| This week we are celebrating Eid-al-Adha, the | | | | the idea that what we are asked to sacrifice is |
| "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid" which is a | | | | something that is in the way of our spiritual progress |
| holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world to | | | | and growth. |
| commemorate the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to | | | | As women spiritual leaders our time is constantly filled |
| sacrifice his son Ismael as an act of obedience to God. | | | | with something. It could be activities such as our |
| This is the most important feast of the Muslim | | | | ministry, healing, helping others in our community. It could |
| calendar. Eid al-Adha annually falls on the 10th day of | | | | be singing, sleeping, running errands. However, even if |
| the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar. | | | | we are relaxing, our time is filled with something. Even |
| After the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi | | | | when we think it is filled with nothing it is filled with our |
| Arabia by Muslims worldwide, the pilgrims descend | | | | knowledge, it could be filled with our thoughts, it could |
| from Mount Arafat. This is when Eid-al-Adha occurs. It | | | | be filled with our feelings, concerns, or worries. |
| is approximately 70 days after the holy month of | | | | Now, in order for something new, of a higher energy to |
| Ramadan. | | | | come in, something of a lower energy needs to be |
| The feast re-enacts Ibrahim's obedience by Muslims | | | | released. If you have a cup full of water, but what you |
| sacrificing an animal such as a cow, ram or camel. | | | | really want is hot tea, then you will have to "sacrifice" |
| Traditionally the meat is divided into thirds. One-third is | | | | the water in order to receive the hot tea. More |
| eaten by the immediate family and relatives, one-third | | | | dramatically, a trapeze artist at the circus must let go |
| is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to | | | | of one trapeze in order to latch on to the next one. |
| the poor. The act symbolizes the willingness to give up | | | | How do you know what it is you need to sacrifice? In |
| things that are of benefit or close to the heart, in order | | | | order to properly determine what needs to be let go |
| to follow Allah's commands; and it reinforces the ties | | | | of, you must have a clearly defined set of values. |
| of friendship and the idea of helping those who are in | | | | Every decision should be weighed against your value |
| need. It also reinforces the idea of "oneness" in the | | | | system. We are never asked to sacrifice something |
| community. | | | | that matches our values for something that is not in |
| If we take a look at the meaning of the word sacrifice | | | | accordance with our values. |
| in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, we find the | | | | So, what things, people, activities, or beliefs in your life |
| following definition: | | | | do you need to let go of in order to get closer to the |
| Main Entry: sacoriofice | | | | Divine, to your spiritual nature? Are you holding on to |
| Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from | | | | old beliefs of unworthiness or the belief that money is |
| Latin sacrificium, from sacr-, sacer + facere to make - | | | | evil? Are you holding onto activities that are not |
| more at do | | | | moving you towards your calling or purpose? Perhaps |
| Date: 13th century | | | | you need to sacrifice some activities that are draining |
| 1: an act of offering to a deity something precious; | | | | you or are not in alignment with your values. Have you |
| especially: the killing of a victim on an altar | | | | said "yes" to too many requests for your time? Maybe |
| 2: something offered in sacrifice | | | | you are in a relationship that is not healthy and |
| 3 a: destruction or surrender of something for the sake | | | | supportive for you? Do you need to sacrifice it for the |
| of something else b: something given up or lost | | | | greater good of your health, well-being and growth? |
| Eid al-Adha is a fitting time to consider what all of us | | | | Consider if now is the time to take stock of what is |
| are asked to sacrifice. Sacrifice does not necessarily | | | | holding you back and make a sacrifice to your higher |
| have to be the sacrifice of an animal. In fact, check out | | | | good so that you can freely move forward in your |
| the third definition above...the "destruction or surrender | | | | work, serving the purpose and mission you are divinely |
| of something for the sake of something else". Consider | | | | guided to fulfill. |