The Sufi Remembrance Project

Born: November 23, 1949 URS May 13, 2021

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8 Memories for “Khadija Julia Waduda-Majid Goforth”

1. on 16 May 2021 at 2:23 am1Abdul Shafee (Howard) Ballinger

   I was surprised and really shocked to hear the news of Khadija’s passing — it’s hard to take it in that she’s not with us any more. Always such a solid presence, such a devoted teacher & leader! I only saw her now and then, at retreats and the like, but I won’t forget her positivity and her great generosity of heart, her laughter and her dedication to the Truth.

2. on 16 May 2021 at 10:54 pm2Farid Gruber

   Khadija was always very proud that she was the first female semazenbashi to participate in a sema in Konya. This was under the tutelage of Jelalluddin Loras who founded the Mevlevi Order in the United States and is an honorary Murshid in the Ruhaniat. (I am not quite sure of the adab, here.)
   Anyway, she had a falling out with Jellaluddin upon returning to the States and was estranged from the Mevlevis for many years, though the Seattle interfaith zikrs organized mainly by Khadija continue to include them.
   While on retreat/pilgrimmage to Turkey with Khadija in 2014 I knew that she had hoped to repair that relationship at some point. Khadija led us to the Mevlevi museum in Istanbul where there was to be a public Sema which intermittently was performed for tourists. As we headed into the performance space we ran into a group of pilgrims led by Mariam Baker who coincidentally were also sojourning in Turkey. They were just leaving the performance space. Serendipity?- perhaps.
   Then minutes later I was seated next to Khadija as she was explaining how the semazens and post would be positioned and some of the details of the Sema. As the celebrants walked into the space Khadija stood up and exclaimed, “Oh my god, there he is”. It was Sheikh Jelalluddin at the post. Khadija shared that he rarely was seen in public at that time and she took it as a sign that she was meant to connect with him after many years.
   It turned out that Khadija called him and he was happy to receive our entire group at his home the next Sunday. There was a public hug and acceptance of Khadija back into the fold that afternoon. Alhamdul’illah.

3. on 20 May 2021 at 9:46 pm3Nurjamila Wallar

   Hours spent talking & reflecting while I trained to be a cherag under your wonderful & compassionate guidance. Encouragement to speak out & to not allow shyness & being in a woman body to stifle our expressions. A warrior woman who knew her importance & shared her heart without restraint.
   How wonderful to hear of the healing with Sheikh Jelalluddin & the Mevlevis. It was always a strong part of you & I know the healing that you must’ve experienced was just what the Creator had planned for you on that trip.
   Much love on your journey dear Friend of this heart.

4. on 09 Jul 2021 at 6:48 pm4Basira

   You always told me this story again and again…about how, after Pir Moineddin’s passing, you dearly missed being able to simply pick up the telephone and talk with Pir Moineddin as you did on so many days for so many years. Now, I feel that same longing with you. Love and peace upon you, dear Friend.

5. on 16 Jul 2021 at 2:49 pm5Hassan

   I can’t even think where to start. You were and are a constant guiding light for the entire Sufi community and for that and so many things you will be sorely missed. You walked the walk every day. I was privileged to know you as a co-worker and close friend for over 40 years.

   I always loved our check ins and how transparent and human you always were. I kept your secrets and I still will. You let me see your struggles as a human being and never hid anything from view. I totally appreciated the depth and quality of our friendship and will always remember.

   Ya Salaamo Murshida, go in peace. Your work is done for this time.
   Love and MORE love,
   Hassan

6. on 15 Aug 2021 at 11:21 pm6kenan

   We went to a party she hosted for Jelaluddin after a Sema in the early eighties. Hamza al din was also a guest. Our friendship began later when our daughters were at Cornish Junior Dance program. I found her struggling to park and parked her old volvo for her. We talked regularly for years and worked to create the NW Unity Zikr and NW Rumi Fest.
   Always a creator, making flyers, tee shirts. The nitty-gritty of getting people together. A Fountain of Endless Love, Ashk Olsun

7. on 25 Jan 2022 at 4:51 am7Mansur

   Khadija was a strong and beloved presence in my life for more than 40 years. We were always partners in sufism and for 20 years partners in life. I still feel her sometimes, see her beautiful laughing eyes, hear her acerbic comments.

   This poem is my tribute to her:

   Goodbye, Beloved

   For more than
   40 years of knowing each other
   and 20 years of marriage
   and 7 years of divorce
   we loved each other
   and called each other Habibi.
   I remember when I first saw you.
   You have told the story many times
   of being a murette and going to lead your first big Sufi Dance,
   feeling that you were going to disgrace yourself and Sufism,
   and suddenly Murshid Sam was present within you
   and took charge.

   I was there.
   I had never experienced anything like it.
   I felt the dance was wonderful.
   The next time you came my way,
   I realized you were wonderful too.
   One thing followed another,
   and shortly afterward I followed you home.

   Your devotion to spiritual work and Sufism
   never faltered.
   You did the work for yourself and for others,
   selflessly.
   You were a birther and sustainer of spiritual circles:
   Northwest camp, Inland camp, local zikrs, Unity zikr,
   Seattle Mevlevis, Rumi festival, New York dance meeting, Turkey trips,
   and many others for which my memory falters.
   Your ideal was to be a co-creator and servant to the group.
   You always served your mureeds
   to the highest of your considerable ability.
   I saw you grow into a vast being.
   I saw a major part of my spiritual work as
   supporting and being present for you in all the ways that I could:
   financially, emotionally, physically, and musically.
   I remember our last meeting well, Thursday afternoon.
   I brought you a lovely Mothers’ Day card from Perry and Richard,
   whom you called ‘your boys’.
   It lifted your heart.
   You said you wanted to have some time in my comfortable arms and car.
   We drove to Sakya monastery.
   While driving, you were making sure Amira Sara knew
   where your Babu should go in the event of your demise.

   We sat and talked peacefully of many things.
   You spoke of your desire to, in your words,
   “Leave the house of Peter Kahn
   and go to the house of Inayat Khan.”
   Your struggle against dismissiveness and patriarchy
   took so much energy
   and you were tired.

   The next morning you were dead.
   Thank you for having been,
   and been so much for so many people.
   Goodbye, beloved.
   God be with you, Habibi.
   The Great Mother hold you dear.

8. on 10 Feb 2022 at 7:33 am8Hamida

   Ya Salaamo Khadija, Beloved Initiator, Sufi Guide and Dear Friend of nearly 38 years. I am moved to tears by all the wonderful tributes to you by your Sufi family. I share my story to help those who didn’t know you catch some of your fragrance.

   So much love and appreciation for your very big heart and the banquet of gifts, teachings, guidance, encouragement, and life lessons. From the moment I met you as Waduda Majid at my first Northwest Sufi Camp when you included me in one of your many pageants and colorful rituals, followed by initiation that fall in the backyard of your home in the Garden of Noor in Spokane, you led me on a deep and rich path. You fed my spiritual quest.

   I was one of your “distant” mureeds from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, so our relationship developed from annual treks to NWSC, to all-night drives to Spokane for Zikr in your kitchen with Jelauddin Loras, to bringing you to Edmonton to share your magic, to your suggestion that I go on pilgrimage to India which I did for 6 months in 1987. Waduda said it was important that I attend the Urs of HIK in India and that I meet Mother Krishnabai. She was right, as she was in sending me to San Francisco after a trip to Lama the following year. “You must meet Joe and Guin Miller. It will be wonderful for you to spend time with Moineddin and drink from his well so go to Jamiats”. Ultimately this led to going on retreat at Mentorgarten for a year. In the 90’s Khadija encouraged me to apply to be the executive director of Peaceworks in Seattle so for the first time I was able to delight in living in the same city as her, hanging out with her family and sharing in our passion for thrift store shopping.

   I had one of my strongest mystical experiences with Khadija turning with her as a bridesmaid at her wedding to Mansur at NWSC. Khadija was a great story-teller and that formed a lot of her teachings as well as doing astrological charts for her mureeds. Her generosity was remarkable…. books and meals and shawls from her travels. She and Mansur gifted mureeds with travel points for many years and I was the lucky recipient of a ticket to Bali the year after my diagnosis with breast cancer. In February of 2020 she gifted me with a 3 day stay with her and Babu in Seattle to participate in the Urs of HIK, which of course she organized, and to receive a refresh of her love, teachings and friendship.

   Khadija’s gifts to the Ruhaniat included her deep regard for process and collective wisdom, for nurturing the growth of the circle as an important addition to hierarchical leadership, and her ever-present emphasis on listening to the divine feminine. She truly lived welcoming to all. Khadija was a skilled organizer of innumerable Sufi events over the years complete with her beautiful flyers, including the magnificent 2019 Jamiat Khas in Port Townsend, Washington. Attendees received this Liberte’ card, which was the theme of the JK. May spiritual Liberte’ be yours Beloved Khadija as your soul makes its transition. All love and deep gratitude, Hamida

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