The Wondrous Month

The Wondrous calendar changes the structure of the year and the month that most other calendars use.

The year was divided by the Báb into 19 sections that we call "months". (Some authors, however, have said that they should actually be called "weeks" since they have nothing to do with the moon's cycles!) Each of these "months" has 19 days. For an in-depth exploration of the mystical significance of the calendar, see A Wondrous New Day.

The following layout of the calendar groups the 19 days in a very special way:

This follows the concepts introduced by the Báb when he described the 19 months in a year:

The first three months are the fire of God, the next four months, the air of eternity, and the subsequent six months are the water of divine unity which streameth forth upon all souls, descending from the atmosphere of eternity, which in turn is derived from the fire of God. The last six months pertain to earthly existence, whereby all that hath appeared from these three elements may be established within the element of dust, through which the fruit will be harvested. (Quoted in Gate of the Heart, page 75)

I'm trying to learn to live by the flow of the 19 days of the month, grouped as they are above. What does this mean to me, in my desire to live by this new calendar?

The first few days are times of thinking fondly of the Bahá'í Nineteen Day Feast, always celebrated on the first day of the month. This is a time of beginnings and giving glory to God; the start of the new month when one can think carefully about the name of that month and what it means.

The next four days seem ideal for resolving to make this a great month and drawing on the power of God as we direct our energies towards the advancement of society. Plans are made and started.

The first group of six days, mirroring the months called the Water of Unification, seems to be the heart of the month, where we buckle down and get work done, translating the spiritual guidance into practical actions.  Day 10 is halfway through the month, the "hump-day" of the month when we can start looking forward to what is coming!

The last six days, named Earth, are the tail-end of the month to finish what we've been doing. This is also the gradual build-up to the celebration of the next Feast!

This 19-day rhythm seems to be just about right - not too short and not too long! As I track myself through these phases of the month I find that I can keep a handle on where in the month I am.

I'm just starting on this journey and know that I'll learn much more about what the calendar means and how it can shape my days.

How are you making use of this new, this Wondrous, calendar?

Living by the Wondrous Calendar

I am striving to make the Wondrous Calendar, also known as the Badí' or Bahá'í calendar, the basis for my thinking about time and where I am in it.

When I was considering how to do this, I realized that people do not, and cannot, intrinsically know the date.

This is unlike the time of day, which you can guess at based on the sun and your recent activity. (Did I recently have breakfast?  It must be morning still!) You can also guess at the seasons. (It's been freezing outside for weeks now... it must be winter!)

But for the month, and the day of the month, we need to refer to a calendar. Every home and every office desk had, and may still have, a beautiful paper wall-calendar readily accessible.

Most radio stations regularly announce the day and date. Newspaper stands provide commuters with dated headlines. Many wristwatches show the day of the month, and digital watches include the day of the week.

Wristwatch with day of the month

Every computer, smartphone, and smartwatch has the date easily visible. Roadside electronic signs try to be helpful by announcing the temperature and, you guessed it, the date.  In short, we are surrounded by external reminders of today's date. Without them, we'd have no clue!

The date orients us with the culture around us.  It tells us where we are in the shared rhythm of the week, the month, and the year. Interspersed across these periods are periodic holidays, giving more anchors to attach our sense of time to, dates we look forward to and times we can remember.

So, if I want to use a new calendar, the Wondrous Calendar, and want to know today's date in that calendar, what am I to do? As described above, my culture and surroundings don't tell me as they do for the Gregorian date.

Well, I'm a software developer, so I set out to solve this problem! My goal was, and is, to have the Wondrous date show up in my environment so that I can know the date.

Here are some of the resources that I use. They are all available now, so if you are wanting to adopt the Wondrous Calendar too, please try them out!

Web Browser Extension

A Chrome extension called "Badí' Calendar" that displays today's Wondrous date in a button beside other extension buttons. In this case, it shows the 17th day of the month of 'Ilm (Knowledge).

This works wherever the Chrome desktop browser works. With the button, the date is always visible when using Chrome! (And now in the new Firefox too!) You can also click the button to see lots more information. 

Wondrous-Badi.Today

A special website called https://Wondrous-Badi.today. 

Besides showing lots of information, when used on an Android phone, it can display a notification that shows today's Wondrous date!

In this way, the date is always visible on my phone!

Other Tools

Here are a few other tools available to help with the Wondrous Calendar.

• Google Home / Assistant - if you have a Google Home device, try saying "Okay Google, talk to the Wondrous Calendar."  
• A Facebook bot that can tell you today's date, and verse, each day!
• To learn more and get in on the discussion, see this Facebook page.

Many other people have been working hard on making tools for the Wondrous Calendar too!

• There are a number of apps for iPhone and Android available. In the stores where you get new apps, search for "badi calendar" or "baha'i calendar"!
• In Facebook also look at these great resources: The Badi Calendar, Badí' Calendar Calculator, Baha'i Date Today, Baha'i Calendar App, Badí' Calendar Resources, and more!

Do you have a favorite tool or app that helps you use the Wondrous calendar?  Please let us know in the comments below!