There are many practices and activities that are useful for those following the path of Ziraat. Practices are not prescribed, but rather Ziraat initiates are encouraged to follow their inner guidance to discover what resonates with them. Here are some ideas to consider:
- Read and contemplate the Ziraat Dialogue.
- Repeat daily the Salutations to the Elements.
- Construct a Ziraat Altar. You are free to be creative in this.
- Participate in Ziraat Lodges (in-person or virtually).
- Privately conduct a Ziraat Lodge and contemplate the symbolism.
- Read and contemplate the Ziraat Teachings.
- Contemplate the Cycle of Work on the Farm as outlined by Hazrat Inayat Khan – ploughing, harrowing, sowing, reaping, threshing, and garnering. The Ziraat Teachings have some material on this and there are Papers on this subject listed on the Resources page.
- Spend time in nature. You may wish to make a regular practice of sitting in one spot to witness and feel yourself as part of Nature. Or you may wish to revel in Nature’s wonders by hiking or simply embracing the beauty of a flower.
- Read, repeat and contemplate the Nature Meditations of Hazrat Inayat Khan. (Copyright 1980 Sufi Order)
- Read, repeat and contemplate the Emerald Contemplations.
- Gardening or farming connects one to the miracle of Life in a participatory way. It provides the opportunity to develop an intimate connection with soil, plants, animals, and nature’s rhythms. To approach agriculture with an attitude of reverence is holy work. Farming and gardening deepen one’s understanding of the symbolic cycle of work on the Farm as outlined by Hazrat Inayat Khan.
- Increase one’s awareness of the eco-crisis and engage in positive action to address it. The Environmental Trainings & Planetary Service section has some resources for this. Refer to the Resources page for many other ideas.
- Read and contemplate the Inayatiyya Call of the Earth articles.