Podcasts about Sufism

Original airdate: November 24, 2022 Sufism may evoke the image of whirling dervishes or the sublime verses from Sufi poets such as Rumi and Hafiz. But most people have no idea about its teachings, practices and spiritual ethics. Called "the path of the heart," Sufism provides a compendium of wisdom that's both practical and profound. In this interview, we'll look into the richness of this tradition with my guest Ayeda Husain. Ayeda Husain is a senior teacher and guide in the Inayatiyya, a global organization dedicated to Universal Sufism. A long-time journalist specializing in Sufism, she now teaches Sufi meditation, chanting and philosophy with a special emphasis on Rumi's poetry as a means of healing and evolving. She has led spiritual retreats worldwide, taught Sufi meditation to Buddhist monks in Tokyo, and been invited to the UN as part of an international delegation of spiritual leaders. In this conversation, Ayeda introduces us to the mystical world of Sufism. We discuss the main teachings and practices and how we can use them to navigate our day-to-day lives more effectively.

Challenging the geographical narrative of the history of Islam, Chiara Formichi's new book Islam and Asia: A History (Cambridge University Press, 2020), helps us to rethink how we tell the story of Islam and the lived expressions of Muslims without privileging certain linguistic, cultural, and geographic realities. Focusing on themes of reform, political Islamism, Sufism, gender, as well as a rich array of material culture (such as sacred spaces and art), the book maps the development of Islam in Asia, such as in Kashmir, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China. It considers both transnational and transregional ebbs and flows that have defined the expansion and institutionalization of Islam in Asia, while attending to factors such as ethnicity, linguistic identity and even food cultures as important realities that have informed the translation of Islam into new regions. It is the “convergence and conversation” between the “local” and “foreign” or better yet between the theoretical notions of “centre” and “periphery” of Islam and Muslim societies that are dismantled in the book, defying any notions of Asian expressions of Islam as a “derivative reality.” The book is accessibly written and will be extremely useful in any undergraduate or graduate courses on Islam, Islam in Asia, or political Islam. The book will also be of interest to those who work on Islamic Studies and Asia Studies. Shobhana Xavier is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Queen's University. Her research areas are on contemporary Sufism in North America and South Asia. She is the author of Sacred Spaces and Transnational Networks in American Sufism (Bloombsury Press, 2018) and a co-author of Contemporary Sufism: Piety, Politics, and Popular Culture (Routledge, 2017). More details about her research and scholarship may be found here and here. She may be reached at shobhana.xavier@queensu.ca . You can follow her on Twitter via @shobhanaxavier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Challenging the geographical narrative of the history of Islam, Chiara Formichi's new book Islam and Asia: A History (Cambridge University Press, 2020), helps us to rethink how we tell the story of Islam and the lived expressions of Muslims without privileging certain linguistic, cultural, and geographic realities. Focusing on themes of reform, political Islamism, Sufism, gender, as well as a rich array of material culture (such as sacred spaces and art), the book maps the development of Islam in Asia, such as in Kashmir, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China. It considers both transnational and transregional ebbs and flows that have defined the expansion and institutionalization of Islam in Asia, while attending to factors such as ethnicity, linguistic identity and even food cultures as important realities that have informed the translation of Islam into new regions. It is the “convergence and conversation” between the “local” and “foreign” or better yet between the theoretical notions of “centre” and “periphery” of Islam and Muslim societies that are dismantled in the book, defying any notions of Asian expressions of Islam as a “derivative reality.” The book is accessibly written and will be extremely useful in any undergraduate or graduate courses on Islam, Islam in Asia, or political Islam. The book will also be of interest to those who work on Islamic Studies and Asia Studies. Shobhana Xavier is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Queen's University. Her research areas are on contemporary Sufism in North America and South Asia. She is the author of Sacred Spaces and Transnational Networks in American Sufism (Bloombsury Press, 2018) and a co-author of Contemporary Sufism: Piety, Politics, and Popular Culture (Routledge, 2017). More details about her research and scholarship may be found here and here. She may be reached at shobhana.xavier@queensu.ca . You can follow her on Twitter via @shobhanaxavier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

Challenging the geographical narrative of the history of Islam, Chiara Formichi's new book Islam and Asia: A History (Cambridge University Press, 2020), helps us to rethink how we tell the story of Islam and the lived expressions of Muslims without privileging certain linguistic, cultural, and geographic realities. Focusing on themes of reform, political Islamism, Sufism, gender, as well as a rich array of material culture (such as sacred spaces and art), the book maps the development of Islam in Asia, such as in Kashmir, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China. It considers both transnational and transregional ebbs and flows that have defined the expansion and institutionalization of Islam in Asia, while attending to factors such as ethnicity, linguistic identity and even food cultures as important realities that have informed the translation of Islam into new regions. It is the “convergence and conversation” between the “local” and “foreign” or better yet between the theoretical notions of “centre” and “periphery” of Islam and Muslim societies that are dismantled in the book, defying any notions of Asian expressions of Islam as a “derivative reality.” The book is accessibly written and will be extremely useful in any undergraduate or graduate courses on Islam, Islam in Asia, or political Islam. The book will also be of interest to those who work on Islamic Studies and Asia Studies. Shobhana Xavier is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Queen's University. Her research areas are on contemporary Sufism in North America and South Asia. She is the author of Sacred Spaces and Transnational Networks in American Sufism (Bloombsury Press, 2018) and a co-author of Contemporary Sufism: Piety, Politics, and Popular Culture (Routledge, 2017). More details about her research and scholarship may be found here and here. She may be reached at shobhana.xavier@queensu.ca . You can follow her on Twitter via @shobhanaxavier Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/southeast-asian-studies

Challenging the geographical narrative of the history of Islam, Chiara Formichi's new book Islam and Asia: A History (Cambridge University Press, 2020), helps us to rethink how we tell the story of Islam and the lived expressions of Muslims without privileging certain linguistic, cultural, and geographic realities. Focusing on themes of reform, political Islamism, Sufism, gender, as well as a rich array of material culture (such as sacred spaces and art), the book maps the development of Islam in Asia, such as in Kashmir, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China. It considers both transnational and transregional ebbs and flows that have defined the expansion and institutionalization of Islam in Asia, while attending to factors such as ethnicity, linguistic identity and even food cultures as important realities that have informed the translation of Islam into new regions. It is the “convergence and conversation” between the “local” and “foreign” or better yet between the theoretical notions of “centre” and “periphery” of Islam and Muslim societies that are dismantled in the book, defying any notions of Asian expressions of Islam as a “derivative reality.” The book is accessibly written and will be extremely useful in any undergraduate or graduate courses on Islam, Islam in Asia, or political Islam. The book will also be of interest to those who work on Islamic Studies and Asia Studies. Shobhana Xavier is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Queen's University. Her research areas are on contemporary Sufism in North America and South Asia. She is the author of Sacred Spaces and Transnational Networks in American Sufism (Bloombsury Press, 2018) and a co-author of Contemporary Sufism: Piety, Politics, and Popular Culture (Routledge, 2017). More details about her research and scholarship may be found here and here. She may be reached at shobhana.xavier@queensu.ca . You can follow her on Twitter via @shobhanaxavier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

Challenging the geographical narrative of the history of Islam, Chiara Formichi's new book Islam and Asia: A History (Cambridge University Press, 2020), helps us to rethink how we tell the story of Islam and the lived expressions of Muslims without privileging certain linguistic, cultural, and geographic realities. Focusing on themes of reform, political Islamism, Sufism, gender, as well as a rich array of material culture (such as sacred spaces and art), the book maps the development of Islam in Asia, such as in Kashmir, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China. It considers both transnational and transregional ebbs and flows that have defined the expansion and institutionalization of Islam in Asia, while attending to factors such as ethnicity, linguistic identity and even food cultures as important realities that have informed the translation of Islam into new regions. It is the “convergence and conversation” between the “local” and “foreign” or better yet between the theoretical notions of “centre” and “periphery” of Islam and Muslim societies that are dismantled in the book, defying any notions of Asian expressions of Islam as a “derivative reality.” The book is accessibly written and will be extremely useful in any undergraduate or graduate courses on Islam, Islam in Asia, or political Islam. The book will also be of interest to those who work on Islamic Studies and Asia Studies. Shobhana Xavier is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Queen's University. Her research areas are on contemporary Sufism in North America and South Asia. She is the author of Sacred Spaces and Transnational Networks in American Sufism (Bloombsury Press, 2018) and a co-author of Contemporary Sufism: Piety, Politics, and Popular Culture (Routledge, 2017). More details about her research and scholarship may be found here and here. She may be reached at shobhana.xavier@queensu.ca . You can follow her on Twitter via @shobhanaxavier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

The Calling to Reorient the Self How can the sacred be recovered in a world fractured by autonomy and fragmentation? In this deeply personal episode of Kainos on The Lectern, recorded during a session hosted by Alexander Beiner on Kainos, John Vervaeke shares reflections from his recent pilgrimage across Europe—what he calls the Philosophical Silk Road. Weaving through sacred conversations and historic locations, he explores profound ideas like theosis, theoria, and voluntary necessity, inviting listeners into a lived philosophy of sacred participation. From Istanbul to Rome to Amsterdam, each location becomes a catalyst for insight and inner transformation. Vervaeke challenges the Enlightenment's idolization of autonomy and points toward a new possibility: a spirituality of finite transcendence, rooted in embodied knowing and dialogical belonging. This episode offers a raw and unfiltered account of mystical experience, intellectual shift, and spiritual disorientation—all in service of rediscovering what it means to be in contact with reality, in its fullest, most sacred form. Find more of Alexander Beiner's work at https://beiner.substack.com/ and https://www.studiokainos.com/. If you would like to donate purely out of goodwill to support John's work, please consider joining our Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke  The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. https://vervaekefoundation.org/  If you would like to learn and engage regularly in practices that are informed, developed and endorsed by John and his work, visit Awaken to Meaning's calendar to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships. https://awakentomeaning.com/join-practice/    John Vervaeke:  https://johnvervaeke.com/ https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john  https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke   Notes: (00:00) The Philosophical Silk Road: Opening Reflections (03:00)  "You can go through not an argument, but a passage…and it causes you to fundamentally change how you're seeing and being in the world." – John Vervaeke (03:00) (3:30)  Reclaiming Theoria: Pilgrimage, Contemplation, and the Sacred (06:00) Encountering Maximus the Confessor in Istanbul (07:00) Sufism and Neoplatonism in Spain with Thomas Cheetham (08:00) Athens, Plato, and Embodied Practice (09:30) Rome, Bishop Maximus, and Descending into Mystery (11:00) Amsterdam, Spinoza, and the Liminal Threshold (12:00) Theosis as Transformation through Participation (16:30) From Autonomy to Theo-Agency: Voluntary Necessity (21:00) Dialogical Contact vs. Individual Expression (28:00) Toward a Shared Sense of Sacredness: Pluralism and Depth (32:00) Holding Finitude and Transcendence Together (36:30) Final Thoughts: Who Am I Now?   Ideas, People, and Works Mentioned in This Episode Maximus the Confessor Ibn Arabi Clement of Alexandria Gregory of Nyssa Jonathan Pageau Thomas Cheetham Charles Stang Bishop Maximus Jason Vervaeke Spinoza Plotinus Pierre Hadot William Desmond Samantha Harvey, Orbital Capobianco Julian Jaynes Drew A. Hyland Neoplatonism Theoria, Theophany, Kenosis, Henosis “Absolute Zero” Practice The Dialogical Self Agency and Communion Finite Transcendence     Attribution This conversation was recorded during a session hosted by Alexander Beiner for Kainos. Learn more at https://beiner.substack.com/ and https://www.studiokainos.com/.  

Immerse yourself in an episode that uncovers the intricate relationship between art, history, and spirituality in Delhi through the passionate voice of Sabah Aluva, a celebrated calligrapher, teacher, and author. This podcast episode goes far beyond the surface, pulling you into a world where words become art and history breathes through stone, inscription, and myth.Discover the secrets behind Islamic calligraphy its evolution under the Mughal emperors, where Persian and Indian influences melded to create breathtaking scripts that adorn royal coins, grand mosques, and world-famous monuments. Learn how gold leaf and exquisite color transformed words into visual masterpieces reflecting divine reverence and royal prestige, and how inscriptions on Delhi's monuments served not just as records but as living testaments to a civilization's creativity.The discussion journeys through the stories written on coins, the symbolism in gardens and architecture, and the profound purpose behind Delhi's ancient stepwells (baolis), caravan serais, and madrassas key elements that supported travelers, scholars, and spiritual seekers alike. Unravel the pivotal role Sufis played in shaping Delhi's tolerant and harmonious character, and how their khanqahs and dargahs became touchstones of spiritual and communal life, contrasting with the more rigid orthodoxy of their era.Go deeper with little-known legends and etymologies behind Delhi's neighborhoods where a Sufi saint's miracle could rename a whole district, and the bloody tales of conquest still echo in fortress stones. Each place name and monument reveals layers of story, faith, and artistry, brought to life by Sabah's expertise in epigraphy, Arabic penmanship, and Mughal-era heritage.Perfect for those enthralled by the worlds of Calligraphy, Delhi History, IslamicArt, Sufism, and Cultural Heritage, this conversation is a living museum a space where every question draws you further into the web of symbols, traditions, and poetic stories that define India's grand capital.Subscribe and step into heritage: Experience Delhi's past and present as never before through art, spirituality, architectural marvels, and captivating untold tales.Team Uppu:Host: Saeed HafizGuest: Sabah AluvaVideography: HadiPost- Production: Yasar, Ameen, Althaf SS, Rayyan Hafiz, Anvar Asgar Ali, Hadi Alfain, Nuzha Hanan#podcast #heritage #malayalampodcast #calligraphy #delhihistory #islamicart #sufism #culturalheritage (00:00) - highlights (00:38) - intro(04:38) - inscriptions, calligraphy, art(20:15) - coins (27:04) - motives (30:04) - gardens and surroundings(33:30) - symbols of islam(39:01) - Caravan sarae (41:44) - importance of Sufis(48:05) - baolis (50:27) - Madrassas(55:18) - stories behind the names of places (01:00:27) - dilli history (01:24:35) - GazalsJoin us for another insightful episode where we delve into diverse topics, bridging cultures and ideas. Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share to be part of our vibrant community!

Synthesizing the divine love found in Sufism with the primal emptiness found in Zen practice, Llewellyn reveals how each path has impacted his spiritual life. This episode is a companion to BHNN Guest Podcast Episode 213, Angels & Devas with Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check it out!In this week's episode, Llewellyn goes over:Understanding the essence of Ch'an (Zen) as a harmonious fusion of Taoism and BuddhismInterweaving the mystical threads of Sufism and Zen practiceHow both divine love and pure awareness dissolve the thinking mindAwakening to the inner light and Buddha nature within every beingBecoming veiled by the play of illusions that we call lifeLlewellyn's return to love after a childhood without itThe mystery of divine love as a selfless force that seeks nothing in returnWisdom from Llewellyn's Indian guru: “There is nothing but nothingness.”The vast, primal emptiness found at love's distant shoreIntegrating pure consciousness into everyday life—not just on the meditation cushionMoving on from the drama of awakening into the calm silence of emptinessAbout Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee:Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Ph.D. is a Sufi teacher in the Naqshbandiyya-Mujaddidiyya Sufi Order. He is the author of Sufism, the Transformation of the Heart, and the founder of The Golden Sufi Center. Check out his new podcast Working With Oneness."Love gradually became part of my life. Like an invisible scent, a perfume from a hidden garden, it began to permeate me, and in one of the greatest mysteries that can happen to a human being, my heart woke up—that spiritual organ of divine perception that is the direct connection with the source of love, what the Sufis call the beloved." – Llewellyn Vaughan-LeeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Adventure Within is a YouTube Channel and Online School of Intuitive Arts. We offer psychic readings, energy healing, workshops, meditation classes and a variety of psychic trainings.Website: https://www.adventurewithin.coSupport the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/c/AdventureWithinTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adventurewithinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventure_within_/Dr. Ibrahim Jaffe, MD is a licensed medical doctor and world-renowned spiritual teacher who pioneered the field of Medical Spiritual Healing—a deeply integrative approach that addresses the root of physical, emotional, and spiritual illness. Bridging Western medicine with Sufi spiritual wisdom, Dr. Jaffe has helped over 50,000 people worldwide—including celebrities, CEOs, and those on the brink of death—heal chronic conditions, awaken their hearts, and transform their lives. A former emergency room physician turned spiritual guide, he offers profound insights into how the heart, soul, and body are intimately connected. Dr. Jaffe is the co-founder of the University of Sufism and has trained thousands of healers, leaders, and seekers in the art of walking a path of love, peace, and Divine presence. His work is especially resonant for those seeking real healing when nothing else has worked—and who long to live from the truth of their soul.https://instituteofspiritualhealing.com/Ibrahim's (2.6k followers): https://www.facebook.com/DrJaffeMD/YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZON8SJkfQSgWbuMXgzdiVInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/instituteofspiritualhealing/I'd like invite you all to enjoy The Five C's of Inner TruthA free short video series to help you shift from overwhelm or confusion to inner knowing and self-trust. It explores Consciousness, Connection, Clarity, Cultivation, and Commitment—the 5 Sufi keys to live with peace, purpose, and presence.

In this engaging episode of the Psychedelics Today podcast, host Joe Moore sits down with Karina Bashir, an attorney working at the intersection of law, business ethics, and psychedelics. Karina, of counsel with Antithesis Law and an active member of the psychedelic community, shares her unique journey from human rights advocacy into the evolving field of psychedelic law. The conversation explores her presentation at Harvard on psychedelics and monotheistic religions, and her efforts to bridge the gap between Islamic communities and psychedelic-assisted healing. She discusses the legal frameworks she navigates to support clients in the psychedelic ecosystem, the spiritual depth of Sufism, and the expansive tradition of Islamic philosophy and mysticism. If you're intrigued by the intersections of religion, law, and psychedelic healing, this episode offers deep insights and hopeful perspectives.

Kulavadhuta Satpurananda (Khyapababa) was initiated into the secret oral tradition of the great Indian lineage of Buddhist tantra at the age of five. He then spent decades practicing under great Indian gurus and mystics. Kulavadhuta is an artist, teacher and research guide in Buddhism, Tantra, Sufism, and the Indigenous practices of Mystics of India and Tibet. And at the heart is an Avadhuta, one who has transcended worldly concerns and even the dharma.    Time notes: 00:00:00 Introduction 01:05:80 Spiritual matriarchy from birth 0:6:30 Early spiritual experiences 00:10:00 Near-death experiences as a child 00:11:00 Knowledge making him an orphan 00:14:00 Spiritual experience with Baba Ramnath Aghori 00:22:00 Cremation ground practice 00:22:56 Internal conflict around Ma, the divine goddess 00:28:00 Renunciation with  Ma Annandamoyee 00:30:00 Leaving his family and material support, for spiritual life 00:34:00 Museum iconography consultant and designer 00:37:00 Confirmed as an Avadhuta 00:41:00 Self-initiated into Buddhist tantra 00:44:00 Why Vedas are not Khyapababa's cup of tea 00:49:00 Comparing Christian Gnostic, Wrathful Sufi Order, and Leftist Tantra 00:55:00 2 Essences of cremation ground practice 00:57:00 5 Deaths 00:50 Compassionate exorcism 01:03:00 Taking obstacles as the game of life 01:08:00 Life beyond the world and dharmas 01:11:00 Meeting his spiritual partner and marrying at 60 01:15:00 Meaning of a tantric practitioner 01:16:00 On tantric partnership and 5 elemental relationship 01:23:00 Baul traditions historical Siddhas 01:30:00 Ngakpa robes, dreadlocks, and earrings 01:34:00 Non-importance and samadhi 01:38:00 Baba shares a doha by Lalan Shah Fakir of Kushthiya, Bangladesh,19th Century. Lalan made it clear in his teaching songs that Vajrayana came up to Vaishnavism and Sufism to create Sahajiya Bauls of Bengal. His Teachings are pointing out to Voidness and Tantrayoga. 01:38:48 Closing: Khyapababa sings about the Guru   ~    Podcast website & transcripts https://oliviaclementine.com/podcasts

This episode of Habibi House features Dr. Rudolph “Butch” Ware — historian, author, and one of the most important living scholars of Islam, Black liberation, and decolonial thought. A professor of history at UC Santa Barbara, Ware sits down with us to unpack the stories that empire tried to bury: stories of Sufi rebellion, revolutionary faith, and the sacred legacy of Black Muslims in shaping not just Islam — but global freedom movements.WHAT WE TALK ABOUT:Why there is no Islam without Black peopleHow Sufi orders led anti-colonial revolts across West AfricaWhy liberals fear true solidarity between Black and Arab communitiesWhat it means to reclaim Islam from both empire and whitenessMalcolm X, Palestine, and the revolutionary roots of faithWhy Ware says Islam is inherently radical, and liberals won't save usHow storytelling, family, and love serve as tools for resistanceWHO IS BUTCH WARE?Rudolph “Butch” Ware is a historian of West Africa, Islam, and the Black Muslim world. He's the author of The Walking Qur'an: Islamic Education, Embodied Knowledge, and History in West Africa, and a leading voice in challenging Western narratives around Islam and African history. He speaks at the intersection of Sufism, slavery, liberation theology, and Black diasporic spirituality. His work dismantles colonial myths and re-centers the sacred in our understanding of resistance.KEY QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE:“There is no such thing as Islam without Black people. Islam didn't just show up in Africa — it was born in Africa.”“When the empire suppresses love, joy, and memory — storytelling becomes a revolutionary act.”“Liberalism is fine with coexistence, as long as it doesn't disrupt the structure of violence. That's not liberation.”WHY THIS CONVERSATION MATTERSAt a time when Muslim identity is either flattened or weaponized, Dr. Ware reminds us that faith has always been a tool of both survival and struggle. In a world where Gaza is burning, ICE is raiding, and history is being rewritten in real time, this episode offers truth — rooted in legacy, memory, and resistance.0:00 Intro – Who is Butch Ware?1:35 Growing up Muslim, Southern, and Black4:00 There is no Islam without Black people7:12 How Sufism sparked anti-colonial revolts10:05 Blackness, slavery, and prophetic tradition13:45 Liberalism vs. Revolutionary Islam16:30 Islamophobia, empire, and the theft of history20:55 Malcolm X and Gaza: Solidarity across struggle24:30 Love, storytelling, and decolonizing spirituality29:45 Final message to young Muslims and Black ArabsABOUT HABIBI HOUSEHabibi House is a culture-forward, decolonial, and unfiltered podcast centering MENA voices and their intersections with global liberation. Hosted by Arab creatives, activists, and artists, each episode features unapologetic conversations with guests shaping the future of art, politics, and identity.

Discover the essential writings of the late scholar, Martin Lings, curated by Dr Reza Shah-Kazemi. This collection brings together some of the most remarkable chapters from Lings' extensive body of work, including his insights into the perennial philosophy, and writings on Islam and Sufism. Delve into Lings' reflections on the spiritual dimensions within Shakespeare's mature plays, such as Hamlet, as well as his exploration of Qur'anic calligraphy and illumination, and celebrated translations of Sufi mystical poetry classics. Dr Shah-Kazemi, who was not only Lings' neighbour but also his student and friend for over 16 years, will guide us through select passages from the book, focusing particularly on the mystical depths found within Hamlet.

This week we are talking with Alejo Lopez you can find him here https://alejolopezastrology.com/ Alejo was born in Argentina but moved to Europe when he turned 23. His subsequent travels set him on a quest to find some kind of language that could describe people's diverse lives and inner worlds. As a licensed psychologist, he has now settled in Greece. He holds another Bachelor's Degree in Performing Arts and the prestigious Diploma from the Faculty of Astrological Studies, where he currently serves as a tutor. https://astrology.org.uk/astrologer/alejo-lopez/ He also earned an MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology from the Sophia Centre at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, where his dissertation was awarded the Alumni Association Dissertation Prize for 2023/2024. He's currently in the process of becoming a certified Jungian Analyst with the International Association for Analytical Psychology. In addition to his role at the Faculty of Astrological Studies, he is a member of the Board of the Astrological Association. https://www.astrologicalassociation.com/board-members/ He is currently a guest tutor at the Academy of Astrology, Astrology University and Synchronicity University. His academic journey also includes studying Traditional Astrology at the School of Traditional Astrology under the guidance of Deborah Houlding and María Blaquier. Beyond astrology, he is a certified yoga instructor (RYT200 by Yoga Alliance). He is one of the founding members of Stellium Magazine. Alongside his academic endeavours, he has dedicated time to studying myths and exploring spiritual practices like shamanism, Kabbalah and Sufism. He firmly believes that once you grasp the essence of astrology, you are never truly alone, as the planets always offer guidance and speak to you. He derives immense joy from teaching astrology and engaging in consultancy work, sharing his passion and knowledge with others. 

Help us expand our Muslim media project here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipDonate to our charity partner Baitulmaal here: http://btml.us/thinkingmuslim Modern day autocrats turn to Sufi movements to justify their tyranny. With an emphasis on the personal and the spiritual, there is a tendency towards political quietism –dismissing the cries of Gaza – condoning normalisation and delegitimising struggles for liberation. Dr Shadee El-Masry, argues that historically, sufi movements have been at the fore of fighting for justice. Sufism produced illustrious anti-colonialism struggles and courageous warriors. Dr Shadee El-Masry is the scholar in Residence and Director of Education and Community Affairs at the New Brunswick Islamic Center in New Jersey. He is also the founder and head of Safina Society—an institution dedicated to the cause of traditional Islamic education in the West.You can find Dr Shadee here: IG: https://www.instagram.com/drshadeeelmasry/ X: https://x.com/DrShadeeElmasryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SafinaSociety Safina Society: https://www.safinasociety.org/Become a member here:https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipOr give your one-off donation here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/donateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Purchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merchFind us on:X: https://x.com/thinking_muslimLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-thinking-muslim/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslimBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thinkingmuslim.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@thinkingmuslimpodcastFind Muhammad Jalal here:X: https://twitter.com/jalalaynInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jalalayns/Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comDisclaimer:The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mahmoud, a former Muslim groomed to become an Ayatollah in Iran, shares his journey from religious extremism to spiritual transformation after a near-death experience during the Iran-Iraq War.• Born into a prestigious religious family with generations of Muslim leadership and multiple mosques bearing their name• First introduced to Allah through fear when his uncle burned his hand to demonstrate the punishment of hell• Memorized the entire Quran by age 10 and was strictly trained to follow in his grandfather's footsteps• Taught from childhood to hate Christians and Jews, comparing Christians to red ants they would burn with petrol• Embraced the Iranian Revolution believing it would bring "true Islam" and export it worldwide• Served as a paratrooper, tank officer, and eventually religious leader in the Iranian Army during the Iran-Iraq War• Pronounced dead on the battlefield before spending six months in a coma and becoming a "living martyr"• Intensified religious practices after recovery, praying 20 times daily instead of the required five• Decided to convert Christians to Islam and reluctantly read the Bible to find fault with it• First read John 4, which sparked an internal conflict between his Islamic understanding of God and Jesus's teaching about God as Father• Confronted a Christian man wearing a cross and planned to burn down his churchListen in next week to hear what happens when Mahmoud, on his way to burn down a church, encounters something that changes everything.Helpful Links:Church in Iran is growing!https://www.24-7prayer.com/unprecedented-growth-of-the-church-in-iran/OneWay Love Muslims Testimonieshttps://prayercast.com/testimonies-landing.htmlPsalm 18Psalm 18:1-3 to songWhat is Sufism?Let us know what you thought of the show!Follow One80 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.Never miss a One80. Join our email list. Follow us on Instagram.Share One80, here's how!OneWay Ministries

Dyan Bitan is a quantum healer and former Sufi who helps people break free from limiting programs that keep them stuck in cycles of suffering. She exposes belief systems - especially ideologies cloaked in righteousness - that hinder personal and collective freedom. In addition to her healing work, Dyan creates research-based content that challenges the appropriation of Indigenous struggles in the U.S. by pro-Palestinian activists. Through both her spiritual work and Jewish indigeneity advocacy, she empowers others to reclaim their sovereignty and think for themselves.Dyan's website: https://iamtheportal.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magentaindigena/Facebook: @dyanbitan

In this expansive overview of spirit beings and how they operate in our world, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee explains his personal encounters with Angels, Devas, and more.Today's podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.This week on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Llewellyn illuminates:Awakening to our divine nature through spiritual practice and accessing higher dimensions of consciousnessThe sacred worldview of our ancestors vs. the spiritual emptiness of modern cultureLessons from Lakota Medicine Man, Black Elk, on restoring awareness of the sacred nature of all thingsHow Angels and Devas have effected Llewellyn's life and brought him messages about humanityThe disconnection from unseen realms and its impact on human consciousnessLlewellyn's detailed description of different types of AngelsJinns, spirits made of fire in the islamic tradition which have free will to do good or evilDevas, aka, the spiritual intelligence within natureHow reconnecting with nature's spirit can help heal ecological destructionEncounters with elemental tricksters and darker beings from other dimensionsHow violence and darkness obscure the radiant light of our true consciousnessThe sustaining power of light and love on both the soul and cellular levels of beingAbout Llewellyn:Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Ph.D. is a Sufi teacher in the Naqshbandiyya-Mujaddidiyya Sufi Order. He is the author of Sufism, the Transformation of the Heart, and the founder of The Golden Sufi Center. Check out his new podcast Working With Oneness. “I live surrounded by these other worlds, not fully understanding why our culture had to cut off all the inner worlds from our consciousness, why we have to live in such a bleak environment in which even our dreams are censored. And what does it mean to this present liminal time when we no longer have angels to guide us, nature spirits to help bring us back into balance with the natural world and its patterns of biodiversity? ” – Llewellyn Vaughan-LeeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Love in Sufi Literature: Ibn ‘Ajiba's Understanding of the Divine Word (Routledge, 2023) explores the role of divine love in the Quranic commentary of the Moroccan Sufi scholar Aḥmad Ibn ʿAjība (d. 1224/1809). Through close textual analysis of Ibn ʿAjība's exegesis al-Baḥr al-madīd—The Abundant Ocean—and drawing on his other Sufi writings the book illuminates the scholar's theory of divine love, drawn from his scholarly antecedents, to elucidate its role and the scholar's impact on the wider field of Quranic scholarship. This close analysis is supplemented by a comparative approach focusing on several other eminent and influential Sufi commentaries. What is displayed is that Ibn ʿAjība's exegesis connected theoretical works on the concept of divine love to their practical application, a breakthrough in Sufi literature. The study situates Ibn ‘Ajība's thought in theological and historical perspective, engaging with his mystical approach which integrates his theory of divine love with other Sufi doctrines in an accessible manner. As such, the Moroccan scholar's work left an indelible impact on future generations of Quranic exegetes within North Africa and across the Islamic world. Love in Sufi Literature makes important contributions to the study of Sufism, Islam in North Africa, and late pre-modern Islamic intellectual history. Omneya Ayad is Assistant Professor of Sufi Studies at Üsküdar University in Istanbul, Türkiye. Yaseen Christian Andrewsen is a DPhil Candidate at the University of Oxford specialising in Islamic intellectual history in West Africa, focused on issues in Sufism, theology, and authority. Yaseen is a co-host for the New Books in Islamic Studies podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Love in Sufi Literature: Ibn ‘Ajiba's Understanding of the Divine Word (Routledge, 2023) explores the role of divine love in the Quranic commentary of the Moroccan Sufi scholar Aḥmad Ibn ʿAjība (d. 1224/1809). Through close textual analysis of Ibn ʿAjība's exegesis al-Baḥr al-madīd—The Abundant Ocean—and drawing on his other Sufi writings the book illuminates the scholar's theory of divine love, drawn from his scholarly antecedents, to elucidate its role and the scholar's impact on the wider field of Quranic scholarship. This close analysis is supplemented by a comparative approach focusing on several other eminent and influential Sufi commentaries. What is displayed is that Ibn ʿAjība's exegesis connected theoretical works on the concept of divine love to their practical application, a breakthrough in Sufi literature. The study situates Ibn ‘Ajība's thought in theological and historical perspective, engaging with his mystical approach which integrates his theory of divine love with other Sufi doctrines in an accessible manner. As such, the Moroccan scholar's work left an indelible impact on future generations of Quranic exegetes within North Africa and across the Islamic world. Love in Sufi Literature makes important contributions to the study of Sufism, Islam in North Africa, and late pre-modern Islamic intellectual history. Omneya Ayad is Assistant Professor of Sufi Studies at Üsküdar University in Istanbul, Türkiye. Yaseen Christian Andrewsen is a DPhil Candidate at the University of Oxford specialising in Islamic intellectual history in West Africa, focused on issues in Sufism, theology, and authority. Yaseen is a co-host for the New Books in Islamic Studies podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Love in Sufi Literature: Ibn ‘Ajiba's Understanding of the Divine Word (Routledge, 2023) explores the role of divine love in the Quranic commentary of the Moroccan Sufi scholar Aḥmad Ibn ʿAjība (d. 1224/1809). Through close textual analysis of Ibn ʿAjība's exegesis al-Baḥr al-madīd—The Abundant Ocean—and drawing on his other Sufi writings the book illuminates the scholar's theory of divine love, drawn from his scholarly antecedents, to elucidate its role and the scholar's impact on the wider field of Quranic scholarship. This close analysis is supplemented by a comparative approach focusing on several other eminent and influential Sufi commentaries. What is displayed is that Ibn ʿAjība's exegesis connected theoretical works on the concept of divine love to their practical application, a breakthrough in Sufi literature. The study situates Ibn ‘Ajība's thought in theological and historical perspective, engaging with his mystical approach which integrates his theory of divine love with other Sufi doctrines in an accessible manner. As such, the Moroccan scholar's work left an indelible impact on future generations of Quranic exegetes within North Africa and across the Islamic world. Love in Sufi Literature makes important contributions to the study of Sufism, Islam in North Africa, and late pre-modern Islamic intellectual history. Omneya Ayad is Assistant Professor of Sufi Studies at Üsküdar University in Istanbul, Türkiye. Yaseen Christian Andrewsen is a DPhil Candidate at the University of Oxford specialising in Islamic intellectual history in West Africa, focused on issues in Sufism, theology, and authority. Yaseen is a co-host for the New Books in Islamic Studies podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/islamic-studies

Love in Sufi Literature: Ibn ‘Ajiba's Understanding of the Divine Word (Routledge, 2023) explores the role of divine love in the Quranic commentary of the Moroccan Sufi scholar Aḥmad Ibn ʿAjība (d. 1224/1809). Through close textual analysis of Ibn ʿAjība's exegesis al-Baḥr al-madīd—The Abundant Ocean—and drawing on his other Sufi writings the book illuminates the scholar's theory of divine love, drawn from his scholarly antecedents, to elucidate its role and the scholar's impact on the wider field of Quranic scholarship. This close analysis is supplemented by a comparative approach focusing on several other eminent and influential Sufi commentaries. What is displayed is that Ibn ʿAjība's exegesis connected theoretical works on the concept of divine love to their practical application, a breakthrough in Sufi literature. The study situates Ibn ‘Ajība's thought in theological and historical perspective, engaging with his mystical approach which integrates his theory of divine love with other Sufi doctrines in an accessible manner. As such, the Moroccan scholar's work left an indelible impact on future generations of Quranic exegetes within North Africa and across the Islamic world. Love in Sufi Literature makes important contributions to the study of Sufism, Islam in North Africa, and late pre-modern Islamic intellectual history. Omneya Ayad is Assistant Professor of Sufi Studies at Üsküdar University in Istanbul, Türkiye. Yaseen Christian Andrewsen is a DPhil Candidate at the University of Oxford specialising in Islamic intellectual history in West Africa, focused on issues in Sufism, theology, and authority. Yaseen is a co-host for the New Books in Islamic Studies podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Love in Sufi Literature: Ibn ‘Ajiba's Understanding of the Divine Word (Routledge, 2023) explores the role of divine love in the Quranic commentary of the Moroccan Sufi scholar Aḥmad Ibn ʿAjība (d. 1224/1809). Through close textual analysis of Ibn ʿAjība's exegesis al-Baḥr al-madīd—The Abundant Ocean—and drawing on his other Sufi writings the book illuminates the scholar's theory of divine love, drawn from his scholarly antecedents, to elucidate its role and the scholar's impact on the wider field of Quranic scholarship. This close analysis is supplemented by a comparative approach focusing on several other eminent and influential Sufi commentaries. What is displayed is that Ibn ʿAjība's exegesis connected theoretical works on the concept of divine love to their practical application, a breakthrough in Sufi literature. The study situates Ibn ‘Ajība's thought in theological and historical perspective, engaging with his mystical approach which integrates his theory of divine love with other Sufi doctrines in an accessible manner. As such, the Moroccan scholar's work left an indelible impact on future generations of Quranic exegetes within North Africa and across the Islamic world. Love in Sufi Literature makes important contributions to the study of Sufism, Islam in North Africa, and late pre-modern Islamic intellectual history. Omneya Ayad is Assistant Professor of Sufi Studies at Üsküdar University in Istanbul, Türkiye. Yaseen Christian Andrewsen is a DPhil Candidate at the University of Oxford specialising in Islamic intellectual history in West Africa, focused on issues in Sufism, theology, and authority. Yaseen is a co-host for the New Books in Islamic Studies podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

What would it be like if, at will, we could “silence the mind and be aware at the core of our being.” Sufi Master, Kabir Helminski writes that from these depths we receive “help from the Source of Life.” As we learn to join ourselves with this Source—some would call it God—we find that it contains all the qualities of Spirit in potential, waiting to express through our unique vessel. Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas: 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)  

Illuminati whistleblower Leo Zagami returns to expose how secret societies like the Jesuits, Freemasons, and Knights Templar are pulling the strings behind world events — from Vatican power plays to AI-driven control — in episode 206 of the Far Out with Faust podcast.A former high-level Freemason and insider of European aristocratic circles, Leo Zagami is a prolific author, researcher, and speaker who has spent the last two decades uncovering the hidden forces shaping global politics, religion, and technology. His latest book series dives deep into the spiritual and historical roots of the New World Order.In this explosive interview, Zagami and Faust Checho trace the secret threads connecting medieval esoteric societies to modern institutions of power — including how Middle Eastern mysticism, Vatican influence, and elite banking families continue to shape today's geopolitical chaos. From Gaza to Rome, AI to Christianity, this conversation challenges the mainstream narrative at every turn.

Toko-pa Turner, award-winning author of Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home, shares wisdom from her new book, The Dreaming Way: Courting the Wisdom of Dreams.In 'The Dreaming Way', Toko-pa reawakens the ancient art of dreaming as a way to reclaim the wisdom we all carry within. Blending animism, Sufism, and Jungian Psychology, she reveals that the power to interpret and understand our dreams is a natural part of being human—something as accessible as finding meaning in a story or beauty in a work of art. In this evocative and revolutionary new book, she invites us to reconnect with our inner guide and to bring the world of dreams back into everyday life.Toko-pa Turner is an award-winning writer, teacher, and dreamworker who blends the mystical tradition of Sufism with a Jungian approach to dreams. In 2001 she founded the Dream School and speaks internationally on the subject of dreams and belonging. Sometimes called a "midwife of the psyche," Toko-pa's work focuses on restoring the feminine, reciprocity with nature, honouring grief, ritual, and beauty-making. Her book, Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home, is the winner of multiple awards, including the 2017 Gold Nautilus Award, and the 2018 Readers' Favourite Gold Award. It was named Finalist in the 2018 Whistler Independent Book Awards, and Finalist for the Montaigne Medal in the 2019 Eric Hoffer Book Awards. Her new book is The Dreaming Way.

ORIGINALLY RELEASED Feb 20, 2024   On this episode of Red Menace, Alyson and Breht had some things come up such that they couldn't record their planned episode on Marx's 18th Brumaire (coming soon!), so instead they have a deep, organic and wide-ranging conversation on mysticism; together they explore humanities religious and spiritual traditions and the mystical strain within them, discuss atheism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Sufism, mystical experiences, the role of suffering, holy union and oneness, the dissolution of subject/object duality, the role of psychedelics historically and experientially, dialectics, and whether or not any of this has any relevance for political struggle. ---------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left and get access to bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/revleftradio Make a one-time donation to Rev Left at BuyMeACoffee.com/revleftradio Follow, Subscribe, & Learn more about Rev Left Radio: https://revleftradio.com/

What does it mean to wait for love—not out of fear, but from deep, spiritual conviction? In this extraordinary Language of Love Conversation, we meet Sohale—a man who, at 32, has never been physically intimate with another person. Not because he's afraid of love, but because he reveres it. For Sohale, sex isn't casual—it's sacred. A union of energy, soul, and spirit. And he's been saving himself for that. But the story doesn't begin (or end) there. It started in childhood—with a mystical calling, a boundary-crossing pediatrician, and a little boy who learned to transform trauma into prayer. And it continues today—as Sohale navigates the modern dating world with ancient longing, tantric wisdom, and unwavering faith that the right soul will meet him where he stands. Here's What We Cover: How a sexually abusive pediatric exam shaped Sohale's sensuality—and his lifelong relationship with spirit How Sohale discovered fusing  sexual energy with prayer from a young age How gratitude (and a simple email trick) became the emotional lifeline in his darkest hours The unexpected power of tantric self-practice—and how it helped him heal What it means to look for a partner not just with a body, but with a soul attuned to divinity Try Sohale's Soul app—where spontaneous gratitude meets spiritual practice. Whether you're drawn to Sufism, Tantra, Kabbalah, or Kriya Yoga, there's a 30-day soul path waiting for you. Use code: 30DaysOnMe at https://www.bringsoul.life/ Got thoughts? Stories? Or a tantric soulmate for Sohale? Email me at languageoflovepod@gmail.com And if this moved you—share it. Healing becomes sacred when we do it together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Simon Stjernholm's new book Sensing Islam: Engaging and Contesting the Senses in Muslim Religiosity (Bloomsbury Press, 2025) considers specific case studies of embodiment and oratory productions by Muslims in Denmark, Sweden, and Cyprus. In the chapter on approaching God, we learn how rituals such as du‘a (intercessory prayers) or dhikr (remembrance of God) informs sensorial experiences of the divine, particularly intimate ones, while the discussion on meditating on Muhammad considers the bodily aspects of Prophet Muhammad, such as his saliva, urine, and sweat that influence mawlid literatures and ritual performance of them within Sufi communities like the Naqshbandi-Haqqanis. Though rituals emerging from embodied understandings of holy figures are not without some tension, as we learn throughout the book but especially during the discussion on graves. Here the interred bodies of Sufi saints are caught up in debates around the permissibility of shrine visitation, a topic that comes up amongst lectures given by Swedish Muslim leaders. Overall, then, through analysis of Danish and Swedish podcast materials, ritual practices, such as devotion to the Prophet Muhammad and Sufi saints, we understand more about the sonic and pious dimensions of Islam and the Muslim authorial voices and listening that shapes them. This book will be of interest to those who work on sound studies, material culture, Sufism and Islam in Europe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Simon Stjernholm's new book Sensing Islam: Engaging and Contesting the Senses in Muslim Religiosity (Bloomsbury Press, 2025) considers specific case studies of embodiment and oratory productions by Muslims in Denmark, Sweden, and Cyprus. In the chapter on approaching God, we learn how rituals such as du‘a (intercessory prayers) or dhikr (remembrance of God) informs sensorial experiences of the divine, particularly intimate ones, while the discussion on meditating on Muhammad considers the bodily aspects of Prophet Muhammad, such as his saliva, urine, and sweat that influence mawlid literatures and ritual performance of them within Sufi communities like the Naqshbandi-Haqqanis. Though rituals emerging from embodied understandings of holy figures are not without some tension, as we learn throughout the book but especially during the discussion on graves. Here the interred bodies of Sufi saints are caught up in debates around the permissibility of shrine visitation, a topic that comes up amongst lectures given by Swedish Muslim leaders. Overall, then, through analysis of Danish and Swedish podcast materials, ritual practices, such as devotion to the Prophet Muhammad and Sufi saints, we understand more about the sonic and pious dimensions of Islam and the Muslim authorial voices and listening that shapes them. This book will be of interest to those who work on sound studies, material culture, Sufism and Islam in Europe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/islamic-studies

Simon Stjernholm's new book Sensing Islam: Engaging and Contesting the Senses in Muslim Religiosity (Bloomsbury Press, 2025) considers specific case studies of embodiment and oratory productions by Muslims in Denmark, Sweden, and Cyprus. In the chapter on approaching God, we learn how rituals such as du‘a (intercessory prayers) or dhikr (remembrance of God) informs sensorial experiences of the divine, particularly intimate ones, while the discussion on meditating on Muhammad considers the bodily aspects of Prophet Muhammad, such as his saliva, urine, and sweat that influence mawlid literatures and ritual performance of them within Sufi communities like the Naqshbandi-Haqqanis. Though rituals emerging from embodied understandings of holy figures are not without some tension, as we learn throughout the book but especially during the discussion on graves. Here the interred bodies of Sufi saints are caught up in debates around the permissibility of shrine visitation, a topic that comes up amongst lectures given by Swedish Muslim leaders. Overall, then, through analysis of Danish and Swedish podcast materials, ritual practices, such as devotion to the Prophet Muhammad and Sufi saints, we understand more about the sonic and pious dimensions of Islam and the Muslim authorial voices and listening that shapes them. This book will be of interest to those who work on sound studies, material culture, Sufism and Islam in Europe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

Simon Stjernholm's new book Sensing Islam: Engaging and Contesting the Senses in Muslim Religiosity (Bloomsbury Press, 2025) considers specific case studies of embodiment and oratory productions by Muslims in Denmark, Sweden, and Cyprus. In the chapter on approaching God, we learn how rituals such as du‘a (intercessory prayers) or dhikr (remembrance of God) informs sensorial experiences of the divine, particularly intimate ones, while the discussion on meditating on Muhammad considers the bodily aspects of Prophet Muhammad, such as his saliva, urine, and sweat that influence mawlid literatures and ritual performance of them within Sufi communities like the Naqshbandi-Haqqanis. Though rituals emerging from embodied understandings of holy figures are not without some tension, as we learn throughout the book but especially during the discussion on graves. Here the interred bodies of Sufi saints are caught up in debates around the permissibility of shrine visitation, a topic that comes up amongst lectures given by Swedish Muslim leaders. Overall, then, through analysis of Danish and Swedish podcast materials, ritual practices, such as devotion to the Prophet Muhammad and Sufi saints, we understand more about the sonic and pious dimensions of Islam and the Muslim authorial voices and listening that shapes them. This book will be of interest to those who work on sound studies, material culture, Sufism and Islam in Europe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Simon Stjernholm's new book Sensing Islam: Engaging and Contesting the Senses in Muslim Religiosity (Bloomsbury Press, 2025) considers specific case studies of embodiment and oratory productions by Muslims in Denmark, Sweden, and Cyprus. In the chapter on approaching God, we learn how rituals such as du‘a (intercessory prayers) or dhikr (remembrance of God) informs sensorial experiences of the divine, particularly intimate ones, while the discussion on meditating on Muhammad considers the bodily aspects of Prophet Muhammad, such as his saliva, urine, and sweat that influence mawlid literatures and ritual performance of them within Sufi communities like the Naqshbandi-Haqqanis. Though rituals emerging from embodied understandings of holy figures are not without some tension, as we learn throughout the book but especially during the discussion on graves. Here the interred bodies of Sufi saints are caught up in debates around the permissibility of shrine visitation, a topic that comes up amongst lectures given by Swedish Muslim leaders. Overall, then, through analysis of Danish and Swedish podcast materials, ritual practices, such as devotion to the Prophet Muhammad and Sufi saints, we understand more about the sonic and pious dimensions of Islam and the Muslim authorial voices and listening that shapes them. This book will be of interest to those who work on sound studies, material culture, Sufism and Islam in Europe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sound-studies

Sensei Joshin Byrnes is a Zen priest and teacher in the White Plum lineage of Soto Zen; earlier in life he was in the Dominican Order of the Catholic Church. In 2017 he founded Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community in Vermont and virtually to be a hub for community-engaged Zen practice. Alongside his religious vocation, Joshin spent much of his career working for social change nonprofits in the areas of HIV/AIDS and prevention, child welfare, homelessness, and community based philanthropy.In this episode, Deepa and Daniel center their dialogue with Joshin on the concept of literal and metaphorical cooking in Zen and Sufism, the home traditions of Joshin and Deepa respectively. Together they explore: grandmother-cooked family meals, Zen master Dogen's Instructions to the Cook, various metaphors of 'cooking your life, 'kissing' the parts of ourselves we may consider 'garbage,' the way our attitude and energy affect food, Dogen's 'three minds,' prasad  (food offerings), being more connected to taste apart from eating, the multi-sensory nature of food, Joshin's experience of taking communion on a 'street retreat,' the 'community living room' at BLMZC, potlucks, fasting and the increased appreciation it brings, skillful hunger as opposed to destructive hunger, insatiable appetites for spiritual experience, finding a balance of 'spices,' ritualistically feeding hungry ghosts, Mevlana Rumi's poetic imagery of cooking, Deepa's experience of learning to 'whirl' with the Mevlevi Order of Sufism, learning to want the unwanted, Dogen getting schooled by an old Zen cook, 'slender sadness,' and the Zen concept of 'one taste.'If you're interested in residential practice at Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community send a note to info@BLMZC for more information.Bread Loaf Mountain Zen CommunityCharis FoundationGolden Turtle SoundSupport the show

ORIGINALLY RELEASED Feb 17, 2025 Dr. Rory Dickson is a professor of Islamic Religion and Culture and author of several publications on Sufism, the mystical path within Islam. He joins Breht to have an incredibly deep conversation about the Sufi poet Rumi, his life and work, Rumi's relationship to his teacher Shams of Tabriz, the concepts of fana (annihilation of the self) and baqa (subsistence in God), the spiritual practices of Sufism, non-duality and perennialism, "dying before you die", Buddhist enlightenment, the Quran, Serving the People in politics and religion, the role of Divine Love in spiritual transformation, transcending the ego, Bodhicitta and the Heart of the Bodhisattva, the counter-cultural aspects of the historical dervishes, The Masnavi  (aka the "Persian Quran"), Christian Mysticism, the evolution of human consciousness, the linguistics of translation, and much, much more! Check out Rory's book "Dissolving into Being: The Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy" Recommendations for Further Exploration: Rumi's World: The Life and Work of the Great Sufi Poet The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi Check out our related episodes with Dr. Adnan Husain: Sufism: Islamic Mysticism and the Annihilation of Self in God St. Francis of Assisi: Patron Saint of Ecology & Brother to All Creation ------------------------------------------------------------ Outro Music: Something's Out There by Neva Dinova Support Rev Left and get bonus episodes on Patreon Make a one-time donation to Rev Left at BuyMeACoffee.com/revleftradio Learn more about Rev Left HERE

Catherine Corona, DSS (Doctor of Spiritual Science), has dedicated over 60 years to meditation and spiritual practice. She is the visionary behind soulandspirit.net, a daily spiritual practice program that guides participants through five ancient sacred practices each day. Catherine is also an acclaimed filmmaker, singer, composer, and author. She has been invited to speak at prestigious institutions such as the University of Wyoming, Denver University, and Peace Theological Seminary and College of Philosophy. Additionally, she frequently shares her insights as a presenter at Yoga Festivals, enriching audiences with her deep knowledge of connecting with divinity.   soulandspirit.net

Britt Hartley is a certified spiritual director, meditation teacher, and leading voice in secular spirituality, specializing in religious trauma, deconstruction, and nihilism recovery. With a Master's in Applied Theology, doctoral work in Open and Relational Theology (ABD), and training across Sufi, Mormon, and meditation traditions, she is the author of No Nonsense Spirituality: All the Tools, No Faith Required and a respected scholar on Gen Z and the future of American religion.   Britt Hartley: Website | Instagram | YouTube    Each quarter, John engages in thought-provoking extended conversations with a leading expert in psychology, philosophy, and spirituality. Each season offers a unique exploration, bringing together their diverse fields of knowledge to create fresh insights and understanding. These in-depth discussions, chaptered for your convenience, offer nuanced perspectives and integrative approaches to navigating our complex world.   The first episode is free and publicly available. To follow the rest of the season as well as gain access to previous discussions, you can sign up at the Beta Tier (and above) on The Lectern at the Lectern Lounge.   If you would like to donate purely out of goodwill to support John's work, please consider joining our Patreon. The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Learn more about our work.    If you would like to learn and engage regularly in practices that are informed, developed and endorsed by John and his work, visit Awaken to Meaning's calendar to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships. Join Practice.   John Vervaeke: Website | Twitter | YouTube | Patreon   "How can someone rebuild meaning, a sense of the sacred, and genuine connection after religion, without having to adopt beliefs they no longer hold?" John Vervaeke is joined by Atheist Spiritual Director, Britt Hartley to explore what happens after belief falls apart. Britt shares her personal journey through suicidal nihilism and how mysticism, resonance, and play led her to rediscover meaning and orientation in life without needing to return to religion. John and Britt challenge the limits of therapeutic models, explore the difference between propositional truth and lived wisdom, and ask whether modern secular culture has lost the capacity to sustain sacredness. This Lectern is a philosophical act of compassion, bridging ancient spiritual technologies and contemporary existential pain. John and Britt offer pathways for transformation that bypass belief while restoring depth, connectedness, and awe. Notes:  (0:00) Welcome to The Lectern (2:00) Meet Britt Hartley - Theological Background and Faith Crisis (5:00) The Descent into Suicidal Nihilism (10:00) Religion's Collapse and the Meaning Crisis (15:00) Philosophical vs. Clinical Healing (16:00) Why Therapy ‘Fails' the Nihilist (21:00) Religion, Secularism, and Building Your Own Path (26:30) Balancing Fundamentalism and Nihilism (31:00)  ”The most spiritual atheist and the most deconstructed Christian, the space in between those two people when you actually look at their life is just a hair.” - Britt Hartley (34:30) The Triple Transcendent and Sacredness (40:30) Mysticism and the Sacred (45:30) Building a Life Worth Experiencing (53:00) The Role of Play and Resonance (55:00) Embodied Knowing and Existential Shifts (58:00) Trauma, Depression, and Resonance Recovery (1:09:30) Exploring 'Holy Envy' and Interfaith Learning (1:12:00) The Transformative Power of Sufism (1:19:00)  Feminine Perspective on Religion (1:25:30) The Value of Tailored Spiritual Practices  

Rābiʻa al-ʻAdawiyya al-Qaysiyya or Rabiʿa al-Basri (717-801 C.E.) is a highly regarded Sufi saint born in Basra, Iraq. Oral traditions and later written records suggest that she was also a poet. She is thought to be one of the first female Sufi saints and a key figure in developing Ishq-e-Haqeeqi or “divine love,” a central tenet in Sufism. For Further Reading: Rabia al Basri - Science and Nonduality (SAND) Biographical encyclopaedia of Sufis: Basri, Hazrat Rabia al-Adwiyya [O my Lord] | The Poetry Foundation Rabi'a From Narrative to Myth: The Many Faces of Islam's Most Famous Woman Saint, Rabi'a al-'Adawiyya This month, we’re talking about Word Weavers — people who coined terms, popularized words, and even created entirely new languages. These activists, writers, artists, and scholars used language to shape ideas and give voice to experiences that once had no name. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should. Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures. Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, Paloma Moreno Jimenez, Luci Jones, Abbey Delk, Adrien Behn, Alyia Yates, Vanessa Handy, Melia Agudelo, and Joia Putnoi. Special thanks to Shira Atkins. Follow Wonder Media Network: Website Instagram Twitter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laila Brady Walzer has spent decades exploring music, sound, and healing, transforming her own life through Sufi-based healing, Qur'anic recitation, and Divine Love. A Muqaddim Mirrabi-Rouhi in the Shadhuliyya Sufi tariqa, she blends deep spiritual wisdom with musical mastery. She holds degrees in Music, Sociolinguistics (Swarthmore College), and a Master of Divinity (University of Sufism). Laila is a graduate of Grammy Award-winning David Darling's Music for People improvisation facilitation training, and has studied with Bobby McFerrin, Rhiannon, and John McCutcheon, among others. She has immersed herself in interfaith work, global musical traditions, and lived in Africa, Ireland, and Germany, enriching her spiritual and artistic path. The University of Sufism presents Healing Sounds of the Abrahamic Faiths, a groundbreaking program exploring the mystical power of sacred sound in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Learn from renowned masters as they unveil how sacred vibrations can restore balance, elevate consciousness, and awaken the divine within. Enroll now and begin your path toward sacred sound healing. Visit www.sufiuniversity.org to learn more or call 800-238-3060 x701 to speak with an admissions counselor. Full program course descriptions: https://sufiuniversity.org/healing-sounds-of-the-abrahamic-faiths/healing-sounds-course-list/ Natalie Brown, host of Sounds Heal Podcast: http://www.soundshealstudio.com http://www.facebook.com/soundshealstudio http://www.instagram.com/nataliebrownsoundsheal http://www.youtube.com/soundshealstudio Music by Natalie Brown, Hope & Heart http://www.youtu.be/hZPx6zJX6yA

Elijah Nisenboim is founder of Effiji Breathwork. He has been helping people with suffering and trauma for 33 years. He is the author of three books including 2024's The Trauma Code: Unlocking the Hidden Map to Your Life's True Purpose. To accompany his breathwork, he has composed and recorded 25 volumes of music. On his many journeys to China, Elijah has learned Sacred Taoist energy practice and Internal Martial Arts which he incorporates in his healing methods for Trauma Release. Not only does he help people release trauma, but he helps them understand and use trauma as a valuable tool for fulfilling one's life purpose.Effiji Breath – Healing Breathwork