I’ve been an avid reader for a long time, a lover of fantasy and folklore, mythology and legends. However, most of the stories that I read were inspired by Greco-Roman or Egyptian myths, or highly based in Medieval Europe. It wasn’t until relatively recently that I got an interest in Arabic-inspired fiction. While searching for potential readings, I was surprised at how many are there, and how many of them have been awarded. They might not be as famous as... Read more
I’ve never cried with a book. Maybe movies, TV shows, definitely with music and music videos, but books? Never. Ever. In my life. That changed recently, however, when I read a book the war in Syria, and saw exactly what has been happening for years in the country I’ve wanted to visit since I was a kid, the one I saw in pictures and videos when my family went there, I couldn’t help it. This is: Witnesses to War: The Children... Read more
For a long time, my favorite myth was that of Medusa’s. The different version, interpretations, how she could be included in a spiritual practice, and also the symbolism, they were all fascinating. However, as I learned more about Arabic mythology and folklore, the story of Zarqa al-Yamama became more interesting. Just a word of caution here: the story contains graphic descriptions of violence, mass murder, and torture. The Legend There are longer and shorter version of her story but, in... Read more
Since I started writing poetry again, I’ve learned a lot of things about myself, both as a person and as a spiritual being, unearthed trauma, past experiences, healed, and realized many things. One of those is that I’m finding a voice that I thought I didn’t have. I’ve had a complicated, tumultuous relationship with poetry, but I’m glad to say it’s changing for the better. One of the things I’ve wanted to learn, get better at, and understand better was... Read more
It’s time to make a confession. I was never a big fan of poetry. In fact, I hardly liked what I wrote for a long time. It’s been a challenge to change this because I’ve always been more interested in folklore and legends than verses. I liked some of them, but others were worse than a foreign language. It wasn’t until recently that I’ve devoted serious time and effort into understanding it and getting better at it. Some may wonder,... Read more
I’ve wanted to read a good book of poetry for a long while. I wanted something I could enjoy, relate to, and a beauty of its own. After searching for a while, I found an option in an Arabic poet, a sensible reading I couldn’t put down from beginning to end: The Nectar of Pain, by Najwa Zebian. Format: 320 pages, Paperback Published: October 2, 2018 by Andrews McMeel Publishing Genres and Tags: Poetry, Self Help, Nonfiction, Romance, Love, Canada, Islam... Read more
I’ve wanted to stay away, but no decent human being can do it for long. The earthquakes in Syria and Turkey have been all over the news. The horrific stories I’ve read, the photos and videos I’ve watched, and some hopeful, beautiful stories, have kept me thinking about all those in need. I come from an immigrant family, a Syrian family, grew up with stories about how hard it is to start in a new country running away from war,... Read more
Although I’ve written about it several times in the past, I haven’t actually dedicated a specific time to say what it is in detail. I’ve used what I call Devine Speed Dating (DSP) as a way of verified personal gnosis, and I want you to know more about it. What is it about? It goes without saying I don’t have time. None. I’ve spent entire days doing nothing but errands and taking care of my responsibilities, with minimal time for... Read more
It’s still surreal to be in 2023. 2022 wasn’t what I expected it to be, but it did allow me to understand many things, realize things I was doing the right and the wrong way, what I should start and stop doing as well. It was insightful, and now I’m reflecting about it all. It could have been better, but it was what I made it to be and what it had to be. A big disappointment People often say... Read more
This has been a challenging year, filled with changes at every corner, and a world that never ceased to surprise us. Good, wonderful, bad, and awful things have happened non-stop, some people have had it harder, some easier, and some have gone through life like meh. However, we’re here, we’re alive. For me, that’s enough reason to wish everyone happy holidays. Being raised in a multicultural environment meant that I learned twice the traditions, twice the customs, twice the beliefs,... Read more
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