Magnificent modern translations of ancient scripture from the Middle East (the Bible, the Koran and others) and Sufi poetry. A beautiful book.

The late Idries Shah was said to have been the head of the spiritual teachers of his time. He performed a valuable service by putting the Middle-Eastern teaching stories in a format Westerners could absorb. These stories are not to be analyzed, they are devised to occupy the “analyzer” so that their message can reach one’s essence without the usual agreement/disagreement, and other biases. In addition to stories, he wrote some vitally interesting books about the teachers, their work and their methods. Books to read again and again.

According to the Sufis, human faculties, although perceptive, are limited: like a radio set, which can receive only certain electromagnetic waves and not other parts of this band. The inability to transcend the barrier of limited senses explains human subjectivity. The Sufis assert that through familiarization with concepts, patterns of thought, and ideas that form part of their contemporary literature, one can learn to penetrate beyond this apparent reality.

In Letters and Lectures, the reader will become familiar with the Sufi teaching story and with some of the questions and answers exchanged between the Sufi teacher and his students.

In this new novel (not part of the Canopus series), a just-past-middle-age woman is part of a company putting on a play, a tragic romance whose ethereal heroine seems almost to have possessed the company… Everyone is in love or in lust or both. Our heroine, Sarah, had forgotten what it felt like to be in love and in lust and is amazed both at herself and at the “mirrors” all around her, each reflection different and yet each the same. The author shows that what passes for “love” in the world is really grief, or an imperfect antidote for grief… Separation and union are, in reality, something within, reflected all around us.

Many of Idries Shah’s books are comprised of tales and teaching stories taken from both written and oral sources, which illustrate the instructional methods employed by Eastern wise men for thousands of years.

The Magic Monastery differs from its predecessors in that it contains not only traditional tales, mostly unpublished – but also stories specially written by Shah to complete the book as a ‘course in non-linear thinking’.

As with all of his works, The Magic Monastery is rich in thought-provoking material, and can be read and enjoyed at many levels.

Many with relationship “problems” know we recommend this book all the time. While it’s hardly a “Teaching” book in the sense you might expect to find here, it has valuable information to assist with what often seem like never-ending miseries because you can’t get along. John Gray presents the basics in a readable, interesting format and the information is sound. One could use the exercises within not only to get more comfortable within the love relationship, but as ways to observe and increase awareness.

According to the Sufis, human faculties, although perceptive, are limited: like a radio set, which can receive only certain electromagnetic waves and not other parts of this band. The inability to transcend the barrier of limited senses explains human subjectivity. The Sufis assert that through familiarization with concepts, patterns of thought, and ideas that form part of their contemporary literature, one can learn to penetrate beyond this apparent reality.

In this book, the reader will experience the unique quality of this material. Shah’s Observations is a fine example of the lucidity and humor prevalent throughout his more than 30 published works.

Each observation is a gem of wisdom that can be returned to again and again for more insight.

Many of us are interested in the dynamics of our particular conditioning; somehow understanding this helps to show the bigger picture that the Not-I’s maintain, enhances self-knowledge (although knowing how we came to listen to one Not-I instead of another is not essential for self-knowledge — watching it now is the key). Marion Woodman has put it all down, and shows what must be done to transform once the conditioning in understood. Her initial interest was eating disorders (fully described here in The Owl Was a Baker’s Daughter), and as she worked with women discovered that the fundamentals of perfectionism and addictions apply to most intelligent modern women striving to create in a man’s world, the one most of use grew up in. These books are not easy reading; Marion uses mythology as a language for her teaching, but more than that, she gets to the point and a sincere effort to work with her will rouse feelings long buried, and thus somewhat uncomfortable. We cannot recommend this material highly enough, but will admit it is only for those really willing to Work — who will be greatly rewarded for their efforts.

"The women who is a virgin, one in herself, does what she does not for power or out of the desire to please, but because what she does is true." Here is writing with a thinking heart, blending art, literature, religion and extensive case material. Continues the author's pioneering work on the feminine in both women and men.

Breaks new ground exploring the psychological impact of patriarchy. Continues the author’s long-standing concern with the feminine principle, with a focus on the many ways in which a woman’s perspective on herself may be undermined by her inner man. Ample use of mythology, dreams, case material and poetic images that speak to the heart as well as the head.

How deep can a friendship go?

Jill Mellick explores the grace, challenges, and gifts of an unexpected, instantly deep friendship with Marion Woodman. She documents with letters, calls, journals, memories and photographs.

Timeless moments-singing, dancing, opening arms to storms, holding public events or retreats by the Pacific and on an island in Georgian Bay, home stays, creating words and music together - unfold. Across decades, they exchange letters about external and internal journeys. Their friendship and love endure, together, apart, through harrowing, life-threatening illnesses each; Mellick even secures Woodman a second opinion, which saves her life.

Riotous tales of travels gone right and wrong over home dinners. Laughter, love, and insatiability for natural beauty and bodies of water. Silent hair brushing rituals juxtapose with honorary doctorates. Loving poetry and dogs equally, with a dog as muse they craft Emily Dickinson and the Demon Lover and Coming Home to Myself.

The friendship deepens, strengthens - in a perfumed courtyard in Palo Alto under a night sky, on a balcony over Georgian Bay, on separate continents at the turn of the millennium, through illnesses denying contact - even in a last poignant, joyful meeting.

Thinkers of the East is a collection of anecdotes and ‘parables in action’ illustrating the eminently practical and lucid approach of Eastern Dervish teachers.

Distilled from the teachings of more than one hundred sages in three continents, this material stresses the experimental rather than the theoretical – and it is that characteristic of Sufi study which provides its impact and vitality.

The emphasis of Thinkers of the East contrasts sharply with the Western concept of the East as a place of theory without practice, or thought without action. The book’s author, Idries Shah, says, “Without direct experience of such teaching, or at least a direct recording of it, I cannot see how Eastern thought can ever be understood.”

The best book on meditation we’ve ever read. Full of wisdom, how-to and delightful anecdotes.