Wedding Anniversary

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

Perhaps this would be better posted in the Lounge, but as I don't go there and they wouldn't appreciate the details, I'm posting here. Thank you for your indulgence.

19 years ago today, my husband and I had our spiritual wedding. We'd already had the civil service the year before; we had had to wait until our spiritual teachers were in Texas (where we were living at the time) so they could jointly perform the ceremony. It took place on a Sunday at our favorite Middle Eastern restaurant. We sent out invitations, not realizing the significance of the date: it was April Fool's Day, the beginning of Daylight Savings Time, and the start of Ramadan! So there was some mix ups as friends thought we were joking, and others came at the wrong time, while curious Muslims from the neighborhood wandered in, wondering why the restaurant was open.

The Universal Worship service uses the sacred texts from the world's spiritual traditions, and the six traditional ones (Hindu, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim) were laid out, along with an eagle feather (my husband is a pipe carrier in the Lakota tradition). What I remember most about the wedding was the incredible amount of white light that was present. It enveloped everything and was quite thick--and yet I was not transported to the Plane of Light where telepathic communication takes place and where you can speak with those who had passed over. I was glad that all we had to do was say "yes" a couple of times as we were asked to take each other as "the most sacred trust given to you by God".

At the end, the owner of the restaurant told us two things--one, his daughter insisted that if she ever get married she have a Universal Worship service like this one (the family was a Muslim/Christian one from Iraq/Palestine). The other was the Egyptian man who had wandered into the restaurant. The owner took us to him, and he looked dazed. He finally said, "Do you know that if this caught on, there could be no war?"

That was the greatest gift we got that day.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Love
Ayesha Haqqiqa

[Celebration]

1. Happy Anniversary!

That's a very lovely story. Thank you for sharing. April 1 sounds like a great day for an anniversary. I think it is especially interesting that the guests were a little different from what was planned. I suspect that the people that needed to be there were there.

[stellanoir]

2. Happy Anniversary !!!

And what a lovely story.

Thanks for sharing it with us and have a delightful day and an even better year to come.

:grouphug:

[GardeningGal]

3. Happy Anniversary!

Your story gave me goose bumps. Congratulations on 19/20 years together.

[crikkett]

4. Congratulations!

I love your wedding story.

[OhioChick]

5. Happy Anniversary!

That was a beautiful story. :)

[Kind of Blue]

6. Happy Anniversary, Ayesha!

:hi: I felt like I was almost there and started tearing and goose pimpling, as I get at weddings. Thanks for spreading your joy this morning :hug:

[MorningGlow]

7. Happy anniversary!

Thank you for sharing your wedding story, Ayesha. It sounds like a lovely ceremony. All the best to you and your husband! :hug:

[Missy Vixen]

8. Happy anniversary!

I hope that your joy increases as the years pass. :hug:

[southerncrone]

9. Happy Anniversary!

And thanks for sharing this delightful story!

[villager]

10. Wow -- after a story like that, I may have to try jumping the broom...

...again! ;-)

Happy happy!

[Sanity Claws]

11. Happy Anniversary!

Or should I say Happy Anniversaries! Two wedding rituals --- that alone is a test of a marriage! I'm so happy for you. It truly sounds like it was a wonderful ceremony.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Actually, we went through 3

The first ceremony was a pipe ceremony. As I said, my husband is a pipe carrier in the Lakota tradition.

[I Have A Dream]

13. Thank you for sharing this with us, Ayesha.

It's a beautiful story. I can almost feel it myself.

Happy Anniversary!

:)

[MagickMuffin]

14. Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby

As you might recall I had asked you about the restaurant you were married in, and you inform me it was the same place we used to eat. I remember the lead up to the first Gulf war under Poppy Bush and how their restaurant was the target of vandalism. I miss them, but sorta glad they didn't have to relive the hatred they experienced during Operation Desert Storm. They certainly didn't deserve it.

I do miss their food, especially the cookies.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. Yes, I miss them too

I hope they are still doing well--Mary's cooking was out of this world.

[OneGrassRoot]

16. Wow....that was so beautiful, Ayesha....

thank you for sharing that. :hug:

I love to read your sharings...you're a wonderful writer. :)

Oh, yes: Belated Happy Anniversary!!!

:hug: :hug:

[Kookaburra]

17. How beautiful

Happy Anniversary!

[BanzaiBonnie]

18. It is the way of my people

[omega minimo]

19. .

:cry: :loveya:

[northernlights]

20. a belated happy anniversary

and thank you for sharing your beautiful wedding ceremony with us :hug:

[Flying Dream Blues]

21. Happy Anniversary and thanks for sharing your beautiful story! nt