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The New York Open
Center Presents:
An Esoteric Quest for
The Golden Age of Andalusia
Sufis, Kabbalists and
Christian Philosophers
In Medieval Spain
A Conference in Granada, Spain
September 15th
to 20th 2007
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A Message from Carrie Wykoff, Conference Production Manager
Hello,
As announced above, our full website it live! Please check out www.EsotericQuest.org. Highlights of the site include descriptions of all of our events, biographies of our speakers, interesting facts about Granada, Andalusia and Marrakech, past newsletters, suggested reading and more. A special feature features audio samples from last year's conference in Central Europe. The paper brochure for The Golden Age of Andalusia with full conference details will also be arriving in many of your mail boxes in the near future.
Now, to speak personally, I am thrilled to be working on another Esoteric Quest! I have had the pleasure of producing the past conferences in Lampeter, Wales; Florence, Italy; and last year's traveling experience which began in Kutna Hora in the Czech Republic, stopped in Marienbad, and ended in Weimar, Germany. Last year's conference was especially exciting for me because my husband Doug and my then seven month old
daughter, Maitreya, joined us on the Quest.
Of the many events that I organize, I have found that the Esoteric Quest brings together the most wonderful faculty and the most interesting participants. Because of this mix, I have found that some of the most thought provoking conversations and memorable moments often take place late at night, frequently over a glass of wine or a pint of beer.
Now, let me introduce you to the amazing team that has assembled to produce this year's Quest. I have worked with Ralph White for over a decade and his vision and integrity in programming are inspirational. Andrea Lomanto joined us last year as our Registration Director and I have to say that she is the most gracious person I have ever worked with. (She can be contacted at 212.219.2527 x 101 or at quest@opencenter.org if you have any questions about the conference). Joining us this year are Daniel Chulsky, Business Manager of the Open Center, who has done so much to keep our finances in order, and who will be assisting me with Event Coordination and payments. Lastly, I have to mention Aracely Brown who has done invaluable research work and whose translation skills continue to be a marvelous asset.
I would also like to mention Matthias Franze who has coordinated the post conference tour of Andalusia. He has put together an amazing itinerary! Our tour guide will be Ibn 'Arabi scholar Stephen Hirtenstein. This tour is a superb opportunity to travel in the lands that Ibn 'Arabi knew so well in his youth. There will be a four day option that will explore the major towns of Cordoba and Seville as well as lesser known sites. After these four days, those who are staying for the longer option will continue on to the countryside and the sea traveling "The Route of the White Villages" and then heading to the Costa de la Luz, "The Coast of Light". During our travels some of our stops will include the town of Tarifa as well as the ancient Roman town of Baelo Claudia. To see a slide show of photos from Stephen's 2004 tour of Andalusia please click here.
Looking forward to seeing you in Granada!
- Carrie
Carrie Wykoff, is the founder of Events That Matter (EventsThatMatter.net), a special event planning company focusing on programs that help build community, honor our planet and educate the public. She has produced numerous events and conferences in New York City and Upstate New York. For many years, she was the New York Open Center's head of Events Coordination and also has worked with The Omega Institute and at The Menla Mountain Retreat Center where she recently organized a visit by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. In addition to working on the last four Esoteric Quests, she is also a co-founder and producer of EcoMetropolis, a conference on creating a sustainable, green, New York. Carrie is also the Artistic Director of the ritual performance art group, Circle of Soul (CircleofSoul.org)and is an Interfaith Minister and certified yoga teacher.
Faculty Spotlight
Paul Fenton Paul Fenton is a professor of Hebrew Language and Literature at the
Sorbonne. He has published extensively on Jewish civilization in the
Islamic world, especially on the mystical tradition. We recently caught up with him to ask him a few questions.
How long have you
been teaching in Paris
at the Sorbonne?
I have been teaching Jewish Studies at the Sorbonne for the
last ten
years and was previously a professor of Jewish studies at
the University of
Strasbourg.
You recently wrote
about the Golden Age of Spain,
where did this appear
and what was the
theme your writing?
I wrote on Moses Ibn Ezra, a famous poet and thinker of
twelfth century
Andalusia. My book, Jardin de la Metaphore, was published by
Brill in
Leiden
in 1997.
In our conference,
your plenary talk will be about the connection
between Sufis and
Kabbalists in Andlusia. How intimate and creative was this
cross fertilization?
Unfortunately there is very little direct data available on
the actual
encounters between Jewish and Muslim mystics in Andalusia, although I
am convinced that spiritual meetings did take place.
Indirect evidence can
be deduced from literary sources which reveal the large use
Jewish mystics
made of Sufi literary sources. On the other hand, the major
Muslim Sufi, Ibn
'Arabi, reports on the mystical discussion he had with a
Rabbi.
How did this
"Interfaith" environment differ from the rest of Europe
at
the time?
In the main, Jews of Christian Europe were entirely
alienated from
intellectual exchange with Christian thinkers as well as
their writings, which
were composed in Latin, a language Jews, on the whole, did
not master.
On the other hand, Andalusian Jews spoke and read Arabic and
were amazingly
conversant with general Muslim literature and even Sufi
writings.
Your workshop will be
an experiential exploration of Rabbi Abraham
Abul-'Afiya's method
of meditation. Can you tell us what participants
can expect?
Very strangely, it seems that Abul-Afiya had direct contact
with Sufi
masters from whom he adopted and adapted the dhikr type
meditation which
consists of repeating the mystical names of God. I intend to
explain the theory
behind the practice - the importance of the spiritual power
embodied in the Hebrew
(and Arabic) consonants. After having explained Abul Afiya's
particular
method, we will proceed to carry out an exercise,
accompanied with breathing
control and music.
How did the Jewish
experience in the "Golden Age" of Andalusia
influence the Diaspora?
I would need a book to reply to that question. Suffice it to
say that a great
deal of Jewish spirituality, as it later developed in all
lands of the Diaspora, has its roots in Andalusia.
One classical example is the spiritual manual called Duties of the Hearts by
Rabbi Bahya Ibn Paquda. Written in Arabic, its Hebrew translation influenced
generations of Jewish mystics, including the Baal Shem Tov of 18th century Poland.
You have published
extensively, how can our participants read some of your work?
Many references are available on internet, but my classic
piece in English is
The Treatise of the
Pool, which was recently republished by Octagon Books and distributed in
the US.
I will be sure to add
this to our suggested reading list on our website. Thank you for your time I
look forward to meeting you in Granada.
Upcoming events of interest
Conviviencia: Muslims,
Christians and Jews in Tolerant Medieval Spain (Al-Andalus)
a series of
workshops at The NY Open Center.
As the world faces the danger of a war of religions and cultures, we gain great benefit from recalling the brilliant and little known
world of Medieval Spain, where Muslims, Christians and Jews lived together in relative harmony for centuries.
 The Zohar: Bible of
the Kabbalah
Edward Hoffman, PhD
The Zohar (Book of Splendor) is the greatest mystical work
of Jewish history. Emerging in late 13th century Spain, it aroused enormous
excitement for its lofty vision of human life in a divine cosmos. This evening
highlights the Zohar's intriguing teachings on inner development, intuition,
dreams, ecstatic states and the soul's journey through lifetimes. Wednesday, April
25, 8-10pm
Edward Hoffman, PhD, is a NY State licensed
psychologist and author of many books on Jewish spirituality and psychology.
These include The Way of Splendor and The Hebrew Alphabet: A Mystical
Journey, as well as a forthcoming tome on Maimonides, A Healthy Life Is
a Blessing.
A Vanished World:
Medieval Muslim, Jewish, and Christian Spain’s Golden Age
Chris Lowney
Tonight, the author of an acclaimed book on Al-Andalus
discusses the triumphs and tragedies of medieval Spain where Muslims, Christians and Jews forged a rough
co-existence despite every cultural and religious reason Not to. His focus is on the lessons we can learn from this
extraordinary period, and how we today can continue the great pilgrimage
our Iberian ancestors failed to complete. A Vanished World has
been described as an
“engrossing and illuminating book deserving the attention of
a wide public.”
Tuesday, May 22, 8pm
Members $18 / Nonmembers $20
 Chris Lowney is the author of A Vanished World:
Medieval Spain’s
Golden
Age of Enlightenment,
which was nominated for the La Coronica Book Award. A former Jesuit seminarian and managing director of JP Morgan
& Co., he is also the author of Heroic Leadership.
Kiss of Fire:
The Language of Love in John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila
Mirabai Starr
In this talk, Mirabai Starr, acclaimed author of
revolutionary new translations of the sixteenth century Spanish mystics, John
of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, will explore the lover-Beloved relationship between The soul and the Divine through the window of Spanish
mysticism. Dipping Into the passionate writings of these two great saints,
Mirabai will offer a taste of the ecstatic language that not only reflects their
timeless wisdom teachings, but provides an opportunity for the listener to be
transformed by the encounter.
Tuesday, June 5, 8pm
Members $18 / Nonmembers $20
 Mirabai Starr teaches philosophy and world religions
at the University
of New Mexico. She has received critical
acclaim for her revolutionary new
translations of Dark Night of the Soul by the
sixteenth century Spanish, St. John of the Cross, and The Interior
Castle and The Book of
My Life, by St. Teresa of Avila.
Something a little
more festive:
Flamenco Dance Party!
 Join the Open
Center for an outrageous
Fiesta Flamenco with our own master teacher and professional dancer, JoDe
Romano. Watch a traditional sevillanas
dance, learn basic flamenco foot stomping and hand clapping rhythms, hear the guitars
and castanets of southern Spain
, and baile, baile, baile! Experience a
taste of what’s ahead with the Open
Center ’s upcoming
Esoteric Quest for the Golden Age of Andalusia.
Sangria and refreshments will be served. No dance experience necessary. Wear festive flamenco attire (full skirts,
comfortable pants, hard-heeled shoes) or come as you are. ¡Olé!
Saturday, May 12, 7:30-10pm
Members: free
Non-members: $15
JoDe Romano (La
Chispa) performed Spanish dance in Spain
and Japan for 20 years, was
a soloist and choreographer for the Jose Greco Dance Company and has performed
widely in the U.S.
including on Broadway and at the Metropolitan Opera (www.flamencoromano.com).
To register for any of the above events please see www.opencenter.org
or call 212-219-2527.
Event of Interest
Outside of The Open
Center:
Venice and the Islamic World (828-1797)
 Ten centuries of art, travel, and trade reveal an
extraordinary relationship between Venice
and her Muslim neighbors.
An exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Now through July 8th 2007
For more information www.metmuseum.org
Film: The Heart of
Islam discussion
moderated by Ibrahim Ramey
 In this episode, Moroccan sufi Ahmed Sidi Kostas joins
Bokara to discuss Islam and the mystical practice of Sufism which promotes
tolerance and acceptance among all peoples and faiths.
Bokara Legendre is an artist, writer and performer. She
produced "Nine in the Morning," a daily hour-long talk show on the
CBS station in Washington D.C. In Palm Beach, FL,
she hosted a weekly talk show called "Bobo in the Celebrity Room" on
which she interviewed notable actors and politicians. She was the art critic
for KQED’s “Newsroom” in San Francisco
and has had her own radio segment on WNYC. In addition, Bokara Legendre has
worked as a reporter for a variety of publications including The New York
Times, the North American Newspaper Alliance, and the Charleston News and
Courier.
Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Start Time: 1:00 pm
End Time: 2:00 pm
$10.00/ Free for members
Location: The Ruben
Museum
150 West 17th
Street
New York,
NY 10011
For More Information: 212-620-5000, http://www.rmanyc.org
If you have any events that you think our readers might be
interested in send them to Carrie@eventsthatmatter.net
Help Us Spread the Word
Please help us get the word out about our upcoming
conference. You can help in the following ways:
Postcards: we have some extra postcards announcing
the conference. If you can help us distribute some or know of a good location
for them please let us know by writing to: quest@opencenter.org.
List Serves/ Links: Do you know of some good list
serves that we should send our information to? Or do you know of a good
organization we can link to? Again, please let us know at quest@opencenter.org.
Website: Please send your friends to our website at www.esotericquest.org,
currently we have a placeholder up but our full site will be launched in the
early spring.
Newsletter: Did you enjoy this newsletter? If so
please forward it to a friend.
The Esoteric Quest is presented by
The New York Open Center, a non-profit holistic learning center offering
evening events, full-day workshops, ongoing classes, advanced trainings, and
graduate degree opportunities.
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The Quest News
2nd Edition, April, 2007
Quest news is published in order to introduce you to our staff & faculty and to pass on exciting information about upcoming Esoteric Quest. Enjoy!
* Web site launched!
* Message from the Conference Production Manager
* Faculty Spotlight
* Upcoming events
* Help Spread the Word
The Esoteric Quest is presented by The New York Open Center, a non-profit holistic learning center offering
evening events, full-day workshops, ongoing classes, advanced trainings, and
graduate degree opportunities.
Cordoba
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