⭐ Inayatiyya Fall Appeal 2024—The Bat 🦇🌙

Farther they see than the palest of those countless hosts. Needing no aid from the light, they penetrate the depths of a loving soul that fills a loftier region with bliss ineffable. —Novalis

26 November 2024

Dear Friends,

The second animal we encounter on our journey within the Forest of Memory is the bat. The bat is the “witness of the night,” shrouded in obscurity and impenetrable mystery. It is the emblem of the midnight of unknowing, which ferries us beyond the world of ordinary perception and presumed knowledge.

For those unaccustomed to this disorientation, this can be an unnerving experience. Indeed, the entire world might suddenly appear bewildering and strange. We are reminded of the anecdote of Bābā Farīd hanging upside down in a well like a bat, and how the world must have appeared reflected in the waters below. In the darkness of night, one might have the uncanny impression that things are not what they seem and come to doubt all one once believed beyond doubt. Concepts dissolve and we find ourselves in the space beyond form.

But for the willing students of the bat, night unveils hitherto unseen lights. We discover less obvious frequencies of light. One learns to navigate its inky waters using more subtle senses.

Perhaps this teaching about bats and the disorienting experience of night resonates differently today. The great suffering around the world has certainly called into question much that is often assumed. Whatever path brought you into our caravan, whoever you are in your day-to-day life, we have all found ourselves confronted by a world that seems topsy-turvy at some point.

This is the world we are learning to navigate together.

Our mission in the Inayatiyya is to cultivate a community where the knowledge of Divine Unity awakens our hearts to greater love, harmony, and beauty. Like bats that emerge into the night sky and fill it with sound, we take wing and glide, trusting that we will find each other by perfecting our ability to listen.

While our dedicated staff, teachers, and volunteers collectively engage in this sacred task of listening inwards and outwards with our beautiful global community, we humbly ask you to help us maintain and sustainably grow our spiritual roost. Your contributions help us cover the cost of indispensable tools and resources that enable us to reach others searching for connection, purpose, and meaning.

Our goal this year is to raise $160,000 by the end of the year. So far we have raised $73,421 toward this amount. Please help us raise another $86,579 by Friday, December 27th, 2024.

With love and appreciation,
Josh & Tajalli on behalf of The Inayatiyya Fall Appeal 2024 Campaign Committee
Noor Amina Peterson, Board Chair, Ambreen Coombs, Treasurer, Nilufar Maryam Hasnaa, Board Member, Jennifer Alia Wittman, Executive Director, Tajalli Roselli, Astana Staff, & Josh Octaviani, Astana Staff

PS—Interested in exploring the symbolism of the bat within the Forest of Memory practice further? As our gift to you, here is the link to Bawa’s teaching:

The Bat Meditation Recording

DONATE TODAY

The Inayatiyya is a non-profit 501c3 organization, Tax ID #23-7159641. Your donation may be fully deductible for tax purposes per United States IRS guidelines. Please note that donations made by check must be received by Friday, December 27th to be considered as within 2024. If you would like to make a donation by mail, please send it to Inayatiyya, 112 E Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Thank you!