New Poll and Update

Dear Lovely Readers and Researchers,

I am honoured that you've chosen to "follow" my blog, or that you have taken the time to stop by and read about this small but special topic in the world.  I - the blogger - have taken quite a leave of absence lately, and have not been here to update either the blog or the web pages which I had put together to accompany my research.  I plan to take some time in the coming months to review, research and update the "Those Headcoverings" pages and blog, and I have a special request of You, Gentle Readers:

Please take a moment to let me know, either here or at using the poll above, why head covering is important to you at this time.  Maybe it is a new phenomenon to you, or perhaps you are looking for encouragement or ideas to continue with an old habit.  (er, no pun intended there...)

Being human, I cannot answer every question; but I do hope to be able to share links to blogs or websites or articles that may be of some interest and help to others.  I probably won't be publishing and updating daily, but if you will please be patient, I hope to make this blog much more helpful and encouraging to all, as I had originally intended.

Me?  I am a head covering (for 3 years now) Christian (for about 24 years), trying to follow the Bible as the Word of God.  I have friends who are Muslim and Roman Catholic, have had several Sikh neighbors, and I have had internet-friends of Jewish and Orthodox Christian faiths.  I have known ladies and men who covered their heads when cancer treatments took their hair, and I know many in food services and nursing who wear hair coverings to keep their hair to themselves.  I enjoy the many styles of head coverings, from hats to berets to scarves to veils, and really enjoy reading blogs and articles about old fashioned hats and other coverings from the past.  I have a friend from Nigeria who was going to teach me how to wrap a gele, but I just couldn't get it - it takes quite a talent to wear those African crowns.  :)

But most of my friends go bare-headed, letting their hair down, or cutting it short;  just so you know.  It's the same all over - but though we are in the minority, and "stand out in a crowd" because of our choice, we are not alone.

Once again - please let me know what you'd like to see in this blog or in a web page.  (I may completely redo the web pages.)  Add notes or links in your comment here to clarify your choice in the poll above.  But most of all, please.... be encouraged!

LisaM of ThoseHeadcoverings

Have you a story, or an article to share?

Please, Dear Readers, if you have a story of your own to share, or an article or other online information that you feel is worth sharing with others who are interested in Those Headcoverings, post it here! I have been away for a while, but I would like to keep this web log in action, because there are folks everyday looking for information, and for encouragement.

I thank you, those of my Dear Readers who have been here all the way from the beginnings of this blog - who have contributed thoughts, and links, and even books (!) on this subject. I thank those of you who are stopping by for perhaps the first time, for taking the time to find out more about this subject - which, as simple as it is, is very dear to some of us.

Blessings on your heads...

LisaM

About Those Headcoverings - the Blog

Blessings and warm greetings to my followers and readers, and those who have stumbled across my little blog.

I have not been keeping up with all the news and notes coming across the web "wires" lately, and I apologize for that -- especially if you are one of those who has posted a good article or news link, or are interested in the current news regarding the wearing of head coverings.

This blog entry is also to give notice that, since I will be spending less time with the blog, I will have to also cut back on the articles that I publish here. That makes me sad. I like being able to keep many news items and informative essays here all in one place, because I know that, like I was doing at one time, there are ladies and gentlemen every day getting on the internet to research and try to figure out the purpose and/or spirit behind "those headcoverings!" And I like thinking that maybe I can help.

I like to make connections and show how the wearing of head coverings is a phenomenon that goes way beyond the common simplification of the subordination of women, or the mere symbol of an ideology. Head coverings have been worn throughout time, throughout the world, by women and men for a variety of reasons: physical reasons and spiritual ones. The personal results, and the interpretations by others are just as varied. Laws that are made for or against them do affect many more people than just those within that jurisdiction.

I like to make connections between like-minded believers who cover, to help them find people or places or online stores to help them in their daily walk. These folks encourage me, and I want to pass it on!

Funny to me, I still reach the same conclusion about head coverings, though now with knowledge of many more nuances than I had before: "Wearing a head covering is (and should be) a FREE-WILL, MODEST, FEMININE and NATURAL CHOICE made by women all over the world, throughout the ages."

Headcoverings should be worn for personal reasons. Should be allowed to be worn for personal reasons. Should be respected by others. Whether Jewish, or Sikh, or Muslim, or Christian, or Hindu, or Wicca, or Pagan, or for modesty, or to hide a balding scalp, or to protect one against the elements both sunny and freezing, or because someone thinks it looks pretty or cool, or because someone loves the tradition of their elders, or because one wants to identify with their home team, or to stand out in the woods while hunting, or to protect the hair from dust and wind, or to protect the house from loose hairs, or... I am sure that there's more.

Truly there are places in the world where the covering of a man's head is a sign of disrespect. Unfortunately for those who wish to impose this tradition upon others, who are usually proclaiming that they are trying to promote non-religion in certain places, they must trace the tradition back to the Christian Bible's injunction of men uncovering their heads while in prayer or prophesying. (Either that, or to that of outdoor laborers who need to take off dirty head protection upon coming indoors. But I make this last part up myself, and have nothing to back it up.) And of course there is no historical precedence for women to have to uncover their heads. The wiser thing to do in this internet and jet airplane connected world is to realize that HEADCOVERINGS SHOULD BE WORN FOR PERSONAL REASONS. Not forced on, or forced off. If we are so much more enlightened and civilized than the generations past, then we should be more tolerant and understanding. If we are merely the ignorant descendants of wiser, classical civilizations, then we should be more humble and willing to learn from them. Either way, it's time to grow up.

To those of you who cover: Be encouraged to wear your headcovering, and be prepared to give an answer to those who ask you the reason that you have for the hope in you which your headcovering represents. . . whether you are hoping to glorify God in your obedience and humble faith, or merely hoping to keep your head warm in an attractive way. Be encouraged, please, by the many archived articles and links in this little blog if you can.

To those of you who do not think that others should cover their heads: Please be encouraged to continue learning about all the reasons why folks just like you have chosen to cover. This blog is full of their testimonies, and links to many more articles answering your questions.

I hope that you will all be encouraged to learn more about ... those headcoverings. A simple piece of cloth, but, oh, what treasures behind are found.

Thank you for stopping by and reading to the end,

LisaM

About ThoseHeadcoverings: The Blog

Dear Readers, I want to remind you to read the "disclaimer" notice posted just below the blog title above. This blog was created as part of my own personal study into the idea that headcovering by women is not a cultural or time-limited tradition, but that it somehow transcends culture, time, religion and tradition. Women who are very different, for different reasons, choose all by themselves to put something on their head. Sometimes it is due to their having studied Scriptures and coming to a prayerful understanding that wearing a head cover pleases their Creator. Sometimes they choose to cover to stand up for a particular way of understanding of who their Creator is. Sometimes they cover their hair out of a desire to be modest or less distracting. Sometimes they indicate by style or amount of material who they are, or at least the group to whom they belong. Sometimes it's fashion. Sometimes it is a substitute for natural hair. Even growing long hair seems somehow a part of the whole "women in head coverings" phenomenon.

And, alas, some people who write about head coverings are not religious and may write something that is hurtful to those who are living a spiritual lifestyle. Other writers are very devoted to faith as they understand spiritual things, and may write something that is hurtful to someone who does not believe as they do. I am sad that a person's faith gets attacked by others, but we should know that it will happen. Please, do not be surprised when you come across someone with different beliefs, or attitudes, or life styles, who ALSO chooses to cover . . . or that I choose to share their reasoning with you here or by link. This blog is not to condemn or to condone anyone, but merely to help us all to open our eyes to the fact that We Are Not Alone, and also that we should not assume anything about anyone. I do understand why some of the readers here have left off reading this blog, and I have received letters from people from time to time pointing out how someone has divisive or truly hurtful content at a source which I linked to when linking to a specific article that I found informative. But though I want us to keep our eyes open to other points of view, just as we want others to do for us, but I cannot recommend that someone subject themselves to a blog or news source which puts down a particular person or group of people.

A sample comment just came to me from a concerned reader about an older post:

"I'm surprised that you have posted from (X source). From what I've looked at . . . , he is not a very open religious person. I don't think those who are (Y belief) and thinking about covering would feel comfortable reading his entry . . . . Especially when they can look around . . . and note other entries about "crushing (Y belief)." . . . Your blog seems to be open to all religions and I don't want someone to ignore the great information you have to offer because they get offended by someone else's blog."

Oh, Dear Reader, I also don't want someone to ignore the information that is available anywhere because they feel hurt by something that is written. Unfortunately, it happens. I do have a disclaimer posted above the entries in the hopes that those who visit my blog will realize the point of this blog: to share information that can be found online about those headcoverings. Because head coverings are worn in so many ways for so many reasons, there are sure to be misunderstandings. A true searcher will continue to search and find.

Shall a Christian quit covering because Hindu, Jewish and Muslim women also cover? Shall a humble woman not cover because fashionable ladies wear eye-catching styles? Shall women be ashamed to wear a covering because some spiritually minded men also choose to cover their heads for religious reasons? (and so on.. ) If a non-religious person can find a cute way to tie up their headscarf in an article written by a devout believer -- if a modest woman in one faith can learn more about being a lady of faith in an article written about the style of covering in another faith (*) -- if a man or a woman can learn and share more about the reasons why others cover their heads which they had not considered before -- then they have been encouraged at least a little to grow in knowledge, and perhaps in their beliefs as well.

I hope that others will be encouraged even more to think on things like ... the differences between men and women, modesty in dress and behaviour, humbleness and humility, how physical things have spiritual and emotional meanings, what worship is, prayer, how to live faithfully in a way that draws others to things that are true, encouraging others to stand strong in their faith, and to be themselves, that there is no end of learning ... among other things. So much comes under the heading of "headcoverings".

Please, Dear Readers, be encouraged to keep learning, to keep growing, and to come to a better knowledge of truth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

(*) As a Christian who believes in the Written Word of the Bible, I believe that there is only "One Faith", and I know that others feel the same way about what they have faith in. When I wrote of various faiths in this article, I am referring to the variety of understandings of what the "One Faith" is. I hope that this is understood, and not hurtful to anyone. Rather, be encouraged to study and to learn more about what you believe is true - a challenge to what is true will not stand, and you will grow stronger; but if you are standing on sinking sand, wouldn't you rather be challenged to move to higher ground?

Blog owner away...

Greetings and blessings, dear followers and readers of this blog. I will be away from the blog for awhile, but should be back to following and posting the news and notes about headcoverings again by late August or September. Please feel free to peruse and comment (I'll get to those comments when I can), both here and on the web pages linked in the title above.

News is always happening and people are always talking about head coverings - all over the world. Funny, just a piece of cloth raising such a ruckus.

Be encouraged!

-LisaM

What I wore today

Salwar kameez 3 piece suit with matching dupatta - a large scarf which is easily pulled over the head, yet can be stylishly worn around the neck in casual conversation, and even tied loosely behind the back when moving around the kitchen, or in a crowd. I've also been known to wear said outfits with the scarf folded over and tied around behind my neck, as in the photo. I don't usually wear red and black, but found this a pretty good example of what I'm talking about (imagine it in white and yellow with flower patterns).

Just so you know. :) - LisaM

(image from www.utsavsarees.com/salwar/indiandupatta.htm)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PS - I for one thought Michelle Obama looked very sweet and respectful when she met the Pope.

Those Headcoverings

(photos in slide show are from Getty Images)

I started the blog, "Those Headcoverings" here at blogspot, to help to educate, to alert and to encourage.

Education - When I started studying about headcoverings, I wanted to find out what I could about them, and searching could sometimes be difficult. One of the most fascinating things that I found, was that head covering by women really is an across time and culture "phenomenon", and a choice made by many people for many different reasons. I eventually categorized those reasons into religious (Christian, Jewish and Muslim women, in particular, but also for men), for health reasons (preventative, as well as for those with cancer or other hair loss), and the wonderful world of headscarf fashion. Since I've added the Feedjit widgit to my blog, I have been able to see how people found my blog, when they came from a search for something, and often others are searching for the same things that I was - all falling into the above categories and including how to make or tie up a headcovering, or where to buy one, and the history of head coverings of various places.

I knew that for many, especially those with slow dial-up(!), difficulties can stall or even stop searches. And that is discouraging, especially when there are many search entries that use the same words (such as veiling or covering) that can mean something else. Hopefully, having categories of news and blogs in one place will make a search a little easier, and jump start even more ideas.

Alert: With education comes the persuasive edge, to alert others to what is going on in the world. In other countries, people are forced against their will and knowledge to either wear or not wear a head covering. Sometimes they are ridiculed, persecuted, or misrepresented by the media. It is my hope, that as the world "grows smaller" due to the internet and world news, that people will come to better understand one another. It may be a dim hope, considering how people are people, but I hope that those who stop by here would be moved to think further of how significant their actions are.

Encourage: I truly hope to encourage others by making them aware of the simple, quiet blogs, where women have written of the reasons they chose to cover, their difficulties and joys as they went through a change in life style, and sometimes sharing the way that they wear a headcovering. They have all encouraged me - from the young women who began covering in a place where no one else did or understood, to the women who grew up in communities where everyone covered. In this simple act of obedience and respect, without even much of a word (though we wouldn't know unless she wrote the words down), we can be won over to a humble, honourable and beautiful Way of life.


I really don't have the time to continue doing as much work as I have been on this little hobby of mine, especially as the summer comes to an end, and I must get back to teaching on a much wider variety of subjects. I will keep up from time to time. I do hope that those of you who stop by this blog will continue to make use of the webpages that I created and modified at googlepages: "ThoseHeadcoverings" (also linked in the upper right). Please continue studying and praying about your personal decision. Know what you believe, and if you are unsure, ask for help to understand. Continue learning about other cultures and lifestyles so that you can make wise decisions regarding your treatment of others. I personally have come to consider many headcover-ers "kindred spirits" - though we may not agree on other things of the Spirit. I stand up with those who are misunderstood merely because they have that headcovering on, and I encourage them to keep on doing what they understand to be good and right.

Headcoverings are not an oppresive burden; they are as unique as a woman's skirt, as personal as her faith, and as liberating as the difference between men and women. They can be as beautiful or as ugly as our inner spirits show them to be. I pray that whether you wear scarf, mantilla, hat, turban, hijab, cap, bonnet, or wide headband - others will see its beauty because of the beautiful head that it is worn on.

Note from the TH Blogger

I will be out of town and unable to respond to comments for a while - please continue to leave comments, or news articles or blog entries of interest, for me to post. Comments require my approval, so you won't see your comments any time soon. Many thanks to those of you who have commented on the news and notes here, and to those of you who continue to link here to keep informed.

Please continue to search through the articles and links in the "Those Headcoverings" web pages. Look through the Google news feeder thing I added to the side bar for news. Look through the Christian blogs I've linked to as well, and their side bars. Just keep walking. . . .

"It is good to learn, and even better to act on what you believe to be true."

About This Blog

I started "Those Headcoverings" at blogger to accompany my study in head coverings at my newly created "Those Headcoverings" at google page creator.

I had started up a website and blog when I began studying the practice of head covering over a year ago, but the previous host site was not organized in such a way as to make the sharing of information very easy. For example, when I posted an entry on a certain type of headcovering, there was no labeling system in place to "keep together" all entries on that subject. Nor could I create one page per subject area. Since Google is now experimenting with web pages, I've taken the information that I had posted to the other site, cleaned it up, and put it in a hopefully more organized fashion. I do hope that I'll be able to include a photo album for the website soon.

In this blog, I hope to continue what I had started at the old web site, and - when I have the time - post links to news items, blog entries or announcements of new websites (which will probably be added to one of the "ThoseHeadcoverings" google web pages).

Please contact me with any questions, comments or other pertinent information concerning head covering, such as really good web sites or blogs on the subject, or neat pictures. Feedback is appreciated.