Dinner and Divinity - Sunday, July 11th - Yoga and Meditation

Last week, D&D took a beautiful step forward. For the first time in it's 16 months of community building efforts, D&D was hosted outside the confines of our cozy little one-bedroom apartment. It was instead hosted at someone else's "cozy little one-bedroom apartment." :) Not only did it take place at a new location, but it did so under the support of a courageous group of loving souls, who provided the food, space, friends, music, art and divinity for the gathering. As Tanja and I left for California, we left Dinner and Divinity behind, knowing it had matured and had found roots in the people and community upon which it had been founded. Although we could not attend the gathering in person, it remained in our minds and spirits as we cruised up the California coast.

Sunday's D&D was unifying and uplifting as always. Here are what two participants said about the gathering:

• It was a "very good D&D last night full of music, great company, plenty of spirituality, and good food."
• It had "some music, some readings, some food, some art, some meditation...lots of love!"

As the comments above show, D&D encompasses much yet is founded on a very simple premise: "Let's build a stronger community, one potluck at a time and let's engage the arts and reflect on our spiritual nature." It is hosted with openness, love and hospitality. Strangers become friends, hearts leave a little lighter - and a lot happier.

Dinner and Divinity's next gathering will be Saturday, July 24th at 7pm. Hope you can make it!

Carissa, this week's host and Jagadisha, from Be Evolution Hot Yoga,
who lead some chanting and meditation for the gathering.

A lovely group.

Dinner and Divinity - June 12th - Community Building

I am currently reading The Alchemist. Perhaps you've read it too? (If not, I'd HIGHLY recommend it). At one point in the novel, a strangely divine character remarks that "when you want something, the Universe conspires to help you achieve it." Currently, I want to build community, get to know my neighbors, strengthen friendships and create a better world, one day, one activity, one dinner at a time. Slowly but surely, the Universe has been aiding me to achieve this, more every day. Dinner and Divinity has proudly become the foundation of this community building. Every week we hold it, new connections are made and those that are once strangers become dear friends.

This week's D&D keep this tradition alive. After a delicious meal of salad, chicken stir fry with peanut sauce, rice and fried chicken(which sadly I don't have any pictures of), we gathered together and let the divinity flow. First we discussed a new activity we'll be starting next month. For about 5 weeks (meeting once a week), we will be holding a study group on "the life of the spirit,"seeking to expand our understanding of prayer, the soul and how to live a life of service. Putting our learnings into action, participants will embark on community building acts of service, like hosting their own 'Dinner and Divinity' style gathering. All are welcome so send me a email if you are interested in joining.

We finished our gathering with interfaith writings complemented by some instrumental music, songs and sing-a-longs, dessert and lots of discussion. Look forward to seeing you at our next gathering, June 25th at 7pm.

O and yesterday I got my 'hot yoga' on at Be Evolution. The postures, the heat, rocked my body yet refreshed my soul. Next month we'll be bringing the yoga to D&D (but will be skipping the heat!)

Om shanti. :)

Makini loving some mango tea

Readings and reflections

Hayden's LAST Dinner and Divinity :( We'll miss you brother!

A Video, a Salad, and a Fundraiser

Last month, I visited Alma from TakeBackTheKitchen.com to demonstrate how to make a delicious pear-goat cheese salad and to promote a fundraiser for Montclair's Public Schools. The fundraiser will be June 19th from 12-4pm at Montclair High School. We'll be there serving some food and promoting D&D. Can you come and help too?

Here's the video we made that was featured on baristanet.com:

Dinner and Divinity - May 19th - Knowledge

With the last day we had before leaving for a two week trip to Finland and Norway, Tanja and I decided to host our twice monthly Dinner and Divinity. We absolutely love opening our home and watching our community of friends grow. You may enter as a stranger, but I promise you this, you will leave as a friend.

Earlier in the day, Tanja and I went over to Alma's from TakeBackTheKitchen and shot a little food preparation video for her blog. We decided to make our favorite salad - a cranberry pear goat cheese salad, tossed in a nice balsamic vingerette. The video went great and will be up her blog sometime next week. We served the salad at our dinner and it was a hit as usual.

After dinner, we gathered together for some music, a short story, and some interfaith devotions. We had little drummers (ages 4 and 5) who did a great job of keeping the beat! The story we read as a group was about Majnun and Layli, the folktale of two lovers, lost in separation. As Majnun is being chased by the police, cursing them and their injustice, trapped, he climbs over a wall and lands in the Layli's garden. Reunited with his love, he blesses and prays for the policeman, recognizing that this test was leading him to his desire. Therefore, we should see the "end in the beginning" and know that difficulties that cut us, are making space for our joy to fill us.

Here are some photos from the evening. See you next time, Saturday, June 12th - 7pm.

Kate, Josh and Nicky

Dinner: Mashed potatoes, salmon, broccoli bake, canjun chicken drumsticks and the aforementioned salad.

Broccoli bake - it's like a quiche with out the crust! The recipe is here.

Reza, Atridad and Arvin

Andrea, Greg and Jada

Josh and Kate. Okay, enough posing. Hasta luego!

Dinner and Divinity - April 30th - Reflections on the Soul

After a delicious dinner of lasagna and salad, Hayden led the divinity portion of this week's gathering. Hayden shared that just as our eyes developed in the womb to be used in this world, so too are our souls developing for a non-physical existence. Here is one of the quotations we discussed:

"In the beginning of his human life man was embryonic in the world of the matrix. There he received capacity and endowment for the reality of human existence. The forces and powers necessary for this world were bestowed upon him in that limited condition. In this world he needed eyes; he received them potentially in the other. He needed ears; he obtained them there in readiness and preparation for his new existence. The powers requisite in this world were conferred upon him in the world of the matrix...

Therefore in this world he must prepare himself for the life beyond. That which he needs in the world of the Kingdom must be obtained here. Just as he prepared himself in the world of the matrix by acquiring forces necessary in this sphere of existence, so likewise the indispensable forces of the divine existence must be potentially attained in this world."

This wonderful evening was capped off with some music and dessert. See you next time!

Hayden guiding the discussion

Jeff and Mo the Monkey hanging out

John and Nassim from Caldwell

Naseem and Tanja

Me and the adorable Valentin. :)

Dinner and Divinity - April 16th - Artistic Peace

This weeks D&D was an artistic evening. After a delicious dinner of shrimp fried rice, an asian salad and falafel and homemade tahini, we gathered together to create some music and share some wisdom. Afterward, we spent about 20 minutes making "peace pledges" for our peace banner. Then, we tied them together and hung them up in our hallway. It's still there today! :)

Towards the end of the night, a friend of mine, Alma, shared with us some information about a fundraiser that is being held for the Montclair Public Schools in June. It'll be an afternoon potluck / concert. "Dinner and Divinity" will be joining the event and spreading the word. The event is in conjuction with two of Alma's projects which you can check out. One, is a cooking blog: www.TakeBackTheKitchen.com and the second, a non-profit run by Montclair parents / musicians: www.ParentsWhoRock.com

Check out the photos from the night and we hope to see you at the next Dinner and Divinity, April 30th.

Dinner is served.

Jagadisha, rocking the dejembe.

Nicky and Ally

Jen busting some riffs.

Working on our "peace pledges."

Alma's delicious, homemade, chocolate, oatmeal thingys.

Hayden and Valentin sharing a calm moment.

And Jeff and Valentin sharing a joyous one.

Our Peace Banner!

Dinner and Divinity - April 3rd - One Giant Leap

After one of the most plentiful dinners we've ever had at a Dinner and Divinity, we gathered together to watch two sections from an amazing dvd called "One Giant Leap." Using film, music and interviews, the makers created a powerful and uniting experience. Check out the trailer below:

A second 'One Giant Leap' film has come out. We're hoping to get it soon.

Lastly, here are some photos from the wonderful evening:

Our AMAZING dinner. :)

Catching up.

Cute couple #1

Cute couple #2

Cute couple #3... Can you tell they've been here before?

Post D&D hanging out and playing with our new cat Wink!