The word “mysticism” often brings to mind suspicions of an obscure hobby having little or nothing to do with real life. What the reader of An Emerald Earth will discover, however, is exactly the reverse: a mystical orientation that is accessible, relevant, and eminently natural.

 —Pir Zia Inayat Khan, Spiritual Leader of the Sufi Order International

"With the environmental crisis finally recognized throughout the world, is it too late? No! An Emerald Earth celebrates Sufi wisdom that, since its very beginning, has held the sacred green earth at its center. Today this wisdom guides us toward restoring ourselves and our relationship with the natural environment."

—DEAN JAMES PARKS MORTON, FOUNDER OF THE INTERFAITH CENTER OF NEW YORK, DEAN EMERITUS OF THE CATHEDARAL OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE, NEW YORK CITY.

"This book is filled with much gentle wisdom and its message is one of peace and service. I hope that the authors’ call for a life devoted to doing what is beautiful will find its way into many hearts."

—Tom Cheetham, author of “The World Turned Inside Out,” “Green Man, Earth Angel” and “After Prophecy: Imagination, Incarnation and the Unity of the Prophetic Tradition”

*****
"An Emerald Earth is an open invitation to those who are longing to rediscover the primordial harmony of the human soul and the natural world, both mirrors of each other and helpers to each other, both woven from the same cloth by the same Weaver. This wonderful book is constructed as an actual spiritual travel, using the stepping stones of meditation practices which guide the reader to experience how contemplation of the creation reveals human reality, and conversely how awakened humanity protects and elevates the creation to its own divine potential.

"

—Shaykha Fariha Fatima al-Jerrahi, Spiritual Guide of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order

 

 

Emerald Earth Retreats & Workshops

(listed on the right) affirm the true goal of the spiritual path: a natural and spontaneous freshness, a broad vision and the upholding of the beauty, sacredness of all life. These events, open to all, employ classical Sufi meditation methods to balance and purify our beings and to uncover and live more deeply from our essence. Using practices of breath, light, sound and creative imagination, we will affirm the sowing of the divine seeds of love, harmony and beauty in life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

book cover

“An Emerald Earth” celebrates the naturalness of spirituality. Drawing upon the universal teachings of the Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan on the “natural self” this book likens the unfolding of our being with the process of cultivating a field or garden. Unfolding of the natural self brings us to “An Emerald Earth”—a life in harmony and deep resonance with nature and Her elements, receptive to and serving the Creative Beauty that ever seeks to unfold. This practical guide incorporates basic meditation methods, rich teaching stories and poetry from Sufi, Buddhist and other spiritual traditions to describe a way of spiritual unfolding most relevant to our present age. Accenting our uniqueness, creativity and need for an ever fresh vision, “An Emerald Earth” affirms the infinite power of the heart. It points us towards an uplifted world and a joyous and fulfilling spirituality, rooted in service to life.

The Authors

Felicia Norton and Charles Smith are senior teachers and meditation retreat guides in the Sufi Order International. Felicia is the leader of the Ziraat Activity of the Sufi Order in North America. She is a classically trained dancer, performing internationally, and teaches at the United Nations School and the Educational Alliance in New York City. Charles teaches organization theory, leadership skills and group dynamics at Hofstra University, and writes on applications of Sufi perspectives to decision making, creativity and leadership. He is a trustee of the Sufi Order International. The authors are married and live in New York City, and guide workshops and retreats internationally on the central practices found in An Emerald Earth.

 

To purchase An Emerald Earth please click here

 

To view the Table of Contents and Sample Chapters:

AN EMERALD EARTH- SAMPLE CHAPTERS

UPCOMING EVENTS

with Sharifa Norton & Muinuddin Smith

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2010
7:00 to 10:00 PM
at the NEW YORK OPEN CENTER
22 East 30th St. (between Madison and 5th Ave)
New York, NY

Centennial Film "The Way of the Heart",
Honoring the Life and Teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan

Pre-registration suggested: Please call 212-219-2527
http://www.opencenter.org/the-way-of-the-heart/

This film on Hazrat Inayat Khan, by award-winning British filmmaker Mischa Scorer, will be presented along with practices and teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan

 

SAT & SUN, OCTOBER 30 & OCTOBER 31, 2010
New Lebanon, NY

Emerald Earth Retreat:  Cultivating a Natural Spirituality
Abobe of the Message Programs
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR FLYER
to register:programsoffice@theabode.net
518-794-8095

 


OTHER RECENT EVENTS

August 9-13, 2010
Chautauqua, NY
 Meditations, Practices and Poetry from the Sufi Tradition
An Emerald Earth: Cultivating a Natural Spirituality
Chautauqua Institution 
http://www.themysticheart.org/index.html
t

Friday, March 26, 2010, 7 to 10 PM

At the Open Center, NYC:
The Sufi Path to Awakening
The Teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan
 The Open Center,
22 East 30th St. (between Madison
and 5th Ave) New York, NY

 

June 6, 2009
Canandaigua, New York
Quiet Meadows Retreat Center 10-5PM (28 miles south of Rochester)
Emerald Earth Ziraat Retreat

 

June 18 & June 20, 2009

June 18: Book Signing/Talk on An Emerald Earth at East-West Bookshop, Seattle, Washington

June 20: Retreat at M’illumino Studio,
Roosevelt District, Seattle, Washington
An Emerald Earth: Cultivating a Natural Spirituality
and Serving Creative Beauty in Our World



June 26-27, 2009
Vancouver, B.C.
Banyen Books and
Caravan of the Message Sufi Center
An Emerald Earth: Cultivating a Natural Spirituality
and Serving Creative Beauty
in Our World

 

August 10-14, 2009
Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, New York
The Mystic Heart Workshops
The Essence of the True Human Being:
Meditations and Poetry from the Sufi Tradition
The Emerald Earth: Unfolding Beauty
into Everyday Life
for more information see http://www.themysticheart.org/teachers.html#seven