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I’ve been reading Rumi lately. More specifically, I’ve been reading Andrew Harvey’s interpretation of Rumi’s poetry in his book The Way of Passion: a Celebration of Rumi. I keep saying it, but this book is a transmission. Every time I pick it up I’m brought to tears, brought to my knees, enlivened by the fire of Spirit ~ fire is so alive in this book.

The message is intense, however. And I find myself questioning how to embody Rumi’s wisdom in today’s world. His is the ultimate symbol of a mystical life: of the total abandon of one’s ego into the fire of mystery and glory; the complete melting away of every last layer of armor to be united with the divine.

I understand that we are not all destined for this kind of spirituality. There’s a reason Rumi is Rumi. But what is the 21s century equivalent? What does it look like to walk the way of passion today?

In many ways I feel it’s what we’re up to in GOG: recalibrating to our essential nature by way of the sacred systems. In our homogenized world, few things require more courage than becoming who we really are. Few things feel as radical as showing up as an uncompromised, unapologetic version of ourselves.

This work demands shedding, it demands deep trust, faith, an intense yearning for union, sleepless nights, near-hysteria, retreat, pilgrimage,… journeying through the dark night of the soul over and over and over again. The path sounds intimidating but we are supported and protected on this pilgrimage. On our way, we experience bliss in more forms than we knew existed; feel contentment and the deep reassurance of being on our true path; know a kind of love we don’t read about in books or see in movies; feel deep connection to our people and to Spirit.

To some this path is a choice, to others it’s the only way.

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