To Call at Dawn
Bismillah arrahman arrahim.
In the name of Oneness, compassionate and merciful.
I have been offering a respectful adaptation of the Islamic adhan since 2010, at various times of day, and committed to offering the Call at Dawn every morning since Autumn Equinox 2018.
Wherever I am in the world, I am committed to Calling at dawn each day. Most days, I make it. Some days, I invite you to witness the Call, in person or by broadcasting live on social media. Every day, you are welcome to come and join me. Please contact me directly to ask for my location.
Timings for each day are generous, somewhere between the Dawn beginning and the completely risen Sun. You can check timings using the traditional methods of solar calendar tracking, or use Google.
With a clear sky and uninterrupted view of the horizon, it is most exquisite to Call as our orb rises above the mantel and completes full revelation. By some grace and measure, the length of time of your Calling can coincide perfectly with the length of time of our whole fireball rising over the horizon.
On a cloudy day any time between Dawn’s first light and the daylight of the fully risen Sun is marvellous for Calling. You will notice how the light and colours shift from moment to moment, infinitely complexly changing shades of blue, grey, gold, magenta, peach.
The glories of dawn and your Call offer surrender with devotion and gratitude to the beauty of creation. Perhaps you will Call with the first bird’s song. They often greet me, and I adore them.
Would you like to offer your own Call to Prayer, or adhan, at the beginning of each day?
Dusk is also pleasing. Between dusk and sunset is the Hour of Solomon, the beginning of the Islamic day, when time refracts, as if bent by a prism.
Really, however, Dawn is the nectar hour, when fresh dew remembers its resting place and tender jewelled sweetness returns with our light.
Let your body wake…
I have been offering a respectful adaptation of the Islamic adhan since 2010, at various times of day, and have developed a fond properness for Calling at Dawn, for travelling all over the world to share the Call in unusual contexts, and for teaching folx how to Call.
Here are some helpful tips for Calling at dawn.
Wake in good time to prepare yourself for Calling — either from full sleep or from whatever phrase of being that you have completed in order to hold the Dawn. I find that any less than 30 minutes between waking and Calling feels rushed.
Drink plenty of water. A good musician friend once told me to drink two pints of water one hour before singing, as this is how long it takes for your body to become hydrated. While Calling is not singing, it uses many of the same parts of your physical being.
Stretch the muscles that support your voice. These are the muscles of your face, neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen, hips and pelvis. Stretching enables you to offer your full body’s power in service of the Call.
In honour of Islamic tradition, you may undertake a literal or symbolic cleansing, or wudu. You may want to simply wash your mouth, eyes, ears and hands, or include more of your corporeal vessel. I also like to anoint myself with preparatory oils — cedar, sage, pine, lavender, bitter orange and grapefruit feel good to me.
Dress in loose, comfortable, appropriately warm and sensuously alive fabrics — satins, silks, wools, furs, cottons, linens, hemp, suede, leather. Wrap yourself in the glory of creation; be blessed by the fruits of Nature. Also consider adorning your body with meaningful jewels, ceremonial robes, favoured scarves, any object which may seek blessing from your Call and the Dawn. Your body is an altar to Oneness, so dress it accordingly.
Place yourself so that all you want to see can be seen. I like to pick somewhere that will have a natural sonic resonance, in order to carry the sound as far as it may wish to travel, so that the sound of the Call may reach each of the souls longing to return to Oneness.
Face towards Mecca in honour of Islamic tradition, or towards to the direction of the rising Sun, or in any direction which you seek to bless.
Tune into the sonic vibrations of your body within this place. Become one with your environment and be at peace with all that creation is offering to you in this moment.
Ask consent of this moment that you may offer your gift of devotion. Listen deeply to receive the appropriate response. When the moment is in full union with your intention, proceed to Call. Because I know we love it so, I hold for peace.
When Calling out in devotion, you are in service. Calling to the longing of each soul to return to Oneness, you are listening deeply to receive the awareness of your Call’s deliverance. Allow your voice to channel Oneness. Liberate yourself from listening to your own voice and instead listen for the sound of souls responding to the Call with longing. Listening intently; you will know when your Call has been delivered.
After I have finished Calling, in reverence with the traditions of Islam, I kneel and kiss the ground below me before placing my forehead on the earth. I do this three times. In this way, my Call has requested consent for this kiss, and by kneeling I show gratitude, love and submission to the will of Oneness.
While kneeling you may choose to pray in your own fashion: perhaps salah, meditation, contemplation, presencing, song, writing, movement, touch. Howsoever you prefer to commune with the divine, this is an ideal time for that communion.
Bid farewell to the glorious Dawn, to this moment you have shared, and offer gratitude to creation for your opportunity to offer this act in service of Oneness.
Breakfast sweetly, and begin your day with reverence.
There is no god greater than Oneness.
Yours ever,
Your own,
Beloved Sara Zaltash.
Calling at Breaking Convention, 2017.
Calling at Parliament Square at the launch of Extinction Rebellion, 31st October 2018. Image credit: Paul Powlesland.
Unless otherwise stated, images on this page are credited to Paul Blakemore, Hana Wolf and ADC Hamburg.