I can’t remember when I first met Jellaludin. Perhaps it was at the Abode. We reconnected at the Dance Camps of Abraham and Halima Sussman. His presence has always been one of quiet friendliness. It was as if we truly were part of the same family but hadn’t seen one another for a while, like one of us had just come home. His emotions were always warm and even. What I was impressed with lately was the way he carried himself through his illness. When asked how he was doing, he simply reported. No drama. It just was the way things were for now. He was always there in the Dance Circle, even when he was simply sitting in the center. I suppose that he will always be there for me, sitting in the center of the Dance Circle. While I will miss his quiet physical presence, I sense that he will always be there with his quiet joy.
We just put some of Jellaludins ashes in the ground here during our gathering at ED&P 2012. Shakura chose a beautiful spot in the woods near where she and Jellaludin first tented at an earlier camp. She brought a Tara that Jellaludin had on his desk, now sitting on the big rock gracing the space. At the foot of the rock, there is a beautiful quartz crystal where the ashes are. It was raining, the earth was soft and receptive, many beloveds present offering spontaneous memories and love prayers. The heart holds all, past, present, and future; love has no bounds. We love you Jellaudin. Thank you for your friendship, steadiness, and generosity.
Ya Hayyo, Ya Qayoom.
Many songs and the words within them remind me of my friend, Jellaludin Tom. I have been recently singing these words that connect me to God, the waters and all those beloveds past and present:
As I went down in the river to pray,
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way,
And who shall wear the starry crown?
Good Lord, show me the way.
O brothers (sisters, fathers, mothers), let’s go down,
Let’s go down, come on down.
O brothers (sisters, fathers, mothers), let’s go down,
Down in the river to pray.
Jellaludin with his partner Beth Shakura Cohen
I can’t remember when I first met Jellaludin. Perhaps it was at the Abode. We reconnected at the Dance Camps of Abraham and Halima Sussman. His presence has always been one of quiet friendliness. It was as if we truly were part of the same family but hadn’t seen one another for a while, like one of us had just come home. His emotions were always warm and even. What I was impressed with lately was the way he carried himself through his illness. When asked how he was doing, he simply reported. No drama. It just was the way things were for now. He was always there in the Dance Circle, even when he was simply sitting in the center. I suppose that he will always be there for me, sitting in the center of the Dance Circle. While I will miss his quiet physical presence, I sense that he will always be there with his quiet joy.
We just put some of Jellaludins ashes in the ground here during our gathering at ED&P 2012. Shakura chose a beautiful spot in the woods near where she and Jellaludin first tented at an earlier camp. She brought a Tara that Jellaludin had on his desk, now sitting on the big rock gracing the space. At the foot of the rock, there is a beautiful quartz crystal where the ashes are. It was raining, the earth was soft and receptive, many beloveds present offering spontaneous memories and love prayers. The heart holds all, past, present, and future; love has no bounds. We love you Jellaudin. Thank you for your friendship, steadiness, and generosity.
Ya Hayyo, Ya Qayoom.
Many songs and the words within them remind me of my friend, Jellaludin Tom. I have been recently singing these words that connect me to God, the waters and all those beloveds past and present:
As I went down in the river to pray,
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way,
And who shall wear the starry crown?
Good Lord, show me the way.
O brothers (sisters, fathers, mothers), let’s go down,
Let’s go down, come on down.
O brothers (sisters, fathers, mothers), let’s go down,
Down in the river to pray.