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4 A BAHAT COM mM FOR YOUNG EXPLORERS =
Br ilignist
www. brilliantstarmagaZeey ee ie
[Page 0]
Amethel Parel-Sewell — EDITOR/ CREATIVE DIRECTOR
C. Aaron Kreader —DESIGNER/ILLUSTRATOR
Amy Renshaw — SENIOR EDITOR
Heidi Parsons ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Katie Bishop ASSISTANT EDITOR
Foad Ghorbani PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Lisa Blecker ARTIST & WRITER
Donna Price WRITER
Dr. Stephen Scotti STEM EDUCATION ADVISOR
MANY THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS:
Amia Allmart - Alexander Alsalihi - Bahiyyih-Khanum Amini ‘Thomas Angus « Nia Beane Ciele Beau
Eli Cacchioni « Dr. Charles Camarda - Olivia Davis. ‘Susan Engle « Shahriar Erfanian « Dr. Joanna Haigh George Hatcher « Nylah Himes - Lucas James
Ariana Julien - Layli Phillips - Annie Reneau
Kaia Schleifman + Kiana Tagdiri « Barzeen Tashakkor
Mor her « Shadi Toloui-Wallace « Nura Zabi
ART AND PHOTO CREDITS
Illustrations by C. Aaron Kreader, unless noted
By Lisa Blecker: Photos on pp. 6-7, watercolor on p. 9
By Foad Ghorbani: Art on p.2
Historical photos courtesy National Bahs' Archives, unless noted
STORY AND ACTIVITY CREDITS
By Amy Renshaw: 9, 11, 14, 19, 20, 26, 29 Parsons: 10, 16, 22, 28
Bishop: 2, 4, 8, 12, 24
By Lisa Blecker: 6
By Donna Price: 1, 15, 14, 20, 25, 27
By Annie Reneau: 3
‘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)
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RIGHTS, PERMISSIONS, AND CLASS USE ‘Al content inthis magazine is copyrighted by the National Spirtual Assembly ‘of the Bahdis ofthe U.S. or by individual contributors. For ‘copy or translate material, contact: Rights and Permissions, 1233 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201. Teachers may photocopy pages in limited quantities for classroom use. “Brilliant Star” and issue date must be present on all copies, and proper credit given to the copyright owner.
Brilliant Star empowers kids to explore their roles as world citizens. Inspired by the principles of peace 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-Bahé, interpreted His teachings and led the Baha'i community after Bahé’u'lldh’s passing. Today, Bahd’is work to bring love and justice to the world, and end prejudice and discrimination of all kinds.
and uni
Y
Baha’u’llah’s Life: Mission of Peace The Seven Valleys describes the soul’s journey.
Nur’s Nook
Put Nur’s noble face on a pencil case!
Riley’s Rainforest Feed your spirit with upli
We Are One
Explore and care for the place we all call home.
Lightning and Luna: Episode #78 Can Lightning bluff the bad guys?
Radiant Stars Get to know kids who shine, like you.
Stargazer: Shadi Toloui-Wallace
She serves up both sacred and secular music.
Maya’s Mysteries
What do science and art have in common?
Shining Lamp: Franklin Kahn
His Navajo culture inspired his art and service.
Cosmo's Corner A crossword and more from our favorite chameleon
aMAZEing ADVENTURE
When creativity flows, it feels awesome!
ISSN 0884-3695
[Page 1]
NEW DESTINATIONS
2 Quiz: Do You Have a Growth Mindset?
Mistakes mean you're trying new things.
3 Full STEAM Ahead What does art have to do with robots?
Creative Juices Chill out to enjoy the fruits of your labors.
Creating Community
Each unique spirit adds power to a project.
Soaring with Art Can making art lift your spirit sky-high?
Stuart & Gabriella: Turtle Troubles
Art can help save endangered species.
Painting ‘Abdu’l-Baha
For Juliet Thompson, inspiration took over.
Space Ace
Scientists answer your cosmic questions.
Breezes of Love Fill in the missing wind chime words.
Zeke & Rhombus: Power Up with Diversity
Fresh ways to solve setbacks in space
sponsible sources
SC” C000000
VOL. 49 NO. 5
od
DEAR FRIENDS,
What inspires your creativity? Inventing new moves on the soccer field or the dance floor? Designing a robot or experimenting with a new recipe?
Creativity is like amuscle —it can be nourished and developed. Whenit's strong, we can use itto bring joy to our communities
and inspire action in them. So take some time to discover what touches your heart and ignites your imagination.
In this issue of Brilliant Star, explore ways to let your creativity soar. Fly by Nur’s Nook to make a pencil case that kindles your artistic spark. Get your creative juices flowing and design hot air balloons. Stretch your ability to turn mistakes into learning experiences with a quiz on developing a growth mindset. Build your curiosity about blending science and art. And get to know Shadi Toloui-Wallace, a singer and songwriter who empowers people to be of service with music.
We all have creative power. When we exercise it with our family and friends, it uplifts our spirits and energizes our communities.
LOVE, peiiANt OTK
Skyline by Spectru
[Page 2]
Do You
G) ro
giave | a
. Minds
yW't
daet?
“Learning as a mode of operation requires that all assume a posture of humility, a condition in
which one becomes forgetful of self, placing complete trust in God ..
stumbling and have a hard time finding the rhythm.
What do you do now? If you have a fixed mindset, you might feel frustrated and stuck. Or you might even give up, because you don't like to make mistakes. You could think you don’t have the skills, and there’s not much
Le you’re learning a new dance move. You keep
you can do to change.
But if you have a growth mindset, you know that you
.” —Baha’i Writings
can develop new skills through practice and perseverance. You aren't afraid to make mistakes, because you know that you'll learn from them.
A growth mindset leads to more creativity. It gives you the confidence to take chances and try new things. You might unexpectedly come up with a new technique or
style. Even if you mess up, it’s a fun step toward
learning and getting better.
Moed Your Mindset Help You Grow?
1.|'m proud of myself for trying new things, even if | don’t do them well. Often=3 - Sometimes=2 + Rarely=1
2.| remember that | can develop new skills if | work at them. Often=3 - Sometimes=2 + Rarely=1
MY SCORE
36-28 POINTS | Youlove to learn and have developed a strong growth mindset. Keep it up!
Circle your answers, then add up your points.
3. I'm inspired by the hard work of people around me. Often=3 - Sometimes =2 + Rarely=1
4. | like to take on new challenges and see what happens. Often=3 - Sometimes=2 + Rarely=1
5. When | make a mistake, | figure out what can learn from it. Often=3 - Sometimes=2 + Rarely=1
6.1 know that | can continue to learn and grow throughout my entire life. Often=3 + Sometimes =2 + Rarely=1
7. 1am forgiving and patient with myself when I run into challenges. Often=3 - Sometimes=2 + Rarely=1
8.1 listen to criticism and try to find something helpful in what was said. Often=3 - Sometimes=2 + Rarely=1
9. |like to think of unique ways to do things.
Often=3 - Sometimes=2 + Rarely=1
27-20 POINTS You're learning to persevere. Choose a tip from the quiz to build your growth mindset.
10. When | finish a project, | look at how I've improved and what | can work on next time. Often=3 - Sometimes=2 + Rarely=1
11. I'm flexible and open to new directions if my work isn’t turning out the way I'd planned.
Often=3 - Sometimes =2 + Rarely=1
12. | keep in mind that everybody faces setbacks, and it’s important to persevere.
Often=3 - Sometimes =2 + Rarely=1
19-12 POINTS
You can develop your growth mindset. Choose a few tips from the quiz and keep trying!
2 Brilliant Star % voi.49 Nos
[Page 3]
obotics is a cool, modern science. But did you
know that people have been creating human-
like machines for hundreds of years? Early robots
were called automatons. Artist and inventor Leonardo
DaVinci designed one in the late 1400s!
Like DaVinci, you can use science and art to spark
unique ideas. Lots of schools and communities have
STEM programs, which focus on Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math. But some are also adding Art— and that changes STEM into STEAM. After all, you don’t just want your robots to work right—you also want them to look awesome!
The world needs creative thinking and technical know-how, which is why art and science make a great combination. When you build those skills with curiosity and perseverance, the possibilities are endless!
ON PAGE 28
rs WIRE OF WISDOM ki =
vo..49 No.5 % Brilliant Star 3
[Page 4]
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 Tihrén
1853-1863
Exile in Baghdad, Irag. From 1854-1856, He goes into the mountains to pray in solitude.
Declares Divine Mission as Prophet-Founder. of the Baha't 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 ‘Akka, Israel
AST PVE a) Finally free to live in countryside homes: of Mazra‘ih and then Bahji, outside ‘Akka
Baha'u'llah passes away at Bahj/.
magine you're hiking through the
mountains. The air is crisp, and the
birds chirp as they fly through the trees. It's along, challenging trek, but everything is green and full of life, and there's so much to explore along the way. You reach the first peak and look down at the panorama of hills and valleys. You pull out your map and see that you have seven valleys to cross before you reach your destination.
Like a trip in the mountains, our souls are on a journey as well. We are born into this physical world, and our spirits and virtues continue to grow and develop. Baha'u'llah describes this spiritual journey in a holy book called The Seven Valleys.
From 1854-1856, Baha'u'llah spent about two years praying and meditating in the mountains of Kurdistan. When He returned to His home in Baghdad, Traq, He found the Babt community disheartened and weak. Baha'u'llah urged them to build the strength of their characters. He had not yet announced that He was a Messenger of God, but He revealed holy writings that helped guide the community.
During this time, a man named Shaykh Muhyi‘d-Din wrote to Baha'u'llah with questions. The shaykh followed a form of Islam called Sufism. But he admired Baha'u'llah and His spiritual insight. Baha'u'llah answered his questions in The Seven Valleys.
In this book, Baha'u'llah describes the seven stages, or valleys, that the soul passes through on its journey toward God. These stages were already
Baha'u'llah retired to a cave in the Zagros Mountains for nearly two years. The mountain range extends across western Iran, northern Iraq, and eastern Turkey.
known in Sufism, and Baha'u'llah shed new light on their profound meaning. Many years later, Baha'u'llah’s great- grandson, Shoghi Effendi, said that The Seven Valleys “may well be regarded as His greatest mystical composition.”
In The Seven Valleys, the soul's journey begins in the Valley of Search. The search for God requires a pure heart, ardor, and zeal. Baha'u'llah writes that our hearts are “the wellspring of divine treasures,” and need to be clean and pure in order to search for Him. He reveals that without patience, we “will reach nowhere and attain no goal.”
Baha'u'llah tells us to never be discouraged, even if we search for “a hundred thousand years,” because as soon as we find a trace of Him, we will immediately enter the Valley of Love.
The fire of this love purifies our spirits so we can enter the Valley of Knowl- edge. In this stage, our “inner eyes will open,” and we gain true understanding, seeing God's wisdom everywhere.
4 Brilliant Star % voL49 Nos
Images: Mountains by Bulgac, pen case © Bahé' International Community
[Page 5]
The journey continues through the Valley
of Unity, where we see “all things with the eye
of oneness,” and find some attributes of God
reflected in every created thing.
Seeing with the light of unity helps us be detached from everything except God, and we can then enter the Valley of Contentment. Here, we experience true inner happiness and joy, no matter what happens in our outer lives.
Next, we come to the Valley of Wonderment, where we are struck “with the beauty of the All-Glorious.” At every moment we see “a wondrous world” and are “lost in awe.”
The last stage is the Valley of True Poverty and Absolute Nothingness. This is “being poor in the
This decorated pen case belonged to Baha'u'llah. He revealed the equivalent of 100 books during His lifetime.
things of the created world,” yet “rich in the things of God's world.” In this valley, we detach from the material world to focus only on God and the spiritual realm.
Find 19 words from The Seven Valleys related to the soul’s journey. Search forward, backward, up, down, and diagonally.
ARDOR CONTENTMENT HEART JOURNEY KNOWLEDGE LOVE NEARNESS NOTHINGNESS MYSTIC ONENESS
cnx rxAH Kx ZOO ZEFEN Ce CNX OC HM ZH OCHOxMmMSs = Semuyr~ayvrUMoaAZzTrTOVH SE Perro zcrsH2zmmMvy-~ Zzaremmoenoxmoce « < mrZzn02290MH Z2SrPNODo <MmMnHH DO Cr AK AM =ZEmM Ss A
=S2znz=zrr<H zFNrecaa
S$ kK ZOPNE N EJ BOYL
A MN WY BO PATIENCE YRROEK V PEACE EH F N R GE SEARCH EN TODdTQ4H JRREYVUL bt 00ERVUW UNITY FoDRM OB X VALLEY P RA ERY D WAYFARER A A FN Y Y B
PV Y TN OP WONDERMENT EWA I FV M ZEAL Ys WW UV N
@ Bs cC OKI
Sources include The Revelation of Baha'u'llah, volume 1, by Adib Taherzadeh
vo..49 No.5 % Brilliant Star 5
[Page 6]
Get Inspired: Mske J Nur Pencil Cose
“Let them share in every new and rare and wondrous craft and art.” —‘Abdu’l-Baha
THIS PENCIL CASE HELPS MY CREATIVITY SHINE!
1 Fold paper in half. From fold, draw 4%" tall x 1/2" wide (12.1x 3.8 cm) half oval for head. Draw 1/4" (3.2 cm) tall oval that touches fold and slightly overlaps top of head for eye. Cut along exterior lines and unfold.
ve you ever thought you'd lost your ability to make arts
and crafts? Maybe you struggled to come up with fun
ideas, felt distracted, or were afraid that projects wouldn't
come out the way you'd imagined. When blocks like these
smother your creative spark, try some tips to light your way. Check out exhibits, films, or books with exciting topics.
Turn on uplifting music and draw or write the first thing that
comes to mind. Use different supplies or recycled objects to create practical tools or a gift. Be open to experimenting or making mistakes—you may improve an idea or learn a whole lot more.
It also helps to set aside a specific time and place to create. Surround yourself with people, items, quotes, or photos that empower you or fire up your curiosity. Create this cool pencil case to kindle your creativity—or design one of your own!
Youll Need
- printerpaper + 33.8 fl.oz. * permanent
. (1L) clear black marker ruler plastic bottle
> pene with cap + hole punch
o safksis * greenplastic + optional: an bottle craft knife;
+ felt (dar : encils, green, light + Tthin black markers green, white, and thick eraser to black, pink) a pipe store in
cleaner, » tacky glue i2"long your case + clear tape (80.5cm)
2 Asaguide, draw 1%4" (4.4 cm) circle from top of large oval down. Draw mouth by adding %" (1.3 cm) border at sides of oval, under circle. Cut out mouth.
6
Brilliant Star * vc
[Page 7]
3 Trace pattern on dark green felt. Cut out.
Vp
4 Fortorso, draw and cut out 2" (5 cm) light green and 14"
(3.8 cm) dark green felt square. Round top corners. Cut small oval shapes out of dark felt for “glow” highlights.
es
“-_ Ga ~4 be >
shapes together so bottom edges meet. Glue chin on top edge of body. Let dry.
Lay face on clear bottle so bottom of torso and bottle’s bottom align. Trace mouth onto bottle with marker. With adult’s help, cut out plastic mouth.
5 Glue torso
7 Punch two holes in bottle below mouth. Thread
thick pipe cleaner through for arms. ay
8 Fold thin pipe cleaner in half. Tape behind eyes and fold ends down for antennae. Draw wings with marker on green bottle. With adult's help, cut out wings so black outlines show. Tape wings behind Nur's shoulders.
9 Glue Nur (avoiding wings, antennae, and arms) to bottle, so felt mouth ae aligns with mouth opening. Pull pipe cleaner arms in front of wings. Cut out and glue on felt eye and mouth details. Let dry.
10 Load pencils through
bottle top or mouth.
Twist end of arm
around eraser.
Repeat with other
arm for pencil. Bend L pipe cleaners at
“elbows.”
vo..49 No.5 ¥& Brilliant Star
[Page 8]
“Send down... from the clouds of Thy
mercy the rains of Thy healing...”
Music: Our Spiritual Food
to music together synchronizes our
id you know that you can strengthen your mind, body, and community by listening to music? The Baha'i writings say that music is “spiritual food for soul and heart.” Current research shows it, too. When we listen to music we enjoy, our brains release the “feel- good” chemical dopamine, which affects our emotions. So uplifting music can make you feel happier and more energetic. It can help you concentrate and put you in a better mood for learning. Music is also great for our bodies. It can boost our immune systems and reduce stress and anxiety, which helps us heal. And when we exercise, music gives us extra endurance to keep going. It can distract us from fatigue, which helps us go faster and farther. Music can enhance our com- munities, too. Creating or listening
Curiosity Canopy
brain waves, which can help us feel more connected. Some studies show that when people listen to music with lyrics that promote kindness, they tend to be more generous. Listening to music with positive lyrics can even help to decrease prejudice toward one another.
So look for ways to make music a part of your healthy routines. Find songs that cheer you up when you're feeling down. Listen to tunes with positive lyrics to make sure you're feeding your brain healthy messages. And find opportunities to connect with friends by sharing music together—whether you're singing, drumming, or listening to the radio. A little music can go a long way toward lifting our spirits.
id you know? Music stimulates more areas of the brain than almost any other activity we do. Playing an instrument engages nearly every area of the brain
—Baha’u'llah
Explore & Soar:
Savor Some Songs
ound, rhythm, and music play a
big role in how we experience the world. Try these tips for adding more melodies to your life.
o Explore different instruments at a music store. Or make your own instrument from recycled materials.
o Choose an instrument and find out about its history. What culture is it from? How has. it changed over time?
o At a prayer gathering, share music that helps set an inspiring and reverent tone.
co Get up and dance. Try to feel the rhythm flowing through you. It's a fun way to express your feelings.
o Listen to a favorite song and write your own lyrics. What words and images come to mind
at once! Dr. Anita Collins, a neuroscientist and music
- . when you hear a happy tune?
educator in Australia, says, "Playing music is the brain's equivalent of a full-body workout."
8 Brilliant Star #% voi49 Nos Images: Band by FangXiaNuo, dancer by Rawpixel Ltd, girl by WaraJenny
[Page 9]
jai h hen your creative juices flow, it's fun to feel nature, and you may boost alpha brain waves.
Pit You can refresh your creativity by exposing itto
inspired and getinto a groove with new
ations. But sometimes it can beachallenge new things, too. Play some unfamiliar music, doodle
to come up with concepts or find energy for a project. just for the joy of it, or explore any topic you're curious Did you know that relaxing can help? Scientists talk with diverse friends and ask
have linked creativity to alpha brain waves, which are present when we're calm. If you feel like your imagination Discovering a brilliant idea may not be as easy as
is drying up, take a break. Close your eyes and visualize whipping up a fruit smoothie. But you can pick ways
a peaceful place, take a walk, meditate, or go out in to keep your creativity fresh.
cre:
about. It can help to for their feedback.
juices flowing? Match each one with a helpful drink.
} | What do these foods need to get their creative " \ aa w). Py { | pr = | \ _ |
Brave f Blend = Aa, \ \\ AS a s\ ns
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HN D> SPN, PESSIMISTIC
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~ COMPLAINING
OUTRAGED A aaa onan i eer — Leisurely as Liquid oa GY ee Supportive : Solution 7 ‘ & p COWERING (bre , B cransenny 7) BASHFUL slackperny (2)
ANSWERS ON PAGE 28
vo..49 No.5 % Brilliant Star 9
[Page 10]
Creating Community
ove, kindness, patience, and other virtues bring joy chance to express themselves and have fun. L to a community, just like brilliant colors of paint Whether you're painting a mural or performing on stage, make an art project shine. Each person’s unique —you're learningnewskills and practicing perseverance and spirit adds vibrancy to the whole group. Using the arts cooperation. That helps you and your friends face challenges with friends, family, and neighbors gives everyone a later on. Creative communities are radiant with resilience.
These creative friends are ready to work together on art for the Unity Festival. Fill in the words to discover their tips for building community.
‘ CARE ABOUT A Ht - AS THEIR THOUGHTS AND _EELIN_ 5. VAP
=
=
COU_AGEOQU_ COLORED PENCILS
es
EXPRESS T_ANK_ * GIVE PEOPLE TIME. WE | —— EVEN WHEN THINGS GO FOR EVERYONE’S, ALL WORK AND THINK AT 7) WRONG, TRY TO FIND » —IFFE_ENT PACES. “% SOMETHING SILLY
WORK AN? TIME. + TO _AVGH ABOUT.
BE RELIABLE AND
cee > _OLLO_ TuROVEH | G_ATE_UL GLUE ES ON WHAT YOU SAY ey IVE EVERYONE YOU'LL DO.
> ELWA_ bccess To ~—— = SUPPLIESAND CHANCES = —-\ — TOPARTICIPATE.
— REA_ OTHERS AS YOU'D LIKE TO BE TREATED—
- = WITH KINDNESS. ( poet Y
RES_EC_FUL / TRU_T_ORTHY
RUDE 7 S_ARIN__ SCISSORS a Wal D. x = 8 on
1
0 Brilliant Star % voL49 Nos ANSWERS ON PAGE 28
[Page 11]
OUR CONNECTIONS
SW For over 1,000 years, windmills have been used to pump water and
grind grain. Today, giant
wind turbines create clean electricity by turning generators. They
can be on top of buildings or even on the ocean. Wind energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions and doesn’t require water for cooling like large power plants do. So far,
wind generates 3% of our global energy,
but that could rise to 20% by 2030.
a cueiue bea kia |
|
Images: Turbines by Mimadeo, ISS by NASA, Dr. Haigh by Imperial College London/Thomas Angus, Temple © Baha‘ International Community, bird by Utopia_88 PROTECTING OUR PLANET ; » . Ve 4,’ wee EXPLoRE AND PROTECT THE EARTH AnD ITS CREATURES x b. “All the members of this endless universe are linked one to another.” —Baha’i Writings WOW, REALLY? The International Space Station (ISS) orbits Earth in about 90 minutes. That means the astronauts aboard the ISS see 15-16 sunrises and sunsets every day! Tidy Travel About 53% of roadside litter is from motorists. Keep one waterproof bag in your family’s car for your trash and another one for recyclable items. Dr. Joanna Haigh, an atmospheric physicist in the U.K., uses satellite data to determine how much the Sun influences Earth’s climate and how much of global warming is due to human actions. She says, “It is essential for everyone to understand basic science because it is a vital part of the environment and community we live in...” & i 1 > WZ These artistic male birds create distinctive roofed nests by weaving grass and other materials with their beaks and feet. They flap their wings and sing to attract mates. This species is found in Africa. Fill in the blanks to find its name: OU H RN MA K DW AV R vo..49 No.5 % Brilliant Star 11
[Page 12] ave you ever taken a hot air balloon ride? You climb Like a hot air balloon, art can uplift our spirits. When we're into the basket and feel the warmth of the burner drawing, writing, or performing, we reflect the light and love of as it slowly inflates the balloon. As you gently lift off, God. Creating art is also a way to express gratitude for the joy you look out and see the world from a whole new perspective. in our lives. It warms our hearts and elevates our communities It’s inspiring and humbling to see how the rivers carve their to greater heights. Decorate the balloons with designs that way through the hills. The giant trees get smaller as you float raise your spirit. Draw yourself and your friends taking flight. higher above them. Then give your artwork an uplifting title. CREATED BY: 12 Brilliant Star
w& =VOL.49 NOS Share your artwork with us on Facebook, or email brilliant@usbne.org!
[Page 13] Texas, U.S. We're excited about the Arribada— But pollution, habitat loss, and accidental catching by the mass arrival of nesting turtles fromthe sea. _ fishers keeps them endangered. Kemp’s ridley turtles nest on beaches in the Gulf of We're doing this life-sized turtle sand art to let more “= Mexico. They're one of the smallest sea turtles, at only people know about their struggles. Using conservation with ) about two feet long (.6 m). There used to be tens of creativity can help. So this week, artists are on the scene, thousands, but now they're critically endangered. People © and next week, scientists will be here—for the Arribada! Kemp’s ridley turtles are the only sea turtles that nest during daylight. Find 19 turtles and turtle images in this scene. vo..49 No.5 % Brilliant Star 13
[Page 14] GET HIM—AND THE POP! WE CAN SELL UPLIFTER TECH. UH- DEXTER! LWORKEP FOR THE ERASER, FURY, UNTIL SHE TURNED TRAITOR. 478 HOW WILL APUNY GUY LIKE YOU MOVE THAT POD? he Se TL TSHTNING & LUNA Kl Demme §8=FOK THE LOVE OF GOLV YOU’? BETTER KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING, PEXTER! FOR APRICE, YOU CAN HAVE IT. OR, YOU GET A BROKEN NOSE, AND WE TAKE IT! i. THESE GOLD COINS ARE SHINY! NO! I WAS, UH, FURY’S TECH Evy. I.CAN FIX IT. LET ME HELP YOu! THE CEO OF LANDBIZ OFFERS 5 INILLION EUROS 10 GET HIS HACKED DATA Bi 5) MAKE 1715 MILLION AND fe a PROFESSOR! WE’RE BEING OFFERED 10 INILLION EUROS IN GOLD TO DESTROY |~ 7 hb An id 4 W =< i ra) \ a A fa We petit) (e ONY REDeeARD! FIND US NEW] | A TARGETS IN THE U.S.! Q
PROFESSOR! MORE GOLD i Cons St PeuveRED! FY ¥y F IN oe if Brilliant Star % voL49 Nos
[Page 15] aN \ 4 AH-I HA aN > AN IDEA! £\) ’ A\ SO, WHAT 70 YOU KNOW, You Po WITH CHARITY OR F we cow? | HUM? i SOMETHING? Fam (9 LL PLZ WHAT ELSE? 5 YOU ACOMIC, DEXTER? GET USED. TO IT. LET’S MOVE. SO, ANY EASY—70 WHAT ADVICE FOR PROFESSOR PROW? DEALIN’ WITH THE BOSS? a THERE’S LOTS OF MONEY IN COMPUTER HACKIN’ AND EXPLOSIONS! WHAT’S THIS? WHAT? NO/T STOLE THIS SUIT FROM THE POP. JUST CHECKING |
OUT THE TECHNOLOGY, DUDE!
[Page 16] Age: 12 \live in: New Zealand |
want to be:
An inventor/scientist This career interests me because: Of the many interesting things in this universe Virtue | admire most: Determination!!! Hobbies or sports: Swimming, video games, drawing, violin Favorite Baha’i activities: Junior youth [group], service projects |
like to express S 4
my creativity by: I love to draw my feelings or play them on my violin to feel free and alive ... [and] understand me and the world... If | could learn any art form, I'd choose: Music, because it is an art that can speak its own words and is a part of one’s soul. A fun creative experience: Writing my bicentenary poem for the birth of Baha’u'llah. I felt inspired and was determined to write a poem to celebrate this beautiful day. Someone who supports my creativity: My family and friends. They... brighten up my life and bring love into my heart. Age: 12 |
live in: California, U.S. | want to be:
Fashion designer This career interests me because: Ilove clothing and art. Virtue | admire most: Kindness Favorite Baha’i activity: Children’s classes and Feast* Place I'd love to visit: Bora Bora I like to express my creativity by: Dance and drawing Great art makes me feel: Happy and joyful! I love art in all its forms. Someone who supports my creativity: My family... Age: 12 live in: New York, U.S. |
want to be: An astro-
physicist, a chemist, an actress, a singer, a painter, and/or a potter This career interests me because: Ilove science and the arts, and also I can’t make up my mind! Hobbies or sports: Reading, swimming, and daydreaming Favorite Baha’/ activities: Ayyam-i-Ha, Naw-Ruz, and Ridvan*™* If | could learn any art form, I'd choose: I would like to learn calligraphy. I think it’s so beautiful and a fun skill to have. To boost creativity, |: « Listen to music—it makes me want to dance, draw, or create something. A fun creative experience: We had to come up with a dance at school. We were given options on our music and had two days to choreo- graph a routine. It was sofun...! If | could learn any art form, I’d choose: Pottery, because it is both fun and useful To boost creativity, |: Let my mind wander A fun creative experience: At a Baha’i youth camp ... we made a parody of “Don't Stop Believin’” (a song by the band Jour- ney). I liked writing [it] ... everyone was very supportive and open to everyone else’s ideas. I think humor is import- ant in creativity... Someone who supports my creativity: My creative writing teacher... by seeing the best in me Great art makes me feel Uplifted. Great art is any piece of art that was made with love and enjoyment! 16 Brilliant Star % voL49 Nos
[Page 17] |
want to be: Doctor
This career interests me because: Ican serve the world ... by doing research to find new cures for illnesses. Virtue | admire most: Kindness a § Hobbies or sports: Iplay the piano and train to dance ballet. Ilove performing for people because I feel that gives them joy and makes their lives beautiful. To boost creativity: My sister, Shayda, inspires me. She is very creative and comes up with great ideas that I want to try, too. Age: 11 |
live in: California, U.S. | want to be:
Veterinarian or actress This career interests me because: Ihave a passion for animals and animal care, and I also love to express myself through acting in theatre. Virtue | admire most: Kindness Favorite Baha’ activity: Service projects in my community I like to express my ¥ creativity by: Acting and sketching If | could learn any art form, I'd choose Sculpting ... [I’ve] seen so many cool sculptures. Favorite Baha’i activity: Baha'i classes, because Ican learn about the Faith there. Place I'd love to visit: Grand Canyon If | could learn any art form, I'd choose: Drawing and painting ... I want to be able to draw objects around me, and especially cats. I really like cats. A fun creative experience: Composing a piece on the piano ... by myself To boost creativity: * Nature inspires me to be the most creative. A fun creative experience: I participated in a play production with my friends, and it wasa very cool experience to see how we all worked together. Someone who supports my creativity My family... Great art makes me feel: Inspired to become creative in my own way
Naw-Ruz is the Baha'i New Year. Ridvan honors Baha'u'llah’s declaration of His mission. 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!” Age: 10 |
live in: lowa, U.S. | want to be:
Anesthesiologist This career interests me because: Ihave always wanted to help people and be able to have enough money for a future family. If | could learn any art form, I'd choose: Music composition... A fun creative experience: My cousin, my best friend, and I were... looking up how to draw things and improvise, laughing, and being creative. Virtue | admire most: Generosity Hobbies or sports: Basketball, drawing, painting, writing poems Favorite Baha’i activities: Baha'i summer school |
like to express my Xe
creativity by: [I] write and sing songs, make pictures, [and] Someone who supports my creativity: My mom... She always has my back and always makes sure that I stay go out and explore confident... mature: Great art makes me feel: I'm inspired by: Happy—that kind of Seeing other people happy that makes it that are known for their impossible not to creativity ... smile... x 1. If you're age 7-14, go to www. brilliantstarmagazine.org. From the top menu, choose “Discover.” Then click “Become a Radiant Star or Trailblazer,” and fill out the form. Or e-mail us at brilliant@usbnc.org. Include your name, age, birth date, mailing address, and phone number. . When it’s your turn to shine, we’ll send you —_, .( and a form for you and your parents to sign. mh . 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- protected images (like school portraits). «x »” rt vo..49 No.5 % Brilliant Star 17
[Page 18] Age: 11 Me Favorite animal or pet: |
live in: Colorado, U.S. My dog and best friend,
Lakota |
want to be: if dl tt
Animal photographer coura learn any a This career interests me because: love animals and taking pictures... Virtue | admire most: Generosity Favorite Baha’i activities: Race unity devotions Place I'd love to visit: Tahiti |
like to express my
creativity by: Painting, drawing, writing songs, and photograph[y]... To boost creativity, |: * [Listen] to Andy Grammer's positive songs, or any music like that Bahiyyih-Khanum A. Age: 7 |
live in: Arizona, U.S. | want to be:
An engineer and artist This career interests me because: Ilove math...to make things with my hands, [and] draw... Virtue | admire most: Happiness ps Favorite Baha’ activity: Idrew my hand on a paper, then wrote down the names of... the Prophets of God. form, I’d choose: The art of stain[ed] glass, because I have always admired its beauty... A fun creative experience: My family and my older brother’s friends went to our schoolona weekend to write x positive messages on the sidewalks for people to look at when they walkin... Place I'd love to visit: China, Iran, and Africa because my mommy is from Iran and my brother, Anis-Nur, is from Africa. |
like to express my *
creativity by: Writing and drawing If | could learn any art form, I'd choose: How to make a pot, because I get to design it the way I want it. x To boost creativity: Being in the wild or [on a] farm inspires me. I walk around to look for different things to collect and make some- thing with my hands. A fun creative experience: Painting rocks was fun at the Bellemont [Arizona] Baha’i Sum- mer School ... this year. Eli Cc. Age: 8 x |
live in: British Columbia,
Canada |
want to be: A firefighter
This career interests me because: Ilike to go into * dangerous situations, and I like helping people. Favorite Baha’i activity: Playing Baha'i games at summer camp I like to express my a creativity by: Ilike to make up games ... Write songs for the guitar... create things out of different materials, and... make up stories. If | could learn any art form, I'd choose: Drawing... Nura Z. ) s Age: 8 |
live in: California, U.S. | want to be: An actress
This career interests me because: Ilove acting and performing in front of an audience. Hobbies or sports: love to dance because it allows me to express my emotions. Favorite Baha’i activities: Children’s class, service projects, my mom’s Women’s Spiritual ) 3 Gathering |
like to express my
creativity by: Drawing, because I can draw anything I want and in any way I want. A fun creative experience: Ichoreographed a dance with my cousins. A fun creative experience: Some friends and I had built small boats at a summer camp. The last day, we decided to put a bunch of them together to make one big boat. Someone who supports my creativity: My mother, because she lets me keep the things Ineed to make my art. Great art makes me feel: It depends... Art pieces have different aspects that bring different emotions. If | could learn any art form, I'd choose: Acting/theatre, because Ilike being able to show different emotions in different situations and learn about human behavior. Someone who supports my creativity: My mom. She always tells meIcan be whatever I want to be and cheers me up when I feel sad. Great art makes me feel: It gives me energy and makes me think about my future. 18 Brilliant Star % voi.49 Nos
[Page 19] n the night before ‘Abdu’l-Baha arrived in New York in 1912, he say Wrote, “On My arrival in America Miss Juliet Thompson shall paint a wonderful portrait of Me.” Juliet was an accomplished painter, but she felt “surprise and dismay, fear, joy and gratitude all mixed together.” ‘Abdu’l-Baha asked, “Can you paint Me in a half hour?” She was concerned, since she'd never finished a portrait in less than two weeks. He said, “Well, | will give you three half hours.” For her paintings, Juliet used pastels—powdered colors shaped into sticks. ‘Abdu’l-Baha sat in a cramped, dark basement. Juliet liked to stand, but there was only room to sit. He said, “I want you to paint My Servitude to God.” She cried, “Only the Holy Spirit could paint Your Servitude to God. No human hand could do it. Pray for me, or! am lost.” “[ will pray,” he answered, “and .. . you will be inspired.” Juliet said, “All fear fell away from me and it was as though Someone Else saw through my eyes, worked through my hand. Allthe points, all the planes in that matchless Face were so clear to me that my hand couldn’t put them down quickly enough ...” This continued each time she worked. She wrote, “Oh, these sittings: so wonderful, yet so humanly difficult! We move from room to room, from one kind of light to another... Nothing makes any difference. The minute | begin to work the same rapture takes possession of me. Someone Else looks through my eyes and sees clearly; Someone Else works through my hand...” ‘Abdu’l-Baha Painting by Juliet Thompson in 1912 ‘Abdu’l-Baha posed six times, but Juliet completed the portrait in 90 minutes, as ‘Abdu’l-Baha requested. At the fourth sitting, ‘Abdu'l-Bahd said he was sleepy, and she tried to paint while he napped. “But,” she said, “I found that | could not. What | saw then was ... too formidable. He sat still as a statue, His eyes closed, infinite peace on that chiseled face...” At the fifth sitting, another artist brought in her own drawing, and he changed his pose. The sixth time ‘Abdu’l-Baha posed, Juliet wrote, “I didn’t put on a single stroke... He suddenly rose from His chair and said: ‘Itis finished.” Juliet sold photographs of the portrait, and she planned to give the money to help fund the Baha’i Temple inthe U.S. But ‘Abdu’l-Baha took her hand and said, “I know your circumstances, Juliet... You have debts... want you to keep the money for yourself... This is best.” On his last day in the U.S., ‘Abdu'l-Baha told Juliet, “Remember, | am with you always. Baha'u'llah will be with you always.” A pastel painting’s delicate surface must be carefully preserved to avoid smudging and damage from light, humidity, and other elements. A friend of Juliet’s wrote that the portrait was “time-damaged, it had to be restored, and Juliet felt the original was gone forever.” vo..49 No.5 % Brilliant Star 19
[Page 20] ASHA SPACE SCIENTIST Our uni i i iverse is full of mysteries, and some of the most mind-boggling are in space. Curious kid: . lus Kids asked questions, and we sent th hel em to two space scientists. H i Send them to brilliant@usbne.org (with your name and a) ave questions abowt space? How long does it take to become an astronaut, and how difficult is it to become one? — Nylah, age 1! Hi, Nylah, To become an astronaut, you have to graduate from college and get at least three years of experience working in a field that's needed for a mission to space. The minimum age would be about 25. It's a good idea to have a degree in science, technology, engineering, math, or medicine. It would also be helpful to have one or two advanced degrees (master's or doctorate). Once you've been selected to become an astronaut, it requires additional training to learn how to operate your spacecraft (space shuttle and/or Soyuz Russian spacecraft), how to operate the systems and Charlie Camarda (right) working on subsystems on the International Space Station (ISS), how to perform the Space Shuttle Discovery in 2005, spacewalks (Extra Vehicular Activities or EVAs), how to survive in case with commander Eileen Collins. ofa malfunction, and much more. This could take about two years. Once you complete this training, you're no longer an “astronaut candidate,” but become a full-fledged “ggtronaut.” You're ready to wait your turn for a mission. Once you're assigned toa specific mission, it could take another six months to a year to train for all the tasks you'll have to perform. Here’s a link to the International Space Station, so you can see what the astronauts in space are doing: syww.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index-htm| —Charlie n Apart Ne, Dr. Steve Scotti is excited to launch Dr. Scotti’s STEM Station SS You'll find fascinating i i S ascinating info about Science, Technology, Engineering, 4 “I . IS ont at www.hrilliantstarmagazine.org/themes/DrScotti. iS is interview on our website, Dr. Scotti says he often uses the Baha’i =, RN principle of consultation in his work to make a with a tea m: SN) A) Decision C) Wish B) Pizza D) Model rocket 20 Brilliant Star % voL49 Nos
ANSWERS ON PAGE 28
[Page 21] Hi, Amia, The idea of more than one universe has been around since at least 1704, when it was proposed by Isaac Newton. It’s still under debate. The current consensus is that an early inflationary period after the Big Bang caused space itself to expand faster than the speed of light. So the part of the universe we see is much smaller than the entire universe, because light from objects Light from some of these early galaxies took over 12 billion years to reach the telescope! over 47 billion light-years away can’t reach us. ‘Abdu'l-Baha calls the universe limitless and states, “the luminous bodies of the material universe are infinite.” ” If we can’t observe the full extent of our own universe, we may never know about other universes. Still, many physicists have theories. The current expansion of space- time is much slower than the expansion during the inflationary period, and we don’t know why. Scientists call it dark energy. If we unlock the secrets of dark energy, it may allow us to probe farther into the universe than we can with light, and perhaps give us a hint as to whether there’s more out there. History shows there are things about the universe that we don’t even know that we don’t know—“unknown unknowns.” You and | probably won't live to see evidence of another universe. But there are plenty of unsolved mysteries in our own cosmic backyard! What was special about the 2013 astronaut candidates? A) All were from California. B) Half had math degrees. C) They knew sign language. D) There were equal numbers of women and men. S S S Sy § — George GEORGE HATCHER was an avionics engineer at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, U.S., from 2004-2017. He worked on electrical systems of the space shuttle and uncrewed rockets. He also studied planetary science at the University of Central Florida. Working in avionics was a dream come true for George. He's aspired to be an astronaut since he was three. He’s one of 100 finalists in the Mars One Project, which aims to create a human settlement on Mars. CHARLIE CAMARDA is our guest contributor for this issue. He flew on the return-to-flight mission of Space Shuttle Discovery in 2005. He traveled 5.8 million miles during his two weeks in space. He’s now the Senior Advisor for Engineering Development at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Images: NASA, NASA Goddard vo..49 No.5 % Brilliant Star a1
[Page 22] 4 07 e , |
te Shadi Toloui-Wallace Q: What's your favorite childhood memory? A: Walking with my mom to the Shrine of the Bab and ‘Abdu'l-Baha. And she would always sing... “Allah-u-Abha"™ as we were walking... Q: What was the most challenging experience for you as a kid, and how did you handle it? A: Adjusting into Australian life after spending my childhood in the Baha'i World Centre .. . |
was really bullied as a kid [in]
Australia, so | struggled. How did | handle it? ... A lot of patience and also creativity... |
found a creative outlet, which
is music, and ... drawing and hand crafts, which kind of occupied my time and helped me find a place. reativity is a “family affair" for singer-songwriter Shadi Toloui-Wallace. She and her mom, Shidan, sing on each other's records. Her father, Paul, and brother, Josh, write songs for her. Her sister, Hoda, sings the harmonies on her songs. Shadi was born near Sydney, Australia, to an Iranian mother and an Australian father. Her family moved to Haifa, Israel, when she was two, then moved back to Australia when she was nine. There, she faced bullying and other difficulties. Shadi turned to music for comfort. Over time, it called to her as a career. Inspired by the Baha'i Faith, Shadi has created three aloums combining prayers and writings with contemporary melodies. Her music has taken her around the world, and one of her “proudest moments" was performing at the dedication of the Baha'i House of Worship in Chile in 2016. She formed a band called Tiny Havoc with four friends, and they just released their first album. Shadi and her husband, Jason Bienia, live in Vancouver, Canada. Left: Shadi, age 6, started school in Haifa, Israel, while her dad was serving at the Baha’i World Centre. Right: Shadi, age 19, performs at the 2009 Sydney Baha'i Conference. She began performing at Baha'i events in Australia at age 15. Q: What advice do you have for kids who want a career as a singer or musician? A: Learn how to work with other people and to collaborate . . . you have to learn how to consult early on, otherwise you're not going to be able to do it. Learn how to be generous with your time . . . giving enough time for yourself to practice, but also to offer .. . your service to others. [You need] ...a lot of perseverance and also just [to explore] different types of art, just because that's where you'll find your true calling ... Be open to the world of creativity and to how diverse it is. w w Brilliant Star % voi.49 Nos
Portrait by Monika Tischer
[Page 23] Q: What inspired you to become a singer-songwriter? A: | started playing violin in grade four, and | was really bad at it and | didn't enjoy it, so | didn't bother to get good at it. | had a teacher... [who said] "You don't need to play an instrument... you can use your voice.” Then she formed this little vocal group in grade six and we did. .. beau- tiful, uplifting songs, and that's when | realized that | had this musical gift, and not everyone had this gift. Q: Do you ever feel creatively stuck, and if so, how do you get inspired? A:| pray. And | find going out into nature and being alone and undistracted is really helpful. And | have a few places where |
kind of retreat to. Sometimes
just for a couple hours, sometimes it's for a day, or sometimes it's for a week. But |
know | can be creative in. But | have to set goals. If | don't have goals, nothing happens.
The Toloui-Wallace family enjoys a laugh , | 5 | at Jericho Beach in Vancouver in 2015. Left to right: brother Josh, Shadi, mom Shidan, sister Hoda, dad Paul. Shadi’s bandmates in Tiny Havoc (left to right): Justin Gorrie, James Higgins, Arthur Smith, and Toga D’Hoore. Their debut album is called “Pluto + Nick.”
a community and there's like hundreds of people there welcoming you and wanting to support you, and | think that's been very humbling and very motivating . .. | also developed some cool workshops. .. to empower other people to. . . contribute in a musical way to the progress of their communities .. . A
kids to know about expressing their creativity? And to find ways that it serves a purpose beyond . .. yourself. . . People are being inspired creatively to serve in really unique ways .. . | love my podcast™ because | love to highlight . . . how somebody's creativity was able to contribute to the unification of the neighborhood. for excellence, but with the mindset of serving the community and serving others—however that may be. It could be through textile art... gardening . . . building skyscrapers . .. helping people with their hygiene, whatever. Develop your power of expression with excellence so that you can serve others with it, and then | think [you] will be really happy.
Family by Shahviar Erfanian; Tiny Havoc by Lucas James, art direction by Ciele Beau vo..49 No.5 % Brilliant Star [Page 24] > see and good observation skills. find. Find their names online. 1D Create a solar system model with recycled materials. 1D Go ona nature walk and grab 1 Visit a park and map the plants, trees, and animals. 1 Create paper airplane designs and see how far they fly. 1D Fill vases with colored water. Add white flowers and watch the colors change. 1D Sketch an insect, and add 24 of a cool experiment or question to investigate. So I tried something for inspiration—art. Science and art go together perfectly! They both use creativity, curiosity, |
love science and nature! But yesterday I couldn’t think
A lot of great scientists are also artists. Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize in Physics, and he loved to play the violin. He even said that if he hadn't become a CO Draw three trees and flowers you (J Bake a cake, share it with ideas for a poem, song, or story. five fascinating facts about it. = ART OF SCIENCE IéeT INSPIRED BY OBSERVING THE BEAUTY OF SCIENCE! & S uilgh a ‘ scientist, he would have been a musician. Many scientists agree that creating art improves their work. I decided to test this theory. I grabbed my backpack and went on a nature walk with friends. We sketched what we saw and wrote about it in our notebooks. MAYA'S CHALLENGE Check out these ideas for exploring art and science together. How many can you do in two weeks? Add your own ideas, too. friends, and tell them three cool chemistry facts about it. CO Paint a picture with color combi- nations you see in nature. © Practice a musical instrument. Counting beats builds math skills. 1 Record your voice with a program that shows the soundwaves, and create a painting of them. 1 Experiment with how salt absorbs watercolors. Sprinkle fine and coarse salt on a painting. 1 Collect nature items like shells and leaves, and press them into clay to make prints. Brilliant Star % voi.49 Nos class. It definitely got me out of my creative slump! It sparked my curiosity and helped me see things in a new way. Soon I had a poem and a drawing for art Start Date: End Date: 1 Look at sand under a microscope. Draw and color the tiny treasures. 1D Freeze water, corn starch, and food color in cubes. Time them melting into designs on paper. 1 Listen to birds singing, then use an instrument to play the notes. 0 Make leaf rubbings with crayons on wax paper. Turn them into a thank-you card. 1 Test which combination of LEGO bricks makes the tallest structure. gq gq [Page 25] may breezes of Love | \ nvigol Pee 7 E and Fellowship . bana wlan = here’s nothing like a cool breeze on ascorchinghot harmony. Expressing yourself through art is one way to day. It can refresh your body, inspire your spirit, appreciate the beauty of God and all creation. and remind you of God’s blessings. In a similar way, You don’t have to be an expert to give the gift of art. = creating art and sharing it with others is an energizing service Singing, dancing, drama, writing, and all kinds of crafts, when =\ to the world. practiced with love, can bring joy to your life and uplift your Our hearts are naturally attracted to symmetry and friends, family, and community. a] sigue LUTE Gy meoeneos; cen ena am a | Gecen vol.49 Nos % Brilliant Star 25
[Page 26] hen sick or troubled people asked for help, Franklin Kahn would saddle up horses and lead his blind grandfather to their hogan, or traditional home. His grandfather was a medicine man who spent long hours chanting sacred words of love, comfort, and balance for them. As Franklin listened, the Navajo teachings touched his spirit. When Franklin was born in 1934 in Arizona, US., his grandmother named him Shkake-Ne-Yah (Bravery Arrived). He was the oldest of eight surviving siblings. When he was about seven, he began to learn sand painting. His grandmother taught him Indian designs inspired by nature. She helped him put spiritual messages in his paintings and drawings. He loved art and sold hand-drawn greeting cards at school. At an Indian school in Nevada, Franklin met Mary Jane Gishie, and they were married in 1955. The next year, they met two Baha’t women who lived nearby. When he learned about the Baha’t Faith, Franklin believed it fulfilled prophecies he'd heard in his grandfather's chants. He and Mary Jane continued to explore and became Baha'is in 1962. Franklin and Mary Jane helped to plan a large gathering to share the Baha'i teachings with about 1,500 Navajos. Over the next few years, over 100 Navajos became Baha'is, including most of Franklin's family. He said, “This is the one faith which brings all beliefs together. I have always felt that religion should unite all...” In 1968, Franklin became the first American Indian to be elected to the National Spiritual Assembly, the nine-member council that guides Baha'i activities throughout the U.S. He served on the Assembly for over 12 years. Franklin worked as an artist, making electric neon signs. He then started the Kahn Sign Company and used his talents on signs and billboards. He continued to study art in college and to create paintings. He often shared the Baha'i Faith when he traveled to exhibit his art or give talks about Navajo culture. He said, “My art is an essential part of my life. Many of these paintings were inspired by the stories and chants of my father and other Old Ones; others came to me in visions; still others as a result of meditating alone amidst the great nature of the Southwest ... Art is meditation—getting in touch with nature in such a manner that the artist is spiritually uplifted and a new creation is born.” Franklin was a champion of education. He taught Navajo culture and science to kids at an elementary school. He also helped start an annual pow-wow and a group called Native Americans for Community Action (NACA), which provided medical and social services. Franklin died in Arizona in 2010, at age 75. The Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha’i Faith, praised his “warmhearted and noble nature” and his “legacy of service.” 26 Brilliant Star % voL49 Nos
[Page 27] ey, Zeke and Rhombus here! Our Peaceful Planets Project had just arrived in the Centauri system when our ship’s engine shut down. Without power, it'll take y 42 days to reach the nearest planet—and we've only got five 4 days of air and supplies. We need to jump into action, but first, we have to think carefully about what to do. To start, we investigate the facts: A hunk of space junk pierced the safety hull and the engine shut down. We've i 5. Use a thesaurus to find cracked? 1. Createa______ with a diverse mix of ages, cultures, skills, interests, and backgrounds. 2. Spend plenty of ____ ____ exploring options. Don’t leap to a solution too quickly. 3. Try exercises to loosen up your ________ Talk in a funny tone of voice, in rhyme, or when hopping on one foot. (ae down the problem, then ask questions about it, such as, “Who can help us with this challenge?” thoughts. Is your spacecraft broken, fragmented, or 6. Come up with terrible _ makes them bad, then focus on the opposite qualities. 7. Get fresh perspectives inanew__________ § Try another room or go out for a walk. 8. ________ the rejected ideas instead of tossing them. Sometimes anew angle makes them workable. EE everyone's asked some friends with different skills to come and help us brainstorm, and they're on their way. Our Octonasian friend, Olavira, who has eight tentacles and eight brains, comes up with the most creative ideas. Vozz, our 135-year-old friend from Vennzoop, builds rockets and is a great engineer. And Geno, from Jupiter, is super strong! With all this diversity, we'll devise a zillion solutions and get powered up soon! Find the missing words in the scene to discover solution-seeking tips that can be used anywhere in the universe! BRAIN that refresh . Decide what ANSWERS ON PAGE 28 voL.49 N05 % Brilliant Star
[Page 28] fe} Ss 2) . The 9. Each person’s unique whole group. (p. 10) 12. Surround yourself with people, items, quotes, or photos that empower you or fire up your 13. Juliet Thompson was an accomplished 14. When Zeke and Rhombus run into a problem, they first investigate the 15. Franklin taught 16.A mindset leads to more creativity. (p. 2) Valleys describes the stages that the soul passes through on its journey toward God. (p. 4) . Many scientists agree that creating improves their work. (p. 24) adds vibrancy to the culture and science at an elementary school. (p. 26) FROM OUR MAILBOX [Brilliant Star] makes me feel important and unique. It reassures [me] that there are people in the world that care about the virtues ... [For a theme, I'd choose] unique talents. | have been fascinated about how everyone has a unique and important talent, whether it be the ability to sing in different languages or know how to. make people laugh .. . —Nia B., age 15, Belize, Central America 1. Astronauts on the ISS see the rise and set 15-16 times a day! (p. 11) 3. Shadi’s wish for Brilliant Star’s readers is that they develop their powers of 4. Creating artis also a way to 5. The Baha’i writings say that for soul and heart.” (p. 8) 6. Scientists have linked creativity to alpha waves. (p. 9) 7. Dr. Steve Scotti says he uses the Baha’i principle of -(p. 20) 8. Olivia, Kiana, and Nura all want to be an (pp. 16, 17, 18) 10. The Arribada is the mass arrival of nesting from the sea. (p. 13) Tl. Expressing yourself through art is one way to appreciate the beauty of God and all KEY: T=Top, C=Center, B=Bottom, L=Left, R=Right Page 3: Battery at C, capacitor a TL, laptop at far ‘TR, motor at BR, pliers at TR, remote at TL, circuit at C, wheels at CL, wire at BL Page 9:1) Enthusiastic Er, 2) Leisurely Liquid, 3) Funny Fluid, 4) Positive Potion, 5) Calm Cupul, 6) Supportive Solution, 7) Brave Blend, 8) Confident Concoction Page 10: 1) Compassionate, feelings; 2) Courageous, brave; 3) Friendly interested, 4) Grateful, thanks; 5) Patient, diferent 6) Playful, laugh; 7) Respectul, treat 8) Sharing, equal; 9) Trustworthy, follow .(p. 23) express - (p.12) is “spiritual food . (p. 25) Page 11: Cambodia, Southern masked weave Page 13: Sat TL, 1 at TC, 2 at TR, 4 at CL, 3at C, 1atCR, 1 atBC, 2 at BR Page 20: A) Decision, D) There were equal numbers of women and men. Page 25: 1) Beauly, 2) Compassion, 3) Creativity, 4) Harmony, 5) imagination, 6 Inspiration, 7) Enthusiasm, 8) Generosity, 9) Kindness, 10) Praise, 11) Reflection, 12) Sharing Page 27: 1) team, 2 time, 3) brain, 4) Write, 5) words, 6) ideas, 7) location, 8) Keep, 9) welcomes 28 Brilliant Star % voL49 Nos
[Page 29] XS “Be thou ever hopeful, for.the bounties of God never cease to floW...— — Abdul-Baha == = — 2 — — a= hen your creativity is flowing, it feels awesome. Before you crash into the rocks, relax and breathe. When you _=——= Whether you love dancing, playing music, drawing, _practice art ina spirit of service, it’s worship—and you can't get ~~ orinventing, it’s exhilarating to get swept away with wonder. that wrong. Veer off in a new direction. If you usually write poetry, . = A A But it’s not always smooth sailing. Maybe you're stressed, whynot draw or create a game? Explore other artists. Look for | = with too much to do. You may be afraid that your work won't beauty in nature. Pray for inspiration and let curiosity guide you. 8 = turn out like you’d hoped. Maybe you hear a grouchy critic in Creativity is a powerful force. Lose your doubts in the rush ——_ your brain telling you that you're not good enough. of the current, and you may be amazed at where it leads. a In Creativity Kingdom, help the kids go with the flow and reach Imagina west = WRITING WATERS [Page 30] being, and are conducive to its exaltation.” —Baha’wllah ¥ Brilliant Star Wonders of Creativity - VOL. 49 NO.5 AN AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA'IS OF THE UNITED STATES www. brilliantstarmagazine.org |
