A Quick Note & Excerpts for These Auspicious Times September 23, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, 7-Day Challenge, 9-Day Challenge, Art, Bhakti, Books, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, Mysticism, New Year, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, Rosh Hashanah, Wisdom, Women, Yoga.Tags: 988, Ananta Ripa Ajmera, Bramacharini, Bramcharya, Dorothy Miles, High Holidays, International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL), International Week of Deaf People (IWDP), Lori Palatnik, Navaratri, Norman Fischer, Rabbi Alan Lew, Rosh Hashanah, Sharada Navaratri, sign languages, Ten Days of Atonement, Ten Days of Awe, World Federation of the Deaf, Yogini
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“L’Shana Tovah U’Metukah!” to everyone celebrating Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays. “Nine days and nine nights of blessings and happiness if you are celebrating Sharada Navaratri!” Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom during International Week of Deaf People and on International Day of Sign Languages.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“How do you get ready for something big, for something momentous, for something auspicious?”
— The prompt question from Monday’s Common Ground Meditation Center practice (on 9/22/2025)
In response to last night’s prompt question, one of my yoga buddies talked about getting ready for a wedding and, over the weekend, another yoga buddy talked about going to a wedding anniversary party. These were big, momentous, auspicious occasions. They required people to get ready and, also, to RSVP!
But, how do you RSVP for another year of life?
RSVP
— Acronym for Répondez s’il vous plaît [French for “Respond if you please”]
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW TO FIND OUT HOW YOUR RSVP FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF LIFE!
“FOR TEN DAYS, THE GARES ARE OPEN AND THE WORLD is fluid. We are finally awake, if only in fits and starts, if only to toss and turn. For ten days, transformation is within our grasp. For ten days, we can imagine ourselves not as fixed and immutable beings, but rather as a limitless field upon which qualities and impulses rise up and fall away again like waves on the sea. Some of these impulses rise up with particular intensity. We may even experience them as afflictions, but they can be the keys to our transformation. Their intensity points to the disequilibrium and dysfunction in us that is in need of transformation.”
— quoted from “Chapter 7, What The Soul Does While The Gates Are Still Open: The Ten Days of Teshuvah” in This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation by Rabbi Alan Lew (with a forward by Norman Fischer)
After last night’s practice, I virtually attended a Temple Ner Tamid service that featured Cantor Meredith Greenberg leading the synagogue in a song with the refrain, “Ten Days / You Have Ten Days”. The song refers to the High Holidays (or High Holy Days) known as the “Ten Days of Atonement” and the “Ten Days of Awe” — which begin with Rosh Hashana ( “the Head of the Year”) and culminate with Yom Kippur, “The Day of Atonement”. Of course, some people spend more than ten days preparing their hearts and minds for a new year. Some people actually begin their reflection process 7 weeks (49 days) before the new year, on Tisha B’Av, a day of mourning which commemorates the destruction of the first Temple in Jerusalem.
Over the weekend, I had a very rich conversation with a dear friend (who was also a dear friend of my mom) and she told me about This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation by Rabbi Alan Lew. I haven’t read it yet, but I am always struck by how people spend their time and how much time they need to get their hearts and minds in the right place for a special occasion (which, in this case, is the rest of their lives).
For some it is 10 days, for some it is 40, for some it is 49, for some it is 9.
The following (slightly revised) excerpt was originally posted in October 2024.
“While this may sound like an extreme–and even scary–story, I don’t see it as the tale of a goddess who gave up everything to marry a god. Instead, I understand it as the story of a Truth seeker who gave up all distractions to merge with the ultimate Truth.”
— quoted from the “Knowing BRAHMACHARINI” section of “Chapter 2: Channeling Your Energy — Channeling Your Energy (when you’re feeling excited) with Goddess Brahmacharini, the one who follows brahmacharya (the path of self-control)” in The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals To Awaken Your Inner Warrior And Discover Your True Self by Ananta Ripa Ajmera
Yesterday was also the beginning of Sharada Navaratri, the most celebrated of the four Navaratri festivals. Navaratri literally means “nine nights” and is a Hindu celebration of God / the Divine as a woman. Each day is dedicated to a different manifestation of Durga/Parvati and each manifestation marks a different point in Her journey. Today, the second day, is dedicated to the Goddess Brahmacharini (“Unmarried One”), who is also Yogini. Both of her names highlight her path.
A yogini is a woman who practices yoga. Brahmacharini shares a root with the fourth yama (external “restraint” or universal commandment), brahmacharya, which can be translated as following in the steps of God or “chasing God” — or even that the devotee is riding in God’s “chariot”. All of these translations are associated with the life of someone who is deeply invested in their religious and spiritual life. In art, Brahmacharini has all the symbols of an ascetic: bare feet, a mala (rosary) and a kamandalu (water pot). Since people consider her a symbol of bliss and calmness, some pray to her for moksha (“liberation” from suffering), peace, and prosperity.
People also believe Brahmacharini can endow them with strong concentration and self-control. In fact, her story is full of the great challenges associated with the austerity she practices in order to achieve her goal of marriage. To me, she, herself, is liminal in that she is the embodiment of the auspicious moment between the goddess being identified as a daughter and the goddess being identified as a wife.
“The story of Brahmacharini and Shiva is not meant to be the story of a romantic relationship; Shiva is merely symbolic of the true Self. He is pure consciousness, the eternal soul, which we strive to merge with vis–à–vis the power of spiritual practice.”
— quoted from the “Knowing BRAHMACHARINI” section of “Chapter 2: Channeling Your Energy — Channeling Your Energy (when you’re feeling excited) with Goddess Brahmacharini, the one who follows brahmacharya (the path of self-control)” in The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals To Awaken Your Inner Warrior And Discover Your True Self by Ananta Ripa Ajmera
Each and every person on the planet (or a space station) “contain[s] multitudes” and experiences different seasons of life. At different stages in our lives, we are recognized in different ways. At different times in our lives we fulfill different roles. Each season and each role comes with different responsibilities and expectations, as well as with different skills, abilities, experiences, and powers.
Take a moment to recognize the path you are on; the journey that is your life; the season you are in; the roles you play; and the way you serve the world.
Take a moment to acknowledge that you can simultaneously experience excitement, anticipation, doubt, fear, hesitation, and joy every time you experience change.
Take a moment to do what you need to do to grieve and appreciate what is no longer and, also, to appreciate what is not yet — knowing that what is not yet is a possibility that could be or might never be.
Take a moment to remember that you and the things you do have meaning and are valuable.
Now, take a breath, exhale, and begin.
“You hold the word in hand
and offer the palm of friendship;
of frontiers where men of speech lend lip-
service to brotherhood, you pass, unhampered
by sounds that drown the meaning, or by fear
of the foreign-word-locked fetter;
oh, better
the word in hand than a thousand
spilled from the mouth upon the hearless ear.”
— quoted from the poem “To A Deaf Child” by Dorothy Miles
Variations of the following have been previously posted.
In addition to the religious/cultural holidays referenced above, September 23rd, is the International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL). This year, it is the second day of International Week of Deaf People (IWDP). While IWDP is celebrated during the last full week of September (and therefore the dates shift a little), IDSL is held annually on the anniversary of the day, in 1951, when the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established in Rome, Italy, during the first World Deaf Conference. That first conference was organized by Ente Nazionale Sordomuti (ENS), the Italian Deaf Association, and attended by representatives from 25 countries. Now, WFD is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization of deaf associations from 133 countries. It promotes the human rights of deaf people worldwide and works with the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and UN agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO).
Each day of IWDP has a different focus. As I mentioned in the the post excerpted below, The 2025 theme for the entire week is “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights”, which is also the Tuesday focus.
“All people have an inherent right to human rights from birth. For deaf people, sign language rights are fundamental for the full enjoyment of their human rights. As we look at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we recognise progress made and the challenges that remain in ensuring equality for all. We recognise that our achievements are leading us towards our goal: a world where deaf people everywhere can sign anywhere.”
— quoted from the “International Week of Deaf People 2025 — Daily Themes: A Week of Celebration, Awareness, and Action” (Monday) section of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) website
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF DEAF PEOPLE & MEET SOME OF THE PEOPLE I HIGHLIGHTED LAST YEAR!
NOTE: In 2025, this will be the first post and yesterday’s post will be the second post.
Please join me today (Tuesday, September 23rd) at 12:00 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Rosh Hashanah 2021”]
(My apologizes for not posting before the noon practice.)
Click here (or below) for the Dorothy Miles poem “To A Deaf Child.”
If you are struggling, thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
Errata: The Tuesday focus for the International Week of Deaf People was originally misidentified as the Monday focus.
### MAY YOUR NAME BE WRITTEN & SEALED IN THE BOOK OF LIFE ###
What We Do to Get Ready (the post-practice compilation post for Monday) September 22, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 9-Day Challenge, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Mysticism, New Year, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, Rosh Hashanah, Science, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Dorothy Miles, Equinox, High Holidays, International Week of Deaf People (IWDP), Joan Borysenko, kriya yoga, kriyā yoga, Navaratri, Rosh Hashanah, Shailaputri, Sharada Navaratri, sign languages, svādhyāya, Swami J, Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati, Swami Vivekananda, tapas, Ten Days of Atonement, Ten Days of Awe, Unetaneh Tokef, Yoga Sutra 2.1, Yoga Sutras 3.9-3.16, īśvarapraņidhāna
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“L’Shana Tovah U’Metukah!” to everyone celebrating Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays. “Nine days and nine nights of blessings and happiness if you are celebrating Sharada Navaratri!” Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom during the Equinox and International Week of Deaf People.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This post-practice post for Monday, September 22nd, is a compilation post, which includes some new and previously posted content, plus a series of excerpts. Please note that linked excerpts direct you to posts that will include content related to a specific year. The 2025 prompt question was, “How do you get ready for something big, for something momentous, for something auspicious?” You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“Those Samâdhis with which we ended our last chapter are very difficult to attain; so we must take them up slowly. The first step, the preliminary step, is called Kriya-yoga. Literally this means work, working towards Yoga.”
— quoted from the commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.1, from Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda
When you first consider the Monday prompt question, you may think that the answer depends on what you’re getting ready to do. However, I would argue that such an answer is related to the finer details of your life. If you take in the big picture, you will notice that we usually get ready for something big by taking a moment to look back and make sure we have all our ducks in a row. In other words, we reflect and we make a plan — even if that plan is just related to what we are going to wear or how we want our house to look when company comes over. In the process, we also make sure our head and heart are in the right place; that we have an attitude that is going to serve us.
In some ways, the general process we use to get ready is one way to look at the process Patanjali described as kriyā yoga (“yoga in action”): a combination of tapah (“heat, discipline, austerity” and the practices that cultivate them — physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually and religiously), svādhyāya (“self-study”), and īśvarapraņidhāna (“trustful surrender to [God]”). (YS 1.2) I reference this rubric throughout the year, because it is not only a process we can use individually, it is also a process that communities use when they are getting ready for a big, momentous, auspicious time… like a new season and/or a new year.
The new moon on Sunday was actually the precursor all of the above since Monday was the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere (or Spring/Vernal Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere); the beginning of Sharada Navaratri in some Hindu communities; and the beginning of the International Week of the Deaf People. Additionally, Monday at sunset marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah in Jewish communities around the world (and in communities where people observe the commanded holidays outlined in Deuteronomy).
THE EQUINOX EXCERPTS — “On Having A Good Time” (revised):
“The transition from one year to the next year happens in an infinitely short moment that is actually non-existent in time. So too, there are transitions in the moments of life and the moments of meditation. Mindfulness of transitions in daily life and during meditation time is extremely useful on the spiritual journey to enlightenment.”
— quoted from the commentary on “Yoga Sutras 3.9-3.16: Witnessing Subtle Transitions With Samyama” by Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati (“Swami J”)
In theory, the angle of the Earth combines with its rotation around the sun to produce four noteworthy (and marked) dates: Autumnal Equinox, Winter Solstice, Vernal (or Spring) Equinox, and Summer Solstice.
I say, “in theory”, because we like to think that everyone around the world has equal amounts of day and night on the equinox and that these appreciable moments in time are actually that — appreciable and notable. The truth, however, is that there is no sudden/automatic change in how much light and how much darkness we get. It’s not a dimmer switch and we can honestly notice changes much earlier than indicated by the celestial calendar. Furthermore, no one is really getting 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night on the actual equinox. We perceive daylight long after the sun has moved below the horizon and, therefore, daytime is longer at latitudes above the equator than below.
Here in Houston, we got 12 hours and 10 minutes (as did people in Cairo, Egypt; with people in Shanghai, China maybe getting 1 more minute than that). On the flip side, someone in Anchorage, Alaska got 12 hours and 17 minutes and people in Helsinki, Finland got 12 hours and 19 minutes). Meanwhile, people in Cape Town, South Africa; Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; and Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau) on Te Ika-a-Māui/North Island of Aotearoa/New Zealand all got 12 hours and 9 minutes.
Even at the equator, a true 12-hour split doesn’t happen on the equinox (“equal night”): It happens on the equilux (“equal light”), which falls on Thursday, September 25th. for most mid-latitude people in the Northern Hemisphere. (Although the exact date does vary by location.)
Click on the excerpt title below for more about how you could spend your time.
THE NAVARATRI EXCERPT — “Making Connections, Part 2 [in the New Year] Part 2” (revised):
Navaratri (which means “nine nights”, in Sanskrit) occurs four times on the Hindu calendar and is a celebration of divine feminine energy — specifically of Durga, the divine mother, in various manifestations. Some people (read, mostly men) think of these manifestations as different women. Others (read, mostly women) recognize these manifestations as the same woman at different points in her life. The latter understanding is underscored by the fact that each day is dedicated to a different manifestation of Durga/Parvati and each manifestation marks a different point in Her journey.
Navaratri always begins by celebrating Durga as Shailaputri (“Daughter of Mountain”). Shailaputri is the daughter of Himavat, the Mountain King or Guardian God of Himalayan Mountains, and is recognized as a divine manifestation of Mahadevi and a reincarnation of Sati (the wife of Shiva), who then reincarnates as Parvati. In art, she holds a trishula or trident in her right hand and a lotus in her left hand, all while riding Shiva’s bull Nandi, whose name means “happy, joy, and satisfaction”.
The fall (Sharada) Navaratri celebration, which started today (Monday), is the biggest and most celebrated of the four celebrations. Rituals and traditions vary from one region to the other and, during this festival, celebrations in some regions may include other manifestations of the Divine. For example, while some celebrations on the ninth day of Navaratri will also be Ayudha Puja (“worship of tools”) — when people celebrate peace and knowledge and give thanks for the tools of their occupation, some will give thanks for musical instruments and others will give thanks for their farming machinery. At the same time, some will make their puja (“offering”) to Saraswati — who is associated with knowledge, the arts, and culture, etc. — and others will direct their attention to Lakshmi — who is associated with prosperity, wealth, and fertility, etc. These fall celebrations also include a tenth day, Dussehra or Vijayadashami, which commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over a 10-headed demon.
THE INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF THE DEAF EXCERPTS — “Paying Attention is the First Step” & “Holchaj yIjatlh. (‘Speak in their language.’)” (revised):
“…people meet and part.
The word becomes the action in this language of the heart.”
— quoted from the English translation of the poem “Language for the Eye” by Dorothy Miles
Today, September 22nd, the beginning of International Week of Deaf People (IWDP). While IWDP is celebrated during the last full week of September (and therefore the dates shift a little), International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is held annually on September 23rd, the anniversary of the day, in 1951, when the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established in Rome, Italy, during the first World Deaf Conference. That first conference was organized by Ente Nazionale Sordomuti (ENS), the Italian Deaf Association, and attended by representatives from 25 countries. Now, WFD is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization of deaf associations from 133 countries. It promotes the human rights of deaf people worldwide and works with the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and UN agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO).
Each day of IWDP has a different focus. The 2025 theme for the entire week is “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights” and the focus on Monday was “Deaf communities leading”. Both themes highlight the importance of including people in conversations about things (like social policy) that will affect them and emphasizes the fact that, “Deaf-led alliances, in collaboration with governments and other organisations, play a vital role in advancing sign language rights. Following the motto ‘nothing about us without us’, true progress comes from partnerships where deaf people lead and others support them as committed allies.”
Since we are heading into a New Year, you might spend your time by learning a new language.
There are, in fact, about 300 sign languages used around the world. This includes some (but not all) language families, like the French Sign Language Family, and the languages therein — like French Sign Language, Italian Sign Language, Quebec Sign Language, American Sign Language, Irish Sign Language, Russian Sign Language, Dutch Sign Language (NGT), Spanish Sign Language, Mexican Sign Language, Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS), Catalan Sign Language, Ukrainian Sign Language, Austrian Sign Language (along with its twin Hungarian Sign Language and its offspring Czech Sign Language) and others. That estimate also includes some (but not all) dialects and some village languages, as well as some Deaf-community and school languages. I am not sure if that estimate includes any speech-taboo languages1; but, suffice to say, there are a lot of sign languages. And, knowing one does not mean that you can use the other; any more than knowing one romance language means you can completely understand another.
THE NEW YEAR EXCERPT — “An Invitation to ‘Reflecting, Remembering, Repenting, & Planting’” (revised):
“Through the years I’ve written and taught extensively about ‘liminal time,’ that pregnant pause between what is no longer and what is not yet. Although liminal time is a known stage in all rites of passage, most people have never heard of it. Whether we’re talking about a pandemic, a war, a refugee crisis, or even a man or womanhood ritual, a graduation, or a new job far away from family and friends, the stages (though not the intensity) of a rite of passage are the same.”
— quoted from “Running the Gauntlet of the Unknown” by Joan Borysenko, PhD (posted at joanborysenko.com, April 1, 2020)
This is a liminal moment — a transitional or threshold moment, a doorway in between moments; like the pauses in between the inhale and the exhale. As I have mentioned before, we could say that about any moment in our lives; however, this is one of those Liminal moments that is being recognized as an auspicious time by several communities around the world. This is one of those moments full of ceremony, ritual, and tradition.
It is an opportunity to “request” (or accept) and plan for more time.
“Who will be calm and who will be tormented?
Who will become poor and who will get rich?
Who will be made humble and who will be raised up?
But teshuvah and tefillah and tzedakah [repentance and prayer and righteous acts]
deflect the evil of the decree.”
— quoted from the poem “Unetaneh Tokef” (“Let Us Speak of the Awesomeness”)
Literally “the Head of the Year”, Rosh Hashanah is known as the Jewish New Year and is also the beginning of the High Holidays — known as the “Ten Days of Atonement” and the “Ten Days of Awe” — which culminate with Yom Kippur, “The Day of Atonement”. It is one of the holiest times of the year for some and is celebrated by people who might not typically go to services. Unlike a secular new year, it is more than a celebration — it is an observation: a time for reflection, remembrance, and repentance.
It is also a time when people “request” (or accept) and plan for a new year of life and purpose.
Click on the excerpt title below for more about how people prepare for a meaningful and sweet new year (or, click here to scroll through a variety of posts about Rosh Hashanah).
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
Music Note: You can click on the excerpt title above for the playlists featuring the poem I mentioned during the Monday practice.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
1 According to Wikipedia, speech-taboo languages “are developed by the hearing community and only used secondarily by the deaf.”
### MAY YOUR NAME BE WRITTEN & SEALED IN THE BOOK OF LIFE ###
FTWMI: Holchaj yIjatlh. (“Speak in their language.”) August 19, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Depression, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Life, Movies, Music, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Science, TV, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Alexander Courage, American Sign Language, ASL, BSL British Sign Language, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Dorothy Miles, Dot Miles, French Sign Language, Gene Rodenberry, Google Doodle, Gwenda (wanda) Squire, Howie Seago, Jonathan Frakes, Klingon, Leo Damian, Liz Deverill, LSF, Marnie Mosiman, music, Passion/Warrior, peace, Philo T. Farnsworth, Placiau Porffor, Purple Plaque, Riva, Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, Science Fiction, sign language, sign languages, Sir Patrick Stewart, Star Trek, Television, Thomas Oglesby, universal translator, Vedas, William T. Riker, Woman/That Which Binds Them, Writing, yoga philosophy, Youmee Lee
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast (and the Second “Feast of the Saviour” in August) and/or exploring friendship, peace, freedom, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside).
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
For Those Who Missed It: The following was originally posted in 2024. Class details, theme-related details, and some links have been updated/added. This post contains spoilers (in the last paragraph before the excerpts) related to a 1989 television show.
“Captain’s log, supplemental. We are holding position pending the arrival of Admiral Haftel from Starfleet Research. Commander Data is completing his final neural transfers to the android he has named Lal which I have learned, in the language Hindi, means beloved.”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “The Offspring” – (season 3, episode 16, aired March 12, 1990), voiced by Sir Patrick Stewart (OBE) as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
As noted in the posts excerpted at the end of this post, August 19th is the anniversary of the birth of birth Philo T. Farnsworth (b. 1906) and Gene Roddenberry (b. 1901). The former was an American inventor who revolutionized television; the latter revolutionized what we watch on television. In previous years, a couple of obvious thematic elements from the August 18th practice extended into the August 19th practice: the idea of exploring space(s) and the benefits of exploring and encountering different cultures. However, there was an underlying element that I never really emphasized (in either class): languages.
Sure, I often reference the fact that our minds and bodies communicate in the language of sensation and I have been known to joke that, in the absence of a universal translator, we have to study that language of sensation. But, I never really got into the fact that people can’t really “have their say” if they are speaking in a language that is not understood. Nor did I really get into the fact that television exposed more people to more languages and that certain television shows and movies (like those in the Star Trek franchise) exposed more people to the importance of speaking other languages — specifically, the respect that is communicated when we literally and figuratively/physically “Holchaj yIjatlh. (Speak in their language).”
This oversight is super ironic when you consider how much I love languages and how often I talk about shabda (“word”), which is the power “to give a form to sound, assign meaning to each segment of sound, and to store both sound and meaning in memory….[and] the capacity to communicate both sound and its meaning to others. We also have the capacity to give a visual form to each segment of sound and the meaning associated with it.” Furthermore, I often point out that shabda is also the power related to visual words, i. e., written words, symbols, and sign language. However, it wasn’t until I saw the Google Doodle dedicated to Dorothy “Dot” Miles (née Squire) that I started to think about the limitations of universal translators in the Star Trek franchise… and, since we’re being real, in their current day iterations.1
“Her sister Gwenda (Wendy) wrote about her birth…, ‘I remember the day Dorothy was born and I knew exactly how she got there! The Irwin’s van brought her along with the groceries….’”
— quoted from “A Word from the Miles Estate” – provided to the Google site by the Dorothy Miles Estate, written by Liz Deverill (Dorothy’s niece)
Born in Holywell, Flintshire, Wales on August 19, 1931, Dorothy “Dot” Miles (née Squire) was a Welsh poet and activist in the Deaf community. She contracted meningococcal (also known as cerebrospinal) meningitis and lost her hearing when she was 8 years old. Even though she was the youngest of five (surviving children), born in a small market town in Wales, she was able to attend the Royal School for the Deaf (now known as Seashell Trust) in Stockport, Greater Manchester, North West England, and the Mary Hare School in Newbury, Berkshire, England. When she was 25, a British non-profit’s scholarship enabled her to attend Gallaudet College in Washington, D. C. — and it was there that her early love of music, theatre, and words really shined.
In addition to being a member of the Gallaudet’s honor society (as a junior) and being listed in the 1961 edition of “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities,” Dot Miles edited student magazines, wrote prize-winning poetry and prose, won prizes for her acting, and got married (and separated). She also wrote Gallaudet’s “Bison Song” and a poem called “Language for the Eye” — which inspired the 2024 Google Doodle illustrated by Korean American storyteller Youmee Lee (who is also deaf). After graduating with her bachelor’s degree and working as a teacher and counselor for deaf adults, Ms. Miles joined the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD), in 1967, where she worked in wardrobe and as a script translator. She also wrote poetry (for deaf and hearing audiences) and worked with NTD’s Little Theatre of the Deaf, which produced shows for children and teenagers. She eventually attended Connecticut College — where she wrote her Master’s thesis about deaf theatre in the United States — and then (briefly) moved to Los Angeles.
When she returned to the UK, in 1977, Dot Miles started working in television. She worked with Open Door, which was produced by the BBC’s Community Programme Unit, and performed her poem “Language for the Eye” on the May 10, 1979, episode presented by National Union of the Deaf. She also helped develop the BBC’s See Hear series and, along with Terry Ruane (who also lost his hearing due to a childhood bout of some form of meningitis) wrote specials for the series. In addition to her work in the arts, Dot Miles worked with the British Deaf Association (BDA), helped establish the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) and compiled teaching manuals and a BDA dictionary.
After her death, people near and dear to her formed the Dorothy Miles Cultural Centre, now known as Dot Sign Language, which “continues to bridge the gap between the Deaf and the hearing world…. [and] is dedicated to raising both Deaf awareness and the profile of BSL as a language in its own right.” In honor of Dot Miles and her work, the seaside resort town of Rhyl (in Flintshire) placed a Purple Plaque (Welsh: Placiau Porffor) on the poet’s childhood home (in April 2024), declaring her one of the “Menywod Nodedig Yng Nghymru / Remarkable Women of Wales.”
“…people meet and part.
The word becomes the action in this language of the heart.”
— quoted from the English translation of the poem “Language for the Eye” by Dorothy Miles
As far as I can tell, Dot Miles was a polyglot who knew four languages: Welsh, English, British Sign Language (BSL), and American Sign Language (ASL). Since she was interested in languages and theatre — and in sharing her poetry with people who used different languages — it would not surprise me to learn that she knew about the hundreds of other sign languages and dialects (even if she didn’t know them). There are, in fact, about 300 sign languages used around the world. This includes some (but not all) language families, like the French Sign Language Family, and the languages therein — like French Sign Language, Italian Sign Language, Quebec Sign Language, American Sign Language, Irish Sign Language, Russian Sign Language, Dutch Sign Language (NGT), Spanish Sign Language, Mexican Sign Language, Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS), Catalan Sign Language, Ukrainian Sign Language, Austrian Sign Language (along with its twin Hungarian Sign Language and its offspring Czech Sign Language) and others. That estimate also includes some (but not all) dialects and some village languages, as well as some Deaf-community and school languages. I am not sure if that estimate includes any speech-taboo languages2; but, suffice to say, there are a lot of sign languages. And, knowing one does not mean that you can use the other; any more than knowing one romance language means you can completely understand another.
And, getting back to my earlier point, the universal translators in Star Trek do not translate sign language.
“WOMAN: Precisely. Our way of communicating has developed over the centuries and its one that I find quite harmonious.
PICARD: Then Riva the mediator —
WOMAN: Is deaf.
PICARD: Deaf?
WOMAN: Born, and hope to die.
PICARD: And the three of you speak for him?
CHORUS: Yes.
SCHOLAR: We serve as translators. We convey not only his thoughts, but his emotional intent as well. I am the Scholar. I represent the intellect, and speak in matters of judgement, philosophy, logic. Also, I am the dreamer, the part that longs to see the beauty beyond the truth which is always the first duty of art. I am the poet who —
ADONIS: Artists, they tend to ramble, neglect the moment. I am passion, the libido. I am the anarchy of lust, the romantic and the lover. I am also the warrior, the perfect line which never wavers.
WOMAN: I am that which binds all the others together. I am harmony, wisdom, balance.
PICARD: Remarkable. And so these —
(Riva steps forward, angry)
SCHOLAR: Speak to me!
PICARD: What?
SCHOLAR: Speak directly to me.
PICARD: The uniqueness of this presentation provoked this inadvertent breach in protocol. No insult was intended.
SCHOLAR: Then none is perceived.”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “Loud as a Whisper” – (season 2, episode 5, aired January 9, 1989), conversation between Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Sir Patrick Stewart, OBE), Riva (played by Howie Seago), and the Chorus (played by Marnie Mosiman as Woman/That Which Binds Them, Thomas Oglesby as Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, and Leo Damian as Passion/Warrior)
While the universal translators in Star Trek only translate spoken languages — and, even then, only “known” languages — a sign language is a very important plot element in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode entitled, “Loud as a Whisper.” The episode features Riva, a peace negotiator/ambassador who is deaf and so good at his job that (prior to this episode) the Klingons added a new word to their vocabulary: peacemaker. Riva knows a sign language, however, he travels with his own personal Greek chorus who are connected to him telepathically. They are known as “the scholar, the warrior, and that which binds them [woman].” SPOILER ALERT: When something happens to the Riva’s chorus, someone has to step in to learn the sign language — because, again, the universal translators only work with spoken words.
More importantly, communication needs to be as seamless as possible in order to negotiate peace.
Click on the excerpt titles below for the 2020 post and the 2023 note related to Philo T. Farnsworth and Gene Roddenberry.
“RIKER: So none of the background which we have provided would be helpful in understanding why they continue to fight?
SCHOLAR: The portfolio will indicate that the conflict is over a piece of land, or wealth, or some other tangible asset. But we both know that is not the case.
RIKER: They’ve been at war for so long, it has become personal.
SCHOLAR: Exactly. The basis for peace must also be personal….”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “Loud as a Whisper” – (season 2, episode 5, aired January 9, 1989), conversation between First Officer William T. Riker (played by Jonathan Frakes), Riva (played by Howie Seago), and the Chorus (played by Thomas Oglesby as Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, Marnie Mosiman as Woman/That Which Binds Them, and Leo Damian as Passion/Warrior)
Please join me today (Tuesday, August 19th) at 12:00 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Tuesday’s “Courage filled” playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08192020 To Boldly Go with Courage”]
PLAYLIST NOTE: The YouTube playlist includes an interview with Gene Roddenberry and the Dorothy Miles poem “Language for the Eye” (which is also below).
NOTES:
1 Google Translate and related apps are the closest things we (currently) have to a universal translator. Obviously, they do not allow us to hear someone else’s words as if they are speaking in the language of our choice; however, they can be voice activated and can play a recording of words typed (or pasted) into the app. There are apps that translate (into and out of) a variety of sign languages — however, they are not standard to (i.e., built into) cell phones like Google Translate and the iPhone’s Translate.
2 According to Wikipedia, speech-taboo languages “are developed by the hearing community and only used secondarily by the deaf.”
Dorothy Miles struggled with her mental health. Sadly, she was not able to receive help when she needed it most. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
2024 CORRECTION & 2025 UPDATE: There are currently twelve Star Trek television series, thirteen feature films (with additional ones already in development or production), a made-for-television film, an extensive collection of books, games, and toys — not to mention college curriculum and language courses.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
### roj vay’ ###
Paying Attention is the First Step (a post-practice Monday post with an excerpt) September 23, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Confessions, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Life, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, American Library Association, Banned Books Week, censorship, Danna Faulds, Dorothy Miles, Dot Miles, Dr. Joseph Murray, First Amendment, International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL), International Week of Deaf People (IWDP), Office of Intellectual Freedom, Ray Bradbury, sign language, sign languages, Toni Morrison, yoga
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone communicating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom during International Day of Sign Languages / International Week of the Deaf and during Banned Books Week.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This is a post-practice post related to the practice on Monday, September 23rd. Some embedded links may direct you outside of WordPress. The 2024 prompt question was, “What is on your mind? This post references and contains a quote from a banned book. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“There must be something in books, things we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house, there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.”
— quoted from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
This post begins with a cautionary tale, because I wasn’t paying enough attention. When a teacher suggested something that I hadn’t practice in a while, I paused and considered whether it was a good fit for me (which is what I always encourage people to do). Then I decided to give it a go. However, my body very quickly pointed out that some part of what I was doing was not a good idea (at least, not for me in that moment). I was paying just enough attention to realize something was off (and to back off a little), but not enough attention to realize I needed to stop (completely). So, I kept going… and ended up completely out of alignment.
Being out of alignment can cause a lot of pain and suffering. It takes time to reset. If you don’t know how to reset yourself and/or cannot do it on your own, it takes time and money. This is true when we are talking about an individual and they’re mind-body and it is also true when we are talking about a group of people, a whole country of people, or even the whole world. Each and every one of us is part of whole, just like each part of our mind-body is part of our mind-body. Sometimes we get ourselves out of whack (or never really worked in the ideal way), because we aren’t paying attention to the needs and desires of different parts of us and sometimes it happens because aren’t paying enough attention.
Of course, in order to pay attention, we have to understand how and why things are being communicated. This is a challenge when it comes to minds and bodies, because they communicate with sensation, that’s the information. When it comes to other people, part of paying attention includes recognizing that not everyone speaks the same language.
We also have to remember that not everyone has the same perspective or tells the story in the same way.
(Click here if the video above of Dr. Joseph Murray is not visible on your device.)
Today, September 23rd, is International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) and the beginning of International Week of Deaf People (IWDP). While IWDP is celebrated during the last full week of September (and therefore the dates shift a little), IDSL is held annually on the anniversary of the day, in 1951, when the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established in Rome, Italy, during the first World Deaf Conference. That first conference was organized by Ente Nazionale Sordomuti (ENS), the Italian Deaf Association, and attended by representatives from 25 countries. Now, WFD is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization of deaf associations from 133 countries. It promotes the human rights of deaf people worldwide and works with the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and UN agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO).
Each day of IWDP has a different focus. As mentioned above, the 2024 theme for International Day of Sign Languages is “Sign Up for Sign Language Rights” and highlights efforts for “better implementation of the [Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities] CRPD at the national level through the linguistic human rights of deaf people in view of the 20th anniversary of the CRPD in 2026.” According to WFD, you can “Sign up for Sign Language rights by working with your local and national associations to announce the achievement of a concrete goal for deaf communities today.” You could also learn more about sign languages (see excerpt below) and (maybe) learn one of those languages.
Click on the excerpt title below for more!
Holchaj yIjatlh. (“Speak in their language.”) [a post-practice Monday post with excerpts]
“You hold the word in hand
and offer the palm of friendship;
of frontiers where men of speech lend lip-
service to brotherhood, you pass, unhampered
by sounds that drown the meaning, or by fear
of the foreign-word-locked fetter;
oh, better
the word in hand than a thousand
spilled from the mouth upon the hearless ear.”
— quoted from the poem “To A Deaf Child” by Dorothy Miles
Clicking on the excerpt title above, will take you to a previous Monday post that features the story of Dorothy “Dot” Miles (née Squire), a Welsh poet, polyglot, and activist in the Deaf community. Her story is fascinating on a lot of different levels and is also a reminder that, at some point, we all deal with some form of disability. Her story (and the post) also highlights the importance of knowing each others stories. Unfortunately, some stories are harder and harder to access — not because they aren’t being told, but because someone, somewhere, objects to them being told.
On any given day, someone, somewhere, is attempting to ban a book.
In addition to being International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) and the beginning of International Week of Deaf People (IWDP), today was also the second day of Banned Books Week (September 22–28, 2024). According to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) data based on challenges to “unique titles surged 65% in 2023 compared to 2022 numbers, reaching the highest level ever documented by [the American Library Association (ALA)].” Additionally, “[the] number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% over the previous year, accounting for about 46% of all book challenges in 2023; school libraries saw an 11% increase over 2022 numbers.”
During the first eight months of 2024, the OIF tracked challenges to 1,128 unique titles — which is slightly less than the challenges to unique titles during the same period in 2023, but more than the number during the same period in 2020. Keep in mind that everyone (including people and organizations challenging books and library materials and service) had a lot on their minds during 2020 and that a title is counted in a separate bucket after the initial challenge (i.e., it is no longer “unique”). Statistics also indicate that material “representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals made up 47% of those targeted in censorship attempts.”
Since the OIF tracks challenges via reports from library professionals and news stories published in the United States, the ALA warns that not all challenges are reported and, therefore, they only provide a snapshot of censorship. That snapshot (as they call it) includes an annual “Top 10 Most Challenged Books,” which lists the titles and authors, number of challenges for each book, the reasons why each book has been challenged, and a “Book Résumé” link to Unite Against Book Bands. Each book résumé page includes a brief description of the book; a link to report a challenge; and a link to a pdf with a more detailed synopsis, recommended age range(s), reviews, awards, and information about title-related censorship.
“Additionally, instances of soft censorship, where books are purchased but placed in restricted areas, not used in library displays, or otherwise hidden or kept off limits due to fear of challenges illustrate the impact of organized censorship campaigns on students’ and readers’ freedom to read. In some circumstances, books have been preemptively excluded from library collections, taken off the shelves before they are banned, or not purchased for library collections in the first place.”
— quoted from the “Book Ban Data” page on the American Library Association website
If you check out the Top 10 list, you might find some things objectionable. You might find subjects that don’t interest you and/or books that don’t want to read. To which, I would respectfully say, then don’t read them. You might also find subjects and/or books that don’t want to read your children to read — and, as a parent, you have the right to say that you don’t want to read your children to read something. However, since the 2024 Banned Books Week theme is “Freed Between the Lines” — which is described as “an observance of the freedom we find in the pages of books and the need to defend that freedom from censorship” — and as many people in the United States look at censorship as a First Amendment issue, allow me to point out three things:
- If you consider this a First Amendment issue (related any and all aspects of the First Amendment), then others are entitled to the same rights as you and vice versa.
- Parents have the right and the responsibility to do what they think is best for their children; however, to actually do what is best, parents must consider the ramifications of their decisions. In other words, just as you might consider how the presence of something affects children, consider how the absence might affect them.
- The titles and services being challenged reflect the stories of people whose experiences may be different from yours. If you are a member of a majority group and you are objecting to someone else’s story, ask yourself why.
Actually, anyone can benefit from asking themselves why they object to someone else’s story.
I have.
In fact, I have with a book on the Top 10 list.
Book #6 on the latest list, with 62 challenges, is a book I actively avoided reading up until my last year of college. By “actively avoided,” I mean that I read everything by the author that I could get my hands on — except this one particular book. Keep in mind that I had read other books (even other books by this author) that included the same topics for which this book is often challenged. But this book, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, hit a little too close to home. It didn’t hit close to home because I had experienced the horrific and tragic abuse that one person inflicted on Pecola Breedlove — thankfully, I have not personally had those experiences. No, I avoided the book, because I knew it would make me take a closer look at myself and the world in which we live.
Who is to say what would have happened if I had read the book at an earlier age and/or if I had read it outside of school? What I can say is that reading the book ultimately gave me a better understanding of the world and why people (myself included) sometimes think the things we think, say the things we say, and do the things we do.
Taking a deeper look at ourselves as a world, as a country, and/or as a person is not always easy. In fact, it can be really hard, challenging, and messy. It can require the assistance of others. However, sometimes doing the hard, challenging, and messy stuff is what we need to do in order to end the pain and suffering that comes from being out of alignment.
“And all of our beauty, which was hers first and which she gave us. All of us—all who knew her—felt so wholesome after we cleaned ourselves on her. We were so beautiful when we stood astride her ugliness. Her simplicity decorated us, her guilt sanctified us, her pain made us glow with health, her awkwardness made us think we had a sense of humor. Her inarticulateness made us believe we were eloquent. Her poverty kept us generous. Even her waking dreams we used—to silence our own nightmares…. We hones our egos on her, padded our characters with her frailty, and yawned in the fantasy of our strength.
And fantasy it was, for we were not strong, only aggressive; we were not free, merely licensed; we were not compassionate, we were polite; not good, but well behaved. We courted death in order to call ourselves brave, and hid like thieves from life. We substituted good grammar for intellect; we switched habits to simulate maturity; we rearranged lies and called it truth….”
— quoted from The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
NOTE: Click here (or below) for the Dorothy Miles poem “To A Deaf Child.”
“as you. Go in and in
and turn away from
nothing that you find.”
— quoted from the poem “Go In and In” by Danna Faulds
If you are struggling, thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is a new app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
### VOTING IS A WAY TO BE HEARD ###
Holchaj yIjatlh. (“Speak in their language.”) [a post-practice Monday post with excerpts] August 20, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Depression, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Life, Movies, Music, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Science, TV, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Alexander Courage, American Sign Language, ASL, BSL British Sign Language, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Dorothy Miles, Dot Miles, French Sign Language, Gene Rodenberry, Google Doodle, Gwenda (Wanda) Squire., Howie Seago, Jonathan Frakes, Klingon, Leo Damian, Liz Deverill, LSF, Marnie Mosiman, music, Passion/Warrior, peace, Philo T. Farnsworth, Placiau Porffor, Purple Plaque, Riva, Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, Science Fiction, sign language, sign languages, Sir Patrick Stewart, Star Trek, Television, Thomas Oglesby, universal translator, Vedas, William T. Riker, Woman/That Which Binds Them, yoga philosophy, Youmee Lee
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast (and the Second “Feast of the Saviour” in August) and/or exploring friendship, peace, freedom, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside).
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
This is a post-practice post related to the practice on Monday, August 19th. The 2024 prompt question was, “What is a television show that you previously and/or currently watch that informs (or informed) your world view?” This post contains spoilers (in the last paragraph before the excerpts) related to a 1989 television show. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“Captain’s log, supplemental. We are holding position pending the arrival of Admiral Haftel from Starfleet Research. Commander Data is completing his final neural transfers to the android he has named Lal which I have learned, in the language Hindi, means beloved.”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “The Offspring” – (season 3, episode 16, aired March 12, 1990), voiced by Sir Patrick Stewart (OBE) as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
As noted in the posts excerpted at the end of this post, August 19th is the anniversary of the birth of birth Philo T. Farnsworth (b. 1906) and Gene Roddenberry (b. 1901). The former was an American inventor who revolutionized television; the latter revolutionized what we watch on television. In previous years, a couple of obvious thematic elements from the August 18th practice extended into the August 19th practice: the idea of exploring space(s) and the benefits of exploring and encountering different cultures. However, there was an underlying element that I never really emphasized (in either class): languages.
Sure, I often reference the fact that our minds and bodies communicate in the language of sensation and I have been known to joke that, in the absence of a universal translator, we have to study that language of sensation. But, I never really got into the fact that people can’t really “have their say” if they are speaking in a language that is not understood. Nor did I really get into the fact that television exposed more people to more languages and that certain television shows and movies (like those in the Star Trek franchise) exposed more people to the importance of speaking other languages — specifically, the respect that is communicated when we literally and figuratively/physically “Holchaj yIjatlh. (Speak in their language).”
This oversight is super ironic when you consider how much I love languages and how often I talk about shabda (“word”), which is the power “to give a form to sound, assign meaning to each segment of sound, and to store both sound and meaning in memory….[and] the capacity to communicate both sound and its meaning to others. We also have the capacity to give a visual form to each segment of sound and the meaning associated with it.” Furthermore, I often point out that shabda is also the power related to visual words, i. e., written words, symbols, and sign language. However, it wasn’t until I saw the Google Doodle dedicated to Dorothy “Dot” Miles (née Squire) that I started to think about the limitations of universal translators in the Star Trek franchise… and, since we’re being real, in their current day iterations.1
“Her sister Gwenda (Wendy) wrote about her birth…, ‘I remember the day Dorothy was born and I knew exactly how she got there! The Irwin’s van brought her along with the groceries….’”
— quoted from “A Word from the Miles Estate” – provided to the Google site by the Dorothy Miles Estate, written by Liz Deverill (Dorothy’s niece)
Born in Holywell, Flintshire, Wales on August 19, 1931, Dorothy “Dot” Miles (née Squire) was a Welsh poet and activist in the Deaf community. She contracted meningococcal (also known as cerebrospinal) meningitis and lost her hearing when she was 8 years old. Even though she was the youngest of five (surviving children), born in a small market town in Wales, she was able to attend the Royal School for the Deaf (now known as Seashell Trust) in Stockport, Greater Manchester, North West England, and the Mary Hare School in Newbury, Berkshire, England. When she was 25, a British non-profit’s scholarship enabled her to attend Gallaudet College in Washington, D. C. — and it was there that her early love of music, theatre, and words really shined.
In addition to being a member of the Gallaudet’s honor society (as a junior) and being listed in the 1961 edition of “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities,” Dot Miles edited student magazines, wrote prize-winning poetry and prose, won prizes for her acting, and got married (and separated). She also wrote Gallaudet’s “Bison Song” and a poem called “Language for the Eye” — which inspired the 2024 Google Doodle illustrated by Korean American storyteller Youmee Lee (who is also deaf). After graduating with her bachelor’s degree and working as a teacher and counselor for deaf adults, Ms. Miles joined the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD), in 1967, where she worked in wardrobe and as a script translator. She also wrote poetry (for deaf and hearing audiences) and worked with NTD’s Little Theatre of the Deaf, which produced shows for children and teenagers. She eventually attended Connecticut College — where she wrote her Master’s thesis about deaf theatre in the United States — and then (briefly) moved to Los Angeles.
When she returned to the UK, in 1977, Dot Miles started working in television. She worked with Open Door, which was produced by the BBC’s Community Programme Unit, and performed her poem “Language for the Eye” on the May 10, 1979, episode presented by National Union of the Deaf. She also helped develop the BBC’s See Hear series and, along with Terry Ruane (who also lost his hearing due to a childhood bout of some form of meningitis) wrote specials for the series. In addition to her work in the arts, Dot Miles worked with the British Deaf Association (BDA), helped establish the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) and compiled teaching manuals and a BDA dictionary.
After her death, people near and dear to her formed the Dorothy Miles Cultural Centre, now known as Dot Sign Language, which “continues to bridge the gap between the Deaf and the hearing world…. [and] is dedicated to raising both Deaf awareness and the profile of BSL as a language in its own right.” In honor of Dot Miles and her work, the seaside resort town of Rhyl (in Flintshire) placed a Purple Plaque (Welsh: Placiau Porffor) on the poet’s childhood home (in April 2024), declaring her one of the “Menywod Nodedig Yng Nghymru / Remarkable Women of Wales.”
“…people meet and part.
The word becomes the action in this language of the heart.”
— quoted from the English translation of the poem “Language for the Eye” by Dorothy Miles
As far as I can tell, Dot Miles was a polyglot who knew four languages: Welsh, English, British Sign Language (BSL), and American Sign Language (ASL). Since she was interested in languages and theatre — and in sharing her poetry with people who used different languages — it would not surprise me to learn that she knew about the hundreds of other sign languages and dialects (even if she didn’t know them). There are, in fact, about 300 sign languages used around the world. This includes some (but not all) language families, like the French Sign Language Family, and the languages therein — like French Sign Language, Italian Sign Language, Quebec Sign Language, American Sign Language, Irish Sign Language, Russian Sign Language, Dutch Sign Language (NGT), Spanish Sign Language, Mexican Sign Language, Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS), Catalan Sign Language, Ukrainian Sign Language, Austrian Sign Language (along with its twin Hungarian Sign Language and its offspring Czech Sign Language) and others. That estimate also includes some (but not all) dialects and some village languages, as well as some Deaf-community and school languages. I am not sure if that estimate includes any speech-taboo languages2; but, suffice to say, there are a lot of sign languages. And, knowing one does not mean that you can use the other; any more than knowing one romance language means you can completely understand another.
And, getting back to my earlier point, the universal translators in Star Trek do not translate sign language.
“WOMAN: Precisely. Our way of communicating has developed over the centuries and its one that I find quite harmonious.
PICARD: Then Riva the mediator —
WOMAN: Is deaf.
PICARD: Deaf?
WOMAN: Born, and hope to die.
PICARD: And the three of you speak for him?
CHORUS: Yes.
SCHOLAR: We serve as translators. We convey not only his thoughts, but his emotional intent as well. I am the Scholar. I represent the intellect, and speak in matters of judgement, philosophy, logic. Also, I am the dreamer, the part that longs to see the beauty beyond the truth which is always the first duty of art. I am the poet who —
ADONIS: Artists, they tend to ramble, neglect the moment. I am passion, the libido. I am the anarchy of lust, the romantic and the lover. I am also the warrior, the perfect line which never wavers.
WOMAN: I am that which binds all the others together. I am harmony, wisdom, balance.
PICARD: Remarkable. And so these —
(Riva steps forward, angry)
SCHOLAR: Speak to me!
PICARD: What?
SCHOLAR: Speak directly to me.
PICARD: The uniqueness of this presentation provoked this inadvertent breach in protocol. No insult was intended.
SCHOLAR: Then none is perceived.”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “Loud as a Whisper” – (season 2, episode 5, aired January 9, 1989), conversation between Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Sir Patrick Stewart, OBE), Riva (played by Howie Seago), and the Chorus (played by Marnie Mosiman as Woman/That Which Binds Them, Thomas Oglesby as Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, and Leo Damian as Passion/Warrior)
While the universal translators in Star Trek only translate spoken languages — and, even then, only “known” languages — a sign language is a very important plot element in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode entitled, “Loud as a Whisper.” The episode features Riva, a peace negotiator/ambassador who is deaf and so good at his job that (prior to this episode) the Klingons added a new word to their vocabulary: peacemaker. Riva knows a sign language, however, he travels with his own personal Greek chorus who are connected to him telepathically. They are known as “the scholar, the warrior, and that which binds them [woman].” SPOILER ALERT: When something happens to the Riva’s chorus, someone has to step in to learn the sign language — because, again, the universal translators only work with spoken words.
More importantly, communication needs to be as seamless as possible in order to negotiate peace.
Click on the excerpt titles below for the 2020 post and the 2023 note related to Philo T. Farnsworth and Gene Roddenberry.
“RIKER: So none of the background which we have provided would be helpful in understanding why they continue to fight?
SCHOLAR: The portfolio will indicate that the conflict is over a piece of land, or wealth, or some other tangible asset. But we both know that is not the case.
RIKER: They’ve been at war for so long, it has become personal.
SCHOLAR: Exactly. The basis for peace must also be personal….”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “Loud as a Whisper” – (season 2, episode 5, aired January 9, 1989), conversation between First Officer William T. Riker (played by Jonathan Frakes), Riva (played by Howie Seago), and the Chorus (played by Thomas Oglesby as Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, Marnie Mosiman as Woman/That Which Binds Them, and Leo Damian as Passion/Warrior)
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
The “Courage filled” playlist used in previous years is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08192020 To Boldly Go with Courage”]
PLAYLIST NOTE: The YouTube playlist includes an interview with Gene Roddenberry and the Dorothy Miles poem “Language for the Eye” (which is also below).
NOTES:
1 Google Translate and related apps are the closest things we (currently) have to a universal translator. Obviously, they do not allow us to hear someone else’s words as if they are speaking in the language of our choice; however, they can be voice activated and can play a recording of words typed (or pasted) into the app. There are apps that translate (into and out of) a variety of sign languages — however, they are not standard to (i.e., built into) cell phones like Google Translate and the iPhone’s Translate.
2 According to Wikipedia, speech-taboo languages “are developed by the hearing community and only used secondarily by the deaf.”
Dorothy Miles struggled with her mental health. Sadly, she was not able to receive help when she needed it most. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is a new app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
CORRECTION & 2024 UPDATE: There are currently twelve Star Trek television series, thirteen feature films (with additional ones already in development or production), an extensive collection of books, games, and toys – not to mention college curriculum and language courses.
A Joyful Practice 