In January, I had the great privilege of speaking with Sudanese Political Scientist, Professor Muddhathir 'Abd al-Rahim. Born in 1932, Ad-Damar, Sudan, Mr. 'Abd al-Rahim studied Political Science at the University of Khartoum after which, he won a scholarship to further his studies at the University of Nottingham. This path eventually led him to become a Professor of Political Science and Islamic Studies teaching in universities around the world including; Temple university in Philadelphia USA, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco, Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, the International University of Africa in Khartoum, Sudan and, the University of Manchester where in 1964 he hosted a speech given by Malcom X, a year before to his death. During his illustrious career, he became the head of the human rights programme at the Islamic University in Malaysia and made significant contributions to the field of human rights overall. Personally, I feel honoured to have explored so many thought-provoking subjects with such an extraordinary mind. Amongst the topics discussed were; the role art and culture plays in making political change, the works of the incredible Pakistani poet, Allama Iqbal and Mr. Abd al-Rahim's unforgettable meeting with Malcolm X in 1964. I hope you enjoy. SM: Can you tell me about your early work including your upbringing? MAR: I have worked around the world and in many countries. In the US, a few years in England, in Manchester for five or six years. In Sudan of course but then as a result of the instability that's been going on for years, I had to leave. After 23 years in Malaysia, I decided to go back to Sudan. You hear in the news of a lot of violence. My house that I had built, including some nice memorable photographs but also very importantly, some twenty thousand books, were gutted by the violence and that is why I'm back in Malaysia. SM: So that's something I did want to speak to you about. Was that violence personal to you or the general violence? MAR: Well, the general violence is actually generated by people supported by one Arab country, the Emirates. That's right and there are some others. I'm sure you've picked up the news. SM: As a Political scientist, would you say that you were an activist yourself? MAR: Activist in what sense? Sometimes activism means you are not interested in ideas. I'm very much interested in ideas. Well things like philosophy, generally speaking. For example the works of Bertrand Russell. The works he has written attract me very much and I find very interesting. Anyway, there is no end to knowledge. Different types of knowledge; some artistic, others reflective, philosophical if you like, and so on. And maybe if you have read 'Imperialism and Nationalism in the Sudan', you’ll find a few references that are significant in the chapter about the rise of Sudanese nationalism. On what languages in the world today are used by people who want to be educated in anything almost and, also the historical heritage and what we should care for in that heritage and, what we may leave for specialists. SM: So when you say activism and you are interested in ideas, what would the alternative be? MAR: Well, some activists are usually engaged in organising or mobilising, the demonstrations for instance, against the Israelis and what they've been doing in the occupied territories of Palestine. Yes. It's not about doing the reverse, but both of them, you can say are activists. SM: Right. Okay. And how do you feel about that side of activism from a personal perspective? MAR: Well, may I turn that question to you? SM: No, I asked first (laughing). I do attend protests and personally, I feel it's about sending a message. I believe that it's the voice of the people on the ground. I still believe that it does carry some weight, so that's just my opinion. But I'm with you as well. I also strongly believe in ideas and, preserving culture and sharing. I think my passion really is about sharing the beauty and the heritage of these cultures, and talking about what is being lost from a deeper sense. Which is why I'm researching history as part of my work as well, because I don't think you can study culture, heritage, and art without contextualising it and learning the history. MAR: You’re right. Absolutely right. Yes. May I ask your nationality. You are British or English? SM: I’m British born but my parents are both from Pakistan. MAR: Do you know the language used there in Pakistan today? SM: Yes, I'm fluent in Urdu. MAR: Are you familiar with people like Iqbal and Shiqwa? SM: Yes absolutely. Very important figure. I've been to Allama Iqbals tomb in Pakistan. He's also studied in the Middle East I think, as well as Pakistan. MAR: Oh, yes. He is greatly respected and his works were translated ages ago into Arabic. SM: Yes. So let me pose that question back to you then about activism. So I've answered from my perspective. What’s yours? MAR: Well, I think in so far as it means having a point of view about, thinking about issues of importance. Then deciding what is worthy of being pursued and what is not so important. That kind of preliminary classification is important. Some things are important sometimes not because of the uses of practical application but because of the philosophical or spiritual. Are you interested in classical music, for example, by the way? SM: I'm not an expert on classical music. MAR: Do you enjoy Beethoven and Tchaikovsky and so on? SM: I listen to more Arabic music, if I'm honest. I love the instruments from the Arab world, like the Oud and the Qanun. So I think my passion is more Middle Eastern music. This is about you. I want to learn about you. Everything that you share is an education for me and I like to keep my mind open to everything, not just be limited to what I feel and think. So tell me more about the classical music. MAR: Oh, classical music. I'm very much interested in classical music and the theatre. When I’m in London England, I like to go to the theatre. But of course, that doesn’t mean I'm not interested in Arabic or Middle Eastern music. But these are two different things, thank goodness. SM: Please tell me about your early work. How did your work evolve and were you from an educated background? MAR: Oh yes. The town in which I was born called Ad Damer about 300 kilometres north of Khartoum has a long history going to ancient times. Nowadays, well the last five hundred or six hundred years especially, it’s known as the centre of Arabic and Islamic studies. But of course, there have been waves and waves of efforts to renew and reorient the focus on this commitment to Arabic language and literature. So the the town is quite rich and open to other influences, but not in an imitative fashion. SM: Open in what way? MAR: That we have our own culture. The origins of which we know others can place also and we are proud of that condition, but we of course know we have to live in a world nowadays, which is in many ways quite different from what it used to be before, therefore we have to try to work out a balance as it were. SM: Can you tell me about your early education? Did you study in Khartoum? MAR: Yes, first of all I learned the traditional Quranic Arabic then gradually was introduced to English language. When it came to secondary education, pre-university, there was more English. I remember for example, the children’s stories that you read at that level. We had some good English teachers, not only Sudanese teachers who knew English, but also English teachers who specialised in teaching English to Arabic speaking people. Then at university you cannot study medicine, engineering, astronomy and mathematics, all at the same time. You have to pick one or two. My choices primarily, as I mentioned were social sciences. After graduation from the University of Khartoum, I won a scholarship which enabled me to go on and study for a Political Science degree in Nottingham. I remember I enjoyed every now and then concerts that came from Barbirolli, the Italian maestro or, German musicians. Yes and sometimes of course other kinds of music. I was not particularly attracted to the culture of pop. SM: So you got a scholarship. Were you doing a Master's there, or a Doctorate? MAR: I did a BA Honors and it was first class. SM: Woo! amazing! MAR: It was the only first class, actually. SM: Of course! MAR: In political science. It was partly for this reason that when I came to applying for a post in Manchester University some years later, I could cite as referees, a number of those who’d taught me in Nottingham. There were some other factors also. I had written a few papers that were published in various journals. Professional journals, and that also helped. That reminds me of activism. Some students came around. At that time I was closer to them in age. They told me that Malcolm X will be coming to England soon, and will be giving two lectures, one in Oxford and another in Manchester. They were inviting me to introduce him. I said, well in principle i'm interested in the kind of issues for which he’s made a name but there are a few aspects of the subject which I need to discuss with him. So to see whether, for example, he believes like his mentor Elijah Muhammad that paradise is reserved for people of colour and people who are white, especially if they happen to have blue eyes, are bound to go to hellfire. They agreed that they would make an arrangement for a meeting. Over lunch, I remember it was an Indian meal and in that meeting I explained to him, are you still a sincere disciple of Elijah Muhammad with his ideas, which from my point of view are a distortion Islam and he was very charming and honest. He said, ‘I must confess that to this day and throughout my life, I will be grateful to Elijah Muhammad, because before he came to see me in prison (he was in prison for having been involved in drugs and vices of all kinds), I had no idea of Islam, but he gave me a copy of the Quran and I read the Quran’. He was very bright, by the way and he said that eventually, ‘I am obliged to him. Your people’, he was addressing me, that is why I thought he was very courageous and frank. ‘Yes, the Muslims of the old world, whether they are Asians or African etc, they had not come to tell us what real Islam is. I had to discover that for myself gradually.’ And he even told the famous story about how he was invited to go on Hajj and that he saw Muslims of various colours. He said 'Muslims of darker skin, darker than mine. Others were white and some of these whites had blue eyes.' We prayed together, we ate together, we slept together, we snored together. He had a sense of humour. Maybe, you know, that he dictated his memoirs which we published just a few months after he passed away. Anyway, after this talk, I said ‘okay, I'll be very happy indeed to introduce you and this is a pleasure’. By the way, if you have been to Manchester, the largest road used for graduation ceremonies and also for the annual balls was packed full of professors, other teachers, students, guests from outside the university and he proceeded to talk. People were captivated. I must say that I have heard many speakers speak who are extremely eloquent and charming and informative but he definitely was, gifted. He was way above many, whether it was speaking in Arabic or Urdu, Farsi, or in English. And he had a sense of humour also. There were many photographers from the newspapers and they took many pictures and they asked the audience and that was a bit of a drama. ‘You know, why they're taking so many photos?', Malcolm X said. ‘Because sometimes I’m talking about little things that make me angry and I show my anger. I don't hide that. But they will take that and then publish it in the newspapers you see, the man, the devil himself.' It was a very unforgettable occasion. Before we were able to leave the room, there were dozens of students, some professors, and the guests from outside who wanted him to give autographs. On a book, football, racket, whatever. Yes, people were charmed by him, absolutely. I remember walking out after about an hour of this business of autographs. I looked at him, and he was a tall man, six foot plus, very strong physically and very strong personality. I said to him with his big hand in by hand, ‘please take care. Look after yourself. Yes, be careful.’ And he understood exactly what I was thinking of. So he said, 'well, you know brother, dear brother’, I remember he said, ‘I know that back home we have violence across the board and sooner or later these wicked people will get me but I’m not afraid to meet my lord, my creator.’ So we had a proper goodbye, and then I went back to Sudan. I remember February, March the following year, 65 that was. And then one day, as I was returning home from the university, I remember I had a bicycle in these days. Yes, as soon as I arrived, my wife was preparing lunch and came carrying the radio, mobile radio with the sad news that Malcolm X had indeed been shot. Yes. In one of the places, I think it was New York. I can't remember exactly now. SM: I think it was New York. I've read his book. MAR: You read his book? SM: Yes. I read his book as a teenager actually, so over 25 years ago. And actually, I read all about your meeting with him, and I read that it was a restaurant called the Bombay and it was in 1964. And, he died in 65. I'm a huge Malcolm X fan, if you could call it that. I did follow his journey from the Nation of Islam and then to more sort of, what's the word, Sunni Islam. And when he went on Hajj. Incredible. But to hear you talk about it is absolutely beautiful, so thank you. I don't actually know how old Malcolm X was when he died. He probably was in his thirties, I imagine. MAR: Thirties, I think. So, You know about his father and his mother? Do you know these white racists at the time would really stopped at nothing. His father was a Christian preacher, like so many today in the coloured community in the U.S, but he was burnt alive by some of these racists. Malcolm X's mother, his father's wife, of course, went mad as a result. Lost her minds sensibilities and was put in an asylum for the rest of her life. So it was a very tough life that he lived, and his parents before. Apart from all this, in my world: political science, I was interested in people like Plato. Aristotle. At times, the various political thinkers including Karl Marx, Rousseau and even more recently, the remarkable developments which ended the Soviet Union, giving up standing for Marxism. I don't know whether that interests you or not, SM: It does but I want to ask you about people like Ibn Arabi. MAR: Well, Ibn Arabi is very interesting for me. A lot different from what we've been talking about in the last ten minutes or so but this is closer to the tradition of the community in Sudan, where I grew up of course, because he was a Muslim. But he was a Muslim of a very interesting perspective on the rest of the world. Not inconsistent with Islam. Maybe you remember his beautiful lines where he speaks about beauty. Beauty of various kinds always appealing and enriching and refining the human soul. Sometimes you find this kind of beauty in mosques. Sometimes it's in churches. Sometimes you find it in temples other than the three religions; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. SM: I guess Ibn Arabi would've been more philosophical rather than political, would you say so? MAR: He was not interested in politics. By the way, what you're saying takes me back to one of the papers I've written about love in the holy Quran. It is in Arabic. I presented it as a member of the The Jordanian Royal Academy, not many years ago but it has become quite popular by itself. In it, I refer to Ibn Arabi, that is why I'm now mentioning it to you. SM: Yes. You wrote one about Al Ghazali as well. MAR: Oh yes indeed. He was a great philosopher. A great, what do you say ethicist. And he wrote a book about philosopher Aristotle. A hundred years later, another Muslim, world famous to this day among Islamists and others who are interested in history, cultural history, indigenous history of Europe is Ibn Rushd, Averroes. He wrote a book about the failure, the critique of Al Ghazali’s book, which had been written a hundred years before. Averroes of course, was very important in the context of the Renaissance in Europe, in Muslim Spain and it was Muslim for 800 years. He was very important for the Renaissance generally. Sciences that Muslims developed, mathematics, astronomy, algebra, medicine and to this day, are appreciated by specialists. I'm sorry, i'm dragging you across paths which may not be of immediate interest. SM: No, it is of absolute interest. You have no idea. This is like medicine for my soul. MAR: You are kind. SM: No, I'm genuine. This is such an honour. I mean for me, sometimes I feel very alone, particularly in where I'm located. There are not many people you can share with. And so it's an absolute pleasure to speak to you and to be able to share this. Thank you. I've been to Cordoba, the Alhambra palace, various places in Andalusia.  I adore Moorish Spain, and fascinated by what the Islamic world achieved there. That's why I have a love for Ibn Arabi. So, Mr. Muddathir, if I was to ask you as a young person today, how do you navigate what is going on now. It's very easy to get derailed. How can you make change in the world and not get derailed? MAR: Well, of course, it depends on the social context of where you are living and then proceeding from there. I imagine inviting people for more discussions at the beginning is very important and of course, they have to continue talking. Talking is absolutely indispensable. Important that ideas of any kinds are discussed. SM: Yes but then what do you do with those ideas? MAR: Well, that is one of the things that you have to agree upon. To be effective in life, you have to act in conjunction with others. You cannot be single handed. You can be a leader in a group but the group is important for social action. SM: Would you say that you've worked alone most of your life or worked in a group context? MAR: So far as my life as a professor or university lecturer is concerned, others were always involved and I guess as I was involved in many others lives and that continues to be the case. In fact, about two hours ago before you called, one of my former students from Malaysia that I taught in America, in Philadelphia, in the eighties came to visit me. He wanted me to join hands with him and his colleagues in discussing certain types of ideas. SM: So what's the future for you? What are you currently working on? Or are you working or just relaxing, which I'm sure you very much deserve. MAR: Well to be truthful to you now, i’m watching a program on television. While the fifth symphony by Beethoven is being played, I'm following what you are saying and also moved a little bit by what I can hear. And the actions of people and on people's faces. SM: Amazing. So, what role do you think arts and culture plays in social change? MAR: Oh, they're very important because they sort of popularise ideas or positions. Political positions for example and make them more real for people, For example, now I can see some of the members of the audience tearful, wiping tears off their eyes. Yes. cheeks. This is not always the best way to express oneself, but, it is such a thing when it happens spontaneously. Don't you think so? SM: I, a hundred percent agree. I think they are a vital ingredient for wellbeing as well as for the human spirit to express itself. This has been beautiful. I want to thank you so much for giving me this time. So that was my time spent with Mr. Abd al-Rahim. It's not often that we get to cross paths with such people but when we do, they leave such a profound imprint on our hearts and souls. If you enjoyed this read, pls feel free to share your comments below.

A few years ago, one of my closest friends recommended a book to me about a woman who’d left her life in England to seek out a Sufi teacher in India. Sufism in case you don’t know is the spiritual dimension of Islam. Those on the path, are seeking a deeper connection with the divine and this is to be done through the annihilation of the ego. Bearing witness to this lady’s souls evolution stirred something inside of me whilst also providing a space in which I felt safe and connected to. Along the path, she made references to several poets, writers and psychologists whom I myself admired or went away and researched. One of them being Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung, born in 1875. I had explored Jung’s teachings whilst developing my work as a coach and mentor. Jung taught that much of our outer experiences are influenced by our early childhood experiences, culture, society and ancestry. That we wear a ‘mask’ concealing our true self and to feel free and self actualize, we must make the unconscious (shadow), conscious. I was under the impression that his ideas were solely western but much to my surprise, I learned he was very much influenced by eastern mysticism including the work of Andalusian Muslim scholar, mystic, poet and philosopher, Ibn Arabi, who was extremely influential during the golden age of Sufism in the twelfth century. Ibn Arabi coined the term ‘Al-Insān al-Kāmil’; the perfect human: attaining oneness with the divine by letting go of one’s egos desires. This whole experience was quite a revelation as the Sufi work which included art, architecture, literature, poetry, psychology, philosophy and, spirituality, was leading me back to my own Islamic roots. I felt as though my life was going full circle. I began my professional life in the creative industries as a designer in the fashion industry. After a decade and a half in this career, I experienced a huge internal shift and started my own business in wellbeing and personal development, never however leaving behind the creativity. Alongside, there’d been a number of projects relating to mental health, social change and justice. This work I never intended to do but based on how life and my spiritual evolution unfolded, it attracted me and I attracted it. In the present, my exploration of Islamic heritage, art and culture pulls the different strands of my work together in a much deeper, profound and richer capacity. I never thought I would find a spiritual tradition that placed so much importance on beauty, yet it was under my feet all along. In addition, I also feel that when much of the Islamic world is either suffering due to war and famine, is often misrepresented in the mainstream or subscribing to generic one dimensional global commercial ideas, I feel passionate about sharing the depth of the heritage, legacy, and beauty left in the world by this community. Although I speak about more recent years, my interest in Islamic art and heritage on a more ‘conscious’ level, began in the year 2000 during a family trip to Lahore, Pakistan. We visited Shalimar Baag, a Mughal garden and palace commissioned in 1641 by Emperor Shah Jahan. I was so enthralled by it that, on my return, I decided to write my dissertation for my BA on ‘The exploration of Hindu and Islamic decorative motifs and symbols in Mughal Architecture and Art’. Since then, this passion led me to visit many more Islamic architectural sights, including the Alhambra Palace and Mezquita in, Spain, Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Ben Youssef Madrasa in Marrakesh, and Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Oman. In more recent years, I’ve developed a deep love for Islamic history overall as I don’t believe you can truly understand culture, heritage, and art without contextualising it and learning the history. I regularly attend online lectures by AFSACK; American Friends of Sufi Arts and Culture. The latest one covered The Poetics of Architecture: Existence, Silence, and Solitude. In May 2023, I translated my research into a live Sufi music and poetry event, coproduced at a local art gallery in Derby. The event was based on the aesthetics of Ottoman palaces and Moorish Spain. I gave a talk on Sufism, followed by people sharing their chosen Sufi poems. We then discussed our thoughts and feelings around the topic, ending with a meditation where I recited Jaladdin Rumi’s poem, ‘Lose yourself’. I've been immersed in this beautiful world, exploring early Islamic scriptures and music in West Africa and poetry from Persia, Andalusia and South Asia. My current collaboration with photographer Lianne Foye is a very self indulgent project where I wanted to recreate images which almost resemble a peaceful, dream-like state inspired by Persian love poetry. I adore the Arabic language, the sound, and the beauty of the written word which I will share soon through my lino print artworks. Whatever our own truth is, we should live that. I’ve always followed my heart doing work which gives me joy. This work is a manifestation of the romance and sensuality that resides inside my soul. I hope it gives you as much pleasure to witness as it does for me to create. Saima x

I've been reflecting on my life of late. I'm a reflector, a contemplative soul, it's how I roll. I like to have these periodic check-ins. Life MOTs, you could call them. Sometimes through choice and sometimes necessity. This particular reflective period bought up a memory from March 2021. I was interviewing the American Bellydancer Sadie Marquardt for my podcast 'The Trailblazers Journey'. I asked Sadie, 'what has Bellydance given you in your life?'. Sadie replied so eloquently, 'Bellydance has decorated my life'. 'Wow, what a profound way of seeing things' I thought. Upon reflecting on my own life, which I feel has been quite an adventure so far, I feel that World Arts and Culture has done exactly the same. I can't pinpoint where or when my love of World Arts and Culture began. Maybe from inside the womb jamming to my parents Bollywood and Qawwali music?! Yeah man! All I know is that without it, my life would have been nowhere as rich and expansive. If you've read my previous content, you've probably gathered by now, i'm a highly sensitive being. If it's not enough to feel my own 'stuff', I feel everyone else's too (dammit!). Alongside my highly sensitive'ness', a curious mind and, not following the ‘script’ are also character traits. I’ve always tried to follow my heart, even at the expense of going against others expectations, societal norms and feeling alone. This curiosity and thirst for knowledge I have, is definitely a part of my genetic makeup as I see it in my father, 'Thanks dad, you got that one right (thumbs up emoji). I remember at secondary school and university, when my peers were out partying, and seeking out romantic experiences, I was hiding in my bedroom; my little cocoon, reading books. Partly because I wasn't allowed to go out (goes with the territory of growing up as a Muslim, Pakistani girl in the 80's and 90's). Books though, were the gateway to other worlds. Other worlds that I wanted to taste, smell and immerse myself in. Books have always been a huge feeder of my curiosity. I read Arundhati Roys 'The God of Small Things' based in the lush backwaters of Kerala, in my teenage years. I recently read it again and Mamachi's pickle factory came pouring back into my mind. Other books that have since satiated this hunger for culture have been Khaled Husseini's Afghanistan based, 'The Kite Runner'. Ala al-Aswany's 'The Yacoubian Building' set in Egypt and, Elif Shafak's 'Forty Rules of Love' set in Konya, Turkey. Ok, so let's fast forward to after graduation. Up until this point, I'd been feeding my curiosity through books (which I still do), and some music (mostly CD's and TV) but once I had autonomy over my own life, as well as being situated in one of the worlds cultural capitals: London, things began to change drastically. I ventured to London a very naive Pakistani girl from Derby. At a time when it was not the done thing in the Pakistani community to leave your parents nest to pursue a 'career', especially one in the creative industries. Many girls were married off soon after finishing school and I don't take it lightly that this was not a part of my destiny. I'm grateful that my parents recognised my passion for Art and Design and allowed me to pursue it further. London I arrived in London to begin and develop my career as a Textiles Designer in the Fashion Industry after getting head hunted at my degree show. I was twenty two years of age. I had no friends or family in London but what I did have was curiosity and an appetite for adventure and so, during the week I worked in a design studio and at weekends, I explored. Taking myself off to markets, art galleries, museums, the theatre, cinema's, food markets and restaurants all over the capital. My first live music gig was at the iconic Jazz Cafe in Camden Town. A friend took me to see Lynden David Hall, an incredibly talented musician who's sadly no longer with us. His album which I have on CD (yes Gen Z's!) called 'medicine 4 my pain', was exactly that. A cathartic soulful work of art that has the ability reach the depths of internal chaos and provide calm. It was a very intimate gig and one that I feel blessed to have experienced. This was the beginning of my love for live music and culture. I'm going to pause here for a second and come back to this..... Something I wish i'd had the opportunity to do as a child is learned how to dance. It is in our primal nature to dance but I mean to develop and hone a style technically. South Asian parents in the 80's/90's, who were pro education and academia focussed, did not really value extra curricula's . Better late than never though, so around ten months into living in London I sought out a Bellydance class in Fulham. The Arabic music, language and culture in particular, I found so sensual and seductive and something which had been foreign to me up until this point. It's no wonder colonisers were enamoured by it. Following the beginning of my lifelong love affair with Bellydance, I started attending evening classes to learn the language. Unfortunately I didn't get very far but I did come away with a beautiful friendship that would last for over fifteen years. A story for another day. In 2006, I attended a festival in Regents Park, called Salaam. Here I saw artists from all over the Islamic World performing an array of cultural musical styles. The festival included artists from Morocco, Egypt, China, Sudan, Turkey, Palestine, Afghanistan, Senegal, Iraq, Indonesia, Yemen and Pakistan. My mind and world were now exponentially opening up. I found a huge crossover between this music and Bellydance because the styles from some regions were the same. Bellydance gave me in the physical world, what books had given me mentally. Access to a rich, colourful, vibrant world. I started attending Hafla's (Arabic parties), festivals, Arabic clubs. I began to learn the differences in dance styles from different parts of the world; Khaleeji, Romany, Tribal, oriental. I started meeting all sorts of interesting people. I fell in love with Middle Eastern and North African food. I even taught the dance for a while. This passion for Bellydance is still with me today and gives me an access to a part of myself that I love and where I find freedom. Alongside being immersed in my Bellydance world, I was exploring other Art forms. I loved going to the historical Jazz venue in Soho; Ronnie Scotts. I saw Cedar Walton, Roy Ayers, Charlie Watts and Deodato there. I frequented Notting Hill Carnival, the Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican, Shepherds Bush Empire, O2 Arena, The National Theatre, Ministry of Sound, Tate Modern, National Portrait Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts and The Design Museum, all in the pursuit of excellent art, music and rich cultural experience. I saw Asha Bhosle, Sami Yusuf, Outlandish, Talvin Singh, Prince, Chaka Khan, Atif Aslam, A R Rahman, John Legend, M.I.A, Mary J Blige, Akram Khan Dance Company, Anoushka Shankar, MC Solaar, Rachid Taha, Xhosa Cole, Tinariwen, James Brown, DJ's Donn Letts and Norman Jay, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Courtney Pine, Zoe Rahman, The Turbans, the list goes on and on..... Life i've realised, occurs in phases and London was a huge phase in my life. One that laid valuable foundations and shaped me massively. In 2016, I made the decision to leave London after fourteen years, and move back to the city in which I grew up. It wasn't a decision I could have dreamed of making even a year prior to this but at the time it felt right. Necessary for the direction in which my life was going. If I compare the naive Pakistani girl who arrived in London to the one that left, the difference in confidence and life experience cannot be compared. The next phase The next phase which took place in Derby, initially involved a lot of introspection and retreat from the world. I was at a crossroads in my life where change was on the horizon. Spiritual change, that was manifesting in the physical world. I was getting to know myself in a different capacity. I was older. I'd seen 'a lot' and the next few years would involve piecing the different facets of my personality together. The highly sensitive person, the empath, the introvert, the slightly eccentric, the very eclectic, the culture vulture, the creative, the doer and go getter. The one constant was my passion for World Arts and Culture. This is how I fed my soul. Gave myself energy, became excited about life, felt 'well'. In the below photo's, you'll see me during the first few years of being in Derby. The first with Alia Al-Raqisa, professional Bellydancer from the West Midlands who I met for a one-to-one class. Anna, my beautiful friend who accompanied me to the teamLab exhibition at Derby Quad and, close friends Sally and Sameena who joined me to see homegrown Jazz musician, Helen Mcdonald. Stepping into Wellbeing and personal Development In 2016, I started my own business in the Wellbeing and Personal Development space. initially as a Personal Trainer and later completing my qualification in Performance Coaching. My business coincided with my own spiritual journey as I found that learning about my own human experience and condition, led me to study topics including psychology and spirituality. I also discovered later how intertwined these were with Art and Culture. As my business developed, I found myself wanting to go deeper in seeking knowledge and therefore felt the need to surround myself with people who I could learn from. This is what led to starting my podcast 'The Trailblazers Journey' in 2019. I spoke to people from across the world who'd blazed their own trail doing what they loved. People after my own heart. We covered entrepreneurship, World Arts and Culture, social change, spirituality, wellbeing and personal development. My guest-list included; Egemen Sanli, a World Musician originally from Turkey now residing in San Francisco. Sadie Marquadt, who I mentioned earlier, a world famous Bellydancer and incredible business woman, a hero of mine whose career i'd been following since 2010. Esraa Warda, North African Dancer, Dance Teacher and Educator. I wanted first hand insight to their stories, to learn how they thought, their struggles, their inspirations. In 2021 the podcast was shortlisted for a Creative Impact Award which 'celebrated movers and shakers who, over the last twelve months had championed the wider community by spreading messages of inclusivity and positive change.' Not only that but it marked the beginning of some beautiful friendships. When I first started my coaching business, everything that I cared about and had covered in my career so far felt disparate. The wellbeing, the spirituality, personal development, my love for beauty in design, art, architecture, music, poetry, literature and nature. I didn't quite know how it fit together and actually, whether it ever would. Was this important? It may not have been to others but it was to me because when I spoke about one, I felt as though I was neglecting another and therefore myself. All of it was equally as important. Then........something magical happened. I'd been developing an interest in Sufism for quite some time. Without knowing it, Sufism had actually been present in my life since childhood as Sufi music is an inherent part of the South Asian culture in which I grew up. However, I had no idea what Sufism really was, what it meant and how expansive it had been across the world during it's golden age from the 8th to the 13th century. In 2019, I felt called to go to The Study Society in Hammersmith, West London to take part in the event 'Rumi and friends'. Here, a group of people read poems by 13th century Persian scholar, poet, and mystic; Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi. This was followed by a whirling ceremony. Whirling being a form of physical meditation through which the dervishes (whirlers) aim to reach the source of all perfection by letting go of the ego and connecting to the divine. “Sufism is a religion of intense devotion; love is its manifestation, poetry, music and dance are the instruments of its worship and attaining oneness with the divine is its ideal”. As I delved deeper into Sufi teachings, the dots began to connect. Sufism encompassed so much that I was passionate about; wellbeing, beauty, spirituality, self love, and art. Sufism teaches that the Arts are a manifestation of the divine. When creating, we are a vessel through which the divine moves through. Sufism also talks about ego death and how shedding our egoic self allows us to reach our truer/higher self. I immersed myself in researching the spiritual teachings and the cultural differences across the world in Sufi Art. I learned about the different philosophers, mystics and poets across Andalusia, Persia, South Asia and North Africa. In May 2023, I hosted and facilitated a Community and Wellbeing Event Inspired by Sufi Music and Poetry. It was a beautifully soul enriching experience bringing the local community together where I initially gave a talk on Sufism. We then shared Sufi poems we felt a connection to and engaged in meaningful conversation, finishing with a group meditation. You can read about it here if you like. Life is so fascinating. You take one step and it leads you to the next. My passion is currently pushing me in the direction of learning more about the music and culture of North, East and West Africa which I find very spiritual. In July I went to see one of my favourite bands Tinariwen for the second time. Tinariwen founded in 1979 are a Tuareg band from Northern Mali in the Sahara. I first saw them twelve years ago at Union Chapel, London. This genre of music, sung in Tamasheq, is referred to as desert blues and is mainly driven by the electric guitar. The band are considered pioneers of this musical genre. The Tuaregs are one of the only tribes in the world who still maintain a nomadic lifestyle; people true to the earth. Their lyrics refer to their political struggle, oppression and suffering and you feel this depth in the music which captivates the soul. If this post was three times as long it wouldn't be enough to share my explorations of Arts and Culture. I've not even touched on that which i've seen on my world travels. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Shalimar Baag, a beautiful garden created during the reign of the Mughal Empire in Lahore, Pakistan. Isabella Steward Gardner Museum in Boston, USA. Le Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, Morocco. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman. Alhambra Palace in Granada and the Mezquita in Cordoba, Spain, to name a few. Also artists and designers whose work has been so inspiring to me over the years. I'll always be a creative at heart. Where I stand, there will be Art. My mind operates like an artist, wanting to paint the world with beauty and meaning. Art for me, isn't just about writing a beautiful song or creating a painting and being famed for it. How you live your life is Art. How you show up in the world is Art. Creating a beautiful meal for a loved one is Art. Crafting a beautiful home or office space is Art. A deep meaningful conversation is Art. To truly love is Art. The experience of writing this blog post has been so nostalgic. A retrospective of my life so far through the lens of World Arts and Culture. Something that's come to light as I've been writing and looking through my photo albums is, that at the centre of it has been and is, connection, community and relationships. These experiences have been shared with and bought along so many beautiful relationships. Some temporary and some longer lasting. I also feel that living with this open mindedness, has given me the ability to communicate with people from all walks of life and cultures, often without sharing a common language. I guess in this post, I want to pay homage to those relationships. If I was to conclude this post by sharing three lessons I've learned from living this way, they are: 1) Don't wait for life to change before you start living We have been conditioned to believe that certain markers in life equal success; wealth, power, recognition, marriage, children. This can be stagnating if it's what we're striving for before we feel successful and therefore happy. I've learned very painfully that the future we imagine may not manifest. We lose people we love, life circumstances change, sometimes the rug is pulled from underneath us without warning. Therefore, be present. Fill your life with moments of joy now, whatever that looks like for you. Do things which allow you to be present in the now and don't wait for the future to make you feel happy and peaceful. 3) Be inspired so you can inspire others There's a light that shines within us all. How brightly, depends on what we are experiencing. Keep an eye on this light. When I first went to London, I went through a period of working a part time job to supplement my income as a designer. My colleague Tunde would often say to me, 'Saima, don't ever let anyone steal that smile'. I have allowed my smile to be stolen many times since then but as a more awakened person now, I monitor what needs to be done to get my smile and therefore light back. Never underestimate the power of creativity and creative pursuits because it's when we lose the things we find joy in, that we lose the light. 2) Be curious I am curious by nature and it's becoming more rife with age. As i've mentioned, i've fulfilled this curiosity through learning about different cultures and subjects. I like to ask people questions. I want to know who they are and if there's one thing people love, it's being 'seen' and 'heard'. This quality has allowed me to engage in meaningful conversations and exchange ideas with different people from all over the world. When combined with my education, i've been able to understand them better and form authentic relationships which has made my life so rich. Thank you for reading. I hope that you enjoyed this post. If you have any feedback, pls pop it in the comments below, on my Instagram feed or email me at info @saimamajid.uk. Until next time :) Saima x Disclaimer: A.I. has not been used to create this article. It is all the doing of my own heart, soul, brain and hands (to type)

‘Was a stellar night, thanks again for leading it!! I am bewildered in the wake of all we discussed’ -Jarrett Smalley, Quantum Physicist- Rolls Royce In May 2023, I organised and hosted a Sufi Music and Poetry evening in Derby. I wanted to recreate an experience which would take us back in time to the beauty of the Ottoman Empire or Andalusian Spain during the golden age of Sufism. This meant taking care and paying attention to detail when designing the space and only selecting that which would tantalise the senses. From the jasmine fragrance of the incense floating through the space, the romantic palette of golds, wines, soft pinks and mauves, the patterns and textures of the cushions and rugs, the amber glow from the candles and lamps and the delectable Baklava and Turkish tea served to the guests. A local friend commented, 'It looks wonderful. Events like this used to be held regularly in Afghanistan two years ago'. I had no idea when putting this work out in the ‘modern world’, it would gain so much traction but, having had several discussions since, it seems as though, there is a yearning, particularly post COVID, for connection, community and authenticity (truth). Our environment is everything. From the aesthetic feel of a space to the people within it. Therefore it was important to set the scene and create something beautiful that people would feel cocooned and nurtured in. ‘Saima created an intimate and safe space in a local art gallery to introduce a small group of us to the principles of Sufi teaching. This was done through short talks, poetry, music and ending with a meditation. It was all very inspiring and accessible, with people able to share their experiences. All in all a very uplifting evening. Ooo and we were served some delicious masala tea and baklava!’ -Sue Alanson, World music DJ and Sculptor On the night, the space filled up with an eclectic group of individuals, diverse by age, gender, ethnic origin, vocation and life experience. Individuals with generosity of spirit. This was a dream come true for me as i'm a big believer in surrounding yourself with people from all walks of life. This opens up the mind and the heart and makes life so much richer or certainly, in my life it has. This eclecticism resulted in an alchemy where discussion and self expression transformed into awakening. One of our guests, very beautifully fed back, ‘Was a stellar night, thanks again for leading it!! I am bewildered in the wake of all we discussed’ -Jarrett Smalley, Quantum Physicist- Rolls Royce Having the Love and Starfish Art Gallery as a backdrop enhanced the experience. Talking about Art in an Artistic soulful space. I’m not quite sure what the next step in this journey is. We are being asked to run it again which we are intending on doing. For now though, I’d like to take some time for self reflection. Credits: Professional photography and videography @oh.sarah.y All other photographs taken by guests Video editing by Saima Majid and @oh.sarah.y Music~ Bahir Al Bakir, Walk from Agadir

As a child growing up in a Pakistani family, there was always Sufi music playing in our house. Sufi music, if you don't know is music devoted to the divine. In South Asia, we call it qawwali. I liked it but I didn’t ‘get it’. I had no idea then, that three decades later, this music would make complete sense to me. Although, it would take suffering to understand God, in the way the Sufi’s were referring to. That I would have to confront the darkest corners of my soul to fully appreciate what matters most in this life rather than the shallow egoic desires and insecurities that I was unconsciously functioning from. So what is Sufism? “Sufism is a religion of intense devotion; love is its manifestation, poetry, music and dance are the instruments of its worship and attaining oneness with the divine is its ideal”. Sufism known as ‘tasawwuf’ in the Muslim world originated during the 7th century. It is the inward dimension of Islam, away from worldly egoic desires. At its core lies divine love. Sufis believe that there is one God and we are not separate from it. ‘A true Sufi lives a life of presence and selfless love and makes no claims to virtue or truth’. Sufism was first practised in the ‘Hejaz’; west of Saudi Arabia which includes Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Tabuk, Yanbu, Taif and Baljurashi. It later spread throughout the Muslim world from the Balkans, Africa, South Asia to Indonesia. Beginning as a practise which was shared in small circles, and later developed into written literature. The first female Sufi, Rabiah al-Adawiyah born in 8th century, Iraq, taught the concept of selfless love. That an individual should worship God out of love rather than the fear of hell or the promise of paradise. Between the 8th and 13th Century, Sufism experienced it’s golden age and the Islamic Empire became an economic global leader in the sciences, medicine, philosophy, and the Arts. Just some of the most notable scholars, mystics and poets to have emerged during this period were Ibn Al’Arabi from Spain, Ibn al-Farid from Egypt, Farid al-Din Attar from Persia, Najmuddin Kubra in Turkmenistan, Yunis Emre in Turkey and Ibn Sina (Avicenna) from Uzbekistan. The Islamic empire welcomed diversity and different religious and ethnic communities lived side by side. Many scholars during the time were from non-Muslim backgrounds. The most well-known order in the western world was the Mevlevi order, founded in the 13th century and based on the teachings of Persian scholar, poet, and mystic; Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi. Rumi quoted by many, is one of the most read poets in the west today. It is in the Mevlevi order that Sufi whirling originated; a form of physically active meditation through which the dervish aims to reach the source of all perfection. Sufism has been practised far and wide including Mali, Senegal, Libya, Sudan, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. This has meant a rich legacy of beautiful music, art, dance, and poetry which still has, as much relevance today as it did in the time that it was created. I believe there is as much need for Sufi teachings today, than ever. In a world that is becoming increasingly fast paced, where individuals are so caught up in the system, they are losing sight of who they are. Where loneliness and isolation continue to create poorer physical and mental health. Where an emphasis on the ‘I’ takes precedence over the ‘we’. Where the yearning to be seen is so deep but overshadowed by the fear of removing the mask in case of being misunderstood, seen as weak or worse, taken advantage of. Sufism can allow for healing and purification of the self. Shared experiences of world music, poetry and art can create connection, a higher vibrational frequency, joy, optimism, and beauty. Learning about another people’s culture can allow for overcoming ‘otherness’, giving us a sense of unity rather than separateness. This is how I see Sufism playing out today. Since embarking on this journey, I have been pleasantly surprised by how much appreciation there is for Sufism in my circles. I refer to non-Muslim friends and acquaintances who are also seekers and question, rather than accept. Who see life as a gift and want to use it for the betterment of others. This has been very heartening and soul enriching. Thank you for reading this post. If you would like to share your thoughts, please feel free to email me at info@saimamjid.uk Religion of Love by Ibn Al-Arabi “My heart holds within it every form, it contains a pasture for gazelles, a monastery for Christian monks. There is a temple for idol-worshippers, a holy shrine for pilgrims; There is the table of the Torah, and the Book of the Koran. I follow the religion of Love and go whichever way His camel leads me. his is the true faith; This is the true religion.” *Pls note- everything I share comes from a place of passion. I am on my own journey and self-teaching. If you notice any errors in my writing, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Bearing in mind, some historical dates have been disputed.

There is great power in being brought to your knees by life. To the depths of despair. In becoming so lost in the abyss that you find yourself wading through the darkness trying to find the light. 'The dark night of the soul' is how this is described by 16th-century Spanish mystic and poet St. John of the Cross. 'A phase of passive purification of the spirit in the mystical development'. This is what happened to me. Without knowing it, gods plan to elevate me to a greater level of consciousness. ' The search for truth or my truth, began nine years ago...… Along the spiritual path, there were questions and BIG QUESTIONS. There was doubt, deep sadness and loneliness. A rocky road to say the least. Just when I thought I had found the answers, the rug would again be pulled from underneath me, plunging me back into the abyss. Last Ramadan, something changed drastically. Things began to make sense in a way they had not previously. The more I became submerged into my spiritual life, the more sensitive I became to external noise. I no longer felt the urge to be visible. My ego very slowly stopped desiring the need for recognition, external validation or to be seen as ‘somebody’. At times, the prospect of being a nobody felt preferable. My 'mask' was dissipating, bringing my 'shadow' to the light'*. No easy feat in a society which values worldly success over spiritual expansion, visibility over anonymity. The process of surrender was painful on epic levels and the work is still nowhere near done. In fact, this need to be seen as 'someone' rears it's ugly head now and again. I'm human after all! Last Ramadan however, gave me the permission to disappear. Ramadan said, ‘I hear you, I understand'. It allowed me to honour the path I was on. I fasted for the very first time at the age of six. Prayer came later but I completed reading the Quran (in Arabic) at six and a half years old, shocking the community around me. As a child, this was exciting but as I got older, it became a sense of duty. Coming from a cognitive place of ‘I should’ rather than ‘I know’. Until of course, the breakdown or…’ breakthrough’. It is not that I had 'not' known piety throughout my life, I had just not paid attention. To that retiree who quietly devotes his time to charitable community causes. The rapper with his tens and thousands of fans who disappears to support refugees on the borders of France without a word to anyone. The talented photographer who elevates those he photographs but himself peacefully remains on the periphery. Instead, I favoured those, like myself, in the pursuit of ‘worldly’ greatness. Ramadan taught me that ‘fulfilling your life and soul's potential’ can be sought from a humble life. It can be sought from the simple act of being grateful. Submitting before God in prayer (Namaz) is an act which brings you closer to your humanity than any other. This is a gift. Abstaining from food and water (Roza) for sixteen hours a day alongside Muslims all over the world is a miracle. Donating money (Zakat) to those in need does not take away from you but gives a greater sense of peace. On a worldly level, Ramadan has allowed me to accept and fully own the things which give me joy and meaning. Those things are cooking a delicious meal for the ones I love. Creating opportunities for others to shine. Buying gifts from the heart. Seeking beautiful conversations regardless of where people come from or their way of life. From smiling at a stranger whilst looking them in the eye. From a stranger smiling at me. From being absorbed in a book, music or doing work that I love. From being supported by those around me. This is what I have learned is the true meaning of Ramadan If you'd like to hear more about my journey, please go to about me Saima x *The shadow and mask principles are from the work of Swiss Psychologist Carl Jung

I recently took myself off for a quick getaway to the medieval city of Limoges, France. I had no idea of what to expect from this city. It was convenience over dream destination that determined my choice. The plan was to walk and ‘be’. Different environment, different culture, different people. And maybe, even be surprised. And surprised I was. The city did not disappoint. What a beautiful four days I experienced. I’m a sentiment soul, and find myself falling in love with history more and more. I love story telling and hearing stories, and in the same way I love to hear a person’s story (hence podcast and coaching) I love to learn about a city’s story. About the people that once inhabited it. What they created. What they left behind. I find that these stories bring a city to life. So, let’s talk about Limoges… Limoges is a city with a population of 131,000 located in south-west central France. It was founded in 10 BC and became an important Gallo Roman city. Gallo I learned, refers to the Gauls or Gallic in Latin. A group of Celtic people's in mainland Europe that were conquered by the Romans. The city is known for its decorated porcelain and in the 11th century, Limoges became a flourishing artistic centre. From the 12th century onwards, its porcelain was exported throughout the Christian world, and in fact, more than 50% of all porcelain made in France comes from Limoges. In 2018, it was named as a UNESCO creative city. You can feel this creativity buzzing through the windy small picturesque streets. With quirky and tasteful boutiques and delectable eateries around every corner. These gems are endless and just when you think ‘you've done it all’, you discover another artisan patisserie, chocolatier, perfumery, or gift shop. What the French do so effectively in contemporary design, is combine ‘fun’ and sophistication perfectly. Despite the small scale of the city, it is steeped in history. Below are just some of the historical sights that really tantalised my senses. Quartier de la Boucherie had to be my first stop as this is what captivated me in the few images I'd seen before my trip. Boucherie refers to butchers and as the name suggests, this was the butchers quarter. You can feel the medieval atmosphere amongst these old streets and can imagine that once, there would been a hive of activity here. Now you find charming boutiques housed in these buildings. I discovered the most amazing little concept store selling designer gifts by French brands only. Cathedrale St-Etienne is a Roman Catholic Church in the Gothic Renaissance and Romanesque styles. It’s construction began in 1273 and finished in 1888. Because of the time of year I visited, there was no one else in the cathedral and upon entering this vast stone structure, the temperature was cold, it was dark in there and felt eerie. This also made it exciting and awe inspiring. What struck me the most, in addition to the architecture were the organs, the incredibly detailed and vibrant stained glass windows (just how did they do these?) and the surface patterns on the walls and columns. So much contrasting but also complimentary design detail within one space. Gare de Limoges Benedictins, designed by architect Roger Gonthier and inaugurated in 1928, was the first stone built station in the city. On two occasions during my trip, I was told by the French, that this was the most beautiful railway station in the whole of France and indeed, it was stunning. I loved not only the exterior of the station but also the art deco stained glass in the station, designed by artist Francis Chigot. I’ll be referring to more of his work later in the post. Pavillon du Verdurier is now used as an art exhibition space, but was once a space for refrigerating meat imported from Argentina. The purpose of this; to put an end to the butcher families who monopolised the sector in rue de la Boucherie. It was designed by the same architect who designed the Gare de Limoges Benedictins. I fell in love with the colour palette as well as the intricate mosaic work. Musee des Beaux Arts De Limoges had to be one of the highlights of the trip. Located in the former Episcopal Palace, it opened in 1912. There are four collections in the museum; Enamels both contemporary and old, Fine Arts, The history of Limoges dating back to it's Gallo-Roman times and, Egyptology, which was gifted to Jean-Andre Perichan, a Limousin manufacturer who spent time in Egypt in the early 20th century. I felt very fortunate as there was a temporary exhibition based on the work of Francis Chigot. Chigot was a painter born in Limoges in 1879. He went onto become the leading French stained glass artist. I'd not heard of Chigot before my trip but I'm over the moon that I got to see his work as his use of colour and painting style was just delectable. Francis Chigot 1879-1960 Around town There was so much to see in Limoges that to put it all into categories would have been an endless task, so below, I have shared photos I took around town including some of the treats I may have sampled :) I hope you enjoyed reading. If you'd like to watch the video version of this blog, pop over to my Instagram feed. I would also love to hear any feedback you may have in the comments section.

In the spring of 2022, I was invited to participate in the Empowered Adornment project as part of the British History Makers exhibition at Derby Museums. The goal of the project produced by jewellery designer and artist; Anisha Parmar, was to celebrate culturally diverse women of Derby and increase representation, through group discussions about adornment and identity. The project culminated in a reclaiming photoshoot in the World Collections Gallery with objects that have links to empire & colonialism. Over the course of the project, a number of deep discussions took place at the museum. We were asked to share our thoughts on the colonisation of the countries of our heritage, mine being Pakistan and formally Hindustan (India). Personally, this pushed me to challenge my own limited knowledge on the subject as I'd always romanticised the British 'Raj'. Having been to Delhi and visited some of the buildings left by empire, I had thought of the British as the ones who'd bought this beauty to India as opposed to them having taken from the country. We were then asked to select objects we felt a resonance to. I was drawn to those objects that had ties to my Islamic roots. One of the objects I chose was a beautiful necklace thought to be from the Middle East or North Africa in the 19th century. It's metal discs were inscribed in Arabic with the words 'in the gathering of love' and ‘find your destiny'. This gave me goose bumps the first time I learned it. The other object, which I thought was a Middle Eastern Oud (guitar like string instrument), was in fact made in Dublin, Ireland. Showing just how closely cultures can cross over. Collaboratively, with Anisha and photographers; Chevy and Sofia, we talked about how we would want to bring life to the objects in our own unique ways. The below vision board is my inspiration for the shoot. The project finally resulted in this beautiful photoshoot set within the World Collections gallery. Anisha styled the background whilst Chevy and Sofia took the photo's. I chose my outfit as well as the objects. I feel so grateful to have been a part of this project in so many ways. Firstly, because by giving such opportunities to artists from minority backgrounds, I feel that the city in which I was born is opening up to and 'seeing' the diverse communities within it. The shared experience gave birth to a beautiful community of strong, unique individuals who are unafraid to be who they are It was a privilege to work with talented artists who are committed to creating social change through art and beauty. And finally, the collaborative nature in which this project developed meant I personally felt fully 'seen' and 'heard'. Project production and photography: Anisha Parmar Chevy-Jordan Thompson Sofia Yala N'Lolo Funded by Derby Museums and Artfund

'In the 18th and 19th centuries, many countries from the North of Europe went through the process of industrialisation. This process therefore rendered the contemporary man a rootless being due to the constant population movements from the countryside to the cities'. -Viajeros Romanticos In the young upper-classes, this inspired travel overseas, to Spain, Italy and Greece. They sought natural landscapes and archaeological remains to feed their spirits. Sharing their experiences through writing and art earned them the title 'Viajeros Romanticos', romantic travellers. When you visit places like Andalusia, you realise just how soul-less the large concrete metropolises we inhabit can be, and therefore, being immersed in nature combined with history, can feed the soul in ways that are unfamiliar. My desire to revisit Andalusia came about last year. After four years of no travel post Covid, my confidence felt knocked slightly, however, following the spiritual revelations I received last year, which led to my exploration of Sufism, I felt a calling to travel East. With a love for Islamic architecture, I'd already experienced the astonishing Moorish style in the great Alhambra Palace, in Granada and the Mezquita (mosque), in Cordoba, thirteen years earlier, but i'd only appreciated these aesthetically rather than spiritually. This time I wanted to view Andalusia with different eyes and truly from the heart. The minute I arrived, knowing of my love for Sufism, I was gifted (by friends), the book 'Ibn 'Arabi, Sufi's of Andalusia', based on the life of Arab Andalusian Muslim scholar, mystic, poet, and philosopher, born in 1165. The book names and describes seventy one Sufi's who Ibn Arabi met throughout his life and who lived in the region. Wow, the scene was set and this, kicked off my trip beautifully. The journey began in a forest Up in the mountains, in Europe's fourth largest forest, lies a beautiful Finca (a piece of rural, agricultural land with a house built within it). This is where I stayed. Cut off from the world, with no shop or restaurant in sight. Only mountains and forest with Morocco and Gibraltar, in the far distance. One afternoon, as I was walking through the plantation, I saw a stag looking directly at me. It didn't even run upon seeing me. Just amazing! I felt as though I was in, what I imagine to have been the garden of Eden, surrounded by tropical plants and fruit wherever you cast your eyes. To eat, I enjoyed fresh figs, custard apples, Chinese lanterns and bananas that tasted like candies, all cultivated on the land. Fruits I'd never tasted or had tasted but without near as much flavour. Staying in nature like this, felt mystical. On a vibrational frequency, I could sense it's power and aliveness. Sounds crazy but it was as though the towering trees with huge branches swaying in the breeze resembled humans. That's how intense their life force was, and the divinity within. With my friends, we took walks to the top of the mountains overlooking vast green forest. One day we visited the local river. After wading through thorn bushes and climbing over towering rocks we arrived at the most beautiful oasis, resembling a lagoon. Peace everywhere and no one to be seen. What a treat! I kept my internet usage to a bare minimum wanting to focus on what was infront and around me including the people I was physically with rather than virtually. A place rooted in faith Spain like most places has a tumultuous religious history. What has been left by its rulers, is a rich legacy of magnificent Renaissance/Baroque churches and cathedrals and, delectable Moorish mosques and palaces. Churches have grand solid structures and opulently gilded gold and silver altars. Externally, they're set amongst beautiful Plazas. At dusk, when the church bells would ring over the voices of children and adults speaking in Spanish, it somehow felt like being in a Federico Fellini movie- a little surreal. Wrong country, I know! But you get the picture! The Moors I adore Islamic architecture, art and design. Therefore for me, Moorish style is a feast for the senses; geometrical shapes, fluid arabesques, corniches, arches, domes, symmetrical gardens, water fountains and not forgetting, the most sophisticated use of colour. This can also be seen in Ottoman and Persian styles. The Moors were Muslim armies from North Africa who ruled Andalusia between 710-1492 AD. Under Moorish rule, Spain's, Cordoba became the largest and wealthiest city in Europe and a prominent centre of education and learning of the world, producing numerous philosophers and scientists. The Moors, quite clearly had a love for beauty and sensuality, which can be seen in their design and rich architectural legacy. I think that the gift the Moors give to someone like me is the permission to view the world romantically, underpinned by love. For those of us who have deep, creative and sensitive souls, there is often a disconnect between us and the world around us. A world in which survival means shutting off our romanticism and conforming to the rigidity that is expected. Stepping into a world like the one the Moors created, allows the feminine in our spirits to roam free for a while. Add to that the Sufi mystical, philosophical teachings and be careful, you may become a loving, gushy, hopeless romantic. That's the point though, being a gushy romantic is a beautiful thing and something to be embraced and cherished. And finally...Ronda Ronda, Ronda, Ronda- what can I say. You truly stole my heart. Dating back to the Neolithic age, Ronda sits on the 100 metre deep Tajo gorge underneath which, runs the Guadalevín river. This can be observed from the Puente Nuevo bridge (see picture). The combination of the natural landscape, the old Arab Medina/monuments and the more modern areas of the town make for a holistically soul enriching experience. Walking through the cobbled streets of Ronda, again made me feel like I was on a movie set. Not surprising why musicians, poets and artists were so enthralled by the town. And there it is, my two weeks of romance in Andalusia. I hope you enjoyed this post. If you'd like to find out more about my work, please click below

I was recently listening to a YouTube lecture on the great Persian poet, Hafiz. When referring to Hafiz’s work, the speaker Richard Rudd said, ‘only ecstasy can understand ecstasy’. It blew me away. I instantly knew what he meant but had never heard anyone vocalise it like that. He was referring to the ecstatic states or deep sense of joy felt by highly sensitives. The opposite being sorrow and pain. As you know I have been doing inner work for the last nine years. Exploring my inner life, bringing my shadows to the surface, shedding conditioning, healing traumas, and integrating them into my life so that they don’t manifest in unconscious behaviours and limiting beliefs. In 2021, I was taken to the darkest parts of my soul, having to confront deep pain. The deepest work I’ve done to date. I say I was 'taken' because I did not choose to go. Who would??? It wasn't pretty! Instead chaotic, and messy. I was forced to question my attachments and ego. I learned through this process that my ego had still been running the show despite me ‘thinking’, I was now ‘conscious’. This, in fact, is the spiritual path, the constant dance between consciousness and unconsciousness. I’d been here before but this time it was different. Different because I thought I was already on the path I was 'meant to be on'. I realised however there was still work to do and my ego was forced to face some harsh truths. I realised that my worldly desires were 'still' misaligned with my soul which yearned for purity and simplicity. The veil had once again been lifted. Following this, I reduced my exposure to social media for a while because something inside changed. Following what felt like a loud traumatic experience, a quiet resided. A stillness. I craved anonymity which isn’t realistic when you ‘have’ to be in the world. And in fact, spiritual life isn’t about removing yourself from the world entirely but rather taking your learnings and using them to 'be' and serve, without attachment and ego. Another profound occurrence took place. I felt a visceral desire to immerse myself in Sufi teachings. They say 'when the student is ready, the teacher appears'. At this point in my life, the Sufi poets and mystics were my teachers. I was learning about Ibn Arabi, Hafiz, Kahlil Gibran, Rumi and Kabir. I lost myself in the journeys of Lilian Silburn and Irina Tweedie, both Western spiritual seekers who travelled to India to be trained by Sufi masters. I felt as though I was cocooned in beauty. Ironically, what I am now able to offer as a coach, comes from 'more' of a knowing place. From having lived what I teach. This manifested recently in a wellbeing session I delivered to the staff members in the educational establishment where I work as I was able to hold space without attachment. Not focussing on me but purely on serving. Some colleagues later reported that they'd been able to release suffering which had been unconsciously carried for months. Now they were conscious of it, they could make the necessary changes to nurture themselves going forward. This is transformation. Feeling deep emotion can be lonely. It can set you apart from the world. What I’ve learned however is, the more I embrace my ecstasy and despair, the closer it brings me to my truth and therefore freedom. Thank you for reading. Saima x