Yeah, not quite sure what that was.  It started off as a funny kind of visitation, but then I thought it would be a bit more believable if I made it… um, well a bit more genuine.  And weird.   I don’t think I finished it right, I was trying to write the last few paragraphs on the bus on the way back from work.

So yes, welcome to my head.

I’m not really done writing about the Baha’i faith, I feel like I left it on a bit of a negative note, but now we’re into Sikhism!  So that may have to wait until later.  I promise I enjoyed Baha’i quite a bit, I think it was my most successful month yet, but right now I really want to write about my beard.

Not much of a beard yet I know.  You’re looking at about three days worth of growth.  I knew that I was going to have to let my hair grow out this month, so I wnet a few days without shaving, just so that I could start getting used to it.  The verdict so far- it’s kind of itchy.

Unshorn hair is part of the five K’s of Sikhism, five articles of faith worn by baptized Sikhs, a right called Amrit Sanchar.  This is the formal entry of the everyday man or woman into the Sikh religion, where one swears to live up to the ideal and practices of the religion and adopts the five K’s.  I don’t think that this is something that I will be partaking in this month, as it implies a genuine will to practice and cultivate the Sikh life throughout one’s life.  However, I can practice the five K’s in spirit, and letting my hair grow out is pretty simple to do.  This is called kesh, and symbolizes a respect for God’s creation.  Sikh’s believe that hair is a gift from God, and so to cut it would be a sign of disrespect.

I like this part of Sikhism, outward signs like the kesh set Sikhs apart from everyone else, and harken back to the days where they actively monitored and secured their communities against outward and inward threats.  This is probably still true today, though modern society has probably essoned this Sikh responsibilty.  I guess I’ll be finding out for myself.

Hope eveyrone has a good Good Friday (yay repitition) I’m off to enjoy another transition day.

]]> http://yearoffaith.net/2010/04/a-hairy-experience/feed/ 0 http://yearoffaith.net/2010/02/but-what-beats-paper/ http://yearoffaith.net/2010/02/but-what-beats-paper/#comments Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:28:21 +0000 Michael http://yearoffaith.net/?p=158 If Taoism is like water, then Satanism would be a fucking diamond.

The Tao itself is fluid, undefinable, able to fill in the nooks and crannies of every place, person, and thing.  It is the foundation and component of every proper being, flowing around obstacles, acting without acting, doing without doing.

Satanism on the other hand, was solid, definite, and obstinate.  Any barrier is shattered by it, every lie made humble.  It makes no excuses for itself.

It was a lot easier than this.  Taoism does not reveal itself bluntly, it does not state that it is ’so and so.’  What can be named is not the Tao, the Way is purposefully obscure- not impenetrable, but not definite either.

My inner Satanist is having a hard time with this.  This is a really big gear shift.

Cranky today.  These transitions are not going to be easy.