The Alchemical Spiral
A Retreat for Inayatiyya Leadership w/ Pir Zia
January 28th - 30th, 2022
Hazrat Inayat Khan’s teachings in the Inner School describe an alchemical understanding of the process of spiritual transformation. What distinguishes the alchemical model, as you know, is its emphasis on the integration of form and formlessness, rather than a one-sided and precipitous flight from matter to spirit. This distinction has important implications for our world, a world that now more than ever stands in need of balance, healing, and wholeness.
In the late 20th century Pir Vilayat elaborated Hazrat’s alchemical method by drawing on the inner logic of an anonymous 17-century Hermetic treatise entitled An Open Entrance to the Closed Palace of the King , which traces a sequence of operations focused successively on the spiritual stations associated with Saturn, Jupiter, the Moon, Venus, Mars, and the Sun.
Over the last two years, Pir Zia has been gradually introducing a paradigm that has grown organically out of Murshid’s teachings, the seven centers of our Sufi system, and Pir Vilayat’s alchemical insights. This paradigm follows a spiral arc, weaving between poles and passing successively through the stations of Mars, Saturn, the Moon, Venus, the Sun, Jupiter, and Mercury.
Pir Zia has been unveiling the paradigm of the spiral implicitly in classes and retreats, and has been unfolding it explicitly in the Suluk Graduate course. Our January Leaders Retreat will be the first time that he presents it systematically to our leadership cadre. In order for our leaders to be steeped in this further elaboration of the alchemical model – a body of teachings which the murids of our order are increasingly absorbing – it is opportune that we gather together at this time.
Two sessions a day will be devoted to alchemical study and practice, with additional meetings for European and North American leaders set at times that work for both groups.
While this retreat is designed for leaders within the Inayatiyya’s Inner School, leaders within all Seven Activities – Inner School, Universal Worship, Healing, Kinship, Ziraat, Knighthood & Music – are welcome to join us.
We are all looking forward to being together in January, and to seeing you.
https://the_alchemical_spiral.eventbrite.com
TUITION & REGISTRATION
Tuition for the three days is $85 including video and audio provided within a few days of the program. Partial scholarships are available as needed. All teachings will be provided via Zoom.
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions about the content of this program, please email Naima at innerschool@inayatiyya.org. For registration, scholarship, and other details, please email Josh at astana@inayatiyya.org.
The Alchemical Spiral is taught by Pir Zia Inayat Khan, carrier of the Sufi lineage of his grandfather, Hazrat Inayat Khan. Pir Zia’s teaching will be complemented by additional faculty during the mornings in Europe and afternoons in North America.
Additional faculty includes Zumurrud Butta, Vice President of the Inner School in Europe, Naima Brown, Vice President of the Inner School in North America, Amida Cary, Director of the Inayatiyya’s Retreat Concentration, Suhrawardi Gebel, Senior Teacher & Chancellor of the Knighthood of Purity & Omid Safi. Biographies for all faculty may be found on the website.
