Brilliant Star/Volume 46-47/Issue 6-1/Text

[Page -1]

ABARAT COMPANION FOR YOUNG EXPLORERS

Brilliant Star

www.brilliantstarmagazine.org VOL. 46, NO. 6 / VOL. 47, NO. 1

ry 4 TIPS FOR COOL CONVERSATIONS

BUILD HAPPINESS EVERY DAY

[Page 0]Amethel Parel-Sewell — EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR C. Aaron Kreader DESIGNER/ILLUSTRATOR

Amy Renshaw — SENIOR EDITOR

Susan Engle ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Annie Reneau ASSISTANT EDITOR

Foad Ghorbani PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

MANY THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS: Claudius Adebayo « Tahirih-Khanum Amini - Kaitlyn Baran Bijan Bayzaee Lisa Blecker - Beth Blenz-Clucas

Noura Deanparvar « Rick Doering - Domani Douglas Alessandro Giua « Hyon Green + George Hatcher

Dr. Chris Impey « Adib Javaheri « Eriko Kojima Bridgette Kelling - Debbie Lan - Ivan Lloyd

Dr. Richard Lé Doug Marshall - Wanda Mills

Vijay Mohandas « Alastair Moock « Benjamin Nafis +

Donna Price » Gail Radley « Janet Ruhe-Schoen Dr. Steve Scotti - Rita Smith « Maile Smits Rizvan Sneed - Svetlana Taylor - Allene Hamidi Vadeghani

ART AND PHOTO CREDITS Original illustrations by C. Aaron Kreader, unless noted

By Lisa Blecker: Photos for pp. 20-21

By Foad Ghorbani: Art for p. 15 and p. 33.

Historical photos courtesy National Baha'i Archives, unless noted

STORY AND ACTIVITY CREDITS By Amy Renshaw: 9, 11,15, 16, 18, 28, 33 By Susan Engle: 8, 12, 14,15, 26, 30, 32, 36 By Annie Reneau: 3, 4, 5, 6,10, 31

By Lisa Blecker: 20, 22

By Donna Price: 1, 16, 18, 25, 24, 37

SUBSCRIPTION RATES AND RENEWALS To order or renew a subscription, contact Baha'i Subscriber Service: Toll-free: 1.800.999.9019 / E-mail: subscription@usbne. org ‘Standard U.S. rates: $18 (One year) $32 (Two years)

International airmail: $38 (One year); $68 (Two years)

(Canada and Mexico: $28 (One year); $48 (Two years)

RIGHTS, PERMISSIONS, AND CLASS USE ‘Alcontent inthis magazine is copyrighted by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahés of the U.S. or by individual contributors. For permission to copy or translate material, contact: Rights and Permissions, Briliant Star, +1283 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201. Teachers may photocopy pages in limited quanttes for classroom use. “Brilliant Star’ and issue date must be present on all copies, and proper credit given tothe copyright aver.

Brilliant Star empowers kids to explore their roles as world citizens. Inspired by the principles of peace and unity in the Baha'i Faith, we encourage readers to use their virtues to make the world a better place. The Baha'i Faith is the second most widespread religion in the world, with over five million Baha'is. It was founded by the Prophet Baha'u'llah (“Glory of God" in Arabic) in 1863. Baha'u'llah taught that all people are part of one human family, and all religions come from one God. Baha'u'lldh’s eldest son, ‘Abdu'l-Baha, interpreted His teachings and led the Baha'i community after Bahé’u'llah’s passing. Today, Bahd’is work to bring love and justice to the world, and end prejudice and discrimination of all kinds.

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37

oo % Meee 20.

Discover the power of journaling.

Baha’u’llah’s Life: Mission of Peace How did He transform fear and sadness into joy?

We Are One Explore and care for the place we all call home.

Radiant Stars Get to know kids who shine, like you.

Lightning & Luna: Episode 65 The Uplifters battle the bots underground.

Nur’s Nook Make a foosball game, and practice sportsmanship.

Maya’s Mysteries Challenge your friends to explore nature.

Stargazer: Janet Ruhe-Schoen She brings Baha’i heroes to life.

Treble Chef’s Music Café Raise your voice like Malala Yousafzai.

Shi A

ing Lamp: Roger White ed writer and a kind friend

Cosmo's Corner A crossword and more from our favorite chameleon

aMAZEing ADVENTURE Watch out for monsters in the cyber maze!

'ISSN 0884-3695 [Page 1]Chane ee NN NS NS CONNECTING HEARTS ° VOL. 46, NO. 6/ VOL. 47 NO. 1

we NEW DESTINATIONS

Bee Creative Search the hive for inspiration.

Space Ace

NASA experts answer your questions!

Express Your Emotions Put your feelings into words.

Bumper Car Bash Find 14 words to break up the traffic jam. Sibling Solutions Quiz your peace-making powers. R 2 24 Which Uplifter Are You? S25 Discover the superhero in you. Creating Joy

When Your Body Talks...

What silent messages do you send?

How do you build happiness every day?

Art of Balance

> Juggle your virtues with skill. Whe: Probab Eero

Pick the postures that say positive things.

Poet’s Peak

How do you paint a picture with words?

Like the Feathers Pluck the urge to gossip.

Charge Up Communication

Cool Conversations from A to Z Are you smart with your screen time?

Twenty-six topics for talking to anyone

Global Greetings

Learn 15 ways to greet a friend.

Skyline by Spectrum Studio [Page 2]Oe a? "hy PR fEnns,

When you set up a row of dominoes, then tap the first one, what happens? It starts a chain reaction, one causing the next to fall. Communicating with others is like that. If you're in a bad mood and you snap at someone, your negative feelings can be passed along to them.

On the other hand, your cheerful words and actions can start a wave of friendliness and compassion. You can brighten someone’s day with a smile and a wave. You can lift up a friend who's sad if you listen with kindness and understanding. A friendly text message shows someone you're thinking of them.

In this issue, explore positive ways to communicate and connect with others. Find out what your body language is saying—even when you're not speaking. Learn howto say hello in 15 languages. Take a quiz on getting along with your siblings. Discover tricks for striking up cool conversations. And meet Janet Ruhe-Schoen, who loves to share stories about. heroes from Baha'i history.

You can change the world when you express your unique dreams, goals, and ideas. Who will you reach out to today?

LOVE. pei iANT ZInR

Creating Brilliant Star’s new website at www.brilliantstarmagazine.org has been an important part of our work for some time. With Brilliant Star Online, we’re reaching and connecting with more kids and families around the globe.

However, you may have noticed that your magazine has been late getting to your mailbox. We're excited to announce our plan for getting back on schedule. For the rest of 2015, each issue will cover four months, instead of two. And these new issues will have eight extra pages of fun.

After four expanded issues, we'll return to our bimonthly schedule for the January/February 2016 issue. Ifyou have an annual subscription, you'll still receive the same number of issues.

Thanks for your patience with us as Brilliant Star grows to serve you better!

For more details, check out:

www. rilliantstarmagazine.org/labout/otd

2

Brilliant Star # Vol 46,NO0.6/ VOL 47,NO.1

Images by danmt2, Syda Productions, and Spectrum Studio [Page 3]mates the exact location of the flowers!

People communicate in creative ways, too. We express thoughts and feelings with arts such as poetry, dance, music, and painting. Art can be a powerful way to share your emotions or dreams. When it comes to communication,

~ t might seem like honeybees talk to each other by buzzing, but did you know that they communicate by dancing? When a worker bee finds a good source of nectar, she returns to the hive to share her discovery. She shakes and shimmies her body in specific directions for certain lengths of time. This “waggle dance” tells her hive

vi

it’s cool to bee creative!

e, Connect letters next to each other, going in word, You can use a letter again in a new word.

Search for words about letting your creativity shin any direction. Use the same letter only once in each

wi es “ = 4 K Ane. z SOS y I) Z Z ¥, 4

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WHAT’S A BEE’S FAVORITE FRUIT? NECTAR-INES! ‘

[Page 4]‘a RILEv’S RAINFOREST

“Send down... from the clouds of Thy mercy the rains of Thy healing...” —Baha’u'llah

o you ever talk to yourself? A journal is a great way to do just that. It can help you sort through ideas, record memories, and express feelings. Journaling can even improve your health. In one study, a group of students wrote about an upsetting event, while others wrote about something that wasn’t emotional. Four months later, those who wrote about their deepest feelings had fewer sick days and visits to the doctor. How does writing help? Some researchers believe that reflecting on feelings of pain or sadness can reduce stress. Lowering stress can lead to a stronger immune system and better sleep, which is when the body can heal and restore itself.

Curiosity Canopy

aa

Joys of Journaling

How you write is also important. The key is to go beyond just expressing

feelings. Rather than

only writing, “I was angry,” describe why you felt angry. What did you learn from the experience, and how will you handle the problem in a positive way? That can help you resolve conflicts and plan future actions, like talking to a friend about what happened.

A notebook is a good place to share feelings that might be hard to talk about in person. But you don’t have to write only about problems. You can also record your goals, dreams, and awesome experiences. Be sure to date your entries—it can be fun to look back later on. Give it a try. You might find that writing is right for you.

id you know? Anne Frank, a Jewish girl living in the Netherlands during World War Il, kept a journal for two years while her family

hid from the Nazis. Her diary was later published in 67 languages! Anne wrote, "When | write | can shake off all my cares."

4 Brilliant Star % vol 46.NO.6/VOL.47,NO.1

Explore &\Soar: Express Yourself

Apres are lots of fun ways to explore journaling. Experiment with these specific types:

oO Travel. Keep a notebook to record your adventures in new places.

o Dreams. Write about your dreams as soon as you wake up.

\

o Drawings. Use pictures to express your thoughts or record memories.

or Faith. Keep track of your favorite prayers and writings, and questions you have for God.

oO Gratitude. Jot down three things you're thankful for each day.

a Nature. Go outside, connect with nature, and write about it.

o Vision. Write about your goals, wishes, and dreams for the future.

Correction: Our last issue stated that Helen Keller was born blind and deaf, but she actually lost her sight and

hearing after an illness at 19 months.

Images by Monkey Business, jamesteohart, and catwalker [Page 5]Express Your Emotions

ave you ever been so mad you wanted to scream? feelings and look for ways to focus on the good things in life. Ho Or so happy you felt like you could fly? Or so mixed up We might think of some feelings as “bad” or “wrong,” but you felt you were lost ina maze? emotions are just part of being human. How we express them is what's One way to understand our emotions better is by journaling. important. Writing can help us find words to explain what's going on Writing can help us identify things like anger or fear and inside our hearts and minds. Once we have the words, we can share explore ways to handle them. We can also write about happy our feelings with others in a healthy way—and that feels amazing.

r lexpress LOVE. buy: “~ Three things that make me HAPPY: ' _— “ Love makes me feel: Kfhappiness were @ place, it would be: — Iflo f~ ve were a sound, it w ; Iget ANGRY when: Iwas SAD when: ould be:

If anger were weather, it would be: Ghisnae. This makes me feel AFRAID.

Sadness feels like:

Things that help me when I’m angry:

When I'm afraid, | talk to:

When I'm sad, | like to: , 7 feel better when |:

VOL. 46,NO.6/ VOL. 47,N0.1 % Brilliant Star 5 [Page 6]The hife of Baha'u'llah

The highlighted area marks the time in which this story takes place.

1817 November 12 Birth of Baha'u'llah in Tihran, tran

1844 Recognizes the Bab as anew Messenger of God

ones. Fair® | Imprisonment in the “Black Pit’ of Tihran

1853-1863

Exile in Baghdad, Iraq. From 1854-1856, He goes into the mountains to pray in solitude.

Declares Divine Mission as Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith

1863-1868 __| Exile in Constantinople (Istanbul), then Adrianople (Edirne), Turkey. Begins writing letters to kings and rulers in 1867, urging world unity

1868 Last exile, to prison- city of ‘Akkd, Israel

AT PVE sl Finally free to live in countryside homes of Mazra‘ih and then Bahji, outside ‘Aka

Baha'u'llah passes away at Bahji.

n 1853, Baha'ulladh and His family

endured a harsh exile to Baghdad,

Iraq, from their homeland in Persia (now Iran). Though Baha'u'llah had done nothing wrong, Muslim leaders wanted to diminish His influence as a leader in the Babi Faith. The Babis followed a Messenger of God known as the Bab (“Gate” in Arabic), who taught that a new Messenger from God would soon arrive.

Many Babis in Persia had been killed for their faith, and the Babis living in Baghdad feared persecution. They didn't meet each other in public. But Baha'u'llah visited the Babis and let people know that He was a Babi. His courageous example inspired others, and they began to venture out. Soon people from all walks of life were drawn to Baha'u'llah's loving presence. They sought His wisdom and advice.

But in time, the Muslim authorities again felt threatened by Baha’u'llah's prominence in the city. In 1863, it was announced that He was being sent to Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). Those who knew and loved Him were devastated. People flocked to His house to say goodbye, but His home was too small. A friend invited Him to use his garden on the Tigris River. Baha'u'llah and some of the Babis gathered in the garden on April 22, 1863.

Baha'u'llah’s departure was a sad occasion, but something amazing happened on that day. Baha'u'llah announced that He was the Promised One foretold by the Bab. His followers

Baha'u'llah crossed the Tigris River to the rose- filled Garden of Ridvan to say farewell to friends and to make a magnificent announcement.

were overjoyed. The farewell gathering became a wondrous spiritual occasion, and the garden became known as the Garden of Ridvan ("Paradise" in Arabic).

For 12 days, Baha'u'llah met with friends who visited Him in the garden, including the governor himself. He admired Baha'u'llah greatly and asked how he could help with His journey. Baha'u'llah only requested that the Babis in Baghdad be treated with kindness. The governor readily agreed.

Each day, gardeners would pick roses and place them in Baha'ullah’s tent. The flowers were piled so high that people couldn't see over them! Baha'u'llah had the roses taken to friends in Baghdad. At night, He walked and chanted prayers among the songs of nightingales.

Today, Baha'is around the world joyfully celebrate the Festival of Ridvan, which Baha'u'llah named the “Most Great Festival.”

6 Brilliant Star #% voL.46,NO.6/ VOL. 47,NO.1

Image by Marzolino [Page 7]“In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love...” —Baha’u'Ilah

In the rose bush, discover words related to the story of Bahd’u'llah’s declaration in the Garden of Ridvan. Fill in the blank roses with letters. Connected roses have the same letter.

a Co * aREAure 239, 2, SN SI SS

PDQ AZo a

ANSWERS ON PAGE 36 [Page 8][=

t's a beautiful day, and your family is getting ready for a trip to the beach. Everyone pitches in to help make the food, pack the car, and find the beach gear. But then things get a little sticky. Your about where the goggles might be. Ask brother borrowed your goggles last week, and your sister to help pack new snacks. Resolving now he can’t find them. Your sister just gobbled problems peacefully keeps the fun in family time.

up the snacks you had packed earlier for the trip. Time to yell and slam your door?

Try talking calmly with your siblings instead. Ask your brother to help you brainstorm

Test Your Peaceful POWEPS — which answers soothe sibling stress?

1 You need to get ready for school, but your 6 Your sister is going to the movies with friends again, brother is taking forever in the bathroom. but your parents say no to having your friends over A. Pound on the door and yell. to hang out. B. Threaten to post goofy pictures of him online. A. Say, “No fair! Why does she get to do everything?” C. Plan a family meeting to work out a fair schedule. B. Politely ask your parents when would be a good time to invite your friends over. 2 Your sister announced that she has straight As. C. Send texts to your friends, complaining about your sister.

A. Congratulate her, and suggest a way to celebrate. B. Talk about all the trophies you've won for soccer. 6 Your brother keeps calling you an embarrassing nickname from when you were little.

A. Tease him about his most embarrassing secret.

C. Tell her that only geeks care about grades.

@ Your sister wants you to do her chores today, so she can go to a surprise party.

B. Make a list of names to call him in front of his friends. C. Keep your cool. Tell him that you want to be treated A. Tell her yes if she’ll do your chores tomorrow. with respect, and you'll do the same for him. B. Yell, “No way! You always try to get out of work around here.” 7 Your older brother is getting ready for a fishing trip. Your sister wants to learn to fish, but he

says fishing is an activity just for men.

C. Tie dye your new t-shirt in the tub she'll be cleaning tomorrow. A. Practice hooking his clothes with a fishing line. 4 You're going to a game. Your little brother wants to come along, but you want some time alone with your friends. A. Tell him to get lost. B. Pretend to play hide and seek, then sneak out the back door.

B. Tell him girls and boys are equal, and no one should be excluded from a fun activity because of gender. C. Call him names and slam your door.

6 You find your sister jumping around with your violin, like it’s an electric guitar. A. Hide her favorite shoes.

C. Instead of arguing, offer a compromise, B. Ask your mom to trade her in for a new sister.

like playing with him later. C. Agree to ask before using each other's stuff.

8 Brilliant Star % vol 46.NO.6/VOL.47,NO.1 ANSWERS ON PAGE 36 [Page 9]“Let each morn be better than its eve and each morrow richer than its yesterday.” —Bahd’u'llah hat would make today the best day ever? are fun, interesting, and meaningful to you. Abig party with friends and family? Riding the Happiness may pop up in unexpected places. Helping fastest roller coaster you can imagine? Winning others, practicing diligently, or giving stuff away may not the competition you've been practicing for? always seem fun, but in the right balance, they're key Big events are exciting, but they don’t happen often. pieces of a fulfilling life. Keep your eyes open for new ways.

To stack up the joy every day, fit in lots oflittle things that to assemble happiness every day.

“eens _ , Connect Explore Ip roctic Pray and ne active care fo ern: ae se fee Proce be mindfy Set goals 6 . s hy _ eo My - , & SS ce a or X ~ 4 Sy aX :

‘s \S ©

Skateboard intbr Map a Turtle Paintbrush Camera Cup Trumpet Prayer Book ep

FIND NINE THINGS THAT BUILD PATHS TO HAPPINESS.

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Model by Jeremy Pane Photography by Rick Doering does not sponsor, authorize, or endorse Briliant Star, VOL. 46,NO.6 / VOL. 47,NO.1 We Brilliant Star 9

LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group, which [Page 10]ix

ART oF | BALANCS

On the flip side, if you're too humble, you might shy When it comes to positive qualities such as away from sharing your abilities with others. When kindness and love, it may not seem like it. you find the right balance, you can let your gifts shine

But even virtues can trip us up if we don’t keep our without being self-centered. balance. For example, it’s great to be excited about your Lots of virtues work as partners to help us practice ability to spell, surf, or sing. Butif you're not modest about moderation. When we focus on strengthening all of our

your talents, that excitement might turn into arrogance. virtues, staying balanced can be a breeze.

s it possible to have too much of a good thing?

ANSWERS ON PAGE 36 [Page 11]OUR CONNECTIONS )

Tropical rainforests, like the Amazon, are a treasure trove for humanity. They‘re home to millions of indigenous people and half of our plant and animal species. Rainforests provide food, plants that we use for medicine, and over 20% of the world’s oxygen. They also absorb carbon dioxide pollution from the atmosphere. But they're threatened by logging, farming, and other human activities. Covering about 6% of the planet, they need our protection.

rs =) WHERE IN THE WORLD?

PROTECTING OUR PLANET F

EXPioRE AND PROTECT THE EARTH AnD ITs CREATURES

‘All the members of this endless universe are linked one to another.” —Baha‘i Writings

WOW, REALLY?)

The African Ruppell’s griffon vulture is the highest-flying bird ever recorded, at 37,000 ft (11,277 m). That's as high as many airplanes fly.

Swoop Up the Stairs Skip the elevator and take the stairs. It

saves energy for the planet and gives

you a physical

and mental boost.

Dr. Chris Impey is an astronomy professor at the University of Arizona. He’s published over 170 studies about the universe, galaxies, and quasars and won many teaching awards. His latest book explores the next century of space exploration. He says, “We're all interconnected, and at one with the universe.”

On the island of Java in Indonesia, these primates

Boats or “junks” like these have sailed for over 2,000 years. They're still used for fishing, commuting, and tours in Victoria Harbor, one of the busiest harbors in the world. This Asian

metropolis is one of the cities with the fastest Internet speed.

Unscramble the letters to find its location: GHNO NGOK

live in small groups. They communicate through touch, visual signs, and calls. If they sense danger from predators, they alert each other with a “ghek-ghok-ghek-ghok” call. Fill in the blanks to find their name:

JA AN AN URS

Images: Toucan by Rodrigo Cuel, vulture by Volodymyr Burdiak, Dr. Impey by University of Arizona, boat by zhu difeng, animals by Kletr

VOL. 46,NO.6/ VOL. 47,N0.1 % Brilliant Star

11 [Page 12]Connect with kids around the world! How are they like you? How are they different? Each of us has a unique " story to tell. What’s yours?

Age: 14 live in: Arizona, U.S.

| want to be: An FBI agent

This career interests me because:

I want to be sure that people are safe, and I would enjoy it a lot.

Virtue | admire most: Kindness

Hobbies or sports: Soccer and singing

Favorite Baha’ activity: Love my jr. youth groups

x

Places I'd love to visit: Costa Rica, Brazil, Barcelona, Iran, Trinidad

a

If | could give a message to world leaders, it would be:

I wish we could have world peace and not have to worry about prejudice.

Ahero or role model: My mom and dad

If | get nervous speaking in public: I try to take a few deep breaths.

Three emotions

| feel every day:

Happy, curious, and sad. Sometimes I feel sad when I hear about the things that are happening in the world. When I am happy, I feel very confident...

To express appreciation for family and friends: love to make gifts...

Age: 14 | live in: Washington, U.S.

| want to be: Involved in history, art, and music

This career interests me s because:

You can reach people through the arts...

Virtues | admire most: Thirst for knowledge and compassion...

Hobbies or sports:

Piano, tap, Irish dance, orchestra, pick-up soccer, horses, poetry, reading...

Favorite Baha’/ activities: Jr. Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program, collective songwriting

If | get nervous speaking in public:

Ijust remember that my words have purpose.

Age: 12 \ live in: Indiana, U.S.

| want to be:

A photographer

This career interests me because:

Our world is beautiful ...

Favorite Baha'i activities:

Ilove to provide service in any way and to make

people happy.

Favorite animal or pet Ilove koalas.

Virtue | admire most: Happiness

When my feelings are hurt: Ipray...I try to stay patient and loving.

If could give a message to world leaders, it would be: Never forget what it is to be human, and never forsake education...

To express appreciation for family and friends: I listen to them and respect them...

Three emotions

| feel every day: Gratitude, frustration, and joy

Place I'd love to visit:

Africa mS Hobbies or sports:

llike to sing and draw,

play volleyball, tennis, basketball, soccer...

Ahero or role model ‘Abdu’l-Baha

When my feelings are hurt: I will say a prayer or sing something.

If | get nervous speaking in public:

I will practice ... or pray for assistance.

To express appreciation for family and friends:

I will leave them a little note, give them a hug, or even just say I love you.

Three emotions

| feel every day:

Happiness, tiredness, and grateful... Whenlam happy, I feel really good.

Brilliant Star *

VOL. 46,NO.6 / VOL. 47,NO.1 [Page 13]Age: 11 I live in: California, U.S.

want to be:

An inventor who creates medical machines that will change the world, creating health

Virtue | admire most: Friendliness

Hobbies or sports: Soccer, playing ukulele with my band, reading

Favorite Baha’i activity: Going to Baha'i junior youth groups

Favorite animal or pet: Hammerhead shark

Place I'd love to visit: Italy

| like to help people by: Raising money for places in need or offering my helping ideas

or... hands

Age: 10

Hive in South Australia

| want to be: An author

This career interests me because: Ireally love writing stories.

Virtues | admire most: Respect and humour

Hobbies or sports: Piano, taekwondo, reading, art, writing, cello

Favorite Baha'i activities: Children’s classes, Feast, holy days, Ayyam-i-Ha*

Places I'd love to visit: My parents’ home countries (U.S. & Iran)

Ahero or role model: My mom and dad

When my feelings are hurt: I think about happy things and try to talk to someone who lam close to, like a friend ora parent.

If| get nervous speaking in public: What helps me to calm down is to take deep breaths and to think about what the next step is.

If | could give a message to world leaders, it would be: Please help people... who are in need...

A favorite book or song: It’s impossible for me to choose just one!

A favorite food Ash-e Reshteh (Persian soup with noodles)

When my feelings are hurt

Usually I become quiet. And when it’s my friends that have hurt me, I try

to let them know it...

If | could give a message to world leaders, it would be: Be kind and just, and try your best to help people.

x4

“God has crowned you with honor and in your hearts has He set a radiant star; verily the light thereof shall brighten the whole world!”

xs

llive in: Québec, Canada

Age:10

| want to be: A professional basketball player or a history teacher

Virtue | admire most: Honesty. I like it when people don’t hide

things from me. A role model or hero:

My dad. He is always strong, even in difficult times, and makes sure that the whole family

is safe and happy. That’s how want to be.

Hobbies or sports: Basketball, saxophone, drama

Favorite Baha’ activity: Going to Haifa, Israel,

every summer To express appreciation

for family and friends:

I tell them I love them and I won't let them down in life.

Favorite animal or pet: My dog, Pepsi

Place I'd love to visit: China

| like to help people by: he Encouraging them so they do their... best

in life

If | could give a message to world leaders, it would be: Stop all the wars, Xe prejudices, and the racism ...I would tell them to start working harder on applying the

Baha’i principles...

Favorite book: The Kane Chronicles. It’s all Egyptian mythology...

1. If you're age 7-14 , go to www. brilliantstarmagazine.org and choose “Explore,” then “Baha’is & Friends in Action,” then “Radiant Stars.” Click “Apply Now” and fill out the form. Or e-mail us at brilliant@usbnc.org. Include your name, age, birth date, mailing address, and phone number.

2. When it’s your turn to shine, we'll send you questions

and a form for you and your parents to sign. nes

3. Answer the questions and send them to us with the signed form, along with at least two good- quality, close-up photographs of your smiling face. Photos should be in sharp focus and show your eyes clearly. Please don’t send color copies,

low-resolution digital images, or copyright- Ys protected images (like school portraits). «x »”

“Feast is a Baha'i community gathering with prayers, consultation, and fellowship; Ayyam-i-Ha is a festival of hospitality, charity, and gift giving

VOL. 46,NO.6 /

voL.47,NO.1 % Brilliant Star 13 [Page 14]Like the Feathers

F vi you , ; () SHE WENT TO HER WISE FRIEND. Yi G0 TO THE MARKET HEAR POUT, 4 4 t See? TOMORROW, AND CARRY A THE FARMER? : CHICKEN. BS YOU WALK, THIS PAD RAST : PLUCK \15 FEATHERS.

WHAT SHOULD

LONG AGO, THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO LOVED TO GOSSIP. SHE JUST COULDN'T STOP =f, TALKING BAVLY ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE.

MY FRIEND, SOSSIPPING \S » LIKE THE FEATHERS.

FIND ASINGLE FEATHER!

ONCE THE

7 WORDS LEAVE OUR

H MOUTHS, WECAN |

NEVER TAKE

THEM BACK. i A

3 FROM THEN ON, THE WOMAN AND HER CHICKEN WERE HAPPY =e TO KEEP THEIR GOSSIP— AND FEATHERS —TO THEMSELVES!

14 Brilliant Star ¥% VOL. 46,NO.6 / VOL. 47,NO.1 [Page 15]Cool Conversations from A to Z

hink about someone who's fun to talk to. Conversations

| are more interesting when you know the other person and

talk about things that tickle your imagination. But sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to get started. One solution is to

What's your favorite A_ _ _ __ (LAMAIN)?

Would you rather be atthe BL __ _ (CHABE) or in a bookstore?

Doyo C__§_»_+_§_ (LEOCLCT) anything?

What do you D_ _ _ _ (MRADE) about doing as a career?

What would you like to fix about the E __ _ __’s (HARTE) environment?

Ifyoucouldbe F_____ , (USOMAF) what would you want to be known for?

What's the best G

(TGFl) you ever received?

Ifyoudesigneda H_ ____, (EUOSH) what would it look like?

Ifyoucreatedan |}__ =___ (CIE MREAC) flavor, what would it taste like?

Do you know any good J____ (KOJSE)?

What'sthe K__§_»__ (NKSTEDI) thing anyone has done for you?

If you could instantly know another L , (LGUANGEA)

what would you choose?

What's one of your favorite M (SIMOVE)?

If you were going to change your N_ _ _,(ANEM) what would you want it to be?

Would you rather be an ) ,(TOCPSUO)

an orangutan, or an owl? Why?

What's your idea of a perfect P_ _ _ _ (TYRPA)?

What's your favorite Q_ = _=»§» _»_s_ (QATILYU) in a friend?

keep a list of lively topics handy—in your head. Here are some ideas. Start with A, and unscramble the key word to spark a cool conversation. Find your way to Z. Memorize your favorites, and make up your own questions, too.

What's one of the best books you've ever R_ _ _ (ARDE)?

What's your favorite S_ _._ __ (TROPS) or board game?

What are three things you're most po (LUFKNHTA) for? What's something U_ _ _ (QENUIU) about you that few

people know?

Where would you love to go on (TCIONAVA)?

Ifyou W_ _ (ONW) amillion dollars, what would you do with it?

Would you rather _X = _ _s_s (PEXOLER) outer space or the deep ocean?

What are you most excited about this Y__ _ _ (ARYE)?

Ifyoucouldhavea Z_ (LIZLINO) of anything but money, what would it be?

Concept by Wanda Mills and Bridgette Kelling

VOL.46,NO.6/VOL.47,NO.1 %& Brilliant Star 15 [Page 16]ASHA SPACE SCIENTIST

Our universe is full of mysteries, and some of the most mind-boggling are in space. Curious kids asked questions, and we sent them to two Baha’i scientists who work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Have questions about space? Send them

to brilliant@usbne.org (with your name and age).

How fast is the fastest

rocket? —Noura, age 11

Whyjis there gravity on Earth and not Hi, Noura,

ah aa ‘ space? _Safa, age 10 The fastest rocket ever launched was the Atlas V (above), which Carried

Hi, Safa, the New Horizons probe into space. . —in space as well as ‘ . . Gravity afore Fon hon the neratonl Space sateen nn the space- on Earth. If you were orl whee is only alittle smaller than it is on tore Trea ime : 3 miles per Station Bu ld think there is no gravity there, because Passenger jet. At th F speed a Fart oe _ we s. The gravity of the Earth is what keeps could fly all the way ae you would te ti a Earth and not flying off into deep space. in 42 minutes son around the Earth arene mee ieee everything in the space stati ans . it took New Horizons nine tee moving toward the Earth at the same speed, $0 veer lone reach Pluto. That's how big the solar

ng in freefall after jumping

system is. If you could walk to Pluto biting so fast, you never reach the ;

it would take about 100,000 years! —George

no gravity. It's like bei but because you're or!

ground.

—Steve

What was the Friendship 7?

A) NASA's first class of astronauts

B) First U.S. space capsule to orbit Earth C) Popular band from the 1970s

D) The seventh rover to explore Mars

¥ In 1786, German astronomer Caroline

INS Herschel (at right) became the first

woman to discover a space object of

& this kind. She went on to find seven

S more and receive many honors. Fill in s

the blanks to find the item’s name: ; The answer is B: In 1962, John Glenn was the

first American to orbit Earth, in the Friendship 7.

O| /E

16 Brilliant Star ¥% VOL. 46,NO.6 / VOL. 47,NO.1 [Page 17]In this image of the Sun erupting in 2012, NASA added Earth to show its STEVE SCOTTI is a research engineer

Comparative size. Earth at NASA Langley Research Center in is really about 93 million a . Virginia, U.S. He works to develop lighter, stronger materials and structures for aircraft and spacecraft. Watching the first astronaut launched into space inspired his interest in space exploration. He enjoys Hi, Domani, sharing his enthusiasm about science and space with kids.

miles from the Sun.

Why is the Sun orange? —Domani, age 11

In space, the Sun looks white. White light is the combination of all the colors of the rainbow. On Earth, sunlight is scattered by the air, water, and dust in our atmosphere. The longer the path the light has to travel through the atmosphere, the more it gets scattered: purple first, then blue, then green, yellow, orange, and red. When overhead, the Sun looks yellow. But when it’s near the horizon at sunset or sunrise, the path of the light through the atmosphere is longer and the yellow light is scattered away, making the Sun look orange. The image above was produced by superimposing two wavelengths of ultraviolet light that we can’t see, so scientists colored them yellow and red to get the pretty orange color. —George

GEORGE HATCHER is an avionics engineer at the Kennedy Space Center

in Florida, U.S. He works on electrical systems of uncrewed rockets. He

also studies planetary science at the University of Central Florida. Working for NASA is a dream come true for George.

¥ C)A sports car that can go over 200 mph He’s aspired to be an astronaut since he

N A supernova is: S$ A) Acluster of galaxies

B) A super bright group of stars

D) A star's destructive explosion at the end of its life was three. He’s one of 100 finalists in

The answer is D: When a large star gets old and runs out of fuel, the Mars One Project, which aims to it collapses into its core, then explodes. Above is a remnant of a create a human settlement on Mars. supernova called W49B, from 26,000 light-years away!

Images: NASA, $DO, AIA VOL. 46,NO.6/ VOL. 47,N0.1 % Brilliant Star 17 [Page 18]EE LIGHTNING & LUNA g pemeemmmms SCOKPION BOT BATILE BAXTER AND BRIPEET 465 AT THE SOLAR TOWER... s[OUTSIPE THE SECRET CHANBER . =e ay) |: GOT IT! THAT'S THE LAST BOT! Ea a eine Ee

GREAT JOB, COLIN! SOME OF | I THE BOTS DRILLED DOWN INTO p THE CAVES, THOUGH. LET’S GO!

YOU POWNLOAVED THE VIRUS TO IT? A a 60, LIGHTNING! ff _—- BA P!NO SHE’S IN THAT me as CHAMBER. a = A co X Lu \ y eZ A 6G S ra . > \ x a >, By S 4 TSX CL 7 ae | LI GY i, J Si YEAH, IT STOPS IT FOR 30 SECONDS, JUST ENOUGH TIME TO DRAIN THE POWER. A —

Soa

on WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE CAVE PAINTINGS! GIVE ME ‘ y z = THE SECRET DP MT HE’S AMINE WEAPON OR | FOR you! TUL DESTROY id T YOU AN? ALLTHE ( UPLIFTERS! { - : j / 7 ZINN, 3 = - i = — = / THERE’S NO WEAPON! L 7 / i = - _ Look out! := ¥ “ as

18 Brilliant Star ¥% VOL. 46,NO.6 / VOL. 47,NO.1 [Page 19]~

THE PAINTINGS = ARE AMESSAGE T) Got it. VL DEAL

FROM ANCIENT WITH THESE BOTS.

UPLIFTERS! WE HAVE TO SAVE THEM!

ay

ARE YOU OKAY? WHERE ARE LIGHTNING AND LUNA?

IN THAT CHAMBER WITH THE ERASERS!

HURRY!

Bm Ay

AY ry -

OK, I’VE TAKEN IN TOO MUCH ELECTRICITY. I HAVE TO DISCHARGE IT. WATCH OUT!

CHECK OUT PAST EF

ODES OF LIGHTNING & LUNA AT — WWW.BRILLIANTSTAKMAGAZINE.ORG- VOL. 46,NO.6/ VOL. 47,N0.1 % Brilliant Star 19 [Page 20]Gime On!

ou and your friend are playing an intense game, Y testing the plays you've practiced. Your next shot

feels awesome—you’re one point away from the win. Suddenly, your friend scores three. Your confidence dives. Do you quit playing? Accuse your opponent of cheating? Or praise them for a great game?

Being a good sportis a real victory. It’s more fun for everyone when you treat others as you like to be treated.

1 Paint five clothespins one color and five another color. Make sure clips still open.

AUAAK

2 Cover box in wrapping paper and secure with glue. Wrap lid separately (use to store game).

Make J Foosholl

Instead of taunts and trash talk, be encouraging. When you win, don’t gloat, and if you lose, congratulate your

opponent with a smile. If competition gets too stressful, practice and beat

your own record. Share your skills and cool moves with

other kids learning your sport. Make this portable game, and bring laughter and

friendship wherever you go!

Youll Need

+ shoebox about

B'x10"203x264em) 7 + eight 10" (25.4 cm) aed wooden skewers * duct tape + table tennis ball * glue “ten 31/4"(8.30m)__* pencil ‘Coden clothespii 0 with springs “pins ue

paint (two col “oat

a paintbrashe. + craft / utility knife (and an adult to help)

3 Clip two clothespins to a skewer and stand pins up. Place skewer against long side of box. Use tuler to draw a line across box, 3/4" (1.9 cm) above skewer. Repeat on opposite side of box.

Brilliant Star % VOL 46,NO.6/ VOL 47,NO.1

20 [Page 21]Gime

4 Online, mark box’s center. Draw dots 1" (2.5 cm) and 3" (7.6 cm) to left and right 7 Forgoals, ask an adult to help cut a 2" x 3 1/4" of center. Repeat on opposite side of box. (5 x 8.3 cm) hole centered at each end of box.

8 Clip three pins of same color to each central skewer. 5 With an adult's help, poke knifepoint through Add two pins to each remaining skewer so row colors each dot. Insert pencil and twist to widen holes. alternate. Space pins evenly along tape.

6 Puta skewer through holes on each side of box, with points inside. Each pair of skewers should overlap about 6" (15.2 cm). Secure pairs with duct tape, leaving 1" (2.5 cm) from box’s sides tape-free.

i in color. Drop ball in - Each player picks a pin co ; see Rotate or shift skewers to eee Is. If ball stops out 0 reach, , tin The winner scores five goals first.

VOL. 46,NO.6/ VOL. 47,NO.1 % Brilliant Star [Page 22]NATURE WALKS

ARE MEDICINE

FOR MY MIND, BODY, AND

SPIRIT!

“Nature in its own essence is in the grasp of the power of Gor

—'Abdu'l-Baha

“THE GREAT OUTDOORS

o you love being out in nature? I do! It’s amazing to breathe fresh air and feel the warm sunshine on my face. I also love

looking for birds and other animals. Did you know that spending time in nature is

What nature a

good for your health and happiness? It can reduce negativity, sadness, and stress. So when school gets tough, I go hiking. I always feel better afterward.

ctivities do you love most? Try

these out, and add your own.

ant =

Challenge your family and friends to see how many outdoor activities you can do in two weeks. Add your own ideas, too.

O Look for constellations on a starry night.

O Fill a bird feeder for your feathered friends.

DO See how many different plants you can find in a yard or park.

O Go on a sound hunt. How many things can you hear?

O Make bark rubbings with crayons and paper.

O Spot 10 different creatures on your next nature walk.

O Find a bird’s nest or an animal's burrow.

DO Discover some animal tracks.

O Find shapes in the clouds.

O Collect six cool-looking rocks and stones.

D Search for wildflowers—how many colors and scents can you discover?

O Find a reflection in a body of water.

D* Make a boat out of leaves or twigs.

DO Make a sculpture with sand or mud.

CONNECT WITH NATURE CHALLENGE

Start Date: End Date:

Dr Spy a spider's web.

O Draw a picture of your favorite spot outdoors.

DF Use sticks and rocks to make earth-friendly music.

Dr Plant some seeds in a garden or container.

O Grab a magnifying glass and investigate a tree’s leaves.

oO

22

Brilliant Star % VOL 46,NO.6/ VOL 47,NO.1 [Page 23]“The fact that we imagine ourselves to be right and everybody else wrong is the greatest of all obstacles in the path towards unity...” —‘Abdu’l-Baha — a a 4 \ f ~~ -£ “NA MASH! BAM! You and your friend steer your bumper friendship might get knocked off course.

cars into each other. WHAP! Your friend reverses, then Instead, take a pit stop. Talk to your friend in private,

another car backs into you. Now you're stuck in a when you're both calm. Find out if you have the story traffic jam. In bumper cars, you can’t really get anywhere. straight. Rumors can lead to big mix-ups. Truly listen and

It’s similar when friends have conflicts. What if you look at things from each other's point of view. Be honest

hear that a friend is gossiping about you? If you get angry or about your feelings. With respect and patience, you can just stop talking, hurt feelings can spin out of control. Your break out of confusion and get back on the road to harmony.

Find 14 words that put the brakes on conflict. Then circle them in the puzzle, searching up, down, backward, forward, and diagonally.

= [ro Ww N @ aA H vu H < H

DKA XK TNARDRHIONOH-A So2ZZ2ZO02MN TP AHM2ZN BoArFPTMNT!e! SF reNna2aenmon ce xX VS TNACNAAYD YNASCnATMAMASaMHAMNSAD <x<MoWAeoAVDTDATrT Hn ANDNANAH FPHHr ce ect Zcecrenmnemonvaon< ASoMlmIONMNnwdonN2a2au0in~Hx<x~< 7™ma—7Vcecl AHTVH UX OCH VTHHALELTUNTSOCKMHD]!A HODVTADAR KA SVETAHA PTAMSANDWVAATANAH ren vur<c xXuNoTN2Zz Tt

VOL. 46,NO.6/ VOL. 47,NO.1 %& Brilliant Star 23 [Page 24]WHICH UPLIFTER ARE YOU? ~

a friend? Rely on your powers of justice and courage to speak up. Tough homework? Use diligence and creativity to finish and have fun. Fighting with a friend? Loyalty and listening can help you work it out. You can even team up with others to help solve global problems—like climate change or poverty. When you use your virtues and talents as a force

field, you can be truly heroic.

ouldn’t it be awesome to have superpowers like

Lightning, Luna, and the other Uplifters? You'd

stand up to Erasers who cause trouble around the world. Imagine being able to fly, turn invisible, or

have super vision. You may not have those amazing abilities, but you do

have superpowers for helping humanity. Is someone bullying

pam THE UPLIFTERS: A GLOBAL TEAM OF SUPERKEROES | THE UPLIFTERS: A GLOBAL TEAM OF SUPERMERDES

She flies, turns invisible, A dedicated leader of the She’s an enthusiastic controls waves, and breaks Uplifters. He has super technology wizard with codes. Lightning's sister. hearing and intuition. brilliant engineering skills.

He flies and has electric powers and super vision. Luna’s brother.

a 1] I] i l CIRCLE THE ANSWERS THAT BEST FIT YOUR SUPEKHEKO STYLE.

1. One of my strongest qualities is: 3. One thing I'd love about being an Uplifter is: a. Loyalty a. Traveling the world to help others b. Courage b. Succeeding on missions c. Determination c. Being a mentor to new Uplifters d. Imagination d. Coming up with the best technology for the teams

2. When I’m leading a team, I: 4. My favorite Uplifter tool is:

a. Make plans and organize a. The flying Uplifter pod

b. Take action right away b. The uniforms with all of their cool tools c. Help the team work together c. The voice-controlled uPad

d. Work behind the scenes d. All of them!

24 Brilliant Star % vol 46.NO.6/VOL.47,NO.1 [Page 25]5. When I’m in a group that’s consulting about a problem:

a. | listen carefully first

b. |jump right in and share new ideas

c. | make sure everyone has a chance to speak up d. | research all the facts

6. When I’m afraid: a.| think of my friends and family b. | stay positive and think about my goals c. | stay strong, because others rely on me d.| focus on tools and skills that can help

7. Ona secret mission, | really shine at: a. Thinking ahead and being prepared b. Using my instincts and acting fast c. Encouraging and directing others d. Using high-tech tools

8. The most challenging thing about being an Uplifter: a. Fearing for the safety of my family and friends b. Not acting fast enough c. Sending teams on dangerous missions d. Outsmarting the Erasers’ technology

9. At parties, | like to: a. Hang out with a few friends b. Make new friends c. Listen to music and dance d. Check out people’s gadgets and swap tech tips

10. At the library or bookstore, | go straight to books about: a. Travel b. Art and design c. Leadership d. Science

11. For a career, I’d love to: a. Be a doctor b. Be an artist or architect c. Be acoach or counselor d. Invent new gear

12. My idea of a relaxing day: a. Hanging out with my friends and family b. Painting and dancing c. Going to a concert d. Touring a science museum

4 C i} A. | nb CHECK YOUR SCORE TO FIN? OUT WHICH UPLIFTER YOU’RE LIKE.

responsible, and super loyal

Mostly As: You're organized,

Mostly Bs: You're artistic, creative, and brave. You're

Mostly Cs: You're a natural leader with strong insight.

Mostly Ds: You're curious, and you love to try out new

to your family and friends. quick to use your powers to You encourage teams to gadgets, tools, and software.

You enjoy travel and learning investigate problems and cooperate and develop new You like to help people with

about new things. You plan defend others. You have an strengths.You appreciate technology. You're a quick

before you act. You're a optimistic attitude. You're a music. You're a lot like learner. You're a lot like

lot like LIGHTNING. lot like LUNA. PULSAR. ZAPPO. VOL.46,NO.6/VOL.47,NO.1 %& Brilliant Star 25 [Page 26]STARGAZER

Q:

A:

Janet Ruhe-Schoen

PHOTO BY GIL MURO

What was the most challenging

experience for you as a kid? | was raised in a Jewish family, and | was extremely challenged by that, because . . . there [were] always the stories in memory of the tragedy of the Holocaust, which was terribly heartbreaking ... And there was also much doubt in the family and even by the rabbi of our synagogue... [about] the actual existence of God ... The rabbi actually told me, God does not hear you when you pray...

| really only found my way past it when | began to read different scriptures for myself and think about and ask myself, why isn’t there a Prophet for today? And then when | was 18, | found the Baha'i Faith, and that answered my question.

ave you ever loved a character in a book or movie so much H that you imagined you were with them? As a kid, Janet

Ruhe-Schoen dreamed she was flying with Peter Pan. She used her vivid imagination to create poems and stories. Later, she worked as a journalist in the U.S. and Chile.

Janet's ability to envision people she'd never met helps her write books that bring Baha'i heroes to life, such as the poet and martyr Tahirih, who courageously promoted the equality of women and men in Iran in the 1800s. “Just to think about those people!" Janet says. She would “pray about them so as to know how to write about them...”

Her latest book is about Louis Gregory and other Baha'is in the early 1900s who worked to end racism "in a segregated society torn by race warfare..."

Janet lives in New York with her husband, Chris, where her creativity also thrives in poetry and collage art.

Left: Janet started writing Poetry when she was about 11 years old

Right: In her 20s, Janet enjoyed experimenting with photography.

Q: What's your favorite childhood memory?

A: Playing pretend with costumes. We had a costume drawer. We had .. . grandma's and mother's and aunt's old jewelry and things .. . | loved that, because | loved doing creative dramatics, and | loved going to acting class.

Q: How did you get started in writing?

A: When | was in sixth grade... my teacher... wrote a poem on the blackboard ... We discussed it in the class... And | really loved that ... That night, | woke up in the middle of the night. And | wasn’t even afraid of the dark for once, because | was thinking of a poem. . . | wrote a poem about the sunrise ... and | brought it in to Mrs. Thomas, the teacher, to show her .. . And she was thrilled.

26

Brilliant Star % VOL 46,NO.6/ VOL 47,NO.1 [Page 27]Answers with an

Q: What three qualities

are most important for a successful writer?

Perseverance and perseverance

and perseverance. And read alot... Don't think you can just write and not read a lot of books. Forget it. You've got to read everything, a lot of books and magazines. You've got to love to read!

Otherwise, do something else. Because reading is like the gas going into your car. You need those words. You need not just the information. You need the music of the language.

What's your wish for

Brilliant Star's readers?

That... each become[s] a

brilliant star in their own right, as brilliant as they can possibly be, shining light and love on everyone. Because the world needs it, and they will benefit from it too.

Left: Janet published a biography of the inspiring poet Tahirih, a Baha’i heroine for women’s education. Tahirih was martyred in 1852, when she was about 35.

Below: In her new book, Janet profiles pioneers of race unity in the U.S., including the African American lawyer and activist Louis Gregory.

“PAINTING BY IVAN LLOYD

Q: What can we learn fom the Baha'i champions of race unity in the early 1900s? A: We can learn a great deal of .. .. courage and faith, because they were met with opposition . . . by society, by their friends, by their families, even by people within their own faith... You could get killed. If you were walking down the street, a white person and a black person, you could get

Champi of One

Louis Gregory ang His Shining Circle

tet it chee

attacked ... and not just down south... So the real danger . . . was ever-present.

Q: You worked for many years as a journalist in the U.S. and Latin America. What did you like most about journalism?

A: You get to meet all these people and talk to them. And in Chile, it was amazing, because | would go and talk to them in Spanish... | met all these Chilean actors, scientists, these really fascinating people .. . | would... go around Santiago to all these . .. parts of the city that | never would have gotten to otherwise, and taking strange forms of transportation, and it was really adventurous.

Q: This issue of Brilliant Star is about communication. If a person is shy about speaking up, what can they do to build confidence?

A: Learn to trust yourself... You are the authority on what you know .. . If you are a kid ... that loves dinosaurs... you know a lot about dinosaurs, and probably you know more about dinosaurs than a lot of other people. And so... . don't be afraid to listen in when people are talking about something that interests you greatly. And don't be afraid to say what you know about it, or what you think about it, or ask questions about it...

“Artist's idea of how Tahirih might have looked. There are no photos of her.

VOL. 46,NO.6/ VOL. 47,NO.1 % Brilliant Star

[Page 28]When Your Body

hen you pass a friend in the hall at school, you may smile and wave at each other. Without

a word, you convey friendliness. But what if the person waves with a frown? What are they saying?

We constantly send messages with our body language—facial expressions, gestures, posture, and tone of voice.When you're aware of what your body is saying, you can avoid sending mixed messages.

When your words say one thing and your body says something different, people can get confused. For example,

Body Talk Tips

Posture

Sitting or standing up in a straight,

relaxed manner tells people that you're

alert and interested. Being slouched or

hunched over may convey that you're

bored, tired, or upset. Crossing your arms and legs is called aclosed posture, and it tells people to stay away. An open posture, with arms and legs uncrossed, invites interaction.

Face Your facial expression can show lots of emotions, from happiness to fear. An expression that matches your actions makes it easier for people to relate to you. Be aware of your resting face— how you look when you're not interacting with anyone. A pleasant resting face helps people feel good around you.

Eyes

Making eye contact shows that you're confident, sincere, and engaged. Avoiding someone's eyes may convey fear, disinterest, or dishonesty.

“When the spirit is fed with holy virtues, then is the body joyous...” —‘Abdu’l-Baha

you may want to make new friends at a party, but you might not realize that your crossed arms and stern expression are saying, “Leave me alone!” When someone growls, “I’m not mad!” with clenched teeth and tight fists, it’s hard to believe their words. Body language has different meanings across cultures. You might be greeted with a hug in Mexico and a bow in Japan. Check out these tips for positive nonverbal messages in U.S. culture.

Gestures

Positive gestures make you appear friendly and approachable. You might nod while listening or invite someone to join you with a beckoning hand. Fidgeting, biting your lips, or putting your hand over your mouth give an impression of anxiety or disinterest.

Appearance Your clothing, neatness, and cleanliness send a message to others. You might wear casual clothes to hang out with friends and a more formal outfit at a wedding. Being clean and neat, no matter what you're wearing, sends positive signals.

When you're aware of how your body talks to others, you can express yourself more clearly and confidently.

28

Brilliant Star % VOL 46,NO.6/ VOL 47,NO.1 [Page 29]What Do People Y

nderstanding body language is a vital skill we use every day. It helps us make friends and get along with

others. You interpret nonverbal signals when you talk to a kid who has an open posture

and friendly expression, instead of one who's hunched over and scowling. If your brother is

frowning with concentration over a school project due tomorrow, you know it’s not a good time to ask him to play a game.

You use these “listening” skills to interact with everyone around you. When you send and interpret signals successfully, your relationships can be clear and harmonious.

WS N

\e

—X®& >> 2

7,

=

[Page 30]_.POET’S PEAK

H ave you ever been awed by a brilliant sunset or powerful ocean waves? A poem can bring to life what you see, hear, smell, or touch. Enjoy the poems below. How do they make you feel? Try writing your own poem about a color, place, or anything that captures your imagination. BLUE

| AAMS GA wma «BY KAITLYN, agen

Blue has scores of shades REDWOODS and a multitude of tones. BY BENJAMIN N., age 11

Aquamarine, Sky Blue, Cobalt, Slate Blue, and Cyan just to name a few.

Massive trunks tower in the sky Flowers the color of sapphires

Their branches made from rubies of blood red hue. adorn the fields and gardens of our world. Their arms shelter you from the sun Blue birds sing their heartwarming songs

Transforming the leaves to glowing emeralds in the trees that soar into

Spiraling down on you. the heavens so high.

Splotches of sapphire sky are supported by the trees Waterfalls reflecting the sky’s azure blue

S 4

Swaying ever so slightly play a soothing melody on

In the mellow breeze. stone and earth.

The branches try to snatch the clouds from the sky My favorite powder blue sweater

But soon they start to cry and leggings

And icy pellets fall unrelenting from the sky. keep me warm under frigid winter skies. The blue is now gray The oceans of sea and teal blue

And the gale makes the trees dance and sway lap on to the shore

Lightning illuminating the fray. seeking warmth from their

The branches creak and moan icy depths of slate blue,

As icy missiles strike home. even though it’s mid-summer.

The gray lightens The sky, infinite and vast,

And the wind picks up blowing the clouds away has fluffy, powder white clouds

Ever so slowly unveiling the blinding light of day. floating in a gigantic, light blue sky.

The wind starts to relent Then the clouds are blown away by a slight breeze. And the forest wins the battle Rain flows down from the sky.

But it has not won the war My purple umbrella ;

For only some are safe from the men with axes. has raid drops pelting down on its surface.

But for now the ancient giants of the forest are safe and sound As arain drop falls, | see a hint of blue

a royal, REGAL, cobalt blue.

Turns out, it was just a car passing by. Blue

It can trick the eye

but it can be real. So, so real.

_Y A+ + =

ili ( n 5NO1 Images: Anton Jankovoy, Stephen Moehle, 30 Brilliant Star # vol 46.NO.6/ VOL. 47,.NO.1 eee

And no matter what will stand their sacred ground.

[Page 31]martphones, tablets, and other digital devices are S awesome tools. They help us connect with friends, explore new worlds in a flash, or chill out with cool activities. But they can be hard to put down. Have you ever tried

talking to someone who keeps looking at their screen instead of listening? No fun. Our devices can distract us from important

Ca

SE

Charge|Up|Communication

“Let them see no one as their enemy, or as wishing them ill, but think of all humankind as their friends...”

—‘Abdu'l-Baha

things—like a friend who needs help or fun family time. But we can choose to use technology wisely. Keep in mind what's most important to you. Would you rather beat your best score or build memories with your favorite people?

It takes strength and smarts to use your tools wisely. With moderation, we can enjoy screen time and keep our relationships— online and offline—fully charged.

Balance screen time with other activities, like ee outside and being with family and friends in person.

Put away your devices at ___ _____— time and other family and community events.

Text with — _ _ _ —_—— . Don’t say anything that you wouldn't say in person.

Ifyou feel ______. take time to cool off before texting or posting online.

Don'tshare _. __ _ _ _ — or videos that could embarrass someone else.

Ifa game is making you overly frustrated or upset, take a _ _______ _ to calm down.

Once you post something _ —_____—, it's there forever. Only share things that you want seen publicly.

Make sure the tone of your message is ———— before you send it. Could your words be misinterpreted?

If you see cyberbullying online or in don’t respond, and

tell an adult.

a.

(=

SS

ANSWERS ON PAGE 36

VOL. 46,NO.6 /

vOL.47,N0.1 % Brilliant Star

31 [Page 32]MUSIC CAFE

“Music, sung or played, is spiritual food for soul and heart.” —Baha’i Writings

AT SCHOOL, I GAVE A SPEECH ABOUT

MALALA YOUSAFZAI,* THE GIRL FROM SHE INSPIRES ME AND PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. PAKISTAN WHO SPEAKS OUT ABOUT SHE EVEN WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE! AFTER GIRLS’ EDUCATION. LLEARNED ABOUT HER AMAZING STORY, I REALLY

VO FEEL LIKE I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. I FEEL STRONG WHEN I IMAGINE...

I AM MALALA By Alastair Moock and Debbie Lan

Behe Moe.

‘Til ev-ery child cango to schoolI am Ma-la-la, you are Ma-la-la_ too_ "Til free-dom, peace and 7 A E BOE % A E B _— jus-tice rule Tam Ma -la-la, you are Ma-la-la_too_ I am Ma - la-la ‘til the sun has shone ’Til dig-ni- ty__and truth B E A E B E 3rd time, t = a, Seitine, 0 Cody _8__,

SSS = SS Se

are known IT am Ma - la-la "til the day is new Iam Ma-la-la, you are Ma-la-la_ too. 26 Reel, lud A Ditty es —— = + — fj = Cyt te eee = — 2 =F S PY raise nse up. = voice for an ¢-qual chance To lve and learn and arow Tobe who. I want to be

ots el a fa — a A aa I

and ex- plore The things I want to know Ma - la-la-la - la Ma - la-la-la Iam Ma-la-la, you are Ma- 38 g fl. B [2B E Dsalcens OA | a

la-la too Ma - la-la too I am Ma- Ooo Ma-lala Ooo Ma-la-la_- Ooo Ma-la-la Ooo Ma-la-la__ Ooo

VERSE 2 CHORUS

One among many raising up my voice

SHEE SP INTERLUDE “Read

lam Malala, you are Malala too Malala y, about CHORUS inour Mayra

Speaking for all the girls and boys 20 "May/June

“4issue,p. 23 lam Malala, you are Malala too O00 Malala

hether you say Hi, Aloha, or Shalom, a friendly The Baha’ Faith says that if we all learn a universal greeting builds peace. But there are about 7,000 _ language in addition to our native languages, we'll feel at languages spoken on Earth! It’s no wonder that home anywhere in the world. In the meantime, exploring

communicating can sometimes be a challenge. What if all languages can give us a glimpse of Earth’s diversity. Below, seven billion people could easily talk to each other? Youcould _kids are getting ready for an international festival. Help them share your thoughts with anyone from Argentina to Zambia. match each greeting with its country.

China (Mandarin) 1 _A

France (French)

Finland (Finnish) Germany (German) Iran (Persian) —-_——E A A

Russia (Russian) Kenya (Swahili)

—-l___ 0

Nigeria (Yoruba)

Japan (Japanese) South Korea (Korean)

Italy (Italian) Chile (Spanish) —-AL A

Philippines (Tagalog) United Arab Emirates (Arabic) -A_U___ -_A

Images: Landmarks by Decarwith me and flags by AR

VOL.46,NO.6/VOL.47,NO.1 %& Brilliant Star 33 [Page 34]“SHINING LAMP

Roger White (1929-1993) _aycataaey

a

really do not understand the

madness which leads people

to write books,” poet Roger White wrote to friends. “I keep meaning to swear off.” But Roger kept writing. He published 10 books of poetry and prose. He also wrote many funny and uplifting letters to friends worldwide, writers and other artists among them.

The oldest of four children, Roger was bom in Toronto, Canada, in 1929. Although his family moved three times during his childhood, he considered his childhood happy, “cloudless years.” He did well at school and began writing poetry as a teenager.

At 18, his first collection of poems was published. More early poems would see print years later.

Roger's family was Catholic. Although his parents seldom attended church, Roger often went, taking his sister Eileen along. Even as a young man, Roger was a deep thinker. In his early 20s, he began to doubt God's existence. It felt like “winter setting in," he wrote in a poem. But as winter gives way to spring, his thoughts would change again.

Renewed Faith

One day, “out of sheer boredom,” he went to a Baha'i meeting. He studied the Faith for two years before deciding to become a Baha’t in 1951, at about age 22. “My friends said I was nuts,” he said. His parents hoped he would outgrow it. Some felt he had tumed away from Christianity. But Roger's

decision was careful. “Through the Baha’t Faith,” he wrote, “I came to love and appreciate Christ as I had never done before.” Shortly after accepting the Faith, Roger returned to a town north of Toronto, Belleville, where he'd spent part of his childhood. He was the town’s first Baha't.

Soon, others in Belleville joined the Faith. One of them, Helen, became Roger's wife. When Roger

was Offered a job editing the daily record of debates in the Canadian Parliament, the couple moved to Ottawa.

The marriage ended after 10 years. To start over, he moved to Vancouver and worked for the Supreme Court of British Columbia. In Vancouver, he met two visiting Baha'is, William and Marguerite Sears. Life would never be the same.

Service Around the World

As a Hand of the Cause of God,* William (“Bill”) Sears was a busy Baha’ leader, often traveling to speak about the Faith, assist other Baha’ts, and write. One night after giving a speech, Bill went to bed early. He needed an assistant, Marguerite said, to lighten his workload and save his health. Roger agreed to take on the job. “You may alter my grammar...” Bill told him later, “but don't rewrite my jokes!"

Roger helped Bill in Africa and California for five years. In 1971, Bill planned a six-month trip and

Brilliant Star % VOL 46,NO.6/ VOL 47,NO.1

34

A Hand of the Cause of God served the Baha'i community in significant

ways, including encouraging others in teaching and protecting the Faith [Page 35]suggested that Roger work for the Universal House of Justice, the governing body at the Baha'i World Center in Haifa, Israel.

“You know, of course, Roger, that this is goodbye,” Bill said, when Roger agreed.

“What do you mean?” asked Roger.

“Do you think the Universal House of Justice, once they hear about all the wonderful things you do, your multiple skills, and what a remarkable Baha't you are, will ever let me steal you back again?”

Roger stayed at the World Center for 20 years. He had always worked with words, but now his communication. blossomed. He did secretarial work and also managed the publishing department, helping produce several important reference books.

‘Power of Art

Israel, with its many holy places, reawakened the poet in Roger. He started writing poems and short pieces on the lives of various Baha’ts. His work

was published and noticed around the world. One reader commented, “Roger's words helped me realize I am not alone.” His words sparked others’ imaginations. Some set his poems to music, others gave dramatic readings or based paintings on them. Roger was thrilled.

Roger worked for Hand of the Cause of God William Sears.

Center in Israel. He wrote and edited, and he

managed the publishing department.

“Art heals,” he explained. “It says: care, grow, develop, adapt, overcome, nurture, protect, foster, cherish . . . It invites us to laugh, reflect, cry, strive, persevere. It says rejoice!” He felt that artists were “a gift” to their communities.

To care for his ailing mother and in poor health himself, Roger retumed to Canada in 1991. With his typical humor, he wrote a poem about leaving Haifa.

Those who his company eschew complain, “His parting’s overdue".

While those who count his presence dear protest, “He was too briefly here".

Still others mutter with a yawn,

“Oh, was he here? So, has he gone?"

The Universal House of Justice praised his 20 years of “devoted and invaluable services." They added, “Your talents and abilities have won the admiration and respect of all of us.”

Back in Canada, he continued sharing the Faith with others, started a poetry writing group, and published another book. Peaceful and content near life’s end, Roger commented that he'd done everything he'd wanted to do. His family at his side, Roger died in April 1993, leaving the gifts of his heart and mind in print for generations to treasure.

Baha'i World Center by Tatiana Belova

35

VOL. 46,NO.6/ VOL. 47,N0.1 % Brilliant Star [Page 36]mR?

WE LOVE 10 HANG Eze We Bs OKC eae Ve ; a WG

"5 CORNER

OSMO

Look for clues throughout the magazine.

C

ke ARR

3. We can choose to use wisely. (p. 31)

5. Home to half of our plant and animal species (p.11)

9. Being a good is areal victory. (p. 20)

ACROSS

10. are just part of being human. (p. 5)

11. Keep your eyes open for new ways to assemble every day. (p. 9)

13. Janet says this is an important quality for a writer. (p. 27)

16. Keeping a can improve your health. (p. 4)

18. Spending time in

can reduce stress. (p. 22)

FROM OUR MAILBOX

Brilliant Star helps me [in] a lot of different ways ... It gives a lot of helpful tips. They \_ teach how to balance between being spiritual and intellectual. It makes me feel that | have more than my family to rely on... | would like a theme to be about people who are shy (people who don't have the courage to speak) .. .

—Rizvan S., age 13, North Carolina, U.S.

1. Taija admires the thirst for knowledge and

2. We send messages with our

4. Can work as partners to help us practice moderation (p. 10)

6. Taija, Tahirih-Khanum, Maile, and Wen Jie all play .

(pp. 12-13) 7. Resolving problems peacefully keeps the in family time. (p. 8) 8. Ridvan is the Most Great . (p.6) 12. A force that’s found everywhere, in space and on Earth (p. 16) 14. Art can be a powerful way to share your emotions or__. (p.3) 15. Allene’s message to world leaders: “Be ____and just...” (p. 13)

17. Roger White says this heals. (p. 35)

language. (p. 28)

KEY: T=Top, C=Center, B=Bottom, L=Left, R=Right

Page 7: Mystery, community, celebration, friendship, festival, nightingales, garden, promise, joyous, paradise

Page 8:1) C,2) A, 3), 4) C, 5)B, 6) C, 7)B, 8) C Page 9: Skateboard at C, tulle at BL, paintbrush at CR, camera at TL, map at CR, cup at CR, trumpet at BC, prayer book at CL, trophy at C Page 10: 1) teamwork, leadership; 2) humble, confident; 3) brave, careful; 4) humorous, dignified; 5) honest, tactful; 6) forgiving, just;

7) hardworking, playful; 8) optimistic, realistic Page 11: Hong Kong, Javan langurs

Page 15: animal, beach, collect, dream, Earth famous, gift, house, ice cream, jokes, kindest, language, movies, name, octopus, party,

auality, ead, sport, thankful, unique, vacation, won, explore, yer, zillion

Page 16: Comet

Page 29: Smiling man at TL, woman with open aims at TC, woman shaking hands at TC, man waving at TR, man with glasses at CR, woman at CER, woman with plate at BR, kid at BC, man with dog at BC, gir! near grill at C

Page 31:1) playing, 2) dinner, 3) respect,

4) upset, 5) photos, 6) break, 7) online

8) clear, 9) texts

Page 33: 1) Ni hao, 2) Terve, 3) Bonjour,

4) Hallo, 5) Namaste, 6) Salam, 7) Priv

8) Konnichiwa, 9) Jambo, 10) Annyong

haaseyo, 11) E pele o, 12) Ciao, 13) Kamusta, 14) Hola, 15) As-salam ‘alaykum

Brilliant Star # Vol 46,NO0.6/ VOL 47,NO.1

36 [Page 37]a.) TRaGHNO TaneL ADVENTURE

our BFF isn’t responding to your text because she’s busy. Wait, is it because she’s mad at you? Did she take your

joke the wrong way? You text her, “Call me. Miss you!” Eek! You just sent that to someone you met last week.

Texting and e-mail are easy ways to connect. But they can also lead us into a tricky web of garbled expectations and missed

signals. To navigate this cyber-maze, you need to power up your judgment and wisdom. When do you turn off your phone, so you can focus on other things? How do you know it’s time to talk to a friend in person to avoid misunderstandings? How do you recognize cyberbullying that needs an adult's help? It’s

easy to get lost in cyberspace!

‘GOSSIPY. |GALOT,

47,N0.1 % Brilliant Star

d Engage many others in earnest discussions “a ¥ i x

that lift the heart and awaken the mind to the possibilities of what could be.” —Bahai Writings

Brilliant Star

Connecting Hearts VOL. 46,NO.6/ VOL. 47,NO.1 + Jan.-Apr. 2015

AN AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHAIS OF THE UNITED STATES

www. brilliantstarmagazine.org