Happy New Lunar Year! The Year of the Water Tiger 2022
February 1st, 2022 is the Lunar New Year, and this year is the year of the Water Tiger. The Chinese Lunar New Year, also referred to as the Spring Festival, occurs on the rising on the second new moon after the (northern hemisphere) Winter Solstice. According to Chinese mythology and culture the tiger is considered the king of all animals and symbolizes power, courage, confidence, leadership and strength. It's also believed to be an animal that expels all evil. The Water Tiger, which occurs each 60 years, is to said to be more open-minded and less aggressive than the other (element) tigers. So, let’s hope 2022 will be a year of open-mindedness, less aggression, good leadership, strength and the expulsion of evilness and hate in our personal lives, in our community and in our world.
We are also moving into our second “Covid-year”… and while most of us are more than tired of everything covid related, we have also readjusted. Our students arrive and keep masks on throughout worship and class. We have masks on as we grab our brown snack bag and cup of hot cocoa to go outside to gather in the front yard. We don’t snuggle or hug, but we spend time together. I don’t how our new normal will look, but I do hope we will soon have our birthday cakes, pancake breakfasts, and potluck luncheons. I miss our annual outdoor picnics, grilling, eating ice cream, and talking to each other. I miss our annual MLK weekends when EFM is filled with teenagers from our neighboring Meetings, sleeping over in the Meeting space, doing different projects and activities in Evanston, getting to know each other and share what Quakerism means to them. I don’t how our Illinois Yearly Meeting will be this year. I, like everyone else, take one day at a time knowing that everything that we plan for can change.
Did you know that January is Muslim American Heritage Month in Illinois? Governor Pritzker issued the proclamation December 2021 to celebrate the contributions of Muslim Americans in Illinois every January starting in 2022. In addition, a new state law went into effect, also this year, requiring schools to teach the contributions of Americans of different faith groups, including Muslims. Our Intermediate group, which is studying world religions this year, learned about the Islam in January. The last time Islam was studied, our Friend Kristin B. and a friend of hers visited us, teaching us about Islam as well as the experience of being a Muslim in USA. There are many benefits to learning about other people’s culture, faith and traditions. One is to reflect over your own culture and your own experience, another is that in doing just that, our own faith and understanding deepens, and yet a third is by understanding and knowing where people are coming from, peace and reconciliation can easier be attained and maintained. In studying World Religions, we always include the Quaker perspective and faith as comparison.
February is African-American Heritage Month and for many Quakers their studies on the Quakers’ stand and action on slave ownership, social injustice, African-American history etc. will be deepened. On a personal level, I will be learning more about Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and while Ida was a not a Quaker there are some Quaker connections. I will share more about that in the next newsletter, however if you are interested, please go to https://www.quakersintheworld.org/quakers-in-action/362/Quakers-against-racism-Catherine-Impey-and-the-Anti-Caste-Journal
Our Primary students are hearing the Faith & Play and the Godly Play stories with Steve R. as our main Story Teller and Liz K. and Rex N. stepping in as extra. Norma and Raphael are assisting and Raphael is amazing outdoor activities person, keeping all our students playing and running around in the front yard, maybe practicing for our Annual Easter Egg Hunt! A New Year is here… Reflections, intentions, goals and changes, what we learned and what we want to learn tend to be in focus for many.