Sufi Remembrance

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3 Memories for “Susan Zahira Miller”

1. on 24 May 2011 at 4:29 pm1Baraka Janet Heartson

   Zahira was a housemate in the 80’s with me. We shared Sufism, Co-counseling, music, the Dances of Universal Peace and a love of nature. She and I have been friends for over 23 years. In that time she helped me to raise my consciousness, let go of ego and take respite in nature.
   She had a spirit that always sought God, the light and enlightenment. Finding her soulmate, Jeffrey, made her happier on this planet and made it painful to leave him. But in my heart, I know that now she is truly home. Baraka Janet Heartson

2. on 25 May 2011 at 12:56 pm2Sue Woerner

   I will always remember how Zahira lead our circle many times in chanting along with the lovely notes of the Shruti box, one of the many things she shared in her time with us. OM is the sound of the universal heart.

3. on 08 Jun 2011 at 6:37 pm3Merle Cosgrove

   The strains of the memorial service for Zahira are still echoing in my mind and the love and peace that she and Jeffery inspired stays with me.

   I had not considered speaking at the service but there is something I wish to add to the stories of Susan’s very full life. Polly Mahoney, Kevin Slater and I were there in the church; we all had met Susan through Outward Bound decades ago. Susan worked several summers in the Maine woods and on the coast leading wilderness trips, often for teenagers and college students as well as adults and women. I think she also lead an epic course for West Point cadets.

   As noted on Monday during the sharing, Susan was a teacher. She led her Outward Bound students, up and over mountains, down roiling streams, out on gorgeous lakes, up on rock faces. She mentored her co-instructors, always encouraging them to develop their skills and talents and with her straightforward blunt style, letting them know when they needed to shape up. She had insightful perspectives of others and she wove her personal life view into the Outward Bound philosophy. I loved that she would wake us up in the morning with the magical notes of her recorder. And when we were all drenched in sweat, soaked by rain, covered in mud somehow Susan would look bright and neat with her signature shades of blues and bright colors. “Come on,” she’d say, “let’s go!”

   Susan, Polly and I had other shared adventures beyond our Outward Bound work and though we saw less of her in the past few years I was increasingly aware of the rich, still, beautiful life that she and Jeffrey created. It was a blessing to be within the aura of that natural “life-as-it should-be” space.

   I will cherish forever Zahira’s example of living and dying with grace.

   Merle

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