I've been reading through this thread (though not the entire thing) and am just fascinated by it. I am a Muslim convert, and before I converted to Islam I was practicing/studying earth-based feminist spirituality with a women's community. I really love covering my hair, but not only that--I love the concept of hijab as a whole. And it is not only for women, contrary to what many people think about hijab in Islam. Head covering is only part of it, though in Western culture it's the most obvious part.
I love hearing about women feeling "called" to cover, or to be more modest. It just confirms my belief that we all have this *remembrance* of our fitrah, our ability to live in alignment with and in surrender to our Creator, we have an innate desire to be worshipful and mindful and to "bring Spirit into the details" of our lives.
I wear my head covering in a sort of non-traditional way, in that I don't usually wear it in a distinctly "Arab Muslim" way. I often will wear it in a turban style, or in a bun, or tied once under my hair and with the ends wrapped around my neck to cover my chest. As time goes on I feel more and more compelled to have my neck be covered, which I didn't feel comfortable with for a long time because I felt like it was a big "identifier" and I still felt like a baby Muslim and pretty self-conscious around my family and "pre-conversion" friends. Interestingly and sadly, covering my hair has been something that has clearly made some friends/family uncomfortable. It's like I look foreign to them now.
Anyway, just for anyone who's interested, the concept of hijab is about humility and modesty in one's relationship to God--not to Men, not to other people, just before God. It is a "covering of our adornments," a recognition of the sacred nature of our bodies (awrah), an honoring and dignifying of our femininity. It has nothing to do with shame or any concept of inferiority or inequality. And it's not only a scarf. That's part of it, but it's also in wearing loose clothing (sooo comfy!!), guarding one's speech (trying not to gossip, be mean, etc.), lowering our gaze around people who we might feel lustful toward (which I see as a great sign of respect for those men AND as an acknowledgement of sisterhood--I do it to respect those wives and girlfriends and others, to indicate that I am not *in competition* with you for your men!), not being gaudy or flamboyant or extravagant in our behavior or in our CONSUMPTION. It is about simplicity and humility but also about strength and dignity. At least, that is what it has come to mean for me. I can see over time a pull to simplify--whereas I have a *ton* of scarves and use them as a fun accessory (so it's easy to SHOP, SHOP, SHOP), I know women who I greatly respect and admire who, for example, usually only wear blue or black. And I can see that making my hijab trendy can be a distraction from it's real purpose, to keep me more mindful of God...just some of the things I think about.
Men should observe hijab too. They also have an awrah, though it is different from women's (obv bc their bodies are different), and should really also be wearing loose clothing that covers the body, not be showy, lower their gaze around women, use gentle speech, not be vain, grow their beard, etc.
Love hearing about non-Muslim desire to incorporate this--the benefit is really universal. May the peace and blessings of our Creator be upon all of you!
Follow Mothering