Today, one of the holiest and happiest days in the entire year for Baha’is, the followers and friends of Baha’u’llah will gather with smiles, laughter, and great joy – please join us!

This is much more than a birthday party, though. When Baha’u’llah was born at the hour of dawn on October 27th in 1817, Baha’is believe the means for the establishment of the long-awaited unity of the entire human race came into being. 

Baha’u’llah began teaching the newly-revealed Baha’i Faith in the spring of 1863. His revelation promised that the religious, racial, and nationalistic hatreds dividing the peoples of the world would soon be overcome. He said the violence, war, and fanaticism that separated human beings was obsolete. He asked humanity to transcend their prejudices and forget the things that keep them apart. He opened the way for lasting world peace based on a new spiritual foundation. He raised the great call for the unity of all peoples and cultures, all nations and religions, which all the prophets of old had promised would one day appear. 

RELATED: The Blessed Beauty, An Illustrated Chronology of Baha’u’llah’s Life

For those profound reasons, and many more, the global Baha’i community enthusiastically and joyously celebrates this day every year – the Birth of Baha’u’llah, the second of the Baha’i Twin Holy Days.

Of course, every religion recognizes the birth of its founder. In the same way that Buddhists celebrate the birth of Gautama Buddha on Vesak each year; in the same way that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus every year on Christmas; in the same way that every great Faith annually commemorates the birth of its founder, Baha’is mark Baha’u’llah’s birth with joy and happiness.

But this holy day is more than that, because Baha’is view the advent of Baha’u’llah as a major turning point in the world’s evolution. Baha’u’llah wrote:

The Revelation which, from time immemorial, hath been acclaimed as the Purpose and Promise of all the Prophets of God, and the most cherished Desire of His Messengers, hath now, by virtue of the pervasive Will of the Almighty and at His irresistible bidding, been revealed unto men. The advent of such a Revelation hath been heralded in all the sacred Scriptures.

In any age, the birth of a new messenger of God represents hope and joy and the coming of a spiritual springtime, when the whole world begins to awaken to that beautiful new divine message. Baha’is believe that Baha’u’llah, the most recent messenger and founder of a global Faith, represents the latest channel of God’s grace to humanity, the one who brings the unity of all peoples, the fulfillment of the age-old promise of the kingdom of God come to Earth. 

Born more than two centuries ago in the capital city of Persia, Tehran, Baha’u’llah grew up as the son of a government minister and nobleman. Rather than pursuing his father’s career, early in his adulthood Baha’u’llah turned to a life of service to the poor and needy. He sought no position or prominence, and accepted the religion of the Bab, which subjected Baha’u’llah and his family to terrible privation, persecution, and imprisonment. Thirteen years after the government’s execution of the Bab in 1850, Baha’u’llah announced that he was the one heralded by the Bab – God’s messenger for humanity’s golden age of unity and peace, foretold in all the world’s scriptures.

However, you won’t find a sense of triumphalism among the Baha’is, because Baha’u’llah taught that no distinction of station exists between any of the messengers of God. No Baha’i claims that the stations of the Bab or Baha’u’llah are superior to the stations of any of God’s previous messengers. In fact, Baha’is view all of the messengers and prophets of God as one. 

RELATED: The Passing and Ascension of Baha’u’llah

Baha’u’llah proclaimed that his message is for every human being, intended not for one people or culture, one language or nation, but meant for all peoples. He announced that the coming of age of the human species, the time when the human race has the potential to recognize itself as one, discover its fullness and its common humanity, has arrived.

So the Baha’i Twin Holy Days mark the first universal holy day to be vouchsafed to everyone by a loving God – a shared world celebration.

This is the first day in human history that can be celebrated as sacred by all peoples, no matter what their background. In Baha’u’llah’s birthday Jewish people may discover the birth of the Messiah, and Christians recognize the return of Christ. Muslims might celebrate the reappearance of the Hidden Imam and the birth of the promised Qa’im. The Zoroastrians can rejoice at the birth of their king, the Shah Bahram; Buddhists can find the Maitreya Buddha, the supremely enlightened One. Hindus can recognize in Baha’u’llah the return of Krishna, born to reestablish righteousness on Earth. 

So this, the Baha’i teachings say, is the first event in human history that people of all traditions and all cultures can claim as their own. Happy Birthday of Baha’u’llah!

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LOS ANGELES — Founded 50 years ago in the East Los Angeles garage of Franciscan nun Sister Karen Boccalero, Self Help Graphics & Art (SHG) established itself in the ensuing decades as a vital and vibrant community-focused arts space and printmaking studio. Now, a series of exhibitions staged over the coming months will contextualize the organization’s history and legacy, delving deep into different aspects of its cultural and social resonance.

The inaugural show Marking an Era: Celebrating Self Help Graphics & Art at 50 opened last month at the Laguna Art Museum, one of the first institutions to acquire a significant number of prints made by artists at SHG. In 1992, the museum purchased 170 works spanning the first decade of the SHG’s Professional Printmaking Program (PPP). Curated by Rochelle Steiner, the exhibition features 78 works, one by each artist in the acquisition. Rather than organize it chronologically, Steiner grouped the works thematically, with loose sections devoted to hybridity and immigration, art history, the body, portraiture, war, AIDS, and urbanism.

Sister Karen Boccalero (1978) (photo courtesy Self Help Graphics & Art)

Self Help Graphics & Art emerged alongside the Chicano Movement of the early 1970s as an important hub for Latinx and Chicanx artists at a time when they were still fighting for art-world visibility. In 1974, SHG brought arts education to the streets with the Barrio Mobile Art Studio, a van offering printmaking workshops in local communities. The previous year, they began an annual Día de los Muertos Celebration, bringing art, music, and performance together in recognition of the holiday with Indigenous roots that is widely observed in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America.

Although printmaking has always been a central focus of the organization, SHG wanted to create a more formal program, and in 1983, the PPP was born. Every year, SHG hosts two ateliers for five to seven artists who work with a master printer to create serigraphs and monoprints. The initiative is ongoing, with more than 2,000 editions produced to date. Marking an Era highlights a dynamic period in the early years of the PPP, showcasing the experimental spirit and technical growth that took place over the course of the decade.

Barbara Carrasco, “Self-Portrait” (1984), 17-color serigraph, 40 x 28 inches, and Diane Gamboa, “Malathion Baby” (1990), 13-color serigraph, 50 x 38 inches (photo Matt Stromberg/Hyperallergic)

The works in the show embody a remarkable diversity and breadth. Some express a boisterous energy, such as “Cruising Turtle Island” (1986) by Gilbert “Magu” Luján and Yreina Cervántez’s “Danza Ocelotl/Ocelotl Dance” (1983), which both reinterpret Indigenous themes. Other artists employ photo-based techniques, as with Jean LaMarr’s “Some Kind of Buckaroo” (1990), which depicts fighter jets streaking across a purple sky above a brown-skinned cowboy, and Elizabeth Rodriguez’s stark untitled 1986 body print serigraph. An edgy, postmodern-Punk aesthetic is visible in several works: John Valadez’s untitled 1985 screenprint in vibrating orange, purple, and green; Barbara Carrasco’s cartoonish 1984 “Self Portrait”; and Victor Ochoa’s humorous depiction of literal fractured identities, “Border Bingo/Lotería Fronteriza” (1987).

Patssi Valdez, “The Dressing Table” (1988), 12-color serigraph, 37 1/2 x 25 inches (image courtesy the Laguna Art Museum)

Marvella Muro, director of Artistic Programs at SHG, emphasized that the organization has also served as a resource for a broader population of LA artists and people of color. “It has empowered Chicanx communities, but not exclusively,” Muro told Hyperallergic. “That’s what I want to elevate. It’s a multi-cultural space.”

Steiner added that it was important to frame the show in the context of other formative print houses in the region, such as Gemini GEL and Tamarind Press. “There’s a whole other story here about the history of printmaking in LA, of which SHG is an anchor point,” she said.

SHG is in the midst of a multi-million dollar renovation to their current 112-year-old building, purchased in 2018, and is operating from remote offices during construction; however, the group is still running programs like the Barrio Mobile Art Studio, Día de los Muertos Celebration, and an upcoming biennial printmaking summit to be held at the Vincent Price Art Museum on September 9. While the building is being updated and retrofitted, these four offsite exhibitions offer an opportunity to revisit and reassess its history on its 50th anniversary.

Glenna Avila, “Untitled” (1986), serigraph, 25 x 38 1/4 inches (image courtesy the Laguna Art Museum)

The second exhibition in the series, In the Heart of It, opening at the Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center at the Los Angeles LGBT Center on November 18, focuses on the community of LGBTQ+ artists who have worked with and thrived at SHG. Sister Karen, who studied under Sister Corita Kent, an influential and progressive nun in LA who fused art and activism, founded SHG alongside artists Frank Hernández, Antonio Ibáñez, and Carlos Bueno, the latter two of whom were longtime partners who often signed each others’ work.

“I would do some pretty radical stuff, and she would just nod her head like, ‘oh, brother,’” said curator Ruben Esparza, who was invited to create a series of prints at SHG in the mid-1990s. The exhibition will feature about 20 artists including Ibáñez, Bueno, Teddy Sandoval, Joey Terrill, Laura Aguilar, and Miguel Angel Reyes.

Teddy Sandoval, “Angel Baby” (1995), silkscreen print (image courtesy Self Help Graphics & Art)

Los de Abajo/Monográfico, the third show, will focus on a collective that formed in the basement of SHG in the late ’90s. Members including Victor Rosas, Marianne Sadowski, Kay Brown, Don Newton, and Poli Marichal combined their prints to create large-scale collaborations. The exhibition, running from March 2 to April 27 at the Long Beach City College Gallery, speaks to the communal aspect of the space and the connections it fostered between artists.

The final show, titled The Re-membering Generation, will highlight the synergy between art and the East LA music scene that took place in the mid-1990s. During this period, musicians and bands including Quetzal, Ozomatli, and the Aztlan Underground formed a new movement that drew from Chicano history and culture, inspired by the Zapatista struggle for Indigenous rights in Mexico. Curated by musician and historian Quetzal Flores, the exhibition will feature archival works alongside new prints being created during the current PPP atelier that pairs musicians from this period with visual artists. It will be held at the Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles College next spring.

While these four exhibitions offer historical perspectives on Self Help Graphics & Art, they also provide views of an organization that is still alive and generative.

“These works look as fresh today as they did then. These are issues that we’re still interested in, it’s absolutely relevant terrain,” Steiner said. “We should look at them with wide-open eyes.”

Gilbert “Magu” Luján, “Cruising Turtle Island” (1986), 12-color serigraph, 25 x 38 1/4 inches (photo Matt Stromberg/Hyperallergic)

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Uncover Mental Health Counseling, founded by Kristie Tse, consists of NYC psychotherapists prioritizing inclusive, evidence-based mental health services in New York City.

New York, New York–(Newsfile Corp. – August 30, 2023) – In a world that is increasingly acknowledging the critical importance of mental health, the journey of Kristie Tse stands out as a shining example of how dedication, knowledge, and personal transformation can create a profound impact. As Uncover Mental Health Counseling celebrates its fourth anniversary, founded by the visionary New York psychotherapist Kristie Tse, the occasion not only marks a milestone in her personal journey but also serves as a powerful testament to the dismantling of societal barriers that once veiled discussions around mental health in secrecy.

Kristie’s upbringing within an immigrant Chinese family entrenched in traditional beliefs about mental health set the stage for a transformative journey that would redefine her very understanding of mental well-being. Overcoming her own mental health challenges and fueled by an unyielding desire to provide a haven for others, she took the momentous step of establishing Uncover Mental Health Counseling four years ago.

This anniversary is more than a celebration of Kristie’s individual achievements; it symbolizes a broader movement that is reshaping perspectives within her community. Her practice, fortified by a team of dedicated NYC psychotherapists, has evolved into a refuge for New Yorkers seeking guidance, solace, and healing. Kristie’s unwavering commitment to her clients’ welfare has bridged the gap between entrenched cultural norms and the profound significance of mental well-being, resulting in transformative outcomes that extend beyond the individual, touching families and communities.

In celebration of this significant achievement, Uncover Mental Health Counseling is embarking on a series of awareness campaigns in September aimed at fostering mental health education. The goal is to sustain the momentum of change that has been set in motion and to extend outreach to an even broader audience that can benefit from candid conversations and expert guidance surrounding mental well-being.

As Kristie reflects on her personal journey, she acknowledges the road ahead while maintaining an unwavering optimism about what lies in store. “Every person we help, every stigma we shatter, represents progress. This anniversary is not just a reflection of our past; it is a beacon that guides us towards a future where mental well-being takes precedence for all.”

Join Kristie and her team of New York psychotherapists at Uncover Mental Health Counseling in commemorating four impactful years dedicated to enhancing mental health. To explore their mental health services in New York City, stay updated about upcoming mental health events, and delve into the inspiring narrative that fuels their mission, visit their official website: https://uncovercounseling.com.

About Uncover Mental Health Counseling

Founded by Kristie Tse, Uncover Mental Health Counseling stands as a pioneering mental health practice that prioritizes inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, and personal growth through evidence-based treatments. Their team of New York psychotherapists is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment for individuals seeking guidance in matters of mental health. Through active community engagement and the provision of comprehensive mental health services in New York City, Uncover Mental Health Counseling continues to challenge societal norms and promote holistic well-being across the vibrant landscape of NYC.

Disclaimer: There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. Moreover, nothing contained in this PR should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to determine whether any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Consult your business advisor, attorney, or tax advisor regarding your specific business, legal, or tax situation. For more info, please contact brandnewsproject@gmail.com.

Media Contact
Company Name: Uncover Mental Health Counseling
Contact Person: Kristie Tse
Email: info@uncovercounseling.com
Website: https://www.uncovercounseling.com

Source: Panda News

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/179175

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New mobile app combines functional fitness, breathwork and meditation, offering an integrated path to change for both body and mind.

PITTSBURGH, May 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month and National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, Ditabo Fitness & Mindfulness announces the launch of its new mobile app, now available on iOS and Android. Ditabo represents a new approach in the fitness and meditation app markets, offering an integrated solution that strikes a perfect balance between physical and mental health practices, tailored for those striving to lead healthier and happier lives.

Ditabo offers a fresh take on mental and physical wellness, beautifully presented in one easy-to-use app.

The app seamlessly blends unconventional workouts based on kettlebell training and natural movement exercises, with transformative mindfulness techniques such as breathwork and meditation. Users can unlock their true potential and enhance their physical and mental well-being in one user-friendly app, requiring minimal time commitment.

“Our goal is to help users move beyond superficial motivators that tend to let us down in the long-term, and instead enrich their lives with naturally empowering movement and the ability to embrace all aspects of their minds,” said Frank Schlatterer, Founder of Ditabo Fitness & Mindfulness. “We help users shift their focus away from the 6-pack abs and bikini bodies dominating their social media feeds, and focus instead on cultivating resilient bodies and peaceful minds.”

Ditabo Fitness & Mindfulness offers a comprehensive fitness experience by incorporating lessons from a wide array of disciplines, including kettlebell workouts, yoga, primal movements, bodyweight exercises, and more. The app’s 3-week introductory course, “Training Foundations,” is designed to help users learn new ways to move and empower their bodies, while inspiring a mindset shift around fitness in their lives.

The app places equal emphasis on the importance of mindfulness through its “Foundations of Mindfulness” course. Users will learn basic breathing exercises, connect with their natural breath patterns, and will begin to reframe their perspective around many of life’s challenges.

“The ideals our modern world wraps around fitness and meditation can often hinder more than help,” Schlatterer explains. “As we grasp at the concept of an ideal body, or a mind completely devoid of intrusive thoughts, we can find it’s like grasping at water in the ocean. We sink more than we float. A subtle shift in focus is often all that’s required to start bobbing along with the waves, to begin to learn how to float above it all.”

The Ditabo Fitness & Mindfulness app features daily workouts and meditations, workout timers, quick sessions for busy days, accolades to celebrate achievements, and user stats to track progress. Available for download now, on iOS and Android, the app is a must-have for anyone looking to transform their life and kickstart a journey towards sustainable well-being during Mental Health Awareness Month and National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.

To download the Ditabo Fitness & Mindfulness app, tap on the links above from your mobile device, or search for the app on Google Play or the Apple App Store.

About Ditabo

Established in 2022, Ditabo is committed to enriching user’s lives by helping them cultivate healthy bodies and minds. With a unique and balanced blend of fitness and mindfulness disciplines, and a team boasting more than 70 years of combined personal and professional experience, Ditabo stands out in the health and wellness market, and is poised to set a new standard in holistic well-being.

Contact:
Frank Schlatterer
[email protected] 
412.708.8073
https://ditabo.com 

SOURCE Ditabo Fitness & Mindfulness

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In my thirty-five years on the planet, I have been a competitive athlete, a retail worker, a journalist, a yoga instructor, and more, but the hardest thing I’ve ever done is be a mom–and I’m only two years in.

One of my most beloved tools for managing the stress of making dinners, cleaning up toys, and going through the nightly bedtime ritual after a full day of work is to pack a little bowl and relax. In addition, micro-dosing cannabinoids while parenting a toddler pushing teeth gives me patience as he screams for water but then also screams because I gave him water.

Before the toddler phase, back when he was fresh, stepping outside for a joint or vaping up in my bedroom away from my newborn helped me regulate my system as it recovered from complete hormone upheaval. The plant has been a tool that I value every step of the journey thus far, and it makes me think about the tools other mothers use.

This Mother’s Day, now that I can more accurately grasp what it takes to earn the name Mom, I wanted to pass the mic to fellow moms who consume cannabis as they walk their children through life to adulthood. Almost every person we spoke with mentioned that becoming a mother made them more mindful about cannabis use and that the stigma of consuming the plant was the only negative part of being a mom who partakes.

Let’s hear more.

Photo by Huebner Headshots

“I’ve become more aware of when I consume to ensure that I can set intentions and really get the benefits that I seek. Whether it be more patience, relaxation or pain relief. I’m just way more intentional and selective.

“I’m much more present when I spend time with my kids. I can really focus and listen with an open mind and heart. It provides me with the ability to stop and think before I react to a triggering situation…and life with a 4 & 7 year old is full of triggers! It also helps me to quiet the constant noise and focus on quality time rather than my endless to-do list. Cannabis has innumerable ways it can help mothers, we just need the laws to reflect that.”

“My consumption has changed tremendously from being pregnant with my miracle child to even now with him transitioning from a toddler to a full blown kid! He is now 5 years old and I’m 5 years wiser and more intentional with my cannabis use. More responsible, more reasonable.

Consuming cannabis definitely helps me with my day to day parenting. A job title in which I am always learning new skills and new ways of life that I believe cannabis enhances. Like learning patience and learning to be most present. It helps me to be active and I am always actively learning new approaches to parenthood that is most rewarding. It also fuels my creativity and instill it into my son who is most inspired by me so I continue to stay inspired. And most of all, it heals Mommy so that I can show up as my best self for my baby. The only way I believe it negatively impacts me is if I am overly using it or even underly using it, throwing me off balance and off our household routine.”

Ash Pavesio, Founder, A Little Ash – Digital Community & Community Manager at Our Academy

“As a mother who also has anxiety, the plant has been a part of my life for a long time. Motherhood is inherently complicated, especially in cases like mine where my daughter doesn’t spend all of her time with me. My mental health postpartum was greatly affected. Cannabis helped me pull myself out of a very dark, difficult period. Cannabis has allowed me to lead by example by taking care of my body, mind and spirit in ways that are ancestral and feel good. I also believe it allows me to be more present in every aspect of my life, including time with my daughter.

Of course the stigma is alive in well – for parents, for Latines, for women, for queer folks. It’s been a journey to live my truth openly, but here it is. Now I have the pleasure of being able to consume with my mother and her mother – giving us extra space to connect, share and commiserate.”

Gena Surphlis, Founder & CEO, 024 Inc

“My cannabis consumption absolutely helps me on my mothering journey. I’m a little bit further on the journey than many of my cannamom friends; but do we really ever stop parenting?

My son is in his twenties and I’ve found at this stage of his life, it is essential for me to share my wisdom and insight without being critical. Cannabis helps me communicate with him better because I can listen to my son and not interrupt when communicating with him. Listening is crucial for healthy communication, and it helps me to be less critical when responding to him. Our communication is invaluable and I have created a safe environment where he can come and talk to me without feeling judged.”

Sabrina Guerrero, Content Creator, Event Host and Event Coordinator

“Before kids I was using Cannabis mindlessly, it was an escape and I was over using. As soon as I became a Mother I started being more mindful of my cannabis use and began using with intent. Now I use it to be fully in the moment by being able to calm my anxiety and not dissociate when I feel triggered.

“Right before having my first child i was realizing how medication was making my depression and anxiety worse. So motherhood and using cannabis with intent really kicked my healing journey into high gear. If I was still medicated by antidepressants and anxiety medication I wouldn’t be the Mom I am today.

“I don’t say cannabis makes me a good Mom but it does help me live and enjoy the Mom-life to the fullest. Cannabis allows me to be in the moment and worry about the messes later. It allows me to subside the stress and anxiety and open my mind to imagination and play time.”

“Before I was a mom, I consumed primarily before bed, as a sleep aid. However, I also consumed socially. As a mother, I prefer to be sober around my children, so I now limit my consumption to before bed, and social occasions where I am only around adults. While I don’t consume around my children, I do believe that the effects of cannabis on my endocannabinoid system reduce my overall levels of stress and worry, which skyrocketed for me post-partum with both of my children.

Because of the stigma around cannabis, even in Northern California, it’s not yet socially acceptable in most of my mom circles – to consume cannabis openly. While tons of moms in my local community know I work in the industry, and even ask me for product recommendations, we don’t typically consume in social settings. With cannabis still stigmatized, the negative impact is one of feeling irresponsible as a mother, because that’s what many still believe, even if I know it’s far from the truth.”

Jordan Rahmil, Senior PR Director, Curaleaf

“After many years of being ‘out’ as a proud cannabis consumer and advocate for the plant, my personal health care decisions feel much more private for me now. My reaction as a new mother has been to focus on privacy and protection of my family, which is a brand new feeling for me as I’m typically very transparent and open. And while I’m protective, I also have no concern for anyone who cares to judge us.

“I work in cannabis, as does my husband, and cannabis is responsible for many of the most beautiful parts of our life together. I look forward to educating my child about the plant in ways that the D.A.R.E. programs of my generation never gave us the chance!”

Rebecca Allen-Tapp, Business Development Manager, Syrris AGI UK

“My relationship with cannabis has evolved over time, especially having been diagnosed with a rare cancer shortly after my son’s first birthday. Now it’s become part of my wellness routine alongside exercise, diet, mindfulness, and stress management.

“When I consume cannabis it has a profound impact on my overall mood. It helps me to not sweat the small stuff and be more present. I can get so wrapped up in work that I miss precious opportunities to spend time with my child but when I take a break to consume cannabis it helps me to see when it’s time to close the laptop and just play.

“I think it’s important to remember to take tolerance breaks and understand the intention behind your consumption. My mission as a mom is to be as present as possible and I don’t want to have to solely rely on any resource to do that. Cannabis is a tool I utilize in my parenting journey but it’s not a cure-all.”

“Cannabis is a huge help on my parenting journey – as I love to use cannabis to be more “in the moment” and be incredibly present with what I’m doing right then and there. It allows me to fully focus on play, creating fun activities and helps calm the anxiety that can arise during difficult times.

“I have yet to experience any negative impact on it – as I’ve been pretty mindful about the right and wrong time to partake. I don’t always have to use it to find myself present, but it does replace that glass of wine that moms sometimes feel they need to help them wind down at the end of the day.”

“For me, my consumption has slowed down and shifted to more of a microdose regimen. Staying in control is of utmost importance; I have really enjoyed finding my microdose flow and appreciate the health and mental benefits I see from it.

“It helps me find calm in the chaos, but most importantly, it helps me have FUN with my kids. To put the computer and phone away and get down on their level and truly play with them, deep belly laugh playing is probably the most healing thing we can all do with our kids; cannabis helps me tap into that as often as possible.”

“Once I became a mother, I took much longer breaks in-between sessions and had to really learn how to understand my body and communicate my needs for a break as a new (and extremely exhausted) mom. I had to adjust my lifestyle to fit the new responsibilities of motherhood, and my relationship with cannabis was no exception.

“Cannabis allows me to reset the chaos in my mind and the utter exhaustion in my body. I consume something energetic and creative to create distance between my brain space and the unending list of demands that spin like a ferris wheel. I sit longer, listen more carefully, connect deeper because of cannabis. Cannabis has helped me at every new stage of my Child’s development and in maintaining my sanity and homeostasis when I thought I had already lost it.

“The prohibition of cannabis negatively impacts my mothering experience. The constant fear that some government agency will falsely claim that my consumption of cannabis somehow endangers my child is overwhelming at best. The threat that she could be forcibly removed from my home, or that I could go to jail for consumption, makes it nearly impossible to incorporate plant medicine safely, holistically, or with pleasure.”

Kristen Velasco, CEO, VapenProp

“Consuming cannabis has made me a much better parent! The internal clock flogs me with relentless tasks. Cannabis quiets that harassment so I can accept the spontaneously changing needs and schedules of kids. They need time and patience.

“Cannabis unlocks that calm so I can focus and enjoy the precious moments. The negative impact was the shame and the secrets. I hated hiding something that was a benevolent strategy for daily living. Vaping eliminates the smell and fortunately, my kids grew up and could handle the reality.”

Adrienne Jones

“I used to smoke a lot of flower. But after having a baby I couldn’t be busy rolling something up or outside smoking for half an hour. So I got really into dabbing at that point because it only takes a minute to get pretty stoned. And the smell isn’t noticeable and if you pop a window open or turn your vents on. Edibles were essential for resetting my sleep patterns once my kid started sleeping through the night.

“Consuming cannabis definitely helps me on my journey. I feel like I am more patient and gentle when I’m a little bit stoned. But I think the most beneficial thing it does for me as a mom in particular is that it makes me laugh a lot. My daughter is hilarious and when I’m a little stoned it’s easy to enjoy those moments with her and laugh together.

“I fear judgment a lot and that fear causes me to not participate or be myself at my daughter’s school events, and to be hesitant which of her friends that I allow playdates with. I don’t want my daughter to have her friends’ parents ban their kids from hanging out with her because they think I’m an irresponsible stoner or something.”

Margot Buswell, Mother of two

Photo credit: Nate Reiman Photo: Nate Reiman / Nate-reiman

“I have switched from solely smoking cannabis to taking my cannabis medication in gummy form. I still consume flower but have cut down considerably. I find I am a calmer person and parent. Cannabis helps me considerably with my PTSD related anxiety and stress and also helps stabilize my mood (in conjunction with other therapies and medicines) as a person living with Bipolar Disorder.

“Cannabis has changed my life for the better. I am able to treat my anxiety and stress well with cannabis. I believe that little people can feel the emotional states of their caregivers. I never want to put my stress and anxiety on my children. I am lucky to have found a medication that works so well for my mood stability. I believe that cannabis is a gift. Cannabis helps me support myself so that I can be a better support for my children.”

“My consumption has increased since having children. Prior to, I was a casual consumer (sometimes a few times a week, sometimes a few times a month.) I started extracting and cultivating cannabis as a profession, after moving to Colorado in 2014. (My children were 2 and 5). Naturally, I have been exposed to more cannabis and more ways to benefit!

“Yes! I’m an anxious parent. Consuming cannabis helps me be more present and more creative! It can. Sometimes, I just want to relax when I consume. If I have consumed cannabis to help me rest and they come in riled up, who wins?! I guess that happens outside of consumption, too.”

“I start my weekend morning with coffee and a 5mg edible. It’s just enough to allow me to slow down and be more present with my girls. I can focus on having fun with them and it helps take the edge off when inevitably my kids get into a fight or aren’t listening. Haha. Every night after the kids go to sleep my husband and I enjoy a joint together as part of our wind down routine.

“I’m extremely lucky to have grown up in SoCal and surround myself with open minded individuals. Because I work in the cannabis industry I proudly wear cannabis branded tee shirts to school pickup and sports practices and have never gotten dirty looks from any parents (that I know of ha!). I know a lot of mothers in more conservative areas are harshly judged for their consumption and don’t have the support they need, it’s such a shame. I smoke weed and I’m a great mom and my kids are smart, kind, hilarious and happy.”

“I dabbled in cannabis consumption in college and in my 20s, but did not start incorporating it more regularly into my routine until more recently. I realized that higher doses of cannabis do not work well for me and now, with more topical and microdosing options, I enjoy incorporating it into my daily life.

“I have a very hectic life and I tend to carry my stress in my neck and shoulders, and end up building up a lot of tension there. I’ve found that topicals really help with that. I also really like microdose products like mints or our Escape Artists 2.5mg THC-2.5mg CBD flights as an alternative to alcohol when winding down after getting the kids to bed or if I’m headed out to dinner with friends.”

“If I had known then what I know now, my consumption journey would have 100% started pre-motherhood. I started taking cannabis when I was 45, having attended a Ninja Cross Training Bootcamp that blew out my back disc and spent two years, with no surgery, during a recovery that required a heavy daily dose of cannabis and pilates reformers. Cannabis was a life-saver from pain and depression. It kept me balanced and calm in my recovery.

“I love bringing cannabis into my hot yoga practice and meditation work. During my practice I focus on my evolving role as an older mother with two adult children who have children of their own. Cannabis allows me to embrace transitions more peacefully and has ignited in me creativity with a new fearlessness that’s soulfully refreshing.”

“Since becoming a mother, my cannabis consumption is much more mindful than it was previously. These days my intent is tuned into medicinal properties of the plant, and how it can benefit me from a therapeutic perspective. Parenting is very humbling for someone who is used to being in control and executing at an absurdly high level. Cannabis has helped me calibrate my expectations of ‘how things are supposed to be’ and learn to just ride the wave and be grateful for the journey.

“The pervasive stigma around the plant means I keep my business to myself. Nobody knows that I work in the industry (own my own smokeware company), lest that judgment roll from me down to my son. I’m just another mom volunteering at school and handing out snacks at games.

“I feel for any mom who has to navigate cannabis and parenting, especially when it comes to the issue of consuming while pregnant or breastfeeding. The pro-consumption voices can be just as aggressive as the teetotalers, and if there’s one thing moms don’t need, it’s other people telling them how they ‘should’ act.”

“Since becoming a Mom seventeen years ago, my cannabis use has significantly increased. As I have gained access to more and more information about the benefits of cannabis, the more I have expanded its functionality in my life. I have made it my personal mission to be incredibly outward with how I use it so that other moms can begin to feel more empowered to do the same.

“Cannabis helps me feel more focused on what really matters, my kids’ development. I figure anyone who is judging me is just uneducated, so I often find myself in a teaching capacity when it comes up around my parenting. A while back, I had plenty of judgment about what I did for work and there have been a few families who wouldn’t allow their children to come to our home. Those sorts of moments break my heart because it impacts my children.

“Additionally, I do have teenagers who are canna curious and have canna curious friends so I have to be careful about monitoring what I have in the house and keeping it stored properly.”

Sarah Falvo, Founder, Wildflower Coalition

“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that cannabis makes me a better parent. I am more patient, present, creative and fun when I have consumed, and it allows me to focus on what is right in front of me, rather than all of the noise around me.

“When I consume, I tend to smoke more, but smoking isn’t always the best option for consumption when you have kids, so I have found other more discreet ways to consume. I also have heavily decreased my alcohol use, and swapped it out for cannabis beverages, which is a great alternative.

“I have always been open about my cannabis use. I still am the mom at the gatherings who would pull out a joint rather than drink the glass of Rose, which may have gotten me some weird looks in the past, but is definitely more accepted now. I am very open with both of my daughters (12 and 8) about cannabis and that this is mom’s career. And hopefully, they won’t steal from my stash like I did with my own mom when I was in high school.”

“I never consumed cannabis before I had children, but I was always curious. After I had my daughter in 2016, postpartum rocked me to my core. As a young mother, the resources available for postpartum anxiety were limited, so I took my curiosity for the medicinal benefits of cannabis and decided to experiment myself.

“To this day my husband says it saved me. Taking breaks to consume with intention almost feels like meditation to me. I come back a more playful and patient mother to my kids.

“Being a mom who consumes cannabis can feel lonely. I still feel the judgment and stigma from other moms. I know I am an amazing mom, but when people find out I consume cannabis I feel as though they look at my mothering differently. However, over the years friends and family have become curious and open to experimenting with cannabis because they see how much it has helped me, which has brought us all closer.”

Gretchen Giles, Sr. Account Executive, Grasslands Agency

“I grew up in Northern California in the 1970s, so yes, pre-motherhood. There remains an astonishingly wrong-headed notion that getting high means getting irresponsible. In fact, many of us get both more detail-oriented and more relaxed once we partake.

“I no longer have a daily mom life but when my now grown and married sons were young (eldest is shown above in 1987), I used it during their naps to help me relax while they were down and then to be a more conscious and focused participant when they awoke.

“So much of parenting toddlers is about anticipating and providing and preventing and protecting—and cannabis allowed me to be more still and enjoy more moments that had nothing to do with anything except joy and presence.”

Emily Gray Brosious, Content Marketing Director, Grasslands Agency

“I think there is still a lot of cultural pressure on women to embody this idealized version of what the perfect mother should be, and cannabis consumption doesn’t necessarily fit into that narrative. But I also think there is a growing recognition that responsible cannabis consumption helps many mothers be more present, more creative and more engaged as parents.”

“I would say my cannabis journey began when I entered the industry as general counsel for The Flower Shop eight years ago—right after my oldest was born. Back then, it was baptism by fire. I learned so much during those early years because it was an absolute necessity.

“Instead of picking up a glass of wine at the end of a hard or long day, whether that’s from work or kids, I prefer to smoke a pre-roll or have a gummy to relax and unwind. I am a morning person and my kids wake up super early, and I have found that cannabis is much better for me the next morning in comparison to alcohol. I am not lethargic or tired after consuming cannabis, which is great.”

“Since I had children my consumption changed from social smoking for fun to micro-dosing for stress related behaviors. An example of this is, when using cannabis safely and intentionally not over consuming, I can reduce my anger, yelling and impatience with my children. All while being very present, responsible and interactive with them.

“Consuming cannabis can have its small share of negative aspects. One off the top of my head, is being too relaxed and forgetting things that I didn’t put into my schedule. So forgetfulness when something isn’t written out.”

Tracy Brady, SVP of Communications, Curaleaf

“When my kids were young, I consumed mostly at night when they were in bed and I was ‘off’ as a parent. Now that they are teens and I discuss my work openly with them, I treat cannabis the same as I would if consuming alcohol around my kids. Part of erasing the stigma begins at home – age appropriate discussions of course.

“I generally consume to relax, and get out of what I call ‘the stress loop’ of being a working mother, where you’re managing so many things at once that you just want to slow down, NOT multi-task for an hour or two and be in the moment. Meditation, yoga and reading help me with that, and so does cannabis.

“I would say one negative impact has been the times when I felt as though I need to be cautious about discussing my career with other parents. This has lessened with time, but stigma is still there.”

Crystal Millican, VP of Retail & Marketing, Cookies

“I grew up in a very religious and conservative community. I was always a freethinker and eventually became known as the controversial kid in high school who wrote a term paper about legalizing cannabis and making reparations for the War on Drugs before I had ever even smoked a joint. So consumption started later in life for me after I left home, traveled the world a bit and developed new lenses through which to view life.

“As far as daily life, I’ve always had trouble quieting the noise of the day and falling asleep. Our bedhead caps are perfect for easing into a restful sleep and then waking up without any sluggishness.”

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Every new Faith traces its beginnings back to the moment when its prophet and founder first recognized, revealed, and began to proclaim its holy mission.

Christians trace their Faith’s origins to the period when Jesus Christ, after his baptism by John the Baptist, returned from his sojourn in the wilderness to begin preaching the new gospel. 

Jewish people recognize the return of Moses from Mount Sinai as the time when he brought the Ten Commandments to his followers. 

RELATED: Celebrating the Tragedy and Triumph of the 12th Day of Ridvan

In Islam, Muslims mark the beginnings of their Faith from the year 610 C.E., in a cave named Hira on Mount Jabal al-Nour near Mecca in what is now Saudi Arabia, where Muhammad received his first revelation.

For Baha’is, the 12-day period called Ridvan, which means “paradise,” commemorates Baha’u’llah’s initial announcement of his new revelation. Baha’u’llah wrote:

Arise, and proclaim unto the entire creation the tidings that He Who is the All-Merciful hath directed His steps towards the Ridvan and entered it. Guide, then, the people unto the garden of delight which God hath made the Throne of His Paradise. 

This special period of time, celebrated by Baha’is in every part of the world during late April and early May each year, signifies more than simply the beginnings of their Faith – to Baha’is it means that a new spiritual springtime has arrived for the entire world, as Baha’u’llah announced:

O friends! It behoveth you to refresh and revive your souls through the gracious favours which in this Divine, this soul-stirring Springtime are being showered upon you. The Day-Star of His great glory hath shed its radiance upon you, and the clouds of His limitless grace have overshadowed you. How high the reward of him that hath not deprived himself of so great a bounty, nor failed to recognize the beauty of his Best-Beloved in this, His new attire. – 

When the 12^th and final day of the original Ridvan period in 1863 arrived, Baha’u’llah departed from that garden island outside of Baghdad and began his four-month journey to Constantinople, now known as Istanbul. 

Exiled by government decree because his new, progressive teachings had continued their rapid spread among the people of the Ottoman Empire, Baha’u’llah and his family faced a perilous, grueling trip on foot and horseback through the hottest months of the year. Precisely at noon on the 12^th day of Ridvan Baha’u’llah mounted his horse, a noble red roan stallion, and set out on the road to face an unknown fate. 

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At the place of departure, he was immediately surrounded by hordes of people begging for his blessings and imploring him not to go. The historian Nabil, an eyewitness to Baha’u’llah’s departure that day, described a wrenching scene: “Numerous were the heads which, on every side, bowed to the dust at the feet of [Baha’u’llah’s] horse, and kissed its hoofs, and countless were those who pressed forward to embrace His stirrups.”

RELATED: How the World’s Newest Religion Began

Although Baha’u’llah had asked his many followers to stay in Baghdad and not try to trail along behind the exiled group, one of the Baha’is, named Mirza Asadu’llah Kashani, couldn’t help himself. Quoted in Lady Blomfield’s book The Chosen Highway, he reported that:

Although Baha’u’llah had commanded the friends not to follow them, I was so loath to let Him go out of my sight, that I ran after them for three hours.

He saw me, and getting down from His horse, waited for me, telling me with His beautiful voice, full of love and kindness, to go back to Baghdad, and with the friends, to set about our work, not slothfully, but with energy:

“Be not overcome with sorrow – I am leaving friends I love in Baghdad. I will surely send to them tidings of our welfare. Be steadfast in your service to God, who doeth whatsoever He willeth. Live in such peace as will be permitted to you.”

We watched them disappear into the darkness with sinking hearts, for their enemies were powerful and cruel! And we knew not where they were being taken. An unknown destination! 

Weeping bitterly, we turned our faces toward Baghdad, determined to live according to His command.

Baha’u’llah’s daughter Bahiyyih Khanum later said, in an interview with Myron H. Phelps recorded in his book Abbas Effendi, His Life and Teachings, that an entire retinue of government soldiers escorted the exiles on their journey:

Many of [Baha’u’llah’s] followers decided to abandon Baghdad also, and accompany him in his wanderings. When the caravan started, our company numbered about seventy-five persons. All the young men, and others who could ride, were mounted on horses. The women and [Baha’u’llah] were furnished wagons. We were accompanied by a military escort.

On the 12^th day of Ridvan, Baha’u’llah began his second exile. His first, ten years before, had taken him and his family from Tehran in Persia to Baghdad in Iraq. Two more banishments would come after this one, the final exile to the pestilential prison-city of Akka in Palestine, where few survived the terrible prison conditions. 

But these cruel banishments, decreed by rulers who feared the rapid spread of Baha’u’llah’s teachings, failed in their intent to suppress, damage and destroy the Baha’i Faith – instead, they rendered it victorious, helping to spread its healing spiritual message around the world.

That’s one reason why, during the Ridvan period each year, Baha’is around the world elect the democratic institutions that administer and guide their Faith. Because the Baha’i Faith has no clergy, Baha’i communities govern themselves with democratically-elected bodies of nine people called Spiritual Assemblies, annually elected at the local and national level during the twelve days of Ridvan. At five year intervals, Baha’is elect their global governing body, the Universal House of Justice, during this same period.  

So every year during the twelve days of Ridvan, when Baha’is gather to pray and silently cast their ballots for these unique democratic institutions, they affirm Baha’u’llah’s teachings of world unity, symbolically honoring the garden of humanity in all its diversity and beauty while celebrating Baha’u’llah’s powerful declaration in the garden of Ridvan. If you know any Baha’is where you live, please join in!

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