An Invitation from the Board of Trustees

Darakshan, Shahana, Halima and Robert

Greetings dear friends -- Every day we hear in the news that we are a country and culture riddled with division.  We are admonished that we are living in a time of unfettered and historic divisiveness. We are told that we are separated by politics, religion, race, gender, nation and generation. Yet, how can we recognize divisiveness if we have not known and experienced its counterpoint - unity?  With every story of hate, we can find one of love, kindness and compassion. read more »

Liberation Metaphysics

Zachary Markwith

"Liberation Metaphysics" is an unpublished volume of prose and poetry that I sent to a few colleagues and friends, including Pir Zia Inayat-Khan, who kindly expressed interest and encouraged me to share a few excerpts with readers of Seven Pillars. It is hardly a systematic expression of liberation or metaphysics, but it came from the heart in moments of reflection and inspiration. read more »

Detail of "Interconnectedness" by Beverly Decker

The Heart of Violence

Shams Kairys

Seven Pillars' submission guidelines say: "We especially welcome pieces that address issues of the day (environment, terrorism/war/violence, inequality, religion and tolerance, etc.) from a wisdom perspective." The articles and poem included in this update are amongst the grittiest we have yet published, each touching on the anguish at the core of violence with heartbreaking yet uplifting insight and beauty. read more »

Excerpt from “American Icarus: A Memoir of Father and Country”

Chapter IV: Love and War in South America

Pythia Peay

The following excerpt describes my research into my father’s service during World War II as an airman for the Army Air Force Air Transport Command—a massive operation that supplied the troops abroad with ammunition, medicine, bombs, and money, and that ferried German prisoners and wounded soldiers—and how learning about this period in his life changed my perception of him and his wartime service. read more »

A Poem from “Monsoon Blues”

Elijah Imlay

I located a close friend, Jim Birdsall, nicknamed “Bird,” 25 years after the end of the war in Vietnam. He had the same nightmare every night until we reconnected. He wrote about them and asked me to turn them into a poem, out of which came healing and forgiveness. Here is the poem... read more »

Excerpts from “The Alchemy of Combat”

Larry Decker

Our goal, as therapists, is to help veterans expand their belief systems, through the construction of an ideal self, to integrate the traumatic information of combat and discover new inspiration. Combat changed how veterans perceive the world. As a result of combat, veterans have new information regarding life’s possibilities and actualities. However, their belief systems often aren’t able to integrate the information. The new knowledge is too big; it won’t fit into their existing ways of understanding. read more »

In Celebration of Trees

J. Ruth Gendler

I am drawn to the way trees hold light and air and qualities that seem invisible, their generosity, wisdom and silent, soulful eloquence. Making art about trees—which I have done all my life but am doing with much greater focus now—inspires me to look more deeply at the world around me and also the world inside, to draw closer to nature, and find new ways to root and take nourishment from light.

Printmaking is a wonderful practice to investigate and celebrate my love of trees. see the gallery »

Happy Holidays & Your FREE Gift

Like you, we at Seven Pillars House of Wisdom share a deep concern for the future of humanity and the life forms of this planet. As we approach the end of 2015, we see signs of progress in the agreement in Paris on climate change. Yet acts of terrorism, racism, fear and calls for exclusion continue, challenging us to act from wisdom. Our hearts are moved. The issues that speak to us most deeply invite us to respond, to take one step toward new possibilities. read more »

Spiritual Inquiry, Part Two

Sirr al-Basir/Lee Irwin

In my first reflections on this subject, I explored the aspects of spiritual inquiry that are most immediately of concern, primarily in our relationship with others in the context of our developing global world. Now I want to explore those aspects of inquiry that are perhaps less obvious but equally important. In our encounters with others, we discover our differences and learn to negotiate those differences in mutually respectful ways. However, self-inquiry requires us to turn inward toward unexplored depths where certainty is less clear, and at times, painfully absent. There is a very profound reason for this absence, which will be revealed if we are courageous enough to fully acknowledge our own lack of insight or understanding, and to recognize our own limits. read more »

Parliament of the World’s Religions 2015

Reclaiming the Heart of Our Humanity

Almost 10,000 people of different faiths gathered for five days in Salt Lake City, Utah to join in the spirit of fellowship and service. Three of Seven Pillars’ board members, Darakshan Farber, Halima Lefkovitz and Rabia Povich, were among the attendees.

"The range of offerings was huge—almost 1,800 people gave presentations. More than 15 faith services were offered each morning, plenary sessions with keynote speakers occurred two times a day, and over 40 workshops were offered at any given time. Participants prayed, danced, sang, chanted, meditated, dialogued, walked in silence, or just listened." ~Rabia Povich see the gallery »

What is Possible When People of Faith Work Together?

Deborah Rabia Povich

Three Seven Pillars board members will journey to the Parliament of the World’s Religions taking place in Salt Lake City from October 15-19. We will join 10,000 people from 80 nations and 50 faiths to celebrate the ways our faith traditions can build bridges across divides of enmity, and to collaborate on actions that promote peace and heal and sustain the planet. The theme of the gathering is “Reclaiming the Heart of Humanity, Working Together for a World of Compassion, Peace, Justice and Sustainability.” read more »