Hi friends!!

Here’s our round-up of the previous month!

If you haven’t already, I recommend watching the keynote address at the 2026 conference for the Association for Baha’i Studies for North America. Delivered by member of the Universal House of Justice, Mr Shahriar Razavi, the talk is about serving as a true practitioner of peace, and it contains many reflections and insights on what peace means at all levels. The lecture contains many gems well worth mulling over and revisiting!

In the previous Baha’i month, we also shared a short but sweet animation by Bright Moon Trust, a Baha’i-inspired funding agency focused on First Nations peoples in Northern Australia. The video explores the principle that the welfare of each of us is bound up with the welfare of all.

Moving from peace in the community to inner-peace within the individual, we also promoted two guided meditations led by Roy Steiner, one on the topic of oneness, and the other on hope. I very much appreciate how they draw upon images and quotations from the Baha’i Writings. These meditations have been produced by our sister-channel, Baha’i Inspired, and I encourage you to find a quiet moment to enjoy them. While they are available on YouTube, you can also find them on Spotify.

I am perpetually delighted that Baha’i Blog both makes its own content and highlights the work of others. I believe that mix of voices and perspectives of various creators makes Bahaiblog.net a real treasure trove. And while we typically use our newsletter to unabashedly promote our own videos and audio over those made by others, I really wanted to draw your attention first to Mr. Razavi’s talk, Bright Moon Trust’s recent animation, and the guided meditations.

What we shared in the last month that was made in-house is not as strongly linked to the theme of peace, but I hope you’ll still enjoy them! Tahirih Lemon shared with us about her new children’s book, What Makes Abdu’l-Baha Special, and Naysan chatted with Mateen and Jason about their podcast, Elevated Convo. We released more episodes of the Baha’i Stories Podcast and published fresh Studio Sessions, such as “Radiant Heart” from Edinburgh. Although nothing could be more in-house than a Studio Session where the producer moves from behind the camera to sing in front of it–and to sing a cover, no less! In last week’s release, Jordan sang “Nightingale of Affection”. Roya Bennett composed and performed the original song as a Studio Session almost an entire decade ago. I hope you enjoy both renditions. Without further ado, here’s Jordan Raj:

Wishing you a peaceful month of Izzat!

Love,
Sonjel

When I was at the Association for Baha’i Studies conference in Calgary, Canada, I met a guy named Mateen, who asked if I had any insights I could share from my experience producing the Baha’i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson. Mateen, and a friend named Jason, wanted to create a podcast to help foster elevated conversations and to explore various topics related to the Baha’i Teachings and world’s major religions. And I’m excited to share that Mateen and Jason have successfully created an awesome podcast called Elevated Convo!

We’ve since become good friends. It’s been so encouraging to me to see two guys, with very little experience in the podcast world, actually dive headfirst into it, and produce a wonderful podcast!

I decided to chat with Mateen and Jason about the Elevated Convo podcast, so I could share what it’s all about:

Can you tell us a little bit about the podcast series and who it’s for?

Our podcast explores listener-submitted questions through a spiritual lens. Someone writes in and asks a question about something they’d like a spiritual perspective on, and then we pull quotes from various religions around that topic. For instance, in our first episode a friend wrote in and asked “I just moved to a big city and I’m trying to make friends, but I notice all the friend groups I’m exploring are gossiping about each other. What should I do?” We then go and find religious quotes around the topic of gossiping/backbiting, and break down each of the quotes and offer some practical advice based on these spiritual teachings. We both grew up in the Bahaʼi Faith so our perspective and quotes we share are largely guided by the Faith, but we make sure to include quotes from other religions as well (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc…) to make sure everyone feels welcome on the podcast, and to demonstrate that all religions have the same fundamental truths. The idea is to make these fundamental spiritual truths accessible to a modern audience and demonstrate how to apply them in everyday life.

As far as who the show is for, we hope it’s helpful for people that are spiritually curious and want an approachable and practical way to explore the teachings of the Bahaʼi Faith and other religions. We also hope the show is helpful for Bahaʼis as well, as it can inspire conversations with friends that are curious about the Faith and offer an easy way to explore the Bahaʼi teachings further. For instance, if the topic of gossiping, materialism, prayer, detachment, etc. comes up in a conversation, you could say “oh, I just listened to a podcast about that topic, let me send it to you!”

Can you tell us why you decided to start the podcast series?

We started this podcast because we wanted to make these fundamental universal religious teachings more accessible and shareable. I think it’s easy for us to think that the problems we deal with today are new or unique in some way, but many would be surprised how applicable religious texts are to everyday questions, and these religious texts are hundreds and thousands of years old! 

What are some of the things you’ve learned over the course of making this happen?

We’ve learned it’s important to meet people where they’re at, not only in terms of messaging but in terms of platform. We’ve had the most success with taking short bite sized clips from our show and posting them on social media, as that’s where so many spend their time nowadays. 

How do you hope the podcast will affect its listeners?

We hope our podcast provides our listeners with a chance to reflect on bigger picture questions in life, as we’ve heard from many listeners that they don’t always have a place to have elevated conversations. Reading our comments and seeing people respond positively to what we’ve shared so far has been so rewarding.

Do you have any suggestions for others who have been thinking of starting their own podcast?

We think it’s so important to share your message online! Both of us organize Bahaʼi events in Los Angeles, and typically a good turnout would be 20 people, and 50 would be incredible. Now with our podcast across all platforms we get thousands of views via Youtube, Instagram, Tiktok, etc. every single week. It’s crazy to think that we’re sharing our message even while we’re asleep! We would absolutely encourage anyone who’s looking to get into this space, and we’d love to offer advice and assist however we can. It is really not that difficult with all the technology now out there. Just DM us on social media and we’d love to help you out get your own show started!

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

We’re so grateful to all the support from the community we’ve already received. And to those wondering how best to support us: the single best thing you can do is share the show with others! Whether sharing a full episode or just a clip on social media, posting in a group chat or sending to a friend is a fantastic way to support the show. We had a clip on instagram reach 100,000 views, and the only way it happened is by people reposting and sharing it with others.

Where can people find the podcast?

You can find us anywhere you get your podcasts! On YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on any other platform, simply search “Elevated Convo.”

We also share shorter clips of the podcast on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook. You can find us by searching @ElevatedConvoPod. Give us a follow!

Thank you so much, Mateen and Jason, and congratulations again on creating such an interesting and enjoyable podcast!

I want to share a fun new video series we’ve just launched on Baha’i Blog’s sister channel, Baha’i Inspired, called “WHAT Baha’i Inspired…?”!

In this series of short videos, we conduct a little interview asking friends these three questions: 

1. What’s a Baha’i-inspired book you like?

2. What’s a Baha’i-inspired song you like? 

3. What Baha’i-inspired concept have you been reflecting on lately?

We then create a short video based on their answer to each question, and weave in images or footage of the song or book mentioned. There are so many wonderful Baha’i-inspired books and songs out there that we thought this would be a good way to share and celebrate them, which is also why we have included links to the song and book in the description of each video–we’ve saved you from having to hunt them down! Letting viewers know about these songs and books will hopefully encourage friends to check out ones that they may never have heard of, or to revisit familiar melodies and written works.

We also want to share Baha’i principles and concepts, which is why we’ve included the third question, “What Baha’i-inspired concept have you been reflecting on lately?”. Through this question, we hope to help foster elevated thoughts and conversations both online and in person.

One of our hopes and aims at Baha’i Inspired and Baha’i Blog is to help raise the profile of the Baha’i Faith online, and to celebrate all the wonderful songs, books and concepts which are inspired by the Baha’i Faith and its Teachings.

We hope you enjoy this new series our sister channel has put together and that you’ll find these videos interesting and inspiring!

Be sure to check them out across all Baha’i Inspired platforms:

YouTube
TikTok
Facebook
Instagram

And don’t forget to “Subscribe” for more awesome Baha’i-inspired content!

Thanks again, everyone, for all your continued support!

P.S. Friends have also asked us what the difference is between Baha’i Blog and Baha’i Inspired. Baha’i Blog is an independent initiative for Australian Baha’is and friends to connect with personal stories, inspiration, arts and media about the Baha’i Faith, its ideals and transformational impact. Baha’i Blog shares articles, videos, audio, and images. Baha’i Inspired shares similar ideals and is also an independent initiative; however, it focuses on an American audience and produces video content solely. We’re sister channels!

Tahirih Lemon has penned a new children’s book to introduce young audiences to the Station and Personage of Abdu’l-Baha! Tahirih is prolific: in the past, we’ve chatted about her picture book Signs of God’s Love, and we’ve shared about her books for older children and junior youth such as The Independent Investigator series, Aalia’s Guardian Angel, and Soul Travelling. In this post, she tells us about the lovely twins who inspired her to write this book and how it all came about.

Could you please tell us a little about What Makes Abdu’l-Baha Special?

It’s about a boy, Benjamin, whose interest in Abdu’l-Baha is piqued when attending his children’s neighbourhood classes.

What inspired you to write it?

Over several weeks I built a relationship with a recently widowed mother and her eight-year-old twin daughters in my neighbourhood. I invited them to the Baha’i Holy Day, the Day of the Covenant, being celebrated in our home, following a potluck dinner. Shortly afterwards, I started a new children’s neighbourhood class for her twins, Helen and Irene.  

During our first class, I narrated a story illustrating the importance of having a pure heart. I used props–a couple of glasses and a jug of water. Afterwards, Irene exclaimed, “Wow, Abdu’l-Baha was magical! He knew what was in people’s hearts.” Her expression suddenly became more solemn. She said, “It’s sad a bomb went off on Abdu’l-Baha’s birthday. And that’s why you don’t celebrate it.”  Initially, puzzled, I realised because she had never heard of the Bab, her mind tried to find a word that fit with what she was familiar with and came up with bomb!

You see, Abdu’l-Baha was born on the same day that the Bab declared His mission to Mulla Husayn. Abdu’l-Baha forbade the Baha’is from celebrating His birthday. But when Abdu’l-Baha was travelling through the United States over a century ago, the American believers repeatedly expressed their desire to commemorate His life. He eventually allowed the Baha’is to choose a date that was furthest away from the date when Bahaʼu’llah passed away and to use that day to celebrate the establishment of Bahaʼu’llah’s Covenant with humanity. As Bahaʼu’llah passed away on May 29^th, 1892, the Baha’i community chose the 26^th of November, 182 days away from the day of Bahaʼu’llah’s passing, as the Day of the Covenant.

Following this class, it dawned on me, children and their parents who were not Baha’is, wouldn’t know who Abdu’l-Baha was, yet most of the stories in Ruhi Book 3, Grades 1-2 are about Him. I let the idea simmer in the back of my mind. Once morning at 4:00 am the idea came to me, and I sat down and started writing, What Makes Abdu’l-Baha Special.

Who is its audience?

Children who attend the children’s neighbourhood classes aged 5-8 years and their parents. It’s also a resource teachers can use in class to introduce Abdu’l-Baha.

What do you hope readers will take away with them?

I hope it reinforces how special Abdu’l-Baha was. And although there are many people who are loving, kind, and generous in the world, Abdu’l-Baha is the Perfect Exemplar.

Why is creativity and artistic expression important to you? Or important to the world?

I worked with the talented watercolour artist, Liza Polovynkina, from Ukraine. More, and more books are illustrated using AI. Ethically, I could not go down this road. Artists spend years honing their skills and deserve to be supported and their work celebrated. Art and creativity feed the soul.

Thank you so much, Tahirih, for sharing this with us!

You can purchase What Makes Abdu’l-Baha Special from a variety of book retailers including Baha’i Books Australia and from Tahirih’s website.

Our Deck of Questions episodes are a real treat! This month we shared an episode where Kassra and Jada share their thoughts and experiences of working with youth:

They chat about which generation has it the hardest, pitfalls and powers of social media, how they handle disunity, what genuine empowerment looks like, and realising you’re a maths person after all!

One of my favourite parts of the episode is when Kassra speaks about how when younger people and older people are able to work together, magic happens. I think he’s right!

We have a few videos on Baha’i Blog that share some of that magic before our eyes:

In addition to the thoughts and anecdotes shared, I love Kassra and Jada’s episode as it stands in contrast to the one with did with Aaron and Sally about life’s wisdom.

This month we similarly shared perspectives by different generations: Sameh made a reel about why his recent year of service was meaningful, and Deborah Clark Vance was interviewed about her book, Second Century Believers, which explores the years 1964 and 1973 when a large number of young people embraced the teachings of Baha’u’llah, including Deborah herself. 

I also have a soft spot for our Studio Sessions that feature participants of various ages. Some examples from the last couple of years, and from among our collection of 560 (!!) songs, include:

The last thing I’d like to highlight touches upon relationships across age ranges, but more importantly, it’s a story about reckoning with oneself and one’s character; it’s Mahvash Sabet’s memoir Open Wide the Doors. I read this book in the contrasting and incongruous settings of holiday beaches with their endless vistas, and poolside decks that echoed with the sounds of playing children. It’s a book I’ll never forget. When we interviewed Bahiyyih Nakhavani, one of its translators, she said:

“Mahvash does not flinch from the truth. As a result, her memoir is an affirmation of humanity, of compassion, and of radiant resilience. It is a book about how to retain hope in spite of all odds, and how to give it to others.”

You find evidences of this over and over again in the memoir as Mahvash extends the hand of friendship to those she comes in contact with. But more importantly, you finish the book with a sense of her immense powers of discernment and inner fortitude. Mahvash writes:

“Section 209 is a prison within the prison of Evin, a hell within a hell reflecting the worst of human nature. But it can also give you a glimpse of certitude, bring you face-to-face with the beauty and dignity of the human spirit and set you free.”

Reading her book with the knowledge that Mahvash is still not free is an intimate and horrific experience–you know there is no happy ending at the end of its pages. And yet, the words are illuminated with faith in the future. It is, according to Bahiyyih, a “message that we all need to hear, wherever and whoever we are, in the turmoil of the difficult times in which we live today.”

With love,
Sonjel

I am interested in the historical awareness of the Baha’i community–how we chart time, and how we reflect on where we stand in the unfoldment of time.

I was curious to hear about a book by Deborah Clark Vance, who was interested in a unique decade in the annals of the Baha’i Faith: 1964 and 1973. This period saw a large number of young people embracing the teachings of Baha’u’llah, including Deborah herself. She wondered about the motivations, thought processes and stories of that generation so she set about to collect their stories, their experiences and their points of view. Together, these voices form the core of her book, Second Century Believers.

Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

I grew up Christian and entered the Baha’i Faith in 1970 after my first year of college. In January 1971, I filled a U.S. pioneer goal to Mantova, Italy. In October that year I was able to go on pilgrimage and bought a 6th class ticket to Haifa–a reclining seat in the lowest deck. In Haifa, some wise pilgrims encouraged me to finish my education, and I eventually earned a doctorate from Howard University and taught communication and media courses at a small college. I’ve served on Local Spiritual Assemblies in three different cities, totalling 32 years.

Can you please tell us a little bit about Second Century Believers?

When I was a new Baha’i in the 1970s, young people were attracted to the Faith in droves. We often got together just to pray in a circle, or to sing. Baha’i clubs were active on college campuses. When Baha’is reached the age of 21, they’d sometimes move across their town’s borders in order to help establish new Local Assemblies. This generation is still vibrant and deep, and I wanted to chronicle some of their experiences. Having gained proficiency with qualitative research procedures, I figured it’d be a good approach: qualitative research involves in-depth interviews into the feelings and experiences among a group of people who share commonalities. The researcher sorts through the data, looking for shared meanings and reducing it to the most prominent collective thoughts. My research questions were: what attracted you to the Baha’i Faith? Why did you join it? Why have you remained active?

What inspired you to create this book?

I was thinking about what happened during the second century of Christianity (c. 100–150 AD) which is when church hierarchy and a distinct clergy became established. We’re now in the Baha’i second century and I wondered how much had changed in the Faith since the passing of the first generation of Baha’is.

The newly elected Universal House of Justice created the first Nine Year Plan–1964-73–which is when the first Baha’is born in the second century came of age. These second-century Baha’is were born since 1944, and were in their teens and early twenties during the 1960s-70s. As American children we had practiced how to survive an atomic bomb (by crouching under our school desks); teenage boys were drafted to fight a war in Vietnam; southern US states fought against racial integration; the young population–so-called “baby boomers” thanks to advertising marketers–questioned mainstream values, while political assassinations, cold war fears, and fights for equality shattered the World War Two generation’s status quo. That decade has been identified as being among the top three in history for religious reformation: when a cultural revolution, and a counter-culture emerged in many parts of the world including the U.S., Europe and Australia. So, just as there are books about believers in the historic age, I wanted to find out how Baha’is of that generation had been attracted to the Faith, joined it and have remained active.

Who is its audience? How is your book relevant and of interest to Baha’is in Australia?

To a great extent, I think that since we’re all under the umbrella of the Universal House of Justice, Baha’i experience is relevant and should be of interest to Baha’i communities throughout the world. The audience for Second Century Believers is for those who are interested in a living history of Baha’is in the formative age as well as insight into their thinking. I include quotes from dozens of second-century Baha’is who met and befriended older Baha’is who, as children, had met Abdu’l Baha during His eight-month visit in the US, speaking in churches, modelling His example as He served the poor and needy, and laying the cornerstone for the Mother Temple.

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

It surprised me that I wrote something historical, because until I learned about progressive revelation, I couldn’t comprehend the history I learned in school which was focused on political battles and made no sense to me. But I realized I needed some historical background for a discussion about second century believers. I loved hearing about the friendships this generation, as teens, made with the older Baha’is. I think older Baha’is in the US are often ignored, whereas their comments quoted in this book reveal a depth that younger Baha’is could learn from. Although we didn’t have Ruhi books, we did study and deepen on the Writings themselves. When I joined the Faith at the age of 19, I was advised to memorize the “Tablet of Carmel” and “These Perspicuous Verses” and as many prayers as possible.

Also, the book was published by George Ronald in England. Because many of my historical reference points are American, their reviewers wanted clarification about some events and issues. For example, some respondents mentioned their experiences involving Persians coming to their communities: 116,172 Persian Baha’is fled to the US when Khomeini took power in Iran, and were directed to settle in metro areas. The reviewers needed more context. This alerted me that our knowledge of each other’s communities throughout the world has some limits.

What do you hope readers will take away with them?

I’m inspired by the thoughtfulness and candour of the respondents’ thoughts, and heartened by their emphasis on Spirit from the time they entered the Faith until now. I hope readers will feel this way too.

What is some advice you’d give to anyone pursuing Baha’i-inspired creative work?

Find inspiration in the Writings, connect the teachings with your personal experiences, explore where your insights lead and build from there. Expect that this will take some meditation and time to do the research as well as to craft the sentences.

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

You can purchase Second Century Believers from a variety of book retailers inluding Bahaibooks.com.au in Australia!

I’ve noticed my supermarket has a separate section for “imperfect vegetables”: peppers with strange bulges, oddly shaped carrots, potatoes that had grown in unusual directions. They are discounted and placed in their own little bin, separated from the “normal” produce. Something about it has always made me sad. These vegetables are still perfectly edible, perfectly functional, perfectly themselves, yet they have been categorized as irregular simply because they do not conform to the visual standard we have decided they should meet. We separate them and sequester them to their own area. They are not good enough to simply exist as a bell pepper; they have to exist as a fluke.

I’ve started wondering if these small, seemingly insignificant things shape the way we see ourselves. We absorb the idea that beauty is uniformity, symmetry, sameness. It seems to me that we have increasingly begun to see ourselves the same way.

I remember being 12 years old and telling my best friend that I wanted a nose job when I was older. Not because anyone explicitly told me I was unattractive, but because I had already absorbed the quiet understanding that certain features were more desirable than others. Certain noses. Certain lips. Certain body types. 

Now, as an adult, I don’t think these pressures have disappeared. If anything, they have intensified. Cosmetic procedures that once felt uncommon and reserved for celebrities or wealthy adults have become incredibly normalized. Botox, filler, veneers are all becoming a standardised part of 21st century beauty routines in the society in which I live. I walk around and find it difficult to find someone who doesn’t have a shiny forehead from botox, or a tiny nose that they bought at the plastic surgeon’s office.

In the northern hemisphere, many have become so accustomed to altered faces that they now shape our understanding of what “normal” beauty looks like. I’ve been learning that many of the celebrities and influencers we hold up as the standard of beauty have had at least one procedure done to alter their appearance. When we watch actresses age “gracefully,” we are often not actually watching natural aging at all. We are watching filler, Botox, hair dye, expensive skincare, makeup, lighting, filters, and procedures working together to create the illusion of natural beauty. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left wondering why we do not look like people who, in reality, do not even look like themselves.

Social media has only intensified this feeling. Every day we are quietly told that the way we are is not enough. We need the new skincare product, the new outfit, the new hair routine, the new appliance, the new aesthetic, the new version of ourselves. Entire industries profit from our dissatisfaction. The algorithm quickly learns our insecurities and feeds them back to us with frightening precision.

The good news, though, is that some of the control still belongs to us. We can unfollow the accounts that make us feel inadequate. We can stop treating influencers and celebrities as the standard by which normal human beings should measure themselves. We can spend more time looking at the faces of our actual friends, our families, the people we love in real life. And perhaps most importantly, we can remember that most people spend far more time thinking about their own appearance than they do thinking about ours. We are usually our own harshest critics.

I don’t say any of this because I think I’m perfectly beautiful or somehow immune to these pressures. In fact, quite the opposite. I constantly find myself tempted by treatments and procedures online promising clearer skin, smaller pores, fewer wrinkles, more symmetry. But the older I get, the more emotionally complicated beauty becomes for me.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started thinking differently about the features I once wanted to change. The nose I wanted to alter at 12 years old is not just my nose. It belongs to generations of men and women who passed it down to me, specifically curated through centuries to be the one sitting on my face. If I changed it, would people still tell me I look like my father? Would my future daughter look at me one day and struggle to recognize herself in me? Would I be comfortable with my daughter getting cosmetic procedures someday? How could I tell her she is beautiful exactly as she is while simultaneously altering my own features? 

Even lighter things feel emotionally complicated to me now. I’m half Persian, which means thick black hair growing on my legs constantly. Sometimes I think about laser hair removal simply because I’m tired of shaving every few days. But what stops me is the thought that someday my daughter, during puberty, might look at her own dark leg hair and then at me, and not see someone who reflects that part of herself back to her. Not have someone who quietly makes her feel normal.

None of this is simple. I don’t think the answer boils down to “cosmetic procedures are bad.” Human beings have always adorned themselves, experimented with beauty, and changed aspects of their appearance. I also understand that for many people, cosmetic procedures genuinely improve confidence and quality of life. But I do think we should pause and ask ourselves why so many of us feel such immense pressure to move toward the same face.

Abdu’l-Baha said:

“If you beheld a garden in which all the plants were the same as to form, color and perfume, it would not seem beautiful to you at all, but, rather, monotonous and dull. The garden which is pleasing to the eye and which makes the heart glad, is the garden in which are growing side by side flowers of every hue, form and perfume, and the joyous contrast of color is what makes for charm and beauty.”¹

Abdu’l-Baha described beauty as diversity; flowers of different hues, forms, and perfumes growing side by side. I wonder what our relationship with beauty would look like if we truly believed that. In a world where spiritual principles were more deeply woven into society, where human dignity was valued more than perfection and individuality more than conformity, would we still feel such pressure to alter ourselves in order to move closer to sameness? Nature itself rarely values uniformity. Forests are beautiful because of variation, gardens are beautiful because of contrast, human beings are recognizable because of our differences. Yet modern beauty standards increasingly push us toward homogenization.

I think it’s time for those of us that aren’t already to start questioning the status-quo and asking ourselves what we’re doing to our faces, and why. And if concern for ourselves isn’t enough motivation, what about the next generation? What messaging are we sending? What subconscious insecurities are we creating in them by changing our own appearance? 

1. Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks

From 13 to 17 May, I had the opportunity to participate in the third European Baha’i Choral Festival at the Baha’i House of Worship for Europe in Hofheim-Langenhain.

In the days leading up to the event, we gathered nearby in Wiesbaden to prepare, and we began rehearsing the pieces that we had previously practised at home. Participants came from many parts of Europe but also included friends who had travelled from the United States and Australia. Among us were people originally from every continent, now living in different European countries.

A tremendous amount of organizational work, both efficient and discreet, allowed the festival to unfold naturally and the spirit of fellowship was extraordinary. Alongside the joy of reuniting with friends from previous festivals came the happiness of forming new and heartfelt friendships, as well as the quiet contentment of sharing meals, conversations, countless hours of rehearsals, walks, and moments of silence with people who were so different from one another and yet so deeply united by a common purpose. After spending several days in such an atmosphere of joy, mutual care, and a shared search for beauty, it felt as though the music continued even after the rehearsals ended.

Yet the more I reflect upon it, the less it seems to me that my experience of the festival can be described simply as an example of coexistence or collaboration among diverse people.

There is a well-known image that compares human unity to the flowers of a garden: different shapes, colours, and fragrances which, precisely because of their diversity, create beauty. But there is another form of unity that seems even closer to what happens in a choir–the unity of rays of light.

When several voices sing together, they do not cease to be distinct. Each retains its own timbre, history, accent, and musical sensitivity. Yet something difficult to explain takes place. Attention shifts away from the individual parts, and a new reality emerges, one that doesn’t belong to anyone. The music arises precisely from that convergence.

No one listens to a harmony while constantly thinking about each individual note. What we perceive is a whole. And yet that whole exists only because every voice contributes something irreplaceable.

Perhaps this is why a choir allows us to experience unity in such a tangible way. It is not simply a matter of people working together. It is about discovering forms of unity that consist in participating in something that transcends each individual without erasing them.

And, of course, none of this happens by itself. Behind the experience stood extraordinary professional musicians—people of remarkable talent and dedication. They made all of us who sang in the choir feel proud of what we were achieving together. Yet their contribution went far beyond composing, conducting, or performing music. They taught us how to listen, how to sing, and how to place our voices so that they would sound their best. Thanks to them, the musical unity of which I speak ceased to be merely an aspiration and became a reality that we could experience.

During those days I saw people from very different cultures listening to one another with extraordinary attentiveness. I saw discipline and excellence, but also vulnerability. I saw how shared effort generated trust. I saw how beauty created a space in which differences ceased to be perceived as obstacles and instead became part of a larger reality.

And within that spirit, unexpected opportunities for teaching also arose. It happened on the train journey home. A young man approached me and a friend, asked a few questions, and wanted to sit down and talk about the Baha’i Faith. There was no particular reason for this, except perhaps that difficult-to-describe atmosphere that emerged from our authentic experience of unity and happiness. In such a state, something seemed to have become more accessible, more open. Conversations arise naturally, and opportunities appear that no one had planned.

And I find myself wondering whether we do not need to speak more often about experiences of this kind. I believe a community is sustained not only by what is organized and measured. Above all, it is sustained by what inspires; by those moments in which people perceive, even if only for an instant, a form of unity that cannot be reduced to procedures, structures, or plans.

There are experiences that remind us that human beings are made for more than mere coexistence. We are made to resonate with one another.

And when that happens, even for the duration of a single song, one leaves with the feeling of having glimpsed something true about the nature of the unity of humankind.

My good friend and hiphop and rap artist Colby Jeffers has written a book! It’s called Building a Better World: 5 Pillars for Transforming Yourself and Humanity and I am thrilled that it’s out in the world and available for purchase!

Over the years, Baha’i Blog has shared many of Colby’s songs and more recently, we’ve featured several of his contributions to Baha’i Inspired’s Hip Hop Sessions.

His book carries the same energy that Colby radiates: it’s sincere, heartfelt and formatted in such as way that you can record your thoughts, reactions and plans too. What I admire about Colby is that he doesn’t just dream up projects–he brings them into fruition and completion, and in his latest project, he hopes to inspire readers to act too.

I reached out to Colby to learn more, and here’s what he kindly shared with me:

Can you tell us a little bit about your new book and who it’s for?

My new book, Building a Better World: 5 Pillars for Transforming Yourself and Humanity, is intended for a broad audience—really anyone who is striving to grow personally while also contributing to positive social change. Whether someone identifies as an artist, educator, activist, community builder, entrepreneur, parent, student, or simply a person who wants to make a meaningful contribution to the world, I hope the book offers practical insights, encouragement, and inspiration. At its heart, the book explores five foundational concepts that can help us transform ourselves and contribute more effectively to the betterment of society.

Can you tell us why you decided to write this book?

This book is the fruit of years of experience and reflection on striving to contribute to the betterment of the world through my creative endeavors, my role as a husband and father, and broader efforts to serve the Baha’i Faith and humanity.

More specifically, in late 2023 I launched the Better World concert series as part of my aspiration to use music as a means of uplifting, educating, and inspiring others. Since then, the endeavour has grown significantly, as I’ve surpassed 100+ concerts across more than 30 states and provinces in the United States and Canada.

Throughout these concerts, I shared songs and reflections on practical ways we can contribute to building a better world, drawing upon spiritual concepts and principles from the Baha’i teachings that have guided my own life. Over time, those reflections crystallized into what I began calling the “5 Pillars for Building a Better World”—a framework that helped me communicate these ideas more clearly and coherently.

On several occasions, attendees encouraged me to turn the ideas from the concerts into a book. Eventually, I decided to act on that encouragement. I took the flow of the concert experience—including the reflection questions, the Five Pillars framework, stories and lessons from my own life, and even the lyrics from many of the songs—and shaped them into a book. I’m incredibly grateful that those seeds planted through the concerts ultimately blossomed into this project, and I’m so happy with how it turned out!

What are some of the things you’ve learned over the course of making this happen?

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is just how powerful the arts can be as a force for personal and social transformation! The Better World concerts have been such a wonderful way to bring people together, spread joy and inspiration, as well as disseminate knowledge and share the teachings of the Faith!

I’ve drawn much inspiration from the 30 December 2021 letter from the Universal House of Justice where it’s stated that the arts are “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.”

Through this journey, I’ve had the bounty of seeing those words come to life again and again!

How do you hope people who have read the book will be affected?

My goal in writing the book was to create something that has a similar effect to the Better World concerts.

Feedback from concert attendees has been incredibly encouraging. In surveys collected over the past two years, people have most frequently described the concerts as uplifting, inspiring, joyful, and energetic experiences that combine meaningful spiritual and social themes with a strong sense of unity and community. Many have also highlighted the participatory, interactive, and inclusive nature of the experience.

I hoped to capture some of that same spirit in the book. More than anything, I hope it gives readers renewed encouragement on their current path of service, sparks new reflections about their purpose and potential, and helps them identify practical ways they can contribute to the betterment of the world. Ultimately, I pray that the book will leave readers feeling more hopeful, more empowered, and more committed to making a positive difference.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

This experience has been such a powerful example of confirmation! It’s truly remarkable how when we sincerely strive to use our talents and capacities in service to others, the doors fling open, often in ways we may have not even anticipated!

For many years, I’ve sought to use music as a means of uplifting, educating, and inspiring people. That aspiration led to a further desire to pursue music as a profession, with the hope of earning a living for myself and my family from the art. This led to the creation of the Better World concert series, which has since grown far beyond anything I originally imagined. Through those concerts, I’ve had opportunities to connect with thousands of people, travel to communities all throughout North America, and engage in meaningful conversations about how we can contribute to building a better world. Then, somewhat unexpectedly, those same experiences led to the creation of this book. What began as songs became concerts. Those concerts then developed into a framework for articulating some key concepts for building a better world. That framework then flowed into a book. And now this book has the potential to reach an even wider audience of people and create conversations in ways I never could have predicted when I first started writing music years ago. It’s simply awe-inspiring!

For those reading this interview, I encourage you to reflect on how you can use your talents, interests, and passions to develop your potential and contribute to the betterment of the world. And as you take action, be ready for the confirmations! And if you need some extra support or encouragement in working through that process, I hope my book and experiences can be of service and assistance!

Where can people buy the book?

Friends can purchase the book on Amazon and if anyone is interested in a bulk order to obtain books for a group, school, etc, you can order them at a bulk discount by emailing me at colbyjeffersmusic@gmail.com

Thank you so much, Colby, and congrats on your book!

Hi friends!

This last Baha’i month we were elated to finally share a project with you that’s been in the works for a long time!

A couple of years ago, Sana Vasli launched a podcast called Stories of the Master that shared anecdotes and vignettes about Abdu’l-Baha. When we interviewed Sana to learn more, he told us he fell in love with storytelling after becoming a dad and a children’s class teacher. Each episode in the series is short, powerful, lively, engaging and entertaining without trivializing its themes or the importance of its content. While the episodes are accessible for children, it’s appealing for listeners of all ages.

When Sana wrapped up the Stories of the Master, he realized there were many more stories from Baha’i history that he wanted to share. Season two was called “Stories of the Bab”, and the podcast was renamed The Baha’i Stories Podcast. By beginning with Abdu’l-Baha, then moving on to tell us about the Bab, you can get a sense of where the podcast is headed, and I’m super excited to see what Sana produces next.

In the meantime, Baha’i Blog partnered up with Sana, as well as Altea and Gazalle at Loominate Creative, to animate previously released episodes of the podcast. Altea and Gazalle’s work is charming and captivating–I really love the energy they bring to Sana’s charismatic storytelling.

Thus far, we have published episode 1, “Seeing the Good in Others”:

And episode 2, “The Greatest Act of Forgiveness”:

This last month we were also thrilled to promote videos produced by the Australian Baha’i Community of the launch of the biography, Collis Featherstone – Hand of the Cause. In addition to the treasure trove of accounts and recollections contained in the book, stories were integral to the book’s launch and you can get a sense of what was shared in this video:

In keeping with the theme of storytelling, a group of junior youth (Esienne, Harrington, Isla, Rowan, Rayan, Evie, Isabelle, Naim and Sarah), along with their animator, Sameh Fananapazir, created a video to communicate some of the experiences of participating in the Transformation for Peace camp at Townshend International School in the Czech Republic. Their art project is light-filled and lovely to behold:

Sharing stories is the beating heart of Baha’i Blog and I look forward to discovering and illuminating more stories in the future.

Before I sign off, I want to mention that in the last Baha’i month we also started sharing Studio Sessions recorded in Stratford, Canada, beginning with “Joyful Tidings” by Roxanne Andrighetti. I hope you enjoy this melody as much as I do:

Wishing you a light-filled month!