18 June 2025
Dear Friends on the Endless Path,
One hundred years ago, Pir-o-Murshid began his penultimate Summer School in Suresnes, France. It ran from 13 June to 13 September 1925—three full months—with murids gathering daily in the field across from Fazal Manzil, where Murshid taught beneath an apricot tree.
During that time, he taught five days a week, often offering two sessions a day. In addition to his regular classes, he met individually with murids and led general gatherings. His weekly schedule followed a clear rhythm: Sundays began with an address to the Cherags and a public lecture; Mondays focused on psychology; Tuesdays on “The Message”; Wednesdays on philosophy, followed by a collective interview; and Fridays on mysticism, also with a group interview.
On Wednesday, 17 June 1925, he gave a lecture titled Philosophy—Illusion and Reality, and on Friday, 19 June, Mysticism—The Three Aspects. These talks and others from the series are transcribed—verbatim and in order—in the Complete Works available in digital and print thanks to the Nekbakht Foundation, and also appear in edited form in The Sufi Message Volume XI: Psychology, Philosophy and Mysticism (available for resale online, and forthcoming from Suluk Press).
That summer school was organized by Sirkar van Stolk. Murshid remarked that it was “better arranged this time than ever before” and better attended than in previous years. Since then, this tradition has continued—first in Europe, then in North America, and now across many continents and countries.
If at all possible, my wish is that we always come together in the summer. This year, over the next nine weeks, we have gatherings at the Omega Institute with Pir Zia, Omid Safi, Nizam un Nisa, Shams al Haqq, and Tarana Jobin (22–27 June, beginning this Sunday!), in Suresnes with Pir Zia and his uncle Shaikh al-Mashaik Mahboob Khan (1–10 July), at Zenith Institute at Caduceus Centre in Germany, and by the sea in Katwijk, The Netherlands—another historic home of the Inayatiyya. (It is not too late to register! Note: you can join us via Zoom for the gatherings in Suresnes and Germany.)
Also, stay tuned for details about a new one-day retreat: Asma ul Husna: The 99 Names of God with Pir Zia, to be held online via Zoom on Sunday, 31 August. You may join live or register to receive the recordings to watch or listen to at a time that works best for you.
Wherever you are this summer—or this winter, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere—we are always together. We wish you a transformative, connective summer!
With love,
Alia
* * *
PS—After my email in April, many of you sent kind, supportive notes, which were somewhat overwhelming and surprising, in a good way. Thank you for holding me during this transition—it feels significant.
Since then, many have asked about my last day, which is now confirmed: Friday, September 5th. I’ll continue full-time through June, and move to part-time in July and August.
As for the next Executive Director, we’re still in the process of finding the right person. The role has recently shifted to being based in Richmond, Virginia, rather than remote, and our board chair, Nazish Riaz, will be sharing an update with you soon.
Also, please know that I’ll send a final email, including how to reach me, before going off into the great unknown. As friends within the Inayatiyya, I hope we always stay in touch, God willing.
An aim of Sufism is to learn and practice how to live in the world yet not of the world.Over five days, we will live in friendship and community, while also exploring what it means to cultivate the inner qualities of stillness, of guidance, and of unity with all that exists. Guest teachers include Omid Safi, Nizam un Nisa Husain, Sara Tarana Jobin & Shams al Haqq Farzad Attar. This is our third year at Omega with a growing community of musicians, zakirs, whirlers, spiritual practitioners, and friends. All are invited and welcome to join us! More details and registration.
Please join us in-person or online, for this year’s Sufi Summer School with Shaikh-al-Mashaik Mahmood Khan, Pir Zia Inayat Khan Maulabakhsh, and many friends. Our 10-day hybrid programme, on the theme of Democracy and Aristocracy, includes lectures, music, meditation and zikr. All sessions are in English. More details and registration.
Just as our bodies are particles of the universe in which we live, our minds are particles of the universal mind and our souls are particles of the universal soul. And just as each cell contains the code of the whole body, each configuration of body, mind, and soul contains the imprint of the universal being and lives in ongoing communion with it, if only unconsciously.
When the human being makes this communion conscious, marvelous transformations occur. One then becomes part of the universe’s awakening to itself. In its function as the source of illumination in the life of individuals, communities, and species, the universal being is called the Spirit of Guidance. More details and registration.
We’re delighted to announce that Corin Girard has joined us as our new Inner School Administrator. This role was previously held by Isa Sophia, who, in her continuing position as Associate Director of Programs, is now focusing on Pir Zia’s online offerings, including the Suluk Academy. Many of you may already know Corin from her time working closely with us at Seven Pillars House of Wisdom between 2010 and 2016. Read on to learn more about her journey and what she brings to this role.
We’ve also updated the Front Desk Manager position, based in Richmond. Now titled Front Desk and Office Manager, the role includes expanded responsibilities and, accordingly, a higher pay range. You can find the updated job description here.
Read more.
On Monday, May 26th, Maria Cristina Fernandez, wife and spiritual partner to our dear friend Yaqin Aubert, passed over peacefully in her sleep. A memorial will be held in the AbodeMeditation Hall and virtually on Zoom on Saturday, June 21st, 2025 at 2 pm ET.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/s/83786313383
If you have any questions about the service, please feel free to reach out to gayatrihull@gmail.com
The Zephyr is a monthly newsletter of the Inayatiyya, an interfaith mystical fellowship with branches worldwide. For more information, please visit us at inayatiyya.org.
Inayatiyya
Inayatiyya
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Richmond, VA 23219
804-447-1898
astana@inayatiyya.org
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