independence, wealth, wisdom, or religion.

* 11/2: World Community Day--Day for celebrating the unity behind diversity and remembering we are all one people - all children of the one universal Deity of many names and aspects.

* 11/2: Day the first openly gay man was consecrated an Episcopalian bishop (2003). [Bishop Gene Robinson]

* 11/3: Christian feast of St. Martin of Porres (d. 1639), healer and advocate of social equality and inter-ethnic harmony; guide of healers and human rights activists.

* 11/6: Day a Muslim woman first defied a ban on women entering the mosque by the front door and praying in the main hall (2003). [In the Morgantown, West Virginia, mosque, as in many mosques in the United States and elsewhere, women are required to enter by a back door and pray in a separate room.] [Asra Nomani, the author of "Standing Alone in Mecca", has begun a movement to desegregate mosques throughout the United States. Members of her mosque are attempting to ban her from the mosque because of her efforts to desegregate it.]

* 11/7: Anniversary of the first Re-Imagining Conference, where worship of Holy Spirit Wisdom brought Goddess-consciousness to mainstream Christianity (1993). [11/4-11/7/1993]

* 11/8: Birthday of Dorothy Day (1897), activist for peace, economic justice, and workers' rights. [Founder of the Catholic Worker Movement.] [Death day 11/22/1980]

* 11/9 eve: Krystallnacht--Night of the Nazi attacks on Jewish homes, synagogues, and shops in Germany, beginning the persecution that would end with the deaths of six million Jews (1938); night for meditating on the evil of all religion-based hatred.

* 11/10 eve to 11/11 eve: Remembrance day for Khadijah (d. 619), Mother of Islam: transcriber of the Holy Qur'an, partner of Prophet Muhammad in monogamous marriage, mother of Fatimah, and liberated businesswoman. [Birthday & death day unknown] [Khadijah was the first convert to Islam. The Prophet Muhammad did not take a second wife during Khadijah's lifetime.]

* 11/11: Veterans Day--Day to honor all warriors, past and present, who defend against evil of all kinds.

* 11/11: Death day of Lucretia Mott (1880), Quaker preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [Birthday 1/3/1793]

* 11/12: Birthday of Sr. Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651), Catholic nun and feminist poet. [Death day 4/17/1695]

* 11/12: Birthday of Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815), non-violent advocate for women's rights. [Death day 10/26/1902]

* 11/15: Fast for an Abundant World Harvest--Day to fast and commit to action to help prevent deaths from malnourishment world-wide. [a/k/a Fast for a World Harvest]

* 11/17 (A 12/28): Beginning of Old Egyptian Proyet/Emergence month of Shefbedet/Tobi. [Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that there would be peace and harmony throughout the land.] [Kemetic calendar (leap year)] [Alexandrian calendar 12/28 (leap year)] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Shefbedet day 1]

* 11/26: Death day of Sojourner Truth (1883), Christian preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [Born 1797: exact date unknown]

* 11/28: Day the Women's Ordination Conference opened, advocating the ordination of women priests in the Catholic Church (1975). [After apologizing for the past oppression of women on 7/10/1995, the Vatican issued a declaration on 11/18/1995 indicating that the Church's ban on ordaining women was an infallible teaching.]

* 12/1: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for mindfully seeing and acting with compassion for the poor and oppressed.

* 12/1: World AIDS Day--Day to pray for healing of all those suffering with AIDS and HIV.

* 12/4: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Shango, Defender Against Evil.

* 12/4 eve to 12/12 eve: Hanukkah/Festival of Lights--Jewish festival commemorating their struggle for religious freedom and re-dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem to God-Goddess Yod-Heh-Vau-Heh (Father, Mother, Son & Daughter). Menorah candles are lit. [Also commemorates the end of the olive harvest and the Winter Solstice.] [a/k/a Chanukah, Channukah]

* 12/10: Day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, and fundamental rights were recognized world-wide (1948). [The U.N. General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (U.D.H.R.) in Resolution 217 A(III).] [a/k/a International Human Rights Day]

* 12/12: First Appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of God and Mother of the Oppressed, at the former shrine of Aztec Moon Goddess Coatlicue (Mexico 1531).

* 12/12 eve to 12/13 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and defender.

* 12/13 eve to 12/14 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes--Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.

* 12/15: Day the Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental rights to all (1791). [a/k/a Bill of Rights Day]

* 12/15: Death day of Fr. Pavel Florensky (1943), Orthodox Christian mystic who taught that Holy Wisdom is Our Mother, the Holy Spirit, third part of the Holy Trinity. [Birthday 1/21/1882]

* 12/17 (A 1/27): Beginning of Old Egyptian Proyet/Emergence month of Rekehwer/Mekhir. [Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure the continuation of order (maat) and life (ankh).] [The Negative Confessions reflect the ethics of the Egyptians.] [Kemetic calendar (leap year)] [Alexandrian calendar 1/27 (leap year)] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Rekehwer day 1]

* 12/17: Day for meditation on Tantric Bodhisattva Goddess Red Tara, protector against evil and harm. [a/k/a Tara Puja, 8th Tibetan day]

* 12/17: Death day of Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1273), Sufi saint who believed all people to be part of Deity and, consequently, believed all should be respected. [Members of his Mevlevi order whirl in his remembrance on this night annually.] [Birthday 9/30/1207] [Wissal on Jumada II/Jamadi- ul-Akhir 5]

* 12/18: Day the Constitution's 13th Amendment went into effect, outlawing all slavery (1865). [The 13th Amendment was approved by Congress on 1/31/1865 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 12/18/1865.]

* 12/23: Birthday of Joseph Smith (1805), founder of the Mormon Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). He promoted a religion that was egalitarian and communitarian, and worshipped Deity as a Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. [Death day 6/27/1844]

* 12/28: Day the first woman was ordained a Catholic priest (without Vatican authority) (1970). [Mthr. Ludmila Javorova was ordained by Catholic Bishop Felix Maria Davidek in Czechoslovakia. Her ordination is not recognized by the Vatican.] [See "Out of the Depths: The Story of Ludmila Javorova, Ordained Roman Catholic Priest" by Miriam Therese Winter]

* 12/28: Day an Islamic court ruled female genital mutilation to be un-Islamic and banned the practice (1997). [The State Council, Egypt's highest administrative court, also ruled that FGM is illegal unless medically necessary.]

* 12/29: Day Guatemala's 36-year civil war ended (1996); vigil for true peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Central America. [The 36-year civil war between leftist rebels and the government of Guatemala ended 12/29/1996. During the war, the military killed or "disappeared" 200,000 people, targeting Mayan communities and civilians. The U.S. government was complicit in these atrocities.]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Permission to use and distribute these excerpts is granted for non-commercial purposes, provided the following information is included:

Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2007
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2006 Page Two, Inc.
info@WheeloftheYear.com
www.WheeloftheYear.com

All Gods and Goddesses
are aspects of
the One Deity

The One Deity
is reflected in
all Gods and Goddesses

The One Deity
is Deity of all

Deity is
male and female,
yet genderless

Deity is
all forms,
yet formless

Deity is
within all;
Deity is
beyond all

Deity is
all-embracing
love

With all that
is known by all
the world's sages,
with all that
is written in all
sacred books,
with all that
is experienced
in all
spiritual traditions,
we still cannot
know
the unknowable--

Deity is Mystery

The Mystic's Wheel of the Year... a Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality

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Year 2008 Calendar By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

Year 2007 Calendar By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

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Year 2008 Calendar By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah Holidays - 2008

Christian Holidays: Ecumenical Mysticism/ Wisdom Tradition - 2008

Unitarian Universalist Holidays - 2008

Muslim - Sufi Holidays - 2008

Baha'i Holidays - 2008

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Hindu Holidays - 2008

Buddhist Holidays - 2008

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Asian Holidays: Zoroastrian - Sikh - Jain - Taoist - Shinto - 2008

Native American - Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2008

African Holidays: Santeria - Old Egyptian - 2008

Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2008

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Solar & Lunar Cycles & Eclipses - 2008

Meteor Showers - 2008

Visible Planets - 2008

Astrological Periods - 2008

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Environmentalist - Deep Ecology Dates - 2008

Feminist - Human Rights - Social Justice Dates - 2008

Peace - Disarmament Movement Dates - 2008

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Year 2007 Calendar By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah Holidays - 2007

Christian Holidays: Ecumenical Mysticism/ Wisdom Tradition - 2007

Unitarian Universalist Holidays - 2007

Muslim - Sufi Holidays - 2007

Baha'i Holidays - 2007

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Hindu Holidays - 2007

Buddhist Holidays - 2007

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Asian Holidays: Zoroastrian - Sikh - Jain - Taoist - Shinto - 2007

Native American - Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2007

African Holidays: Santeria - Old Egyptian - 2007

Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2007

±±±±±±±±±±

Solar & Lunar Cycles & Eclipses - 2007

Meteor Showers - 2007

Visible Planets - 2007

Astrological Periods - 2007

±±±±±±±±±±

Environmentalist - Deep Ecology Dates - 2007

Feminist - Human Rights - Social Justice Dates - 2007

Peace - Disarmament Movement Dates - 2007

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Year 2006 Calendar By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah Holidays - 2006

Christian Holidays: Ecumenical Mysticism/ Wisdom Tradition - 2006

Unitarian Universalist Holidays - 2006

Muslim - Sufi Holidays - 2006

Baha'i Holidays - 2006

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Hindu Holidays - 2006

Buddhist Holidays - 2006

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Asian Holidays: Zoroastrian - Sikh - Jain - Taoist - Shinto - 2006

Native American - Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2006

African Holidays: Santeria - Old Egyptian - 2006

Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2006

±±±±±±±±±±

Solar & Lunar Cycles & Eclipses - 2006

Meteor Showers - 2006

Visible Planets - 2006

Astrological Periods - 2006

±±±±±±±±±±

Environmentalist - Deep Ecology Dates - 2006

Feminist - Human Rights - Social Justice Dates - 2006

Peace - Disarmament Movement Dates - 2006

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The Mystic's Wheel of the Year...
a Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality

Year 2008
Calendar
By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

Year 2007
Calendar
By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

Year 2008
Calendar
By Tradition...

Christian Holidays:
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition - 2008

Native American -
Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2008

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2008

Environmentalist -
Deep Ecology Dates - 2008

Year 2007
Calendar
By Tradition...

Christian Holidays:
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition - 2007

Native American -
Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2007

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2007

Environmentalist -
Deep Ecology Dates - 2007

Year 2006
Calendar
By Tradition...

Christian Holidays:
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition - 2006

Native American -
Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2006

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2006

Environmentalist -
Deep Ecology Dates - 2006

Year 2005
Calendar
By Tradition...

Christian Holidays:
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition - 2005

Native American -
Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2005

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2005

Environmentalist -
Deep Ecology Dates - 2005

Year 2004
Calendar
By Tradition...

Christian Holidays:
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition - 2004

Native American -
Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2004

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2004

Environmentalist -
Deep Ecology Dates - 2004