In 1997, I had the privilege of attending the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in Morocco. Myself and two others served as delegates on behalf of Legacy International, who were co-sponsors of the event.I wish I could capture all of the stories I could tell from that journey. To summarize: We dined on a hill full of red and yellow poppies, beautiful children and elders from the village welcomed us, I watched as men carried round dishes full of glorious food up the hill to us as we waited on woven carpets; during the day we toured many sacred and ancient sites; in the evenings we attended concerts in the courtyard of the Royal Palace, and in gardens and sacred sites in the afternoons. It was in Fes that I met the Agape International Choir and was with them during the day tours. I met great friends who I visit in California every chance I get. It was in Fes that I experience my first hamam. The bath was filled with laughter as the ladies, both old and young, witnessed my surprised at being asked to get naked, the elder ladies scrubbed my back, and I screamed when she alternately poured warm and ice cold water over my head. It was a delight to experience the communion of girls and women as we enjoyed the common tasks of bathing and being drenched in the delight of each others laughter. The men in Morocco are gorgeous. Oh my goodness. Yes ladies, eye candy everywhere. I never felt dishonored by any of them, although this was not the experience of all the women in my group. I did however have one man who followed me around calling me, “beautiful golden woman.” Yes, my skin turned golden in the Moroccan sunlight.The memories keep coming. It was in Fes that I first experienced the Whirling Dervish from Turkey as I sat under a canopy of stars in the courtyard of the Royal Palace. I remember just as the evening ended the sky opened up and we were all in our long gowns and shawls baptized in the sacred water. As I walked with the crowd to the bus, I felt free, at peace, and all was so well in the world. Do you now understand how I could spend a lifetime writing and writing?
#zerotohero
Lorraine "Dr. Rain" Warren, PhD 