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FANA-FI-GAIA
Beltane, May 1, 2025
15th Quarterly from the Ziraat Council
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Fariha Fer
Between Two Fires – A Letter for the Turning of the Wheel
Living in the South while writing about Beltane — a celebration rising in the North — brings a tender paradox. Here, the air is cooling, the leaves are falling, and yet, I'm called to speak of blossoming, harvest, and connection.
And perhaps that is the beauty of it!
To write of fertility while living within descent.
To celebrate the rising and gathering of life while walking quietly through silence, rest and regeneration.
In this, I feel the deep weaving of the Earth — that nothing is ever isolated. That our fires can reflect one another across hemispheres and remind us of the illusion of separation, especially during these volatile times.
So if we carry the flame of Beltane even while wrapped in the shawl of Samhain? One doesn't cancel the other — they complete the circle! They are companions and hold us close together, as a reminder of the subtle guidance that is always present in nature. Showing us that life and death are always in relationship, always in motion.
Wherever you are in the world, I hope this is a moment to tend your inner fire, to hold onto your practice, and to remain present to your surroundings, your communities, and the needs that call for care. Which gifts am I receiving or giving back to the earth at the moment?
With love,
Fariha Fer, on behalf of the Ziraat Council.
| | | Excerpt from Ziraat Reader | | |
Toil
by Murshida Vera Corda
From Ziraat reader Part 2 (pgs 83-84)
“When Mother Earth becomes a living, pulsing being with magnetism, emotions and attributes comparable to that which we embody, there can no longer be separation and desecration. For this we toil, for this we labor. In reality, we are One—Love Harmony and Beauty, through the seasons of our lives in Her, and of Her.”
| | Excerpt from Ziraat Website | | |
Trafkintu: Cultivating Community Through Seed Exchange
In the southern territories of the Andes, we honor the ceremonial practice of trafkintu — a gathering where seeds, intentions, and stories are exchanged among communities, sharing food, laughs, music and silence around the fire. This practice originates from the rooted heart of the Mapuche people — mapu meaning "earth" and che meaning "people" — the people of the Earth. Based on reciprocity, trafkintu is not only a celebration of abundance, biodiversity and life cycles, but also a spiritual and social act of resilience and unity.
At the heart of this practice are the trafkinche — seed guardians, often women, who carry the ancestral responsibility of caring for and sharing seeds for the upcoming seasons. Their role embodies a deep wisdom, reminding us that what is sacred must be protected, and that community is nourished not through possession, but through shared care.
These quiet gatherings become a form of resistance — one that whispers instead of shouts, that plants instead of consumes, and that remembers instead of forgetting.
The invitation is to become trafkinches ourselves — to tend what nourishes life, to listen deeply to the Earth, and to protect the seeds for future generations.
May we learn from these practices! and hold them with reverence, protecting what is intimate, and letting ourselves be touched by the mystery they carry.
What practices in your own territory echo this spirit of collective memory and action?
| | The first artichoke I harvested, travelling seeds from the south to central Chile. | | |
Tending to the Flame Within:
- Begin by finding a quiet place. As a symbol of the inner fire – perhaps the fire of celebration, remembrance, or simply your own steady presence – gently light a candle and watch its flame for a moment.
- Now, take three slow, conscious breaths. With each exhale, feel yourself arriving more fully in this moment. Sense the solid ground beneath you and notice the gentle rhythm of your breath as it moves through your body, a quiet, constant companion.
- Allow your awareness to connect with the purifying essence of the elements through your breath. Imagine breathing in the stability of the earth, the flow of water, the warmth of fire, the lightness of air, and the spaciousness of ether. Spend a few moments breathing with these qualities with the purification breaths practice.
- Create Your Altar: Choose two small, meaningful items. Perhaps pebbles, leaves, crystals, or something personal. Place them gently before you, creating a small, temporary altar.
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Let the first item represent something that is blossoming in your life right now
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Let the second item symbolize something you are ready to release, to let go of, or to lovingly return to the Earth for transformation.
Sit quietly with these two symbols for a moment and gently turn your attention inward, asking softly:
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"What am I currently tending and nurturing in my life?"
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"What is ready to be released, returned, or transformed?"
Listen patiently for any feelings, images, or quiet understandings that arise. There's no need to force an answer.
Allow a moment for whatever appears. Embrace the silence, or perhaps offer a gentle smile. Feel a softening around your heart as you acknowledge both the light and the shadow, the natural cycles of growth and letting go within you, and maybe whisper a word of gratitude for all of it.
You can keep this simple altar nearby for a few days as a reminder of your intentions. Or, when you feel ready, you could return the objects to the Earth in a small, mindful ritual.
Before you move on, take one final, deep breath and notice: What feelings or insights has this simple act of tending awakened within me?
| | An altar for the inner flame. | | The Path of Harmonious Action | | |
A Whisper for These Times (Inspired by reading The Inner Life)
Reading this book by Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan has brought me many gifts. One of them recently surfaced as a reflection that has me asking myself: What would Murshid say now?
In my heart, it sounds something like this:
Become the echo of silence.
Let your breath be your prayer,
your presence your offering,
your action a song of harmony and fierce presence.
Where there is confusion, bring clarity —
not by forcing, but by being.
Where there is anger,
bring the caring embrace of the great mother.
And where there is despair,
light even the smallest lamp.
Remember: the heart is the temple.
And the world is waiting
for those who dare to live from it.
| | An unexpected gift, a reminder and an offering. | | |
Hey pilgrim! Where is your heart taking you?
- Camino portugués, 2024.
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