Hi All,

Next meeting March 22nd – With an Idul Fitri potluck
After talking over possible dates for our next general meeting date with the committee, we agreed that 3/22 would be the best date for it. Many members will have been fasting and we can use the date to mark the end with an Idul Fitri potluck.

Though we’ll have some updates on progress with business activities, the agenda will be light on these areas. We hope that members will come and share some of their Subud experiences since the last time we were together.

SD-USA Granting meeting last weekend
Our center just hosted the SD-USA annual granting session.  It was my last granting session as I complete my work on the board. More about SD-USA and it’s projects later.

For those of you who wanted to see the video SDI put together for the general public, titled “Moved From Within, here’s a link.

I had hoped to have more progress in this report, but have been ill with the flue and am just now recovering. Apologies for the slow start.

Love, Oswald

From Subud California Newsletter:

To Fast or not to Fast, that is the Question

As you know, Subud is not a religion, and its membership includes people who adhere to a wide range of faiths as well as people who do not practice any religion. Bapak actively supported members practicing their own faiths. He was an Indonesian Muslim who fasted during Ramadan and found the practice very beneficial. He spoke about the practice to Subud members in a number of recorded talks and recommended it as a way to help quiet the “nafsu” (Indonesian for desires). To be clear, this was a suggestion only, and not a requirement for Subud members.

Many religions and spiritual paths have practices that involve fasting, including Ramadan (Islam), Lent (Christianity), and Yom Kippur (Judaism); there are many Buddhist, Hindu, Yogic fasts as well as non-religious fasts. Bapak spoke about how fasting in other traditions has the same benefits, and he recommended members to practice a fast in accordance with their inner feeling.

Many Subud members who have fasted have experienced deep spiritual benefits from it. Many members have never fasted.  We do not keep track of who fasts.

Fasting can take many forms, and for Subud members who feel moved to fast, each person determines for themselves how to observe the fast. For instance, some people feel to do the traditional Ramadan fast which includes refraining from food and drink during daylight hours (or 6am to 6pm), as well as refraining from anger, negative thoughts, gossip, and using your eyes in an unkind way. Some members receive to abstain from a particular behavior or thought, but not to engage in the food fast. Some people receive not to fast at all.

If you want to learn more about fasting, please ask any helper or member about their own experiences. There is information available on Subud websites and at most centers.  The helpers can also do personal testing with you if you want to explore whether fasting in some manner would be beneficial for you. And please remember, there is no pressure or expectation that Subud members fast.

Dates of the Fasts 2026: Ramadan, February 18 (approximate) to March 19; Lent, February 18 to April 2; Yom Kippur, September 20-21.

Memorial on Saturday, February 14th, 2026, from 4 pm followed by a potluck dinner reception at the Seattle Subud Center (Spring Street Center) at 1101 15th Ave, Seattle, Washington 98122. We plan on streaming service on Zoom. Click here to join.

The main course is being prepared, so no need for main course items. If you wish to bring a side dish, bread, or salad to the memorial service, please sign up using this app.  https://www.PerfectPotluck.com/VMNZ9715

Link to signup to attend the memorial service in person here!  https://www.eventcreate.com/e/hadidjahgregory

May God in his love and mercy make her passage easy,

Her devoted Husband, Marston Gregory

Michael and I have been discussing with Marius having a local area Kedjiwaan Gathering potluck at his house this spring. With Honora being in the area from February 9 on, we’ve settled on Monday, February 16, at Marius’ house. Julia is bringing soup or a side dish, Michael will do a main dish. The details are below.

KEDJIWAAN GATHERING – FORMER BSV MEMBERS & OTHERS

• WHAT: Potluck and latihan
• WHEN: Monday, February 16, Noon
• WHERE: Marius’ House – 1501 7th Street, Anacortes
• CONTACT: Julia, 425 359-1972; hurdjulia@gmail.com
• PNW Regional Chair, Honora Drew, will attend

Please RSVP to Julia at hurdjulia@gmail.com with copy to me at bluebear@wavecable.com.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

       Serena

Oswald Norton

Dear Members of Subud Greater Seattle,

As I write this, it’s been only 9 days since Jim and I were tested and then elected as your new vice chair and chair. In that time, we have been able to form a complete committee. Sarah Stralberg has agreed to continue as our treasurer. Lisa Allen has agreed to formally accept the role of secretary.  

Thank you, Sarah and Lisa.

When I thought about putting my name forward for this position, I thought back to a question that Jim O’Halloran and I asked each other 4 years ago: Are there enough members who are able and willing to do the work required in order for the members to enjoy a facility that they own? Or, have we come to the end of the line for owning and operating a facility that we own?

In the next two years I hope, with your help, to discover the answer to that question. I will certainly try.

Housing Committee
In the next 3 weeks I hope to complete the creation of and the formal charter for a committee to explore what we, as a group, need in order to maintain a latihan facility in the Seattle area for the time past when my term is over as chair. Something that I hope will allow us to maintain a facility for those wishing to experience the grace that we have all received, long after my work, and the work of others is over.

I will be putting together a survey, along with the local helpers, to gather from our members their hopes and desires for our future.  This should be out no later than the beginning of March.

Monthly Meetings
I would like to continue our monthly potlucks and get togethers. Not only to share with you the work of the Housing Committee, but to also share with each other how the latihan has changed, or helped our lives since the last time we met. This idea came out of a planning session we had for our last kejiwaan event. 

Each monthly meeting will be a potluck where I hope members will bring their most delicious foods to share with all of us so that we can enjoy the bounty of the foods we create in our own homes.

Kejiwaan Events
It is my hope that the helpers and committee will meet at least once a month to do latihan together and to test about the needs of our group. I am working on getting this regular rhythm setup. I hope that out of this work the Subud Greater Seattle dewan will come to understand how we can put at least bi-annual kejiwaan events for the members. 

We need both men and women members who are not currently helpers to be willing to step into these roles if this is to be accomplished. The last kejiwaan event was mostly led by the regional helpers.

Morning the passing of long time members
With the death of Hadidjah Gregory [memorial service and potluck February 14 from 4 to 7] and the illness and possible passing of some of our members we have some memorials coming up. We need to remember and acknowledge the support and care of these members in our community. I hope you will attend these.

I will update you in the future as I have more to tell.

With Love For Our Subud Community

I am your chair, Oswald Norton