Love Divine:
a conversation between Rumi and St. John of the Cross
Meditation and poetry workshops
Fortnightly from 18th January – 29th March
Saturdays: 10:00am – 11:30pm (GMT)
or
Fortnightly from 25th January – 5th April
Saturdays: 10am – 11:30am (Pacific Time), 12:00pm-13:30pm (Central Time), and 5:00pm-6:30pm (GMT).
A mix of poetry reading, contemplative meditation, and shared reflections will form the basis of this workshop series. Online via Zoom. There are a few spaces left.
How to Book
Cost Free
Contact Jim Griffin for more information – jimjgriffin@hotmail.com
Participants will be limited to 15 people.
There will be a second running of this course, from Sat Sept 21st to Sat Nov 30th, at a time to allow participants from North America to attend. This will be 10am Pacific time, 12pm Central time, 6pm UK time (BST). Participants from Europe and elsewhere can attend also, but priority will be given to applicants from North America.
Workshop Details
The course will run twice, on alternate Saturdays. The first course starting on Sat Jan 18th is for anyone who can make the timing. The second running of the course is at a time to allow participants from North America to attend eg., 10am Pacific time / 12pm Central time / 5pm UK time/GMT. Participants from UK/Europe and elsewhere can attend also, but priority will be given to applicants from North America for the second running of the course.
The workshop will involve six online sessions at fortnightly intervals offered by Jim Griffin. The sessions will follow a format of reading some lines of poetry with 30 minutes of contemplative meditation and then 30 minutes of shared reflections.
Rumi and St John of the Cross are two of the greatest mystical poets within the world’s spiritual traditions – Rumi the Sufi teacher in 13th century Anatolia and John the Carmelite Christian monk in 16th century Spain. Both men experienced reality as a radiant manifestation of the Divine, and gave voice to that experience in sublime ecstatic poetry. In these workshops we will reflect on key poems by our two authors and allow a deepening conversation to develop session by session. Each session will last an hour and a half, and involve a poem, or some lines of a poem, a period of meditation, and shared reflection. Our meditation together is central, and allows us to dive into the spiritual depths explored by each author.
Jim Griffin is a psychotherapist and teacher of meditation, and has previously taught world religions at universities in the UK and abroad.
The Masnavi of Rumi Book 3
Weekly from 19th November 2026
Thursdays 20:30–21:30 GMT
An exploration of Book Three of Jalaladdin Rumi’s Masnavi will begin in November on Zoom. To enrol in the group please contact John Brown at: besharacourses@beshara.org.
The Heart of the Masnavi
The Heart of the Masnavi
A n interactive talk by Alan Williams
10th October 2026
14:00–17:00 BST
The October Gallery, London
Book Three of Rumi’s Masnavi is generally regarded as his most profound. It can be regarded as its heart, where Rumi does not mince his words. Alan will discuss the perplexities and challenges of what some say is ‘beyond the reader’s comprehension’ (not Alan’s view).
Kernel of the Kernel
Weekly from 19th September 2026
Saturdays 14:00–15:00 GMT
Online study of The Kernel of the Kernel, a selection of key passages from Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi’s Futūḥāt al-Makkiyyah, translated into Turkish with commentary by Ismail Hakki Bursevi (1652-1728AD). Translated into English by Bulent Rauf.
Love and Knowledge in the Light of Unity | the Direct Path
The Beshara Foundation Blended Learning Course
Part 1: Introductory weekend at Sutton Courtenay Abbey, Oxfordshire
16th – 18th October 2026
(Attendance Face-to-Face or by Zoom)
Followed by.
Part 2: 10 fortnightly online sessions
29th October 2026 – 18th March 2027
Thursday evenings, 19:00 – 20:30 GMT/BST
Part 3: Optional residential weekend and/or 10 days at Chisholme House, Scotland 1st–11th April 2027
This course provides a full introduction to the principles of Beshara in terms of both knowledge and practice. Taking the metaphysics of Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi as a starting point, the course explores what it means to know oneself and the world in the light of the Unity of Existence.
BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW
Contact: besharacourses3@beshara.org
Mystics and Metaphysicians, East and West, Past and Present – and Future
An online course presented by Jim Griffin
Fortnightly from October 2026 – May 2027
Saturdays: 10:00am – 12:00pm (UK time)
or
Saturdays: 5:00pm-7:00pm (UK time)
Workshop series following a format of reading with contemplative meditation and shared reflections.
“The traditions of the past are very great in their own place, in the past, but I do not see why we should merely repeat them and not go further. In the spiritual development of the consciousness upon earth the great past ought to be followed by a greater future.”
Sri Aurobindo
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