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PHOTO BY IWISHMYNAMEWASMARSHA ON FLICKR: FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/MORGANMORGAN/3251140144
FRQWHQWV VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 | SPRING 2014
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F E A T U R E S 16
Yoga: A New Expression The exercises we see in popular “yoga studios” are only one small part of an ancient and rich tradition.
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Free Spirit From the Midwest to the Australian coast, Christy Pratt stays true to herself and her ministry.
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FRQWHQWV VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 | SPRING 2014
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D E P A R T M E N T S 3
Editor’s Note
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Blogs to Know Today, there is a blog for nearly every topic imaginable. Here are a few to add to your reading list, plus interviews with some faces beyond the computer screen.
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Small Change Some companies offer affordable products and seek to do good with their income.
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Quick Cuisine: Chai The history of this popular tea is as interesting as its spicy sweet taste.
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Color Fest: Green Important to the religion of Islam, green stands out in the arid Middle East where the prophet Muhammad lived and taught. I’ve gathered four products to showcase the color that is symbolic of nature and life.
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Photo Essay An enduring community and culture in Tanzania, the Maasai people share their traditons.
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Religious Observances A list of what people in various religions will be commemorating in the upcoming months
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THE FIRST PUBLICATION I ever subscribed to was American Girl Magazine. I still remember excitedly reading through the issue that gave readers a behindthe-scenes look at the production of the magazine, and I even recall there being a designer named Emma. I know it’s still in a basket at my parents’ house, the pages worn from the number of times I looked back at it. It’s no coincidence, then, that I ended up at American University and in a general interest meeting for American Literary Magazine. (I really hadn’t realized the star-spangled pattern of my life until now!) I signed up to help with design and used my rudimentary InDesign skills to put together some spreads for the Fall 2010 issue. I was shocked and honored when the outgoing design editor encouraged me to apply for her position. I can honestly say that was one of the most important opportunities of my life.
Although my academic path went a different direction, AmLit was my creative outlet, empowering and teaching me more than I ever could have imagined. In fact, it gave me the confidence to pursue an entirely self-made publication for my capstone project. I hope you enjoy reading Gates Ajar Magazine as much as I have enjoyed creating it. As a journalism and religious studies major, I set out to create a publication that didn’t skirt the topic of personal belief and spirituality, but wasn’t exclusively “religious” either. Gates Ajar is full of people and topics that are important to me, and I’m so grateful for the willingness of others to share their stories. For me, the best part about a magazine is the waiting. Anticipation is not something we have the opportunity to experience very often in an ever-expanding digital world. I used to check the mailbox daily when I knew that a new issue of American Girl was coming. Now, I patiently wait to open boxes full of freshly printed magazines that I created. I’d love to hear from you! Please contact me with any questions, concerns or comments at imemmagray@gmail.com.
EMMA GRAY Editor-in-Chief of Gates Ajar Magazine
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“Blog” was first introduced to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary in 2005. Today, there is a blog for nearly every topic imaginable. Here are a few to add to your reading list. B Y E M M A G R AY
T I M E S
H A I K U
haiku.nytimes.com
The New York Times has long been regarded as a staple in the American daily news diet. It made an equally successful jump to online journalism and is now venturing into Japanese poetry. Times Haiku is full of accidental poetic moments from the Times’ news writers. An algorithm scans every story for sentences that fit the haiku syllable structure, and humans select the good ones. In an era where everyone is nervous about the financial viability of journalism, it’s nice to see that there is still time for fun and innovation on the clock.
S W I S S M I S S swiss-miss.com
Tina Roth Eisenberg can be best described as an entrepreneur extraordinaire. A Swiss designer who now calls New York City home, her successes include TeuxDeux, a simplified organization app; Creative Mornings, a worldwide breakfast lecture series; and Studiomates, a collaborative workspace in Brooklyn. Most recently, she entered the temporary tattoo world with Tattly, a business she started in 2011 after her daughter came home with too many “bad clip-art tattoos.” Her blog is a collection of fun internet finds, new products and words from the people who inspire her.
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T H I S I S P A P E R thisispaper.com
Thisispaper is an online magazine that focuses on the contemporary arts. Based in Warsaw, Poland, the publication features the work and thoughts of international creative minds. There’s a little bit of everything in the daily posts, including photography, fashion, art, architecture, interior design and print design. The result is a database of visual inspiration to alleviate even the most stubborn creative block.
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surisburnbook.tumblr.com
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From professed adoration of fashionable Mad Men star Kiernan Shipka to cynical commentary about the Kardashians, author Allie Hagan has created an entire online persona for Suri Cruise, 8-year-old daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. Told from the young socialite’s perspective, nothing is off limits, especially her mother’s clothing choices. A break from the usual celebrity gossip, her wit and charm never disappoint. The fictional Suri makes each reader feel like a trusted confidante with whom she shares her harshest opinions. You’ll never be able to look at a tabloid magazine the same way again.
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underconsideration.com/brandnew Just as companies grow and change, so do corporate and brand identities. Brand New covers redesigns of well-known logos and products as well as new designs for emerging brands. With a combination of witty opinion and strong knowledge of brand strategy, editor Armin Vit evaluates designs and polls readers on their reactions. In addition, the blog hosts an annual Brand New Conference and presents Brand New Awards to the best identity work of the year.
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Q&A
DQQ PDULH HVSLQR]D 27, CALIFORNIA ANN-MARIE LOVES | ANNMARIELOVES.COM
W H E N A N D W H Y D I D Y O U S TA R T B L O G G I N G ? I started blogging back in 2008, right before I graduated college. I had been an avid reader of many design and crafting blogs for a few years prior, and then – on a whim – decided to try it out for myself! Over time, my reasons for blogging have evolved considerably. In the beginning, I used my blog as a platform for sharing my scrapbooking projects, but as the years have gone by, I’ve become more focused on sharing my lifestyle as whole. Having a broader perspective has been great for staying inspired and growing my readership. W H A T I S T H E B E S T P A R T O F H A V I N G A S U C C E S S F U L B L O G ? I’m flattered that one might consider my blog “successful,” but in my mind, I still have a long way to go before it reaches the level I’m aiming for. But the best part of writing a blog is having a place to share my life’s adventures – be it crafting, decorating, getting married, having a baby – with likeminded people all over the world. I’ve always loved writing and photography, so being able to pair the two disciplines together to create a visual diary of my life is a wonderful thing! W H AT I S M O S T C H A L L E N G I N G ? The most challenging aspect of running a blog is that the work never ends. This year, I made a personal goal to blog five days a week, so I hold myself accountable for creating solid content week after week, month after month. But the irony of it all is that the more I do it, the easier it gets. In just a few short months of sticking to my goal, I have already noticed a significant improvement in the quality of my post ideas and the speed in which I can get them done. W H AT D O E S A T Y P I C A L D AY L O O K L I K E F O R Y O U ?
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS? In five years, I hope to be writing a successful blog, running a self-sustaining business, and living in an impossibly cute house in Pasadena with my husband and our two or three little ones. Whenever I think about my ideal life, I envision brunching in the backyard on a Sunday morning with my little family, going on spontaneous weekend adventures up and down the California coast, and designing a home that will inspire and nourish everyone who enters. It’s these fantasy moments that make me strive to work harder and grow my business and blog in ways that will help support the lifestyle I crave.
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COURTESY OF ANN-MARIE ESPINOZA
Most days I wake up between 9 and 10 a.m. This is the best part about freelancing! I check Instagram and my e-mail in bed, and then get up and make myself a breakfast of oatmeal and coffee. Once my breakfast is ready, I sit down with my laptop and slowly ease into my day. As a freelancer, my workload can vary drastically from day to day. Some days are spent working on design and crafting projects for clients, and some days are spent working on posts for my blog, but almost everyday involves a heavy dose of e-mailing. Usually around 5 p.m., I’ll put on my workout clothes and go for a nice, long walk while listening to a podcast. Then my husband will come home, we’ll have dinner and watch an episode or two of our favorite TV shows together, and I’ll get back on my laptop and start writing blog posts. All of my clearest thoughts come to me at night, so I try to capitalize on this window of time as much as possible! However, in a few short months, my life will be turned upside down when our first child arrives, so my schedule will probably look a lot different. It will be a major change, but a welcome one, at that.
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Q&A
EULGJHW KXQW 29, MASSACHUSETTS TA L E S O F M E A N D T H E H U S B A N D TA L E S O F M E A N D T H E H U S B A N D . C O M
W H E N A N D W H Y D I D Y O U S TA R T B L O G G I N G ? I started in August of 2009 and I started because I had time, I had a lot on my mind, and I needed an outlet for it! I had married my husband – both a widower and father of four – not long before. I was both in love and overwhelmed. Those two plus my English major... a blog was born! W H A T ’ S T H E B E S T P A R T O F H A V I N G A S U C C E S S F U L B L O G ? Do I have a successful blog? That’s flattering, really. There are some really large ones out there so I often feel like I’m still in the minor leagues. But the best part is definitely “working” (if we can call it that!) from home in my pajamas and making friends. I mean, real friends! I’m really blessed to have made some wonderful ones through blogging. W H AT ’ S M O S T C H A L L E N G I N G ? The most challenging is probably comparing yourself with other blogs and their numbers and successes. I hate that I fall into that, but I do! W H AT D O E S A T Y P I C A L D AY L O O K L I K E F O R Y O U ? A typical day: I wake up with my son Parker at about 7 a.m. I’ve often already missed my 13-year-old who has an early bus pick-up, but see off my 11-year old. Parker and I eat breakfast and sometimes have Steve around depending on his class schedule. Then, a library date? Music class? Maybe some errands and grocery shopping. For dinner, probably something Mexican - burrito bowls, quesadillas, taco salad. We love anything Mexican. And into bed by 10 p.m. to watch House of Cards or Downton Abbey with my husband.
In five years I’ll be almost 35! I see myself having more travel under my belt, or at least I really hope so. I hope I’ve learned to quit playing the comparison game, that I’m content, and that I’m surrounded by my family both healthy and happy. Still living in the Boston area, I’d imagine. We love it here!
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COURTESY OF BRIDGET HUNT
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS?
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VPDOO FKDQJH Purchasing and donating are usally seen as two separate actions. Money spent on groceries can’t be donated and vice versa. Luckily, there is a way to bring the two together. Here are some companies that offer affordable products and seek to do good with their income. B Y E M M A G R AY
D E L L A dellala.com
Della’s products are handcrafted in Hohoe, Ghana using textiles from the region. The company has 55 Ghanaian employees that receive a steady income, healthcare benefits and weekly classes in literacy and money management. Additionally, employees gain leadership skills by teaching sewing classes twice a week at a local orphanage and organizing the Hohoe Women’s Volleyball League. Next, the company is looking to expand their facilities and offer an afterschool childcare program for employees’ children. Currently, Della’s products include bags, iPad covers, laptop cases and headbands, as well as ties and pocket squares for men. Pictured: Jalapeño 13” MacBook Case, $38
R A V E N + L I LY ravenandlily.com
Raven + Lily employs women in Ethiopia, India, Cambodia, Kenya and the U.S. Employees are paid fair, stable wages, and they are offered healthcare and continuing education. Their products are made with local materials and recycled resources when possible. Raven + Lily has a wide range of products, including jewelry, bags, scarves, clothing and candles. Women in Northern India make these notecards with recycled paper and cotton waste from the textile industry. Use them to write a nice note to a friend! Pictured: Recycled Cotton Notecards, set of 12, $14
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T H E H O N E S T C O M P A N Y honest.com
You’ve probably seen Jessica Alba in a movie at some point, but did you know she also founded a company that produces safe, eco-friendly and affordable products for the home? The Honest Company sells house cleaning solutions, bath products and baby necessities that are all made with safe ingredients. The company partners with numerous non-profits, donates a portion of every purchase made and pays their employees for the time they spend volunteering in the community. Laundry is a fact of life. Why not finish the task with a product that does good things beyond the washing machine? Pictured: Honest Multi-Surface Cleaner - 26 fl. oz., $5.95; Honest Laundry Detergent - 70 fl. oz., $12.95
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thebaseproject.com
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The Base Project connects local artisans in Namibia and Ghana with an international market. A relatively young company, The Base Project currently sells bracelets and bags. Their bracelets are hand-carved from recycled water pipe that has been colored by the region’s deep red soil, and they’re virtually indestructible. Your purchase supports the artisans directly, and The Base Project also invests a portion of their income into community development projects in the local region. Pictured: Epupa Falls, $32; Caprivi Strip, $22; Deadvlei, $22
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<A:B QUICK CUISINE
The history of this popular tea is as interesting as its spicy sweet taste B Y E M M A G R AY
YOU’VE PROBABLY SEEN a chai tea latte listed on your local coffee shop’s menu. With only a third of the caffeine and numerous health benefits, the sweet, spicy and milky tea is a sensible substitute for coffee. “Chai tea” is repetitive since “chai” is the Hindi term for tea. Tea has a long history in India, beginning as far back as 500 B.C.E., when tea was consumed for its therapeutic qualities. In the 17th century, the British started the East India Trading Company and began growing tea in the Himalayan foothills. While the British drank black tea with milk and sugar, the Indians added spices to make chai in its current form. Today, India produces more tea than any other country besides China. In India, serving chai is a form of hospitality, and it is the second-most consumed beverage after water. Traditionally, chai is made by boiling tea leaves with milk and other spices, but there is no standard recipe since every household has its own preferred blend. Tea from the northeastern Assam region is best for chai because its bold flavor is not lost when combined with other flavors like ginger, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and black pepper.
INGREDIENTS & BENEFITS: BLACK TEA: antioxidant, antiviral, calms & focuses the mind GINGER: anti-inflammatory, improves digestion, supports immune system, stimulates circulation, reduces cholesterol CINNAMON: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, reduces cholesterol, regulates blood sugar CARDAMOM: improves digestion, supports immune system, stimulates circulation, relieves stomach acidity CLOVES: antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, improves digestion, regulates metabolism BLACK PEPPER: antioxidant, antibacterial, improves digestion, relieves nasal congestion SOURCES: THECHAICART.COM, MINDBODYGREEN.COM, CHAI-DIRECT.COM
MAKE IT INGREDIENTS 2 cups of water ½ tsp freshly grated ginger ½ tsp whole black peppercorn 4 whole cloves 1 cinnamon stick 4 whole cardamom pods 4 tbsp sugar (or to taste) 4 black tea bags 12 /// *DWHV $MDU 0DJD]LQH
DIRECTIONS 1. Press the cardamom pods until they crack. 2. In a small saucepan, bring water, ginger, peppercorn, cloves, cinnamon, and cracked cardamom pods to a boil for 2 minutes. 3. Add milk and sugar and boil for 2 minutes. 4. Remove from heat and add tea. Cover and steep for 3+ minutes. 5. Strain and serve.
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FRORU IHVW Four products, one color B Y E M M A G R AY
1. Linen Cushion Cover, H&M, $17.95, hm.com/us/ product/19243 2. Mouth-Blown Hobnail Bottleneck Vase, Anthropologie, $24, anthropologie.com/anthro/product/28891869.jsp 3. Toulouse Green 9.5”Plate, Crate & Barrel, $21.56, crateandbarrel.com/toulouse-green-9.5-plate/s549266 4. Botticino Marble Coasters, set of 4, Anthropologie, $40, anthropologie.com/anthro/product/28840791.jsp
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1 TILE PHOTO BY CALVIN LEE ON FLICKR, FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/CLEE130/6192167754
IMPORTANT TO THE RELIGION of Islam, green stands out in the arid Middle East where the prophet Muhammad lived and taught. The Qur’an promises a lush, green paradise to those who are faithful. In fact, green binding is used for copies of the Qur’an. The prophet Muhammad wore a green cloak and turban, and sura 18:31, states: “They have deserved gardens of Eden wherein rivers flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and will wear clothes of green silk and velvet, and will rest on comfortable furnishings. What a wonderful reward; what a wonderful abode!” These four products showcase the color that is symbolic of nature and life.
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Artwork from various religions line the bright, airy yoga room at the Shanti Yoga Ashram in Bethesda, Md.
SARASWATI SLIPS ON her sandals from a pile near the front door of her residence at the Shanti Yoga Ashram in Bethesda. She throws her blonde hair over her shoulder so that it falls straight to her waistline on top of her all-white outfit. She opens the door to a sunny Saturday afternoon and walks to another larger structure that looks like three separate buildings merged into one. A statue of the Virgin Mary welcomes her with open arms to a stone staircase that leads down to another door, the sounds of water swirling through a fountain beside her. She removes her sandals and enters into a large room with shiny white-painted floors and lined with windows. A Buddha figurine, a picture of Jesus and other religious items are scattered throughout the room. She gets a cushion from the cabinet, sits patiently on the floor and sweeps her long hair off the ground and into her lap. Running her fingers repeatedly through the strands, Saraswati, whose given name is Jennifer Moulden, explains that she is one of six people who live at the ashram permanently, along with occasional travelers passing through. 18 /// *DWHV $MDU 0DJD]LQH
Soon, two other ashram students join her, Amy Finnegan, who is referred to as Durga, and Brigid Rauch, who goes by Gayatri. Vyasa Deva, the revered spiritual teacher of the ashram enters slowly and perches himself on a raised stool. Wrinkled from years of experience and wisdom, Vyasa, whose given name is Victor Lana, explains that he came to yoga in his home country of Peru, a stark contrast from where he sits now. He’s seen yoga develop and expand in the West from the beginning. “Of course, it is not the classical yoga because the purpose of yoga is a spiritual purpose; it is not physical exercises,” he states. “But in the West it has turned into another fitness program, you know, which is not bad because it does help, but the beautiful thing – and I think it’s changing now too – is there is more and more interest in the philosophical aspect of it.” TODAY, YOGA IS ONE of the most popular ways to get fit. In the Tenleytown area of Washington, D.C., there are four yoga studios, each boasting unique sessions such as hot yoga, prenatal yoga, toddler yoga and curvy yoga. They appeal to moth-
DVKWDQJD THE 8 LIMBS OF YOGA \DPD _ SOCIAL CONDUCT & INTEGRITY The first limb addresses one’s ethical standards and external behavior. There are five yamas: ahimsa (nonviolence), satya, (truthfulness), asteya (nonstealing), brahmacharya (self-restraint) and aparigraha (noncovetousness).
QL\DPD _ SELF-DISCIPLINE The second limb encourages disciplined personal conduct and practices. There are five niyamas: saucha (purity), samtosa (contentment), tapas (self-discipline), svadhyaya (spiritual study) and isvara pranidhana (surrender to God).
DVDQD _ POSTURE Care for the body is considered important to spiritual growth. Asana should strengthen and heal, not overtax the body.
SUDQD\DPD _ BREATH CONTROL ers with stories of postnatal weight loss and sessions with provided childcare. Yoga has even had a steady stream of cameo appearances in the romantic comedy movie genre, with scenes in Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Universal, 2008), Couples Retreat (Universal, 2009) and 27 Dresses (Twentieth Century Fox, 2008). Furthermore, some universities have added yoga to their recreational class offerings. Stephanie Pan, a senior at American University, recently enrolled in her first yoga class for the fall semester. “I wanted a class that I could get some exercise in because, when you’re in college, it’s difficult to find the time for that,” Pan explained. “Also, it’s senior year and the course load can get to be stressful, so I wanted something that would alleviate that.” However, some are concerned about how far the modern, Western yoga tradition has strayed from its religious origins. “At some point, what people are practicing, especially here in the West, is no longer yoga,” says Sheetal Shah, Senior Director at the Hindu American Foundation. “It’s just a physical practice, which has its own benefits, but it’s not yoga.” »
The breath links the physical, mental and emotional aspects of the body. The fourth limb seeks to master the breath in order to gain control of the different aspects of the body.
SUDW\DKDUD _ WITHDRAWAL OF SENSES The fifth limb seeks to consciously avoid the distractions of the external world in order to direct attention inward.
GKDUDQD _ CONCENTRATION After drawing away from external distractions, one can address the wandering of the mind. In the sixth limb, one concentrates on a single mental object to slow down the mind.
GK\DQD _ MEDITATION Meditation goes one step further than concentration. The mind is still and produces few or no thoughts. It is “the uninterrupted flow of concentration.”
VDPDGKL _ SELF-REALIZATION In the final stage, the seeker transcends the Self and unites with the Divine. This can be a temporary or permanent state. SOURCE: YOGA JOURNAL, YOGAJOURNAL.COM/BASICS/158
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YOGA HISTORICALLY, YOGA IS A Hindu practice that looks much different from the routine that defines “yoga” in the Western context. Yoga is an eight-limbed concept that encompasses life through social conduct, self-discipline, breath control, withdrawal of the senses, concentration, meditation and self-realization. The third limb, asana, refers to right posture and physical awareness, and this is what has become synonymous with the Western idea of “yoga.” “While asana is a great entry point into yoga, the perfect downward dog or headstand is not the end goal of yoga,” says Shah. “The end goal of yoga is samadhi, or union with the Divine.” The residents of the Shanti Yoga Ashram do engage with the other aspects of yoga. They started a community supported agriculture (CSA) program, which provides
Lakshmi and volunteers pack boxes of biodynamic food for the Spiritual Food CSA.
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“sattwic” – or pure – food for supporting members of the community. Each week, the Spiritual Food CSA gathers fruit, eggs and seasonable vegetables from local biodynamic farms that avoid the use of any chemicals. The food is packaged at the ashram, and community members who have paid for a share of the harvest come and retrieve the fresh food. “The Spiritual Food CSA offers an extraordinary opportunity for like-minded people to come together in community to manifest – by acting directly and consciously – the model of a new world on which a new positive collective consciousness will be built,” Vyasa says. “When people dare to take responsibility for their own destiny, work together and sacrifice if necessary for values and principles such as truth, cooperation, love and peace, these virtues will be upheld for the good of all.”
IN THE UNITED STATES, yoga practice was often met with hostility from people who were unsure of its “spiritual” purpose in the beginning. Vyasa, who opened the first Shanti Yoga Ashram in Wheaton, Md. in 1987, experienced these prejudices firsthand. Forced to leave by unhappy neighbors, he and the other ashram residents found a house to rent on Fessenden Street in Washington, D.C. Their landlord was open-minded, but complaints from those neighbors about the nature of the residence were voiced consistently. The landlord refused to renew the lease the following year. Searching for a new space, Vyasa found the two houses his ashram currently occupies in Bethesda. Neighbors who heard about the impending move raised complaints to the city, but when the city council held a meeting to formally make a decision,
none of the opposition showed up. Vyasa and his students were allowed to move into the houses, and the disgruntled neighbors have since moved away, he says. VYASA IS PLEASED WITH the increased interest in yoga. “Yoga has come a long way, really, since 20 or 30 years ago,” he states, “There are still people who think that yoga is tied to the devil, but now there are yoga studios all over the city, all over the world. So yoga is something that is part of the mainstream now.” Indeed, yoga “studios,” in themselves a Western concept, are increasing in number to meet popular demand. “I think yoga has become so popular because it’s a group exercise,” Pan suggests. “You can plan to do it at a specific time with friends, and that motivates people who are on the go to have a scheduled time. But you can also do it on your own. It can work its way into your lifestyle no matter how busy you are.” Durga, who has been living at the Shanti Yoga Ashram for seven years, has a more philosophical opinion. “Yoga offers a step-by-step process, and it promises that if you follow all these steps faithfully, then you will learn the answer to those questions which no one really can tell you,” she concludes. Shah is equally optimistic about the future of yoga in the West, which she credits to broader discussion about the Hindu roots of yoga. There is still work to be done, however. “Personally, I’d like to see yoga training revamped,” she says. “Teachers who are required to read the Yoga Sutras or the Bhagavad Gita as part of their training should be clearly aware that those are very much Hindu texts and should understand how the physical practice integrates with the holistic practice of yoga.” Vyasa, Durga, Gayatri and Saraswathi sit cross-legged with their hands on their knees. Their palms face upward, and their thumb and first finger meet to form a circle. Eyes closed, they recite the Prayer of Saint Francis of Asissi. Their unified “amen” is followed by one more word. “Namaste.” They turn and bow to each other.
A volunteer holds fresh bread from the Spiritual Food CSA.
The ashram residents grow vegetables in their garden.
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COURTESY OF CHRISTY PRATT
From the Midwest to the Australian coast, Christy Pratt stays true to herself and her ministry. B Y E M M A G R AY P H O T O S B Y C H R I S T Y P R AT T
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SHE HAS ONLY BEEN in Australia for six months, but Christy Pratt has already picked up the local accent. Speaking of her friends in “Mel-bun,” the 25-year-old American exudes nothing but joy and laughter through a Sunday Skype conversation with 12 hours separating us – nighttime for her and early morning for me. Today, she is excited for the rain, which comes much less frequently than she is used to, and the time she was able to spend with friends. Her day also included a church business meeting, which may as well have taken place in Iowa, her previous home. “People just have accents. That’s all that’s different!” she laughs. Pratt is the new Congregational Support Minister for the Community of Christ congregation in Perth, Western Australia. She’s still learning about the area and what exactly her role entails. “You’re going to do a bajillion different things,” she explains. “A Congregational Support Minister in Perth has a totally different job than a Congregational Support Minister in Sydney. Totally different.” Right now, she is focusing on getting to know her new congregation, and not just at a surface level. Despite the fact that the Perth congregation also has a paid full-time pastor, Christy describes herself as “the eyes and ears of the congregation,” helping the pastor to be aware of everything that is going on. 24 /// *DWHV $MDU 0DJD]LQH
Pratt says the best part of her job is running the church’s food pantry on Wednesdays. On Tuesdays, she stocks up on fresh food from the bulk food bank, and the following morning is spent distributing the share. Anyone in need can come, she says, even if they don’t have any official welfare credentials (called “pension” in Australia). “Our philosophy behind it is all are welcome, no restrictions, no judgments, and we try to cater it to each person,” she says. “A mom might come in, and she might represent six people, 4 kids and a husband. We try to give her enough food for her whole family and not just herself.” In addition to getting people the food that they need, she and other volunteers serve tea, coffee and snacks to their visitors. It’s an important touch, says Pratt, since they likely cannot afford to go to a café and be served there. “That’s definitely the most rewarding part of my job,” she gushes. “I feel like, as a minister, your job title and a lot of things are more descriptors and not concrete things, but food pantry is someplace I have to be every week. It makes more sense. I have responsibilities, tasks, and a to do list. I can check off that everything is done.” HER PATH TO MINISTRY and church employment wasn’t exactly something she had planned. Her early years were spent moving around the country while her father, Daniel, did post-doctoral work in
chemistry at a number of universities. By the time she was in second grade, she had lived in Iowa, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Missouri. While living in Blue Springs, Mo., her father was offered a job as a science professor at Graceland University, a liberal arts college sponsored by the Community of Christ in the small town of Lamoni, Iowa. He took the position, and Christy’s family moved north before the start of her sixth grade year. “I think Lamoni is one of those places you don’t appreciate until you’re older,” says Pratt. “At the time, all I could think about was all I was missing out on, like I don’t get to do this and that. You get very much stuck in the mindset that you’re in a small town. But looking back, I’m very glad I got to grow up there. I got to experience life in a different way because it was small. I got to make more mistakes and learn from them.” She graduated high school a semester early and started taking classes full time at Graceland. At college, Christy explored many different opportunities. “I went into Graceland wanting to do psychology, and then I changed my major to religion because I wanted to be a minister, and then I decided I can be a minster and major in anything I want!” Christy says, smiling. During a freshman trip to Nicaragua, she roomed with one of Graceland’s art professors. Through their conversations,
Christy with her brother, Bob, and sister-in-law, Holly
COURTESY OF CHRISTY PRATT
Christy realized that art was something she really loved and wanted to pursue, so she switched her major again during her sophomore year. When she graduated with a degree in Studio Art in 2011, she says she didn’t really know what she wanted to do next, so she applied for an open internship position in Campus Ministries, which kept her at Graceland for another two years while she worked and earned her seminary degree. “I feel like those two years helped me stay in the church,” she says. “I think that if I had moved away at that point I don’t know if I would have kept as good of a relationship with the church. I think I would have attended whatever local congregation for a while, but I don’t know if I would have felt invested in it. So, since I went to Community of Christ Seminary, it felt like the church was investing in me, so I had a reason to give something back.” DESPITE WORKING IN the campus ministries office, Pratt remained very resistant to the idea of being ordained into the priesthood, although others were sensing a call for her. Specifically, she was struggling with the fact that, at the time, the Community of Christ was not ordaining or recognizing the marriage of anyone who identified as a homosexual. She struggled with the fact that the church claimed that “all are called” yet retained restrictions for who could be considered for ordination. “I think I’d been putting up these walls too, I’ll be honest about that,” she begins. “I had been essentially ‘head Deacon,’ but I called it ‘worship support’ because I didn’t want it to be associated with the priesthood. I’d been putting a lot of walls up and hadn’t really had anyone who was willing to break them down for me or help me break them down.” During the summer of 2012, conversations with a minister named Larry McGuire began to change her perspective. He set up a lunch with another church member who was gay and who was in seminary with her. He reminded Christy that the church needed advocates for more inclusive policies on the inside as well. »
Christy with her parents, Susie and Daniel Pratt
Christy with her parents, Daniel and Susie Pratt
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“That made enough of a difference to open me up to talking about it,” she says. “I still wasn’t sold, but I felt like I could make more of a difference being an Elder, and I couldn’t work for the church unless I had priesthood. So I realized that if I wanted to continue being in this sort of a role and having that as part of my life, then I need to change my mind, and change perspective, and be open to it.” She was ordained to the ministry of Elder in February 2013, and McGuire spoke during the service. “For me, he was a big deal. He was kind of that one person that changed my perspective on it enough to want to accept [the call],” she says. JUST A FEW MONTHS after her ordination, Pratt attended the Community of Christ’s World Conference, an opportunity for the international church body to get together and make legislative and spiritual decisions for the direction of the church. In addition to passing legislation that changed the church policy to allow gay members to be considered for ordination and to allow priesthood members to perform wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples, Pratt found herself
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in a conversation with an Australian. Ben Smith, who was a Congregational Support Minister in Perth, had plans to move to Melbourne and wanted to know if she had ever thought of moving to Australia. He asked her if she would be interested in the position. Christy told him he was crazy. That night, she was still thinking about the conversation and called up one of her best friends, Brittany Longsdorf. She convinced Pratt to give it a shot. “So I went home one night during conference, and applied for a job in Australia!” she laughs. One thing led to another, and by the end of the year she was preparing to move halfway around the world. Starting with Longsdorf ’s wedding in Princeton, N.J., her summer was filled with trips across the country to see friends and family. “My summer was nuts!” she says, while she struggles to remember all the places she went. “It was awesome though. I feel like it was the best way to say goodbye to the U.S. I got to see so many of the people I wouldn’t have gotten to see otherwise.” She spent her last few weeks in Portland, Ore. with her older brother, with whom she hadn’t had the opportunity to spend much time during her years at Graceland. They cel-
ebrated his 30th birthday together before her visa was approved and it was time to leave. After flying into Perth, she stayed with a local family for a few weeks while looking for an apartment. Armed with only two large suitcases and two carry-ons, the local church helped her furnish the apartment with hand-me-downs. DESPITE HER NEW LOCATION, Pratt continues to be a bit of rebel, especially against a hierarchy she has seen in her new congregation. The congregation’s schedule designates two people as in charge of a service, and it’s assumed that the person with the “higher” priesthood will preach. “So I did a service a few weeks ago and the other person was a Priest [and I’m an Elder], but I said, ‘You’re preaching! I don’t want to,’” she says. “For me, it’s really not that big of a deal. I don’t play into those priesthood roles and hierarchy. No. Uh-uh.” Looking toward her future task list, she says she’d like to focus on growing the local church’s youth and young adult programs since they have few youth that each fit in different age groups: a few kids under 2, a 5-year old, a 15-year-old named Vienna, and her older brother Leon, who is 19. »
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Growing up, Pratt was involved with strong church youth programs in Lamoni. “We had tons of kids and activities were great because pretty much everybody in Lamoni went to them. It was awesome,” she remembers. “It just really makes me sad that [Vienna] doesn’t get that same opportunity, and she won’t have that same community growing up.” She’s already identified these as challenges that need to be addressed, but she admits that, although she sees a definite need, it’s scary to attempt to change things. “Our congregation is not set up to cater to children – to loud, noisemaking babies,” she laments. “I’d like to grow that. I think they want the community and they want to be involved, but when you come to church and your children are screaming half the time and all the old people are grumpy. Why would they want to come back? This isn’t welcoming at all!” But she’s willing to work through these obstacles for a church that she loves and that has made her feel welcome. “Every Community of Christ congregation is a bunch of weird, quirky people that all found themselves in the same building,” she observes. “They all like to sing. Most of them can’t. They all love potlucks and fellowshipping way more than actually sitting in church.” But most of all, she says, “I come into the church [in Perth] and feel like I’m at home. There’s that same spirit everywhere.” HER VISA WILL EXPIRE in September 2015, but she can extend it and doesn’t have plans to leave anytime soon. As for more distant goals, Pratt says she’s considered crossing an item off her bucket list and pursuing a master’s degree in Art History. “I do enjoy my job, but there are definitely times that I feel a huge pull to be back in that art world,” she says, “but I anticipate that I’ll be here longer than another year and a half. That just doesn’t seem like enough time. You only live once, you might as well stay longer in a place when you have the opportunity to do so.” 28 /// *DWHV $MDU 0DJD]LQH
There isn’t any shortage of fun in Christy’s new home!
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PHOTO ESSAY
PDDVDL AN ENDURING COMMUNITY AND C U LT U R E I N TA N Z A N I A
P H O T O S B Y E M M A G R AY
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UHOLJLRXV REVHUYDQFHV Here’s a list of what people in various religions will be commemorating in the upcoming months:
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BELTANE (PAGAN)
Beltane is the Gaelic May Day festival and is halfway been the spring equinox and the summer solstice.
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TWELFTH DAY OF RIDVAN (BAHÁ’Í)
Ridván is a twelve-day festival and celebrates the founder of Bahá’í, Bahá’u’lláh. The first, ninth and twelfth days are designated holy days and work is prohibited. The twelfth day marks the departure of Bahá’u’lláh and his family from the Ridván garden and the end of the holiday period.
BIRTH OF GURU ARJAN DEV (SIKH)
Guru Arjan was the fifth of the eleven Sikh Gurus, and served as the Guru of Sikhism between 1581 and 1606. His writings became part of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book.
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YOM HAZIKARON (JEWISH)
Yom Hazikaron is the “Day of Remembrance,” Israel’s memorial day. Traditionally, it commemorated fallen soldiers, but now includes victims of political violence and terrorism.
YOM HA’ATZMAUT (JEWISH)
Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrates the 1948 Israeli Declaration of Independence and is celebrated on the 5th of Iyar, according to the Hebrew calendar.
WESAK/BUDDHA DAY (BUDDHIST)
Buddhists observe Wesak around the world. Sometimes called “Buddha’s Birthday,” the day actually celebrates the entire life of the Buddha from birth to enlightenment to death.
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Lag B’Omer is observed on the 18th day of Iyar on the Hebrew calendar. It commemorates Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a Jewish sage in the first century.
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TRINITY SUNDAY (CHRISTIAN)
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MARTYRDOM OF GURU ARJAN DEV (SIKH)
YOM YERUSHALAYIM (JEWISH)
Yom Yerushalayim or Jerusalem Day is a national holiday in Israel and marks the reestablishment of Israeli control of the city in 1967.
ASCENSION OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH (BAHÁ’Í)
This day marks the death of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í faith, in 1892 at the age of 75.
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LITHA/SUMMER SOLSTICE (PAGAN)
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RAMADAN BEGINS (ISLAMIC)
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FEAST OF SAINTS PETER & PAUL (CHRISTIAN)
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SHAVUOT (JEWISH)
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PENTECOST/WHITSUNDAY (CHRISTIAN)
For Jews, Shavuot marks the day God gave them the Torah at Mount Sinai.
In Christianity, Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and other followers of Jesus as described in the Biblical
Trinity Sunday celebrates the Chrisitan doctrine of a three-part divinity: God, Son and Holy Spirit. It is observed on the first Sunday after Pentecost.
In 1606, the Muslim Emperor of the Mughal Empire sentenced Guru Arjan to torture and death because he was seen as a threat to the state. After five days of torture, he was taken to bathe in the river and was never seen again.
ASCENSION DAY (CHRISTIAN)
Ascension Day celebrates Jesus’ ascension to heaven and is observed on the 40th day of Easter.
NISF SHABAAN/NIGHT OF SALVATION (ISLAMIC)
During the Night of Salvation, Muslims observe a nightlong vigil, remember past sins and pray for forgiveness from God.
DECLARATION OF THE BÁB (BAHÁ’Í)
In 1844, Siyyid `Alí-Muhammad, the Báb (“gate” in Arabic), announced that he had a divine revelation. Bahá’ís do not work on this day and celebrate through the retelling of his story.
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book of Acts. It is celebrated 50 days after Easter Sunday.
LAG B’OMER (JEWISH)
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year where the sun reaches its highest point.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset daily. The fast includes not only food, but also liquids, smoking, sexual relations and other worldly indulgences. Typically, the time is also marked by increased prayer and reading of the Qur’an.
This day serves to honor the death and martyrdom of apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Rome.
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