‘Experiment with Light’ is a method for actively engaging with the silent worship practised in Quaker Meetings, inspired by early Friends’ experiences, as illustrated by their writings. It was originally devised by the British Quaker Rex Ambler, and has since been continued and developed in various Quaker study centres and Quaker Meetings.

An ‘Experiment with Light’ workshop was held at Ennismore Retreat Centre and Cork Meeting House from 11th – 13th November 2016. The workshop provided an introduction to this practice, as interpreted by the two facilitators – John Spencer of Rochester Meeting in West Kent and Medhina of Lewes Meeting in Sussex. A number of Cork Friends organised and supported the workshop, which had 18 participants from 7 Meetings and Worship Groups within IYM. Below are impressions from 5 of these participants.
On arriving at Richard and Denise’s house on Friday evening, we were greeted by a lovely group of people. We had a wonderful meal, and this was a great opportunity to meet everyone. That evening, at our first session in the retreat centre, we had a good introduction into the practice.

On Saturday, we moved into the second session, “Experiment with Light based on the individual”. After preparing us for the session, Medhina guided us through a meditation, taking time between each step for us to sit in silence. The meditation was aimed at helping us to focus on the concerns in our lives, and it was wonderful to feel the warm energy moving between us. A strong bond formed between us – people seemed to rejoice in each other’s company. I liked the part when we moved into small groups and put on paper by writing and drawing what was happening inside ourselves. This opened up some deep discussions between us.

In the Session 3, we moved into group concerns. This felt quite different – in the individual session, we all seemed to be deeply involved with our own issues, whilst still being totally there for each other – the energy was very alive and full of colour. In the group session, it felt like we were on a different level, as if we were connected in a stronger way. The individual session was truly “Experiment with Light”, but in the group session, it felt as if we were now “dwelling in the Light” – there was a peace among us, a “presence of the Spirit”. Several people talked afterwards about how relaxed and at ease they felt, so much so that one or two felt sleepy; “resting in the safety of the Spirit” was how it felt to me.
John dressed up like George Fox in Session 4. This was so well done, and people reacted in a very natural way – our problems of today being so relevant to the solutions of George Fox. Some good “rants” developed.

On Sunday we had our closing sessions, ending with some great yoga exercises with Lu. A high point of Sunday was the course participants getting together with Cork Quakers for Meeting for Worship at 11.00. After lunch (lovely soup), we drove home to Glengariff.

I am now looking forward to the fruits of our course – hopefully some “Light Groups” will be established soon.
— Patrick Goyvaerts (Bantry Worship Group)
I was very happy to attend the “Experiment with Light” weekend in Cork. It began with a well organized and tasty meal, prepared by Richard at his and Denise’s house. This was a lovely way for us all to meet and get to know each other. We then traveled to the Retreat Centre for a short introductory session.

On Sunday, we wound up the workshop at the Cork Meeting House and joined Cork Friends for Meeting for Worship.

The weekend was well organized, the tutors were clear, honest and warm-hearted, and Denise as Elder was a steadying and reassuring presence.

I personally only got faint glimmers of illumination, but I am excited about the process. For me, it represents the essence of Quakerism, because it teaches us to discover and respond to the Light within. I feel encouraged by my faint glimmers and will continue to work with it. I am hoping to form a local Light Group.

— Sarah Goyvaerts (Bantry Worship Group)
As a recent addition to the Religious Society of Friends, with over 4 years as an Attender in Monkstown, I delighted in the recent weekend “Experiment with Light” in Cork this November.

I believe instinct to be a main driving force in my understanding of Meeting for . I atteip right from the first day I arrived at MonkstnWorshownded my first Yearly Meeting in Cork in 2013, and upon reading the programme for that weekend, the workshop by Rex Ambler struck me as something of interest. Having attended the workshop then, I knew that I was coming to something that would be helpful in the future. But I knew not what.

In was suggested that my first meeting in Monkstown in June 2012 was a Homecoming. I now can saw with safety that I agree with that notion. The weekend this November on “Experiment with Light” is like an extension of that Homecoming. Another door has been opened on the same ground, but I sense now more on a fertile plain. It appears that the early Quakers found a direct way to God, and I believe that way is available to every Friend in Meeting for Worship. I believe that this can strengthen that link for me. I am finding this almost accidentally and by instinct.

What I know is little, but what I feel is immense! I encourage those who are curious to delve into this process, “Experiment with Light”, to see if it is for them. I sense that it could be a way forward for me, but I need to practice and require more time to pronounce with certainty as to its long term benefits. — Conor Hayes (Monkstown Meeting)

I was delighted for this opportunity to experience the method developed by Rex Ambler from his research on the writings of George Fox and other early Friends. I enjoyed the fellowship and the time spent with Friends from throughout Ireland Yearly Meeting. I hope that we will have further opportunities to practice the method and speak of our experiences in what has proved to be a powerful learning environment. While there was an emphasis on individual experience of settling down and centering, there was also a challenge to reconnect with the energy and passion of early Friends, in relation to our Meetings and to the Society as a whole. I believe that we will all continue to use the method and hopefully we will be able to share our learnings with those interested Friends in our Meetings who could not get to Cork on this occasion.

It was great to see that the invitation extended to the Amblers to bring the experiment with Light to Yearly Meeting in Cork 2013 had resulted in this workshop organised by Denise Gabuzda, making me anticipate what may emerge from Limerick’s experience of hosting YM in 2018.
— Pauline Goggin (Limerick Meeting)
This was for me an amazing week-end! Because I had heard Rex Ambler talk to us at our IYM held in Cork about the early Quaker understanding of “inner light”, I expected great things from this week-end. In fact, it exceeded my expectations.

Also, I felt that each of us participating was caught up in a feeling that something special was in the air. Maybe it could be called a “gathered” week-end? We owe a deep debt of gratitude to Denise Gabuzda and Cork Friends for making it all possible and the two British Friends who facilitated.

As I write this report two weeks later, I can now better put words on the something very special that this week-end was, for me. Up to this I have found myself, much too often, explaining Quakerism to others, in terms of what it doesn’t have, rarely in terms of what it does have! And yet I know that this is crazy! Something very special must have happened to enable George Fox and early Friends, a group of ordinary people with no pretensions to any specialized knowledge of spiritual matters or social issues to, first of all, do the hardest of all human tasks – change their own hearts – and then have the courage to go forth and seek to change the world! This week-end threw light for me on what this something special was and from now on this new understanding will be central to what I say to others about what Quakerism is.

Over our week-end, through various in-puts and exercises, all was clarified through a special understanding of an ordinary word – LIGHT.

When light isn’t just the electric light that I can turn on with a switch but a light deep within me that I, alone, am incapable of turning on but must let God’s inner spirit do the turning on – then, in the very simple but very profound words of Fox, “what can be known of God, is revealed within you”. Incredible! That put an end to all the big tomes of Christian theology and brought us much closer to the simple parables of Jesus.

In this light all personal and global problems can find new understanding. In this light early Quakers had the courage to sally forth and they dared to change the world.

Next time I am asked what is Quakerism, I am going to try to put this new understanding of Light into a simple but wonderfully positive sentence. Can any Friends help me?

— Irene Ni Mhaille (Monkstown Meeting)

This piece was originally published in the January – February 2017 edition of ‘The Friendly Word’.

There were two major events during 1916 in Ireland. The first was the Easter Rising, a rebellion against British imperial rule. The second was the battle of the Somme in which thousands of individuals from this island were killed and injured in a war caused by German and British conflict. This indicates an area of uncertainty and confusion in Irish cultural self-perception, different from that of other countries engaged in the 1914-18 war.

Dublin Monthly Meeting Peace Committee sought a means of commemorating the individual worth everyone injured or killed in violence, with particular focus on the Somme and the Easter Rising.

On 19th November we set up a small marquee in one of the main public parklands in Dublin – Merrion Square. We invited anyone walking by to come and make a white poppy, then to plant it. 101 poppies were planted during the initiative, which took place the day after the 100-year anniversary of the end of the battle of the Somme (18th November 1916).

During the day we had readings in French, English and the original and powerful text of All Quiet on the Western Front. There was also a poem in French by Louis Aragon. We ended the day by formally laying down each poppy, then standing in a circle around them and reading the 1661 Peace Testimony. We then finished with a couple of minutes’ silent worship.

This event was deeply emotional for many people whose grandparents had been in the Somme. It created a sense of shared concern – everyone had the same intention and similar recollections. A public event in which each participated for the same purpose gave collective strength to each person.

In the 18th and 19th centuries many Irish country towns had a significant Quaker community, often involved in milling and other local industry. Rathangan Meeting was established in 1728 and laid down in 1918.

By 1960 the small meeting house was a ruin but it has since been converted into a garage.

The last interment in the adjacent burial ground was in 1909.

Totally neglected and overgrown with trees and brambles, it was taken in hand by the local Tidy Towns some years ago and has been beautifully restored and is now both a wonderful enclosed space in the town and a reminder of the importance of the town’s Quaker heritage.

A small number of headstones survive but, with the assistance of the Quaker Historical Library Dublin, it has been possible to establish the names of those buried there and these names are now recorded on limestone tablets attached to the walls.

This last has been possible thanks to generous local contributions and to help from the Historical Library and Dublin Monthly Meeting.

Rathangan is 6 miles North West of Kildare Town.  The Burial Ground is at the south-east corner of the village where the R414 takes a sharp left turn towards the north.

‘Enough is Plenty – Reclaiming the Common Good’ was the theme of an event that took place in the Agápē Centre (South Belfast Methodists) on 24 September 2016. The event was jointly hosted by the Methodist congregation and South Belfast Quaker Meeting. 

Many thanks to Tony Weekes of South Belfast Quaker Meeting for sending us the following report:

‘Enough is Plenty’ is the title of an event which took place at the Agápē Centre (South Belfast Methodists) on the afternoon of Saturday 24 September. It explored what makes for a society where ‘enough is plenty’ – addressing contemporary moral, economic and theological issues in our affluent and waste-prone society.

The theme and content was inspired by the Joy in Enough movement: a challenge to Christians in Britain, and an invitation to all people of good will, to join in building a just economy within the ecological limits of the Earth. The title – Enough is Plenty – was taken from a book by Anne Ryan, a writer, educator and community activist from Co Kildare, and a former member of the academic staff in Maynooth University.

Anne Ryan’s contribution:

Anne was the principal speaker at the event. Her contribution began by offering an interpretation of Enough: a platform for talking, thinking and acting about the kind of world we would like to live in; Enough as a shorthand for an ecological, moral, love, care, aesthetic world view, bringing together ecology, economics and ethics.

She reminded us that Enough has a good history; it is rooted in past generations and has been valued and practised by several great wisdom traditions.  The concept is founded on a belief that humans have the inherent capacity to be cooperative and participative, to share resources and to devise an inclusive social economy and forms of work that foster these capacities and care for the planet.

It brings in the ideas and values of diversity: what we refer to as ‘work’ is much more than paid employment; the need to develop talents for the benefit of all; using the many possible ways of making decisions.

She continued by reminding us that there is a necessary role for responsive government, but that this is a two-way process.  We must seek to challenge the views of the dominant media and politics; we must challenge the obsession that public policy is about a return to ‘business as usual’.

It was a rich and eloquent contribution, and impossible to summarise in a few words. To end this very partial summary I offer the following quote from Anne’s aide-memoire:

“Enough is a key concept for the future because it is living, adaptive and dynamic; the future is uncertain, we don’t know the precise things we are going to require. Evidence is past-based – not always suitable for the future. The form of the ecological economy is not to be determined in advance – we don’t really know what it would look like

Enough is a call to action and a practical set of ideas, not solely an intellectual or abstract concept … It is about engagement rather than transcendence – there is no fixed end point, we make the road by walking – of course, there is a risk in entering this space of enough – we don’t know what it will look like. Enough is not an objective but a way of life – there is no end state.”

Tony Weekes’ contribution (a former academic economist’s repentance!):

The second presentation was given by me; I took as my title We need a Society, not an Economy. My primary intention was to remind the participants that the purpose of ‘the economy’ is to serve the needs of society (subject to respect for environmental limits and ecological services) – not the other way round.

It was inspired (as is much of my thinking and writing) by Schumacher’s book Small is Beautiful. I also took inspiration from several recent speeches by President Michael D Higgins and from the writings of a long-time dissenting economist Manfred Max-Neef.  Max-Neef was once a conventional academic economist. Confronted – some time ago – by a poor man in rural South America, he realised that his academic learning had nothing to say to the plight of this man and his family.  He now refers to himself as a ‘bare-foot economist’, and is an eloquent (and, in academic circles, neglected) advocate for a different kind of economics.

I focussed particularly on his view that there are nine basic human needs, all of which have an impact on ‘the economy’.  At first sight, this impact is not apparent; for example, he identifies ‘affection’ as one of these basic human needs.  What, the sceptic will ask, does this have to do with ‘the economy’? Plenty, I suggest – affection requires economic stability. Uncertain and unstable employment creates poverty, indebtedness and stress.  Outcomes which create an environment which fosters affection, between people in close personal relationships or other, wider relationships.

Another need is participation – a concept to which Anne referred. That too requires relief from the notion of ‘hard work’ so often used by our politicians as the only ‘marker’ for contribution to the economy.

In a few words: our needs are more than shopping.  I left it as a discussion topic for the participants to unpack this further.

James Orr’s contribution

The final presentation was provided by James Orr, director of Friends of the Earth in Northern Ireland.

James offered the title Social Ecology and the Power of Creative Dissent. He showed us, with excellent images, examples of non-violent (‘playful and creative’, in his own words) protests about many aspects of public policy and corporate behaviour. But he also emphasised the need to make it known in the public arena what we do need from government, business and agriculture: energy and food security; action to address the consequences of climate change.  And more.

James closed, leaving us with three words on which to reflect: Reconciliation, Ecology (not ‘the environment’!) and Cooperation  … and a wonderful image of a wild flower meadow.

The overall form of the event

We began at about 2pm and ended around 5.30, with a short break for tea.

Each contribution was followed by around 20 minutes for participative discussion in small groups.  The three main speakers moved around to help, when asked, these conversations.

There were around 40 participants.  David Campton, the resident Methodist minister, did an excellent job as moderator, with good humour and a sharing of his own insights into the issues we are discussing.

It was sponsored and promoted by South Belfast Methodists and South Belfast Quaker Meeting

Notes:

The Joy in Enough movement: http://www.greenchristian.org.uk/joy-in-enough/

Anne Ryan’s book Enough is Plenty is published by O Books. ISBN: 978-1-84694-239-6.

Speeches on economic issues by President Michael D Higgins: the text of the one I quoted is at http://www.president.ie/en/diary/details/president-gives-the-opening-address-at-the-7th-annual-tasc-conference.

Manfred Max-Neef on Human Needs: a paper on these and their implications can be found at http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/background/maxneef.htm

Tony Weekes may be contacted at tony.weekes@gn.apc.org. 

The National Famine Commemoration Ceremony 2016 was held in Glasnevin Cemetery on Sunday 11^th September.

The Religious Society of Friends was represented at the event by Rachel M Bewley-Bateman, Dublin Monthly Meeting Clerk and Member of Churchtown Meeting.

President Michael D. Higgins spoke eloquently about the tragic events in Ireland in the 1840s and unveiled a new Celtic cross in memory of those who died at that time.  It is situated just to the right of the chapel.

22,000 of the one million famine victims are recorded as being buried in Glasnevin.

Rachel M Bewley-Bateman’s great, great uncle Joseph Bewley (who died in 1851) was Joint Secretary of the Friends Famine Relief Committee along with Jonothan Pim, who later became an MP.

Rachel wrote the following prayer, which she shared at the commemoration:

As we remember all those who suffered, died, or were forced to emigrate during the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s  –

Let us remember also those around the world today who are without adequate food, water and shelter, for whatever reason.

Let us consider some of the possible causes of such disasters – dependence on a single crop, poverty and neglect, inequitable land and water distribution, selfishness and greed, abuse of power, climate change, inadequate care for our fellow human beings and our planet.

Let us also give thanks for those who have given and continue to give their lives in the service of others.

May we be given the vision, strength and generosity of spirit to help, in whatever way we can, to alleviate current and future suffering.

Twenty-nine people attended the ‘Muslim Cultural Awareness’ evening hosted by the Welcoming Refugees Group in Churchtown Meeting on 23^rd June.

Shaykh Umar Al-Quadri, Imam of the Mosque at Al-Mustafa Islamic Centre Ireland in Clonee and Chair of the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council, began the session by teaching attendees the Muslim greetings As-salamu alaykum  (Peace be upon you) and Waʿalaykumu s-salām (And upon you, peace).

Shaykh Umar Al-Quadri is an Islamic scholar who co-founded the Al-Mustafa Islamic Cultural Centre Ireland and is also the Chair of the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council, a national representative Muslim body with branches in Dublin, Cork, Athlone, Portlaoise and Belfast. He represents the Muslim community of Ireland in various governmental and non-governmental bodies and organisations, including the Fingal Ethnic Network, Fingal County Council, Citizen Information Centre Blanchardstown and  TCD Scriptural Reasoning Group. He writes occasionally on Islam related affairs in Irish newspapers, particularly The Irish Times.

He was not eating or drinking until 10.00pm because it was Ramadan, fasting time.

Some of the other aspects he talked about were:

The difference between Arabs and Muslims. Arabs are people who speak Arabic. Of the 367 million worldwide, some are Christian or Jewish. 30% of them are Muslim. Not all Muslims are Arabs. There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world today, approximately 24% of the total world population.

Muslim attitudes towards the West. There are Muslims who hate the West. Some look up to the democracy, respect for human rights and some political systems of the West. There are Muslims in-between on this spectrum. While there are cultural differences between Muslims from different countries, the binding concept that all nationalities should worship together is central.

Integration. In Ireland Muslims are well integrated, unlike Britain where they don’t all speak English or even Arabic. There they often worship in their own language together.

The most important things for Muslims are first faith and then family. They would not consider having their elderly parents in nursing homes. They feel a duty to look after them at home as they looked after their children. And usually children would not marry someone of whom their parents did not approve.

Teachings. There are 3 major categories –

Iman i.e. Theology (what they believe). Jesus, Abraham and others were prophets but for them, Jesus is not the Son of God. There is life after death and its quality will be decided by how life on earth is lived.

Islam i.e. 5 pillars of faith –

Shahadah: to believe there is only one God, Allah

Salat: praying in the proper way five times each day

Zakat: paying alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy (2.5% of one’s annual savings : if paid during Ramadan its spiritual benefit is multiplied 700 times)

Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan (some women and children are exempt)

Hajj: the pilgrimage to Mecca

Ihsan i.e. the state of a person’s heart/a pure heart or actions for the love of God.

Correct knowledge of faith. Most Muslims are ignorant of their faith and some confuse faith and culture. This is because children from 5 to 10 years of age are taught to read the Koran but they may not necessarily understand what it means and their religious education may stop then. For instance, all that is required for an Imam to legally bless a Muslim marriage is that both the man and woman are adult and sane, that the man has paid a dowry and that there are two witnesses. Many Muslims think that the parents’ permission is also necessary but this is not so.

Many of the wars in Muslim countries, although described as wars between different branches of the religion, are cultural or economic. A comparison with the Troubles in Northern Ireland was made.

Sufism is the mystical movement in Islam.

Cultural habits and some hints when interacting with Muslim refugees

• Unrelated males and females do not usually shake hands although they may in an intercultural setting. Usually the man would put his hand on his heart and bow towards the woman. The men may kiss each other on the cheek. The women may hug each other.
• Visiting a Muslim home. Bring a gift but not alcohol or pork.
• In a Muslim community, unlike ours where it is considered polite to look someone in the eye, it is considered polite to be shy and not look someone in the eye.
• Id, which will fall on 6^th July, is like Christian Christmas. It’s the end of Ramadan and people prepare a special meal and exchange gifts.
• Pakistani and Indian Muslims have a strong culture of sharing.
• It is considered rude to sit in such a way that you point the soles of your shoes at anyone.
• Syrians take off their shoes when entering a home.
• The only rule of the Koran for women’s attire is that they cover their hair, neck and the side of their face i.e. wear the Nicab. No other clothes are prescribed by the Koran.
• “Mashala” is a blessing on a new baby wishing that the Evil Eye may not look at it.
• It’s best not to talk differences – Sunni or Shia etc. The majority of Muslims are Sunni: they usually don’t go to Shia Mosques. There are less Shia and they will worship at a Sunni Mosque.

Further learning

• Most Hollywood movies portray Muslims as fundamentalist suicide bombers. Some more balanced are:
• The Messenger – Muhammed’s life story.
• Le Grand Voyage – the story of an elderly man’s pilgrimage to Mecca
• Journey into Europe – Prof Akbar Ahmed’s film on life for Muslims in Europe after 9/11
• Rumi – a film still in production and starring Leonardo di Caprio, which aims to present a different Holllywood image of Muslims.

The evening concluded with Shaykh  Al-Quadri inviting all present to the Mosque in Blanchardstown on Saturday 2nd July to celebrate an Iftar dinner.