I’m excited to share a brand new video series on Baha’i Blog’s sister channel, Baha’i Inspired, called “DID YOU KNOW?”!

“DID YOU KNOW?” is a weekly series of short (less than one minute) videos hosted by our beloved Jordan Raj, most well known for his WHAT IS… exploratory introductions here on Baha’i Blog about holy days and wonderful words from the Baha’i Writings.  

In “DID YOU KNOW?” we share topics ranging from Baha’i history and events, to Baha’i concepts and Teachings. For example, the videos will address questions such as “Did you know that there’s a Baha’i-inspired airline in Vanuatu?” or “Did you know that the Baha’i Writings compare the soul to a mirror?”

We’re super excited to launch this new initiative, and we hope that you not only enjoy it and find it interesting, but that you also learn from it too! 

It’s the latest project on Baha’i Inspired; we’ve already published a robust and growing playlist of Hip Hop Sessions and there’s our Baha’i Basics video series with Aria. As I’ve mentioned in the past, unlike Baha’i Blog, Baha’i Inspired focuses primarily on YouTube content and has a North American flavour.

You can check out the series on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok–and if you haven’t already, please don’t forget to subscribe to Baha’i Inspired and leave us a comment too! 

Thanks everyone! 

I am entering the Fast in a very different manner from previous years, as I repeatedly reflect on the recent message of love and prayers from the Universal House of Justice to the Baha’is in Iran.

While the letter is addressed to Baha’is in the Cradle of the Faith, I think it’s a message for, and about, everyone. It speaks of the history and ongoing bitter suffering occurring in Iran, which breaks the hearts and brings grief to us all, and describes how we are collectively united and joined together during this potent and powerful time of year:

In the course of these days, the company of believers in the far-flung corners of the earth, relying on the spiritual forces released by the Fast and with pure motives and stainless dispositions, will be occupied in prayerful remembrance and deep reflection on the heavenly teachings, that they may burnish the mirrors of their hearts and thereby attract divine confirmations, illumine all people through the effulgent rays of the light of God, and increasingly strive to serve and show love towards those around them and to foster the oneness of the world of humanity. Be assured, also, that all the followers of the Blessed Beauty are in the course of this month united and joined with you, their spiritual sisters and brothers. 

Several years ago, Soheila wrote about fasting with a goal in mind. I can think of no loftier goal than what has been described by the House of Justice and holding the friends in Iran–and all people who are suffering in the world–close to my heart during this time of year when every hour of these days is endowed with a special virtue.

Baha’i Blog has amassed a small collection of personal thoughts and musings on the Fast, whether it is fasting out of love, the environmental impacts of our diets, how fasting helps us build resilience, or the nature of sacrifice when we abstain from food and drink. You can find all our resources related to the Fast pulled together in a special collection.

While we have only one Studio Session song specifically about the Fast, this year I’ll also be revisiting the songs we released last March by Mazra’ih. Whenever I hear them, I am instantly transported back to the feelings, sentiments and my surroundings of last year’s fast, and the brevity of the passages from the Writings that are sung make it easy to repeat their melodies and allow them to carry you throughout the day. I hope you’ll give them a listen too.

Wishing you a blessed, rejuvenating and transformative month of fasting!

Parental abuse on vulnerable children, whether physical, emotional, psychological or sexual, can have profound and long-lasting effects on an individual’s well-being. It often leaves survivors with deep emotional scars that persist into adulthood, making it challenging to find the path to forgiveness and healing. The resulting anger, resentment, and mistrust makes forgiveness seem impossible.

Fortunately, the Baha’i Faith, with its teachings of love, compassion, and reconciliation, offers a unique perspective on how to forgive parents who may have inflicted abuse during a child’s formative years

It is my understanding that forgiveness is not about excusing or justifying abusive behaviour but rather, it is about finding inner peace and liberation from the emotional burden of anger and resentment. The Baha’i Faith encourages individuals to seek forgiveness, both for themselves and for those who have wronged them.

This is a path that only the victim can come to grips with by themselves, and everyone’s situation is different. I believe that when we reach out and take the hand of God, and give Him our pain, it’s possible to learn the steps we need to take towards forgiveness.

I was physically, emotionally, and sexually abused by both parents, a grandfather and uncle; as well as the teachers at one of my schools. As a result, I’ve gone through several stages in my understanding of if or why or how to forgive my childhood abusers. 

In the early days of my recovery, I found this quotation from Abdu’l-Baha:

If someone commits an error and wrong toward you, you must instantly forgive him.¹

I certainly wasn’t in a position to instantly forgive, but I sincerely wanted to be obedient, so my prayers in those days went like this: “OK God, I can’t forgive them, but You can, so please do!”

One day I wrote to the Universal House of Justice and it counselled me:

As a devoted believer you are urged to strive to develop for­giveness in your heart toward your parents who have abused you in so disgraceful a manner, and to attain a level of insight which sees them as captives of their lower nature, whose actions can only lead them deeper into unhappiness and separation from God.

This was totally liberating! I loved the phrase “strive to develop”, which suggested that it could take a lifetime, and even if I never got there, as long as I was striving to develop, that was OK with God.

Secondly, I had to develop forgiveness “in my heart”, not between my parents and I! So if I was never able to spend time with them again, it was enough to develop it in my heart, between God and I. 

Finally, the House of Justice encouraged me to separate my parents from their sin – a concept I’ve just learned recently, but when I come back to this quote now, I can see what this means “to attain a level of insight which sees them as captives of their lower nature”. By refusing to forgive them, I was not honouring the perfect beings that God created, I was only seeing the monsters of their lower natures. That truly was liberating!

The House of Justice reminds us:

The peerless example of Abdu’l-Baha merits close scrutiny in your quest for a sense of forgiveness; His abiding love for humanity, despite its waywardness and perversity enabled Him to manifest sincere compassion and magnanimity to those who had brought Him distress and hardship. 

But I love this quotation from Abdul-Baha too:

. . . if a person falls into errors for a hundred-thousand times he may yet turn his face to you, hopeful that you will forgive his sins; for he must not become hopeless, neither grieved nor despondent. This is the conduct and the manner of the people of Baha. This is the foundation of the most high pathway!²

Although the Baha’i Faith promotes reconciliation and healing within families, forgiveness may not always lead to a restoration of the parent-child relationship. This was certainly the case in my life. Speaking about the abuse resulted in being shunned by my family and I was cut out of my mother’s will. Forgiveness did pave the way for my recovery, though, and gave me a lighter heart.

While forgiveness didn’t (and can’t) erase the scars of my abuse, it did lead to a sense of inner peace and liberated me from the burdens of anger and resentment. In the spirit of the Baha’i Faith’s teachings of love, compassion, and reconciliation, I did find the path to healing and forgiveness, which has freed me somewhat from the painful legacy of parental abuse.

Forgiving parents who have abused their children is not easy. It’s a complex and deeply personal process. I’m grateful that the Baha’i Faith offers a compassionate and holistic approach to finding forgiveness and healing. By seeking forgiveness, cultivating compassion, turning to prayer and meditation, detaching from past hurts, engaging in acts of service, and promoting reconciliation it’s possible to find the strength to confront emotions and work towards forgiveness and I am grateful!

1. Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace
2. Abdu’l-Baha, quoted in the compilation Excellence in All Things

Bermuda-born Earl Cameron was one of the first Black stars of British film and television, breaking through racial barriers in a career that began on the London stage during the Second World War and spanned more than six decades.

His breakthrough in film came with Pool of London (1951), which was among the earliest British films to feature a Black actor in a leading role and to depict an interracial romance. Earl went on to give nuanced, dignified performances that challenged the film industry’s limited and stereotypical portrayals of people of colour. He acted alongside major stars such as Sean Connery in the James Bond outing Thunderball, and, in the 1960s, appeared in cult TV series including Doctor Who and The Prisoner. After embracing the Baha’i Faith in 1963 with his wife and children, Earl put his acting career on hold to assist the Baha’i community of the Solomon Islands. On his return to the United Kingdom, his career picked up again with appearances in The Interpreter (2005), The Queen (2006) and Inception (2010), among others.
 
A few years before his passing at the age of 102, Earl dictated his memoirs to his daughter Jane Cameron-Sanders. In them, he speaks of the racial prejudice faced in his childhood years in Bermuda, crossing oceans as a merchant seaman, labouring in steamy kitchens in war-torn London and his lucky break as an actor. Incensed by the racism, religious prejudice and economic injustice he witnessed, Earl’s spiritual quest lead him to Roman Catholic churches in Italy and Buddhist temples in Thailand, only to find the answers he was looking for, practically on his own doorstep, in teachings of the Baha’i Faith.

The memoir, released by George Ronald Publisher, is titled Earl Cameron: An Actor’s Journey. It is a richly-illustrated hardback souvenir of a pioneering actor whose charm, humility and moral authority won him legions of fans.

We caught up with Jane Cameron-Sanders and Rob Weinberg, who edited Earl’s memoir, and we’re grateful to them both for what they shared with us:

Jane, can you please tell us a little bit about yourself and about your father?

Jane: My father Earl was Bermudian and my mother Audrey came from an Eastern European Jewish background. This was an unusual mix at the time and my parents encountered a good deal of prejudice in the mid-1950s and 1960s. I think this was the reason they knew the Baha’i Faith was what they had been looking for. They loved the Teachings, especially about the oneness of humanity, and my mother particularly felt this would be the right path for their children. Indeed, even their choice of school for us (a French lycée in London) reflected the fact that they wanted us to have an international upbringing.

My father’s life changed dramatically when he was invited to attend a public meeting by a Bermudian friend, which was being held at the Baha’i World Congress at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1963. He felt immediately that this was something different and couldn’t wait to tell my mother about what he had experienced. She knew instinctively this would be of great benefit to our family and I think she pretty much believed at that instant. My father was of Anglican background and dragged his feet somewhat; however, they both embraced the Faith together and began years of service and pioneering to various parts of the United Kingdom and, eventually, to the Solomon Islands.

To say that becoming Baha’is changed our lives is an understatement. Myself and my siblings are all dedicated Baha’is and this has continued down through the generations. It is something for which my parents were immensely proud: that their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all embraced the Faith.

How did this autobiography or memoir come to be? What was the process of putting it together?

Jane: My father had started dictating his memoirs to me around 2014 and it was his wish that these be published. There were several re-writes and we knew it required a good editor to improve it sufficiently for publication. I approached several editors and publishers to no avail. My father placed the Baha’i Faith central to his story and publishers didn’t appear to be particularly interested in this facet of his life, wanting more gossip about the actors with whom he’d worked. 

After his passing, it occurred to me that George Ronald Publisher would be a good home for the book and one that my father would be more than happy with. He and I were on the same page, so to speak, that the book could introduce his admirers more fully to the Baha’i Teachings.

I spoke to the team at George Ronald and they suggested Rob as an editor. He has written a number of biographical works of British Baha’is and also knew and respected my father, having interviewed him and written articles on his life, as well as an obituary for the Daily Telegraph newspaper when he passed away. It all fell into place and I am exceedingly grateful to all at George Ronald and, of course, Rob, for their loving input.

Rob, who was Earl Cameron to you and what do you see as his significance as an actor and public figure?

Rob: I first met Earl when I was around 10 years old and he would have been in his late 50s. I remember my father pointing Earl out to me at a wedding, telling me he was a famous actor, and then negotiating my way through a crowded reception to ask him for his autograph. He kindly obliged and I still have his signature in my childhood autograph book. Our paths would cross again many times over the decades. I saw Earl at countless Baha’i gatherings and, because I was also involved in the arts and media, called upon him to lend his talents – especially his beautiful, sonorous voice – to various projects. On one occasion at the Baha’i Academy for the Arts in the 1990s, I interviewed Earl in front of an audience of about 300 about his life and work. He was especially proud of The Message, about the Prophet Muhammad, in which he played the Ethiopian King who offered sanctuary to persecuted Muslims. It chimed with his strong sense of justice and compassionate nature. I also had the pleasure of interviewing him when he turned 100 and was impressed by the fact that, even at that distinguished age, Earl wanted to continue acting!

I was always struck by Earl’s friendliness and humility, despite the admiration and accolades he received as a pioneering Black actor. He consistently refused roles that demeaned Black characters and, through his work and longevity in the industry, helped open doors for subsequent generations of actors. In 2009, he was awarded a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) by HM Queen Elizabeth II as well as recognition from the British Film Institute. When he learned of the honour from the Queen, he thought it was a mistake!

He often gave the impression of seeing himself as just being a “jobbing actor” – not drawing attention to the historic significance of his career. He was never bitter about the racism he faced though. Despite his natural shyness, Earl had an unusual combination of determination and genuine self-effacement.

Behind the scenes of Thunderball, a James Bond film starring Sean Connery. Image courtesy of George Ronald Publishing.

Behind the scenes photo from The Queen. Image courtesy of George Ronald Publishing.

A film still of The Interpreter. Image courtesy of George Ronald Publishing.

Pool of London film still. Image courtesy of George Ronald Publishing.

Emergency Call film still. Image courtesy of George Ronald Publishing.

Dr Who episode still. Image courtesy of George Ronald Publishing.

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What was the process like to edit the book?

Rob: It was a very satisfying and enjoyable experience although it required quite a lot of extra research. As Jane has said, Earl dictated his memoirs to her but when I came to look at the typescript, it appeared that often memories came back to Earl of events in a different order from which they actually happened. So it was necessary to find out when he appeared in various plays, films and television shows to try to get his memories into the right order. 

Sometimes he would say something in his memoir just as a passing remark, such as “I then did an episode of Doctor Who” and then say no more about it. So I went through everything I could find in print and online where Earl was interviewed about his life and career and then drew on these interviews to elaborate more about some of these key roles. Sometimes he spoke differently of roles and events in interviews than he did in his memoirs, or even mentioned things that he’d left out of his memoir entirely, so I had to make a choice about which version to use or what to add to provide a bigger picture. Hopefully, this gives us a much fuller and richer story than he originally dictated but I was careful to try to always preserve his own authentic voice and not add anything of my own.

I also made the point of watching as many of his films and TV shows as are available on DVD or online to be able to see him in action and to get a better sense of his remarkable achievements. It was also nice to select all the photographs from Jane’s collection and elsewhere to make this book a fitting souvenir of a great man and his career.

A final element we added to the book was a selection of tributes we solicited from actors and personalities he had worked with, as well as family members, in order to honour him further and pay tribute to the kind of man he was from those who knew him best.

What an invaluable gift to have this book in print! Jane, are there parts of it that you particularly cherish?

Jane: I particularly love the story of how my parents became Baha’is and, of course, how my father became an actor, which was something he never trained for or imagined he could be. He broke the colour bar and was respected by his peers, the British Film Institute and others, and that is something we all continue to be proud about.

What was something you learned while working on this project?

Jane: I learned that it takes great dedication to bring a book to print! I think Rob told me there were at least 11 versions in the end. I am inordinately grateful to Rob for his incredible editing.

Rob: For my part, I realise more fully perhaps that we largely think we know actors from their roles and the things they do that put them in the public eye–and we are obsessed with celebrity without really ever knowing the real people off-screen. Earl was first and foremost a Baha’i; acting was a job to him, albeit one he cared about. So while it’s wonderful to discover more about his career and the legendary names he worked with–and there are some hilarious and illuminating stories in there–I think what comes through more, and is even more inspiring, is his account of his spiritual search and its fulfilment, which is why we chose to call it An Actor’s Journey. 

What do you hope readers will take away with them after reading Earl Cameron: An Actor’s Journey?

Jane: I sincerely hope that readers will develop an awareness of some of the challenges my father faced during his career and how he faced them all with a cheerfulness, optimism and nobility that won him admirers around the world. For me, I suppose what this book is really about is how precious our days are on this earth, how opportunities need to be taken when they present themselves, and how doing the right thing may not bring global fame and wealth, but they will offer a fulfilled, purposeful and significant life of service to humanity, which has rippled through Earl’s descendents and those who have followed in his footsteps.

First and foremost, this book is about how life-changing and precious our days on this earth are and how an invitation by a schoolfriend in Bermuda to a centenary at the Royal Albert Hall can change your life–for the better. 

Thank you both for taking the time to tell us about Earl Cameron’s memoirs.

You can purchase Earl Cameron: An Actor’s Journey from a variety of book retailers including Bahaibooks.com.au in Australia and directly from George Ronald Publisher.

Heartfelt thanks to Rob for helping us with this interview!

The following is our monthly newsletter. You can get a copy sent directly to your inbox!

Hi friends!

Excitement is brewing! After hosting the Great Big Ayyama-i-Ha Bake Off for a couple of years in which we shared so many of your delicious treats, this year we’ve decided to do something different. Introducing… Baha’i Blog’s Ayyam-i-Ha Community Creativity Showcase!

For one, we wanted to expand our showcase of creative expressions beyond the culinary arts. Secondly, we’re really curious about what happens when we’re creative together and when creativity becomes increasingly integral to community life. For example, we can see from this touching video, how friends from the Torres Strait share how the arts are used in traditional islander culture “from womb to tomb” and are woven into everyday life across the community. What might that look like for each and every community? What might it look like during the special days of Ayyam-i-Ha?

In its 30 December 2021 message, the Universal House of Justice said:

Indeed the arts as a whole, so integral a part of the development of a community from the start, stand out in such settings as an important means of generating joy, strengthening bonds of unity, disseminating knowledge, and consolidating understanding, as well as of acquainting those in the wider society with the principles of the Cause.

And you may recall this passage from the 2023 Ridvan Message:

In this new series of Plans, increasing attention needs to be given to other processes that seek to enhance the life of a community—for example, by improving public health, protecting the environment, or drawing more effectively on the power of the arts.

Our hope is that you’ll send us photos to editor@bahaiblog.net of how you’re getting creative together in your community during Ayyam-i-Ha; whether it’s a drumming circle, a singalong, a dance, a mural, a collage, a poem, or (of course) cookies and cakes! We’d love to receive your photos so that we can share them during the Fast. We’re looking forward to seeing how this experiment unfolds!

As anticipation builds, Cherie has created a countdown calendar of activities that can be done together in the lead up to Ayyam-i-Ha.

As always, this template and SO MANY MORE are available on our downloadable content page. And if you’re looking for more Ayyam-i-Ha-related content, we’ve got a special collection dedicated to that very purpose.

I will be honest with you: almost every newsletter, I am tempted to preface the resources shared with a caveat saying that I understand that our content can seem incongruent with what is occurring in the world. I have felt this way for years as tragedy after tragedy and unspeakable horrors have unfolded before our eyes on the very same platforms where we share bright images and colourful ideas. However, it is precisely because of the suffering that is occurring that I think it’s all the more pressing and vital that we strengthen the bonds of friendship in our communities and that we strive to show love and deal kindly with all who are on earth. I don’t think there’s a more fitting way to close this newsletter than with these words of Abdu’l-Baha:

Sending you much love this Month of Mulk!

In the mid-1800’s, in the middle of Iran, Baha’u’llah taught that man and woman are equal. Abdu’l-Baha explains:

“Baha’u’llah declares the absolute equality of the sexes. The male and female in the mineral, vegetable and animal kingdoms share alike the material bestowals. Why should there be a difference in the human kingdom? Verily, they are equal before God, for so he created them. Why should woman be deprived of exercising the fullest opportunities offered by life? Whosoever serves humanity most is nearest God — for God is no respecter of gender.” ((Abdu’l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 82-83))

Although equality may not be evident in many parts of the world yet, this statement is definitely gaining momentum. 

My grandmother’s generation was at the tail end of the efforts to give women the right to vote. It took activists and reformers nearly 100 years to win that right, and the campaign was not easy. Some of them were clubbed, beaten and tortured and others were even arrested.

My mother’s generation saw women burning their bras in a stand for women’s rights at a Miss America Beauty Pageant. They wanted to show how all women were hurt by beauty competitions.They argued that the contest declared that the most important thing about a woman is how she looks by parading women around like “cattle” at an auction. They also threw things such as bras, girdles, curlers, tweezers, high heels, etc. into trashcans to be burned.

My generation was taught that women could have it all. We could be “super women”. The preview issue of Ms. Magazine in the spring of 1972 influenced my generation with a cover of a pregnant woman in a yoga pose, representing the Hindu goddess Kali. She was standing on one leg, balancing eight arms like an octopus, each arm held items such as a phone, a clock, a torch, a frying pan, an iron, a rake, a steering wheel and a typewriter. It was meant to show that women could juggle many different facets of life, all at the same time. Because of this influence, I tried balancing a full-time job, a part time Master’s Degree, while starting an agency for the blind from scratch while breast-feeding a newborn. I ignored my marriage because I believed I would live “happily ever after” and I ignored any self-care. Good idea in theory but not in practice. 

My son’s generation saw men baffled by women’s attempts to become independent, no longer confident about their role in society. There was a widening gap between men and women, and the divorce rate rose.

My grandson’s generation (if I had one) has had to deal with the COVID pandemic, which has brought many women back into the home, where they were expected to juggle child-care and online education for their children, all while trying to keep up with housework and working at their jobs from home, side by side with their husbands. This has led to a lot of increased tension, addictions, mental health breakdowns and divorce. 

So a lot of progress has been made and we still have a long way to go, and both things are true. Sometimes it’s easy to lose hope and to even see society regressing in some areas but sometimes I take hope in the fact that the equality of women and men and the role of women and men, in the context of a Baha’i marriage and family, are multifaceted concepts that we are only beginning to understand. In the recent March 2025 letter from the Universal House of Justice about marriage and family life, it writes:

“In the Baha’i family, the married couple are true partners; one is not subordinated to the other. Together they navigate life’s challenges—whether spiritual, material, or social—through prayer, study, consultation, and reflection on action. Consider, for example, decisions pertaining to the education of children. The Baha’i Writings acknowledge the mother as the first educator of the child and uphold her prerogatives in this regard. As Abdu’l-Baha observes, “truly it is the mothers who determine the happiness, the future greatness, the courteous ways and learning and judgement, the understanding and the faith of their little ones.” Yet, the father also bears responsibility for their education and upbringing, and cannot abdicate such a vital duty and leave it to the mother alone. And while, to support the mother in this role and ensure she is not disadvantaged by it, the father bears a corollary obligation to support the family financially, this does not mean roles are inflexibly fixed. Based on their understanding of the Teachings, the couple determine the best way to manage the family’s affairs in response to different personal and social circumstances. Each stage of married life will present corresponding challenges and opportunities a couple must strive to manage, cooperatively and effectively, while ensuring both the wife and husband’s spiritual, intellectual, and professional progress.”¹

On a broader scope, I also take hope in these promises, taken from taken from a compilation by the Universal House of Justice dated January 1986 entitled Women – Equality and Development:

• Women will become the peers of men.
• Women will abolish warfare among mankind; women will be the greatest factor in establishing universal peace and international arbitration.
• Universal peace is impossible without universal suffrage.
• Every influential undertaking of the human world wherein woman has been a participant has attained importance.
• Until we (attain equality) social and political progress here or anywhere will not be possible.

In addition, this is such a wonderfully encouraging promise for women:

“O loved handmaidens of God! Consider not your present merits and capacities, rather fix your gaze on the favours and confirmations of the Blessed Beauty, because His everlasting grace will make of the insignificant plant a blessed tree, will turn the mirage into cool water and wine; will cause the foresaken atom to become the very essence of being; the puny one erudite in the school of knowledge. It enableth a thorny bush to give forth blossoms, and the dark earth to produce fragrant and rich hyacinths. It will transmute the stone into a ruby of great price, and fill the sea shells with brilliant pearls. It will assist a fledgling school child to become a learned teacher and enable a frail embryo to reveal the reality of the verse: ‘Hallowed by the Lord, the Most Excellent of all creators.’ Verily, My Lord is powerful over things.” ((Compilation on Women, #99))

Equality is a prerequisite for the oneness of humanity, Abdu’l-Baha explains:

“Until these two members are equal in strength, the oneness of humanity cannot be established, and the happiness and felicity of mankind will not be a reality. God willing, this is to be so.” ((Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 77))

When we have equality, there will be no more war:

“Equality between men and women is conducive to the abolition of warfare for the reason that women will never be willing to sanction it. Mothers will not give their sons as sacrifices upon the battlefield after twenty years of anxiety and loving devotion in rearing them from infancy, no matter what cause they are called upon to defend. There is no doubt that when women obtain equality of rights, war will entirely cease among mankind.”²

O God, hasten the day!

We have every reason to be hopeful. We know the road will be long and stony. We know there will be lots of gains and lots of setbacks. We know that with every crisis comes many victories. Baha’u’llah’s promises are being and will continue to be fulfilled as humanity works for the equality of men and women, and knowing that, I am grateful! 

1. The Universal House of Justice, 19 March 2025 letter on marriage and family life
2. Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace

The Australian Baha’i Publishing Trust has released a new children’s book titled Once Upon a Tomorrow. Written by Mehrnoosh Vejdani Watson, it provides a nuanced look at progressive revelation for all ages.

We were deepened saddened to hear of Merhnoosh’s passing during the final stages of this book’s publication and we’re grateful to her daughter, Ariana, for answering these interview questions on behalf of her cherished mother.

Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

I should start by saying that I (Ariana) am writing this as the daughter of the author rather than the author herself. My mother, Mehrnoosh, who both wrote and illustrated this book, passed away while the book was in the final stage of production at the printer. I wish she could have answered these questions herself, but perhaps it’s good that I am doing this instead because I can start by sharing some of the wonderful things about her that she was too humble to say about herself:

Mehrnoosh dedicated her entire adult life to children, parents, and teachers. She had over 30 years of experience in the field of education, both as an educational and parenting consultant and as a classroom teacher in early childhood and elementary settings across public and independent schools. Education was truly her calling.

Over the course of her 30+ year career she ran a preschool for the arts, taught art, and spent over 25 years as a general classroom teacher (kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades) in one of the top public-school systems in the U.S. In addition to her teaching work, Mehrnoosh maintained an active parent consulting practice for over 15 years, both in private practice and for a national agency, the then-leading provider of corporate work-life services where she advised employees of Fortune 500 Companies. In her practice she focused on supporting and coaching parents to address a range of behavioural, social-emotional, and educational challenges. She was also a certified Mindfulness instructor, which added an important dimension to her work with both children and parents.

Merhnoosh wove together strands of many educational philosophies and practices, with formal training in Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf/Rudolph Steiner, Suzuki, and the Anisa Model for Education, into a coherent vision of the child and a holistic approach to teaching and parenting. Baha’i teachings created the foundation of her approach: every child is inherently noble, with infinite capacity. She had a soulful love of nature and consistently integrated nature and learning in ways that were ahead of her time—she recognized the nature deficiency that exists among today’s children and found all kinds of exciting and engaging ways to spark a lifelong love of nature in as many children as she could.

She also had a deep love for children’s literature, consistently seeking out beautiful books that leave readers filled with wonder and awe—her bookshelf was always a treasure mine to peruse. She was absolutely passionate about teaching through literature, and—in her own words—”found endless inspiration in the way young people can grasp complex themes and metaphors when engaged in meaningful discussions with adults who believe in their limitless potential.”

Although she did not seek recognition, I’d also like to mention a few ways that Mehrnoosh’s work was recognized for its incredible impact. Her classroom was profiled in university graduate classes as a model for the way she utilized environment as a teaching partner. She mentored student-teachers who were willing to expand their minds about the possibilities of what education could be. She was one of 10 educators featured by the WGBH Education Foundation in a series of social studies videos that were aired on the Annenberg channel and used for graduate-level teacher training in universities across the United States for over two decades. Mehrnoosh’s work was profiled in the Boston Globe and featured briefly in at least two books about education: Education on Trial by Nat Rutstein, and The Importance of Being Little by Erika Christakis. The latter author described her as being a “preternaturally gifted teacher” and that phrase has always stuck with me, because I can’t think of a better way to describe her natural talent working with children.

Beyond her professional life, I can testify to the fact that Mehrnoosh was also an incredible parent. I cannot begin to describe what a profound impact she had on me as my mother and what a guiding force she was, from my earliest memories throughout adulthood and most recently helping me work with my own children. I also want to add that she fearlessly challenged the status quo when she believed better was possible, especially when it came to children.

Can you please tell us a little bit about Once Upon a Tomorrow?

Once Upon a Tomorrow is a story that carries the reader through the arc of time to meet the world’s great spiritual Teachers as each receives revelation from God and plants a spiritual seed. As described on the jacket cover, it’s a book about humanity’s shared history, present, and future. It focuses on the spiritual truths that unite the world’s great religions—the core messages that unite us all rather than divide us. The writing itself is poetic, the story is told in the language of metaphor. I could go into more detail analyzing the metaphors, because I got really excited about it while reading, but I don’t want to take away from the experience of reading it yourself and seeing what you glean from it.

What inspired you to create this book? 

To answer this question, I’m going to pull in some of Mehrnoosh’s own reflections:

“The world is too beautiful to be divided. Humanity is too powerfully destined for unimaginable cohesion and harmony to be polarized against itself!

“None of us is a stranger to the anxiety of the soul when we witness conflict and division, or worse, when we ourselves play any part in spreading negative energy or toxic fumes of division. With the help of many forms of media, we are aware that political unrest, international conflicts and wars, partisan bickering, and religious, ethnic, and racial prejudice and discrimination are on the rise across the globe. And we feel the impact of these negative forces as they touch our lives directly or indirectly.

“But the good news is that humanity’s collective consciousness and aspiration for peace and justice has been climbing to historic heights. Nongovernmental agencies and civil society organizations are addressing issues related to human rights and freedoms of all kinds. They work to raise global awareness and bring together resources to meet the needs of affected communities.

“The youth around the world, who are greatly impacted by the dysfunctionality of our worldwide systems, are particularly arising with awareness and commitment to demand new solutions—from themselves and from older generations who are in power. A great number of religious leaders are also recognizing their historic roles in creating division within society. As a result, these leaders, in dialogue with each other, are beginning to contribute to the creation of a new narrative and vision for possibility.

“As outlined in The Power of Story: ‘Narratives tell us what is happening in our world, what’s at stake, and create or expand boundaries around what’s possible. As America [has reached] its 250^th anniversary, narratives of division are dominant: left versus right, urban versus rural, one race against another.’ But what if the divisions we see—not just in America, but all over the world—’can be understood as the product of stories—deeply ingrained narratives we have collectively accepted that shape how we understand ourselves and each other? What if changing those narratives could reshape the future of our [world]?’

“Once Upon a Tomorrow is an individual’s contribution to that narrative for the sake of our children’s future. The initial seed for the idea was planted in my consciousness during a meditative moment at a mindfulness retreat for educators. It took root and spread its own branches in my mind and heart over a period of five years. During that time, it made known its force of presence so clearly that it moved me forward toward its illustration despite my lack of prior experience as a children’s book illustrator.”

Who is its audience?

Once Upon a Tomorrow is for children of all ages, beliefs, and backgrounds. Mehrnoosh believed that the best picture books were those that were quite layered in complexity, so that all ages who engage with the book can explore those layers of meaning and benefit from the process of reflection. This book can be used by children (ages 5-10) at home with their parents, in children’s classes, libraries, and school classrooms. It likewise has sophisticated layers of exploration for junior youth (ages 11-15), and she hoped it would be enjoyed by these older children independently, with their families, and as a supplemental material within the context of junior youth empowerment classes—especially those groups exploring the concept of progressive revelation. So really, it’s for children, junior youth, and adults who are young at heart!

The book also contains educational resources, including a vocabulary list and a very helpful set of guiding questions that can be used independently by older readers, or by a parent or teacher who is reading the book alongside younger children to help explore the concepts in depth.

Speaking from my own experience reading it, there was a lot to learn from the sacred scripture that were referenced in the book. And, as a parent and teacher of children’s classes, I am beyond excited about having this beautiful work as a resource for my own children and so many children with whom I interact. We need more high-quality children’s books that explore the core principles in which Baha’is believe, and I love that this book highlights universal concepts and the unity behind all religions, making it a wonderful read (or gift!) for any family who wants to explore spiritual concepts and history with their children.

What’s something you’ve learned in the process of making this book?

I wish Mehrnoosh could have answered this question herself. I know how excited she was to explore the themes of this story and the feelings of confirmation she experienced as she found more and more support in the sacred scripture of all the world’s religions for the concepts at the heart of this book.

One of the discoveries that she found most exciting centered on the trees in this book. Although the metaphor of the trees as divine revelation was always part of the story, Mehrnoosh grappled for a while with how the illustrations would work. As she explored the sacred scriptures, she started to discover that each of the major religions actually featured a different species of tree—a concept she had never particularly noticed in any of the sacred writings. The more she studied, the more she realized the remarkable similarities in the symbolism used and the importance of these trees to each major religion. She became excited about using the species themselves in the illustrations and realized it was also a very useful device for showing the diversity of these places around the world without visually depicting the Manifestations/prophets. She felt such confirmation about the tree as a powerful metaphorical tool and common thread through which to illustrate the concept of progressive revelation. I don’t want to give away too much more here, because I think it’s important to discover and explore the metaphors while reading the actual book, but it was a joy to watch this process unfold.

Perhaps a connection only visible in hindsight, Mehrnoosh also used trees and their leaves in her second-grade classroom to teach the concepts of diversity and unity very effectively. She conducted a powerful exercise (which is actually on film) that had a profound and lasting impact on children in her class and their families. Multiple parents have reached out to me since her death to tell me how much they still feel the influence of that work many years (some even 20 years!) since their children were in her classroom. So, I think it’s quite beautiful that she found another way, here in this book, to use metaphor from the natural world to teach children about unity.

What do you hope readers will take away with them?

I hope that readers will be inspired by a sense of connection and hopefulness for the unity that we have always shared (even when we as a people have not realized it or chosen to accept it). That while some of our differences are very real—and can be beautiful!—that we are much more alike than we are different. I also hope the book will increase readers’ interest in exploring the sacred writings of all religions and to understand the common truths we share and hold dear. And, that we all need to work together for a more peaceful, loving world.

Thank you, Ariana, for taking the time to share this with us!

You can purchase Once Upon a Tomorrow from a variety of book retailers including Bahaibooks.com.au in Australia and the US Baha’i Publishing Trust and Amazon.

A tremendous highlight of the last Baha’i month was the release of two letters from the Universal House of Justice: one was regarding the Nine Year Plan, and it was addressed to the Conference of the Continental Counsellors (and by extension, to all of us), and the other was written to the Baha’is of the World with observations and remarks about the conference.

It was a joy to publish two audio readings of these messages, and even though I listened to them many (many!) times over in order to share them with you, I look forward to studying and reflecting on them to a greater and more profound degree. There were parts that struck me immediately, like a bolt of lightning, which were shared visually on our social media channels:

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With this outpouring of guidance from the beloved Universal House of Justice, I’ve been reflecting on the nature of guidance in general. Last month I shared several musical interpretations of these words of Abdu’l-Baha:

Make haste to love! Make haste to trust! Make haste to give! To guidance come!

What does “to guidance come” mean to you? I personally read this sentence as implying that the guidance we have been given is like a banquet spread out before us, and we are encouraged and invited to step forward and partake of it. Guidance could also be akin to a sweet melody we are encouraged to listen closely, despite the seemingly deafening clamour of the material world. This month we shared a song called “Sweet Melodies” by Payam, Maureen and Saleem. Their Studio Session is based on these words of Baha’u’llah:

…incline mine ear to the sweet melodies of the birds that warble their praise of Thee…

Harkening to guidance–and then becoming sources of guidance–reminds me of this extract from a recently translated Tablet by Abdu’l-Baha where youth are described as banners:

O thou steadfast in the Covenant! Your letter hath come and imparted great delight, with its word that, praised be God, the youth of the Abhá paradise are verdant and tender from showers scattered out of clouds of heavenly grace, that they thrive and flourish in the April rains of heavenly guidance and are progressing day by day.

It is certain that each and every one of them will grow to be as a banner of guidance, a symbol of the bestowals that come from the realm of the All-Glorious.

The prayer goes on to say:

You must attach the greatest importance to the education of children, for this is the foundation of the Law of God and the bedrock of the edifice of His Faith.

If it were known how much joy you have imparted through what hath been done for the children, the believers would surely educate all their children in the same way.

Amidst an ever-turbulent and distressed world, holding guidance close arms me with hope and helps me focus my attention on the next generation.

Similarly, Cherie has been working on creating some free downloadable resources for children’s education. She’s made a spiritual goals chart and a corresponding deck of cards. In preparation for gathering all together, she’s also created invitation templates for Ayyam-i-Ha celebrations and Ayyam-i-Ha greetings that can be personalized and shared.

Spiritual goals chart

Spiritual goals deck of cards

Arts and crafts Ayyam-i-Ha party invitation

Ayyam-i-Ha gathering invitation

Vintage themed Ayyam-i-Ha party invitation

Ayyam-i-Ha greeting

Ayyam-i-Ha greeting

Ayyam-i-Ha greeting

Thank you for taking the time to read this monthly reflection–we truly appreciate it!

#MeToo revealed the discrimination and violence women regularly met in the film and television industry. The nefarious, premeditated, and enabled predation of Harvey Weinstein was the first to be highlighted. Weinstein, rightfully, was convicted of his crimes and will likely remain in prison for the rest of his life. The outcome of his case is not largely debated–he committed a crime almost regularly and repeatedly. He was violent and aggressive. He fit the bill of nearly every stereotype of who a predator was or what sex-based discrimination appeared like. 

The conviction of Weinstein sparked an outcry and prompted so many to come forward with their own stories. Figures who had been fixtures of our TV screens and movie theaters found themselves accused and shunned. Were some like Weinstein? Absolutely. Were some non-violent but still criminal? Yes. What about creepy without being criminal? Certainly. Sexist without an ounce of self-awareness? Oh, yes. What about sexist while spouting the illusion of equality and justice? That too–yes. 

Sexism is ubiquitous–that much is clear. In the Baha’i Faith, the consequences of sexism are also dire: 

“Until womankind reaches the same degree as man, until she enjoys the same arena of activity, extraordinary attainment for humanity will not be realized; humanity cannot wing its way to heights of real attainment.”¹ 

Baha’is embrace and endorse this quote and fully back the belief of the equality of rights between men and women but we are still learning how it translates into reality. What does it actually mean to not be sexist? What does it actually mean for women to enjoy the same arena of activity or for her to reach the same degree as men? How does sexual harassment and general sexism even play into this? 

Sexual harassment–in the most minimal and general sense–consists of sexual communication which would lead to a hostile environment. This communication need not be nefarious in intent. This communication need not be about seeking a romantic partner. It need not even be graphic. It can be spoken by a person who is in a loving and committed relationship to a colleague who is likewise, happily coupled. Intent is not the issue–reception and environment is. 

This is where it can become confusing: how can we predict people’s reception? Why should we be responsible for an individual always assuming the worst? What if we just meant to be funny? We insist we aren’t bad. 

At 21, I was in a car accident. I wasn’t paying attention in a parking lot and overran a stop sign before I was t-boned by another vehicle. At the time, I was intensely stressed from a traumatic loss in my life as well as the rising anxieties of being a senior in college, having to venture into adulthood in so few months. I was lost and looking for a sign, eager to meet my sister-in-law and a friend for coffee. I, of course, didn’t want to be the cause of an accident, but my distractions, my stress, and my tiredness, contributed to my recklessness. I was at fault. I took responsibility and paid for the damages. Even if the driver of the other car announced my carelessness to the world to my humiliation, he would not have been necessarily wrong. I needed to seek grace from elsewhere for my errors, and work on myself. 

Would it be kind of an individual to offer grace and forgiveness? Surely, for no one is perfect. But are they under any obligation to? No. It is not for the one who caused harm to judge how the person harmed receives it or reacts. 

The man whose car I hit, though, seemed like a reasonable person. I’d like to think he went home and vented about me but softened when the call from his insurance company stated there would be no argument about who was at fault. I was sober and licensed and caused minor damage. Everything was fixable and repairable. Fine, let’s move on. 

But what if I didn’t have a license? What if I had been drunk? What if it was in fact, the fifth time I had made such an error? How would all of this have factored into the grace I would assume a reasonable person would begin to bestow? 

I tell this story to offer a parable. Sexism is ubiquitous. It can be the result of ego (I don’t care that I keep getting into fenderbenders! It happens! Get over it!) , truly mal intent (I can’t wait to hit someone with my car because I’m mad!) or just mild carelessness (I was tired and sad and giving into my lower nature–I’m sorry). 

Regardless of where it comes from–it still happens–and the perpetrator of it must still repair. 

As women typically do, I’ve heard many inappropriate jokes or comments from male friends or colleagues and partners. Like most minor fender-benders, I’ve quickly made repairs. People say stupid things begotten of a bad day, or ignorance, or experience. We move on.

Some accidents, though, leave a bigger dent. Others keep happening as minor bumps that repeat, building on the last before a trip to the shop can even be taken, that makes me wonder–is this even an accident? Suddenly the environment has changed, and I’m uncomfortable. So it is with the beginning of the bubble of sex-based discrimination and harassment. 

Is it just to ask a person who has been hit repeatedly by your car–minorly or majorly–to forgive you because you truly didn’t mean it? You’re just tired. You didn’t know better, you insist. 

What if it’s a person who has no context for your personality and only knows you through work and employment? Is it just at all for them to magically know your intentions were pure and not seeded in discrimination or something more sinister?

The building of relationships with others takes time. As it is with modesty, we need to be aware and mindful of the things we give or present. Is this the right time for me to say such a thing? Is this the right context? I swear I mean well, but how will this be understood? I don’t want to hit another car, but will I if I press the gas at this moment? 

Every one who acts in a sexist manner is not a Weinstein, nor is every one who is at fault for an accident a bad driver. Context matters. Intent manners. However, if I am repeatedly the cause of car accidents, it’s important to ask why. At some point, it must be upon us to ask ourselves why we find ourselves in similar situations repeatedly, or why multiple women feel it’s important to criticize our behaviour. But are we taking the time to call ourselves to account, or are we only expecting those we’ve hurt to consistently offer grace?

“Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning.”²

Reckonings are not made of dust. They are armed with experiences and feelings built upon one another. Reckonings are also painful, but they can and should be the beginning of a change:

“The world in the past has been ruled by force, and man has dominated over woman by reason of his more forceful and aggressive qualities both of body and mind. But the balance is already shifting; force is losing its dominance, and mental alertness, intuition, and the spiritual qualities of love and service, in which woman is strong, are gaining ascendancy.”³

Change is difficult. “Aggressive qualities” are things we may not even be aware that we have possessed. I hardly even realize I’m drifting over the lane when my car begins to beep at me. The new red lights on the avenue next over are annoying and tedious–they seem to make every trip slower. As we inch towards this better world, I’m sure many regulations will change as we consistently keep them under review. Then again, I’m also sure we’re approaching safety–and far more freedom. 

1. Abdu’l-Baha The Promulgation of Universal Peace, 375
2. Baha’u’llah, The Hidden Words
3. Abdu’l-Baha, To Set the World in Order: Building and Preserving Strong Marriages

The following is our monthly newsletter. You can get a copy sent directly to your inbox!

For this month’s newsletter, I’d like to focus on two main themes: practitioners of peace and families.

In recent hours, the Baha’i World News Service has released its annual “Year in Review” video. It highlights the efforts of the global Baha’i community to foster a more harmonious world. It writes:

At a time when societies throughout the world are seeking new paths forward, the noise of division can feel louder than ever, pressing people to take sides and draw lines. Yet across diverse settings, countless stories of resilience and hope illuminate another possibility, one rooted in a growing recognition of our shared humanity. The Baha’i World News Service looks back at some of the stories it covered in 2025, offering a glimpse of efforts, in countless settings, where new patterns of life are quietly emerging.

Resilience and hope also illumine the words of the recent message from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Australia in response to the Bondi terror attack that took place on the first night of Chanukkah when two gunmen opened fire at Bondi Beach, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more. The National Assembly writes:

“This moment calls for a conscious choice, one that reflects our highest values and clear vision for the future. Well-wishers of humanity of every background in our country are grieving and searching for solace and hope. Unity has emerged as a shared longing. At such times, our role as practitioners of peace takes on renewed meaning. The Universal House of Justice reminds us that Baha’is are never mere spectators, and that we are called to be as ‘leaven’ to the world. This is the time to ask ourselves what is needed, to reflect on what we can do in our settings, and to act.” 

The letter goes on to quote words of Abdu’l-Baha. These same words have been put to music in three different melodies in our Studio Sessions and, in the spirit of the letter from the National Assembly, I think they are worth a listen:

The National Assembly also writes:

“We can expand our efforts to build havens of peace with those around us, communities that ‘offer hope in place of despair, unity in place of conflict’. Local Spiritual Assemblies, communities, groups of families and individuals are encouraged to offer comfort and support those affected and to foster unity, mutual understanding, hope and a sense of collective solidarity by bringing people together in a spirit of compassion and shared humanity across all faiths.” 

Unity in place of conflict emerges beautifully in another video recently shared by the Baha’i World News Service titled “Expressions of Equality in the Family”, which explores how the principle of equality is reshaping patterns of life among several families in New Delhi. Family life, marriage and the unique role of children and of youth bridge much of what we have shared on Baha’i Blog in the last Baha’i month:

• Susanne reflected on the role of preparation in creating marriages that fulfil the destiny of the peoples of the world.

• Nigerian Afropop artist R Mixy released a new song called “When Baha’is Meet”, featuring members of his family.

• Our latest Studio Session from Budapest is a unified musical expression of family members turning towards God.

• In a short video shared by the Australian Baha’i Community, we see 60 youth from Brisbane and surrounding communities who travelled to the Sydney Baha’i House of Worship to spiritually prepare for the upcoming summer period of service, and to experience the link between worship and service.

• We continue to feature That Married Couple podcast, hosted by Nava Revalk and Kian Jones. In the most recent episode, they discuss wedding planning and how social media affects relationships.

• In revisiting our Deck of Questions conversation between Sana and Shauna, we’ve extracted a clip where they talk about what qualities children demonstrate that Sana wishes we could emulate as grown-ups.

The holiday season always kickstarts my children’s anticipation of Ayyam-i-Ha. We have two articles on Baha’i Blog about family life and Ayyam-i-Ha that have stayed with me throughout the years. In one, Bre describes the process of adopting two of her children and becoming a family of six during this special time of year. In another, Yas shares a conversation with her nephew and nieces about the significance of Ayyam-i-Ha.

Wishing you a peaceful and unifying Month of Honour!