Snapshots from the Parliament of World Religions by Janet Maika’i Rudolph

The Parliament of World Religions ran from Aug 14^th to the 18^th  in Chicago.  I returned with my head spinning having met new people, connected with inspiring beliefs, discussed fascinating ideas, watched meaningful performances, engaged in sacred play, danced, sang, cried, ate, and mostly experienced . . . just experienced. It is still overwhelming to sort out individual experiences. I am going to write up a few of my impressions, snapshot style. They scratch the surface, not only of my individual experience but of the Parliament in general where upwards of 7,000 people attended. It was incredible

Setting the tableau: As I was going down the escalator, a woman was followed by 2 groups were heading up. The woman was beautiful and young in full Mayan dress with white blouse, long orange skirt along with headdress and belt with Mayan symbols. Her thick dark hair was flowing down her back.

She was followed by five Sikh men who were dressed head to foot in white. Their heads and hair were covered by white turbans.

They were followed by two Buddhist nuns dressed in grey robes carrying beads. Their heads were shaved.

Such scenes were common.

Labyrinth walks: Those who have read my blogs know that I love labyrinths. I guide walks at a local church here in NY where I am referred to as The Labyrinth Mage. There were two set up at the Parliament. One was outside on the patio delineated by tape. It was surrounded by orange strips of cloth as part of an exhibit representing children killed by gun violence. It was both a personal and a cultural walk.

The second labyrinth was a large canvas one laid out on the floor inside the venue. It was surrounded by sound healing instruments. You could find a time to walk it on your own or in a more organized fashion with others and with the instruments humming. I went during a guided walk. As I was ushered to the entrance I was told, someone would “gong me in.” What an interesting turn of the phrase, I thought. It turns out to be really fun.  There was an extremely large metal singing bowl.  They had us stand in it wearing socks or paper booties and then would hit it with a mallet on all 4 sides. It’s an intense vibration and excellent preparation to walk.

As a nice personal bonus, one of the people working the labyrinth was Father Tim TenClay who just happens to be the person who designed the labyrinth where I guide the walks, yep here in NY. We had met briefly when he was organizing the labyrinth labor and I was volunteering.  This was the first time we talked. And bonus! We don’t live that far from each other. Here is his website: Let’s Talk Labyrinths

Sacred fires: The Indigenous peoples have kept sacred fires going 24/7 throughout previous Parliaments. They couldn’t keep a similar fire going due to Chicago fire regulations (which is the “windy city” after all) so they did one each morning to greet the day at 7 am and one to close the evening at 7 pm. Some of the expected Canadian tribes were not able to make it because their villages were being evacuated due to the wildfires. There’s a contrast for you. I reflected on how lucky I was to be in the presence of sacred fire, especially in a time when raging wildfires are out of control in so many places. Stark and tragic juxtaposition.

The Indigenous people noted that this is a sacred time to be alive. They continued to say that we are at a cross-road where we as people need to decide if human life will continue on this earth. 

Langar: This is a Sikh institution over 500 years old of offering food to the hungry all over the world. It is seen as a blessing in honor of their founder Guru Nanak. The Sikhs offered lunch – a food offering each day of the Parliament. You would enter a large tent, take off your shoes, wash your hands, sit barber-style while your head was covered and then be treated to a meal of vegetarian food. We were given a plate, spoon and cup and invited to sit either on the floor or at picnic-type tables. People would come by to fill our plates.  Everyone was cheerful.  The food was delicious.  Gratitude is the underlying emotion.  I do pray that they figure out ways to avoid plastic serviceware in their future services.

Women’s Village: This was the first time there was a women’s village at the Parliament.

It was an art-filled area for sitting quietly, conversation, inspiration, education, and art projects including an altar of the Earth. The women’s Village also had the weeks long use of a room which they covered in red fabric which they called The Red Tent and was host to workshops, and ceremonies.  

One of the mounters of the space was Brecia Kralovic-Logan who is the founder and caretaker of an exhibit called Women’s Woven Voices. It included over 1000 woven story clothes from around the world. The work is done to support creativity, community, compassion and women’s empowerment.

A shout-out to Brecia. Traveling with this exhibit is an enormous undertaking which Brecia does with beauty and grace.  Check out the website: Women’s Woven Voices 

Dale Allen: Dale is a new contributor to FAR. She had a set up in a corner of the Women’s Village where she interviewed women (including me) for the purpose of amplifying women’s strong voices.

Her movie also aired during the Parliament, In Our Right Minds. I highly recommend it. In one section of the movie, Dale reads from various dramatically from anti-women tomes including the Malleus Melficarum.

I couldn’t help but to notice that the MM wrote about how to get women to include a section on how severely women need “to be punished.”

I thought about how these ancient texts that we might have thought were long behind us still affect us so strongly today. Texas, I am looking at you.  Just before the Parliament, the group of women who sued Texas regarding the damage they suffered from not begin able to access abortion (read Healthcare) services won their case. Their stories are heartbreaking, facing sepsis, near death, infertility as a result of not being able to access care. The AG appealed and their victory. Can you imagine your state suing to ensure their right to ensure that more women have to suffer this same fate? That women have to be near death for the state to even consider giving us the option of treatment? How much punishment is enough? We are still laboring under the paradigms set up by the MM. It is long past time they were let go.   

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/04/texas-abortion-ban-lawsuit/

https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/07/politics/texas-women-abortion-lawsuit-health/index.html

https://www.thecore.space

Business cards: I personally handed out over 100 FAR business cards along with an untold number that I left at the table at the Women’s Village for people to take. I hope the seeds of FAR spread far and wide.