February 22-24: Oblate Retreat Centre, Crewe, England:
Shining the Mirror of the Heart with Zikr, Fikr and Meditation
A Retreat with Saadi Neil Douglas-Klotz and Tansen Philip O'Donohoe
The mystics of the East have realised the importance of the power of sound and its repetition for many thousands of years. Sufis primarily utilise Zikr, meaning remembrance of Divine Unity in this process. There is no reality except Unity. This realisation comes through constant repetition and impression. The whole being is involved in this kind of concentration, not only the mind. Fikr is a means of purifying the mind. Murshid Samuel Lewis, an American Sufi, referred to this practice as the vacuum cleaner of the mind. Both of these practices can lead naturally to meditative states. This weekend will be focused on these spiritual practices of Zikr, Fikr and Meditation. This will offer participants the opportunity to deepen in their spiritual life and gain insight useful for daily life.
Contact: Tansen. Tel 01258 818067. Email

March 1-March 11: Edinburgh, Scotland:
2008 Edinburgh International Festival on

Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace.

Talks and workshops by grassroots peacemakers, artists, storytellers, musicians and others, including Dances of Universal Peace and inter-spiritual meditation for peace. Featured presenters and workshop leaders will include Dr. Seyyed Hossain Nasr, Rodesh Shalom Eliyahu McClean, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bukhari, Dr. Stephen Wright, Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz and others. Contact: Neill Walker: njwalk810@hotmail.com
For details of the conference and festival, go to www.eial.org or www.mesp.org.uk

March 2: Edinburgh, Scotland:
Living Blessing: The Aramaic Lord's Prayer
and the Middle Eastern Mystical Tradition of Jesus

A Day Workshop with Dr Neil Douglas-Klotz
During this day workshop we will focus on a step-by-step journey of the heart through the prayer of Jesus in his original Aramaic language. During this journey we will experience Jesus' original prayer tradition of living creation, a tradition that reminds us that new beginnings happen every moment in the heart of the divine. In this journey to our own center, we will also use walking meditation and simple circle dances, Dances of Universal Peace. No experience is necessary and all are welcome. Offered as part of the 2008 Edinburgh Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace.

Venue: Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, Edinburgh, from 1130 – 430 pm.
Contact: Neill Walker: njwalk810@hotmail.com


March 10: Edinburgh, Scotland
"Sufism – Doctrines, Practices, and Historic Manifestations":
A Day Workshop with Dr Seyyed Hossein Nasr

This is an invaluable opportunity to study the Sufi path with one of the world's leading authorities on Sufi teaching and practice. Dr. Nasr, who is in his mid-70's, rarely comes to Europe. In addition to being a lifelong Sufi, he is a Persian philosopher and renowned scholar of comparative religion, a lifelong student and follower of Frithjof Schuon, and writes in the fields of Islamic esoterism, Sufism, philosophy of science, and metaphysics. Professor Nasr speaks and writes based on the doctrine and the viewpoints of the perennial philosophy on subjects such as philosophy, religion, spirituality, music, art, architecture, science, literature, civilizational dialogues, and the natural environment. For more information, see The Nasr Foundation website (www.nasrfoundation.org).

Dr Nasr will also give a evening lecture on "Spiritual Approaches to Peace and Ecology in the Islamic World" at the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh on Tuesday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Both events are offered as part of the 2008 Edinburgh Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace.

Workshop venue: Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh, from 1130 – 330 pm.
Contact: Neill Walker: njwalk810@hotmail.com

April 3-6: nr Edinburgh,Scotland:
The Abwoon Interspiritual Leadership Program
Module 2: Desert Wisdom and the Native Middle Eastern Dance Cycle.

with Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz

This retreat is open to a limited number participants who are not enrolled in the entire leadership program. 
Deepening and leadership retreat for those interested in sharing the work contained in the book Desert Wisdom in the context of building interspiritual communities and ministry, as well as retreat work. Deepening for those wanting to establish a personal spiritual practice. Leadership training in body prayer, contemplation, chant, voice, walking meditation and the Dances of Universal Peace connected to this work.Included in this retreat: leading meditations from the book Desert Wisdom, incuding “Depths of the Self,” “Sound and Embodiment,” “Simple Presence,” “Heart Awareness,” and “Gratitude and Celebration” as well as leading the eight Native Middle Eastern chants and dances recorded as The Native Middle Eastern Cycle and the three Zoroastrian Dances. See full description of the program in the Abwoon newsletter and online. Prior reading and an application form are required.

Contact: Fateah Alice Saunders, Tel. +44 (0)131 664-6206. Email: alicefateah@btinternet.com

More information and online registration for this course.

November 13-16: nr Edinburgh, Scotland:
The Abwoon Interspiritual Leadership Program
Module 3: The Aramaic Beatitudes of Yeshua

with Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz

This retreat is open to a limited number participants who are not enrolled in the entire leadership program. Deepening and leadership retreat for those interested in sharing the Aramaic Beatitudes of Jesus in the context of building interspiritual communities and ministry, as well as retreat work. Deepening for those wanting to establish a personal spiritual practice. Leadership training in body prayer, contemplation, chant, voice, walking meditation and the Dances of Universal Peace connected to this work. Special focus of this retreat is leadership guidance for the dances associated with the Aramaic Beatitudes and for the related body prayers in Prayers of the Cosmos and Blessings of the Cosmos. See full description of the program in the Abwoon newsletter and online. Prior reading and an application form are required.

Contact: Fateah Alice Saunders, Tel. +44 (0)131 664-6206. Email: alicefateah@btinternet.com

More information and online registration for this course.