Day 3 & 4 - Hair

I went to Great Northern Mall today and experienced some "looks" but nothing untoward or inappropriate. The most unusual experience I had today was encountering the three other women who were also wearing the hijab. I made eye contact with them, smiled but none of them smiled back. I wondered if they knew I was an imposter...

...I've been thinking about hair recently, since mine has not been showing. First of all, it was GREAT to dash out of the house with the hijab on and not have to worry about my hair. It got me thinking about how much time and energy I spend on personal grooming; time I could be spending in more prayer, deeper meditation, a better sitting practice. Instead, I have to designate a certain amount of time praying that my hair won't look like I just woke up. Just consider the enormous amount of time and energy women (in particular) spend on grooming products, brushes, combs, clips, rollers, blow dryers, flat irons, hair spray, hair paste, curling irons, straighteners, bows, ribbons, bands, color, dyes, tips and multiple trips to the salon. It's mind boggling, when you think about it and add it all up. So much energy spent on getting one's hair "just so." So much unnecessary worry about how one looks. It's been really illuminating for me to have that part of my life taken care of by the hijab.

I took the hijab off while trying on glasses for a few moments. There were no men around, so I thought it would be okay to do that before investing in glasses that I'm going to have for a while. I immediately thought "my hair is such a wreck!" Arrrghhh! The second thought was: "I feel so vulnerable." I realized that by wearing the hijab for a week, I actually liked having my head covered. It didn't make me think about God more, necessarily, but it did make me think about myself less. Wearing the hijab makes me feel--held--in some inexplicable way.

Having something on my head as a daily symbol of religious faithfulness is doing something to me internally. I'm praying more and in some way, holding myself more accountable for the values I profess. I understand now why my Catholic grandmother was never far from her rosary; her hands rubbing smooth the beads of the rosary that now hangs by my bedside.

I wondered what Unitarian Universalists might do or might undertake as a similar practice. We probably won't all adopt covering our heads, or carrying a rosary, but I wonder--what could I wear that would remind me that at all times, I'm a Unitarian Universalist; a person of faith, a person in relationship with God? What would that item or object look like? Some people choose tattoos or piercings; some way to permanently alter their bodies to say "this is a touchstone of my beliefs--my personality--or even, my faith." For me this week, it's the hijab, freely choosing to adopt it and to explore for myself what it means both for this week, and after September 11th when it's removed.

Again, I am pleased to report that with the exception of a few slightly startled glances, I experienced no oppression or harassment today because of the hijab. I hope and pray that holds true for all Muslim American women this week.
Blessings,
Kathleen