All Online Issues of Beshara Magazine _|_ See also our Print Archive for older Issues
All Online Issues of Beshara Magazine
See also our Print Archive for older Issues
ISSUE 27, AUTUMN 2024
The Philosophy of Prayer
Distinguished Anglican theologian George Pattison talks about the meaning and practice of prayer in the modern world
The Power of Gold
Alan Ereira talks about his new book, which traces the relationship between human beings and this most precious metal over a period of 7,000 years
Pilgrim in the Land of Children
Robert Hirschfield appreciates the work of Richard Lewis, a teacher who has devoted his life to inspiring children to write imaginative poetry
Giving Voice to the Earth
The distinguished sculptor Emily Young talks about her work and the stories that stone can tell us
ISSUE 26, SUMMER 2024
This Little Light of Mine
Joy Bostic talks about Africana spirituality and its expression in popular music and dance
A Thing of Beauty: The Mandelbrot Set
Richard Gault explores the meaning of an extraordinary mathematical phenomenon
Mind and Matter Entangled
Dr Dean Radin talks about a lifetime of experimental work on the intersection of physics and consciousness
Rosemary Haughton (1927–2024)
Phoebe Ryrko remembers her grandmother, an inspiring theologian and activist who saw the divine in everyday life and human relationships
ISSUE 25, SPRING 2024
The Art of Conducting
British conductor James Lowe talks about the nature of music, and the importance of live performance in this digital age
Personal Integrity in the Poetry of C.P. Cavafy
Andrew Watson pays homage to Greece’s most famous modern poet, whose message of quiet fidelity to one’s own values still has great resonance today
Bringing Light to the World: the Vision of Ibn ‘Arabi
Dr Eric Winkel talks with Jane Clark and Richard Gault about what the wisdom of the great 13th-century philosopher / mystic can offer us in these troubled times
Poems of Hope and Light
Neil Astley, founder of Bloodaxe Books, talks about the universal appeal of contemporary poetry and the series of inspiring anthologies he has edited
ISSUE 24, WINTER 2023 / SPRING 2024
Bringing the Land Back to Life
Alan Ereira talks about the wisdom of the Kogi Indians and an important new UNESCO project in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia
The Cosmos in Stone: The Ascent of the Soul
Tom Bree correlates the meaning embodied in the geometry of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and Wells Cathedral in Southern England
Eating the Wild
Charlotte Maberly investigates the benefits of foraging, and talks to Scottish food writer and historian Fi Martynoga
AI and Spiritual Intelligence
Mark Vernon dives into the debate surrounding digital technology
ISSUE 23, WINTER 2023
The Matter with Things
Dr Iain McGilchrist discusses his most recent book which brings together neuroscience, psychology and philosophy into a unified vision
A Thing of Beauty…
Robin Thomson appreciates the music of Bach and an inspiring new performance of his St John Passion
An Integral Approach to Dementia
Gerontologist Bettina Wichers talks about her holistic understanding of this widespread disease of old age
The Grandeur of the Night Sky
Hannah Dalgleish invites us to rekindle our ancient relationship with the night at a time when light pollution is becoming a global disruption
ISSUE 22, AUTUMN 2022
George Swede: Haiku Master & Secular Contemplative
Robert Hirschfield talks to the Canadian poet and psychologist
Richard Holding: The Art of Acute Listening
The distinguished osteopath talks about his holistic approach to healing
Participating in the Divine Playfulness
Hina Khalid explores the Theological Aesthetics of Rabindranath Tagore
Stefan Sperl: Faces of the Infinite
Stefan Sperl talks about about his project on Neoplatonism and the poetic traditions of Europe and the Near East
ISSUE 21, SPRING / SUMMER 2022
Neurodiversity and Creativity
Catalysing change through artful agitation: a conversation with artist and researcher Dr Kai Syng Tan
Bring Back Metaphysics!
Scientist and writer Colin Tudge makes a plea for us to return to what he calls ‘The Art of the Unknowable’
Cooking in the Ainu Way
Artist Eiko Soga talks about her experience of living with the indigenous people of Japan
Spirituality and Self Development
Dr Renée Hattar talks about an innovative course in Jordan which explores universal spiritual values with young leaders
ISSUE 20, WINTER 2021 / 22
Exploring the Power of Love in ‘Attar’s Conference of the Birds
Kenneth Avery explores the famous story of Shaykh San‘an and its message of love and friendship across religious boundaries
Consciousness as the Ground of Being
Physicist Federico Faggin talks about his new theory which puts our inner experience and the desire to know ourselves at the centre of reality
Conversations with Jane Hirshfield
Jane Clark and Barbara Vellacott talk with the distinguished poet about her latest work and the role of poetry in these difficult times
Fighting Fire with Fire
Victor Steffensen talks to Rosemary Rule about his pioneering work reintroducing indigenous cultural burning practices in Australia
ISSUE 19, SUMMER / AUTUMN 2021
World Literature Decentered
Ian Almond talks with Jane Clark about a more inclusive approach to comparative literature, and the cultural traditions of Turkey, Mexico and Bengal
Building Jerusalem: The Encompassing Vision of William Blake
Susanne Sklar provides insight into the meaning of the famous ‘Jerusalem’ hymn
The Heritage of Afghanistan
Robert Darr reflects on his long relationship with the people and culture of this ancient land, and shares his insights into its present situation
Redescovering Our Earth Emotions
Environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht talks about climate change, solastalgia and his inspiring vision for the future
ISSUE 18, SPRING 2021
Paddling the Magic Canoe: The Wisdom of Wa’xaid
Briony Penn talks about her relationship with the native elder Cecil Paul – Wa’xaid – and their successful campaign to preserve the glorious Kitlope River area in British Columbia
Mind over Matter
Scientist and philosopher Bernardo Kastrup discusses his critique of the materialist paradigm and argues for reality is essentially mental
Father Bede Griffiths and His New Vision of Reality
Adrian Rance-McGregor reviews the life of a pioneering 20th-century mystic, and the message of one of his most insightful books
The Audley Chantry Windows, Hereford Cathedral
Hilary Davies contemplates the work of stained-glass artist Thomas Denny which gloriously expresses the vision of the 17th-century poet Thomas Traherne
ISSUE 17, WINTER 2020/21
The House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus
Artist Simon Blackwood recalls his trips to Turkey in the 1970s with the Beshara School, and shares some of his paintings of the places he visited
African Apocalypse: Confronting the Injustices of the Past
Rob Lemkin and Femi Nylander talk to Jane Clark about their new film on the realities and legacies of colonialism in Niger
Entangled Life
Dr Merlin Sheldrake talks about the remarkable world of fungi, and what they can tell us about ourselves and the interconnectedness of the world
Maintaining a Radical Edge
Dharmacharini Suryagupta, Chair of the London Buddhist Centre, talks about the transformative power of Buddhist principles in the contemporary world
ISSUE 16, SUMMER 2020
The Book of Kells
James Harpur ‘takes a line for a walk’ as he remembers the challenges of writing his poem ‘Kells’
The Future Prospects for Humanity
Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, on the threats to our survival in the 21st century, and the need to take a cosmic perspective
Towards a Deeper Spirituality
The Reverend Peter Dewey looks back on a lifetime working with interfaith projects
Infinite Potential: The Life & Ideas of David Bohm
Film director Paul Howard talks about his new film on the life and ideas of the physicist and philosopher David Bohm
ISSUE 15, SPRING 2020
Poems for These Times: A Reflection
Jane Clark and Barbara Vellacott review the poetry series we presented during the Covid-19 lockdown, March – June 2020
Keith Critchlow: A Life Well Lived
Richard Twinch pays tribute to the teacher and sacred geometer who died on April 8th 2020
Panpsychism and the Problem of Consciousness
Richard Gault explores a revolution in scientific and philosophical thought which posits consciousness, not matter, as the fundamental principle
The Healing Power of Plants
Anne McIntyre on the Western and Eastern traditions of herbal medicine, and their importance in the contemporary world
ISSUE 14, AUTUMN / WINTER 2019–20
Rumi: The Operation of Divine Love
Alan Williams tells us about his new translation of Rumi’s great epic poem, the Masnavi
Wholeness, Timelessness and Unfolding Meaning
An interview from the archives with physicist and philosopher David Bohm
Mary, Seat of Wisdom and Mercy
Jane Carroll explores the vision of the Virgin Mary embodied in the structure and glass of Chartres Cathedral.
The Universal Language of Football
Kawther Luay on how the Homeless World Cup is giving hope to thousands of people all over the world, and talks to its co-founder Mel Young
ISSUE 13, SUMMER 2019
A Celebration of Nature
Artist and gardener Laura Blackwood talks to Elizabeth Roberts and Kawther Luay about the importance of connecting with the natural world
Sheldrake: Memory, Habits and Wholeness
Biologist Rupert Sheldrake challenges the dogmas of conventional science, and explains how recent research supports his alternative theory of morphic resonance
Wisdom of Time and Transformation
Dr Alison Roberts explains the ancient alchemical knowledge of Egypt
A Thing of Beauty…
Jane Clark contemplates the view of Earth from the moon, first captured in the famous photograph ‘Earthrise’
ISSUE 12, SPRING 2019
Beauty Happens
Ornithologist Richard Prum challenges the orthodox view of evolution to argue for the importance of beauty, pleasure and desire in shaping the natural world
Rewilding: A Hope for the Future
In the light of the recent UN report on the radical decline of biodiversity, Richard Twinch investigates a movement which promises to restore ecological harmony
Mindfulness Meditation – Alleviation of Suffering for Neurological Conditions
Niels Detert, Consultant Neuropsychologist, explains how meditation can help people with long-term medical problems
Robert Lax: A Life Slowly Lived
The contemplative practice of a remarkable 20th-century poet/mystic — by Robert Hirschfield
ISSUE 11, WINTER 2018/19
A Thought at Christmas…
Mark Vernon asks: what is the universal significance of this festival celebrated at a pivotal moment of the year?
Calligraphy – A Sacred Tradition
Distinguished calligrapher Ann Hechle talks about her lifelong quest to understand the underlying unity of the world
Connecting with the Unseen World
Kira Perov, wife and long-term collaborator of the video artist Bill Viola, talks to Jane Carroll about the ideas and experiences which inspire their work
The New Ark for the Synagogue in Oxford
David Hyams describes the creation of a new ark for the Synagogue in Oxford, UK
ISSUE 10, AUTUMN 2018
A Thing of Beauty…
Emma Clark contemplates the Luohan – representing Buddhist ideals of sainthood and harmony – at the Temple Gallery in London
Bewildered by Love and Longing
Michael Sells and Simone Fattal talk about a new translation of Ibn ‘Arabi’s famous cycle of love poems Translation of Desires
Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama
Jane Carroll visits a new memorial which aims to heal a dark period of American history
Reconciliation and Justice in Australia
Rosemary Rule describes how a nation is trying to heal the wounds of its colonial past and reconcile with its indigenous people
ISSUE 9, SUMMER 2018
The Unity of Bee-ing
An interview with Heidi Herrmann about the work of The Natural Beekeeping Trust in preserving our precious population of bees
The Zoroastrian Flame
Khojeste Mistree talks about one of the world’s oldest surviving religions and what we can learn from it in the present day
A Thing of Beauty…
Mark Boston reflects on painting the film Loving Vincent
Painting and the Contemplative Life
Artist and psychotherapist Benet Haughton talks about the spiritual vision that underpins his life and work
ISSUE 8, SPRING 2018
The Revival of the Commons
Political strategist David Bollier explains how a new economic/cultural paradigm is challenging the increasing ‘enclosure’ of wealth and human creativity
A New Architectural Language for Islam
The inclusive vision of Glenn Murcutt’s Australian Islamic Centre
Solitude in the Modern World
Jane Clark on the spiritual foundations of our contemporary desire for private space
Yoga: A Spiritual Practice for Our Time
An interview with Judith Hanson Lasater
ISSUE 7, WINTER 2017/18
Doughnut Economics
Kate Raworth’s new book asks: how we can reconcile the needs of humanity with the needs of the planet?
A “Quite Interesting” Approach to Education
John Lloyd talks about his own spiritual journey, and the philosophy behind the QI project
Narratives for a Unified World
Andrew Singer talks about the vision behind the literary journal Trafika Europe
A Biology of Wonder
An interview with scientist Andreas Weber, whose radical ideas are transforming our understanding of nature
ISSUE 6, SUMMER 2017
Poacher’s Pilgrimage
A journey with Alastair McIntosh – poet, theologian and environmental activist – to the sacred sites of the Isle of Lewis
A Thing of Beauty…
David Apthorpe extols the geometry and decoration in Sinan’s small masterpiece, the Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Mosque in Istanbul
The Century of Complexity
An interview with Dr. Vasileios Basios on new ideas in science
Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche
Vin Harris talks about the life of a remarkable man, founder of the Samye-Ling monastery and an instrumental figure in bringing the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism to the West
ISSUE 5, SPRING 2017
Ayurveda: A Medical Science Based on Consciousness
How India’s ancient system of healing recognises the unity of the body and the mind
Thought for Food
Charlotte Maberly on the new science of Gastronomy
An Artisan of Beauty and Truth
The extraordinary poet, novelist, activist and painter, Etel Adnan, who died in 2021 at the age of 96, talks about her art and her philosophy of life
A Thing of Beauty…
The Chauvet Caves in the Ardèche, Southern France
ISSUE 4, JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017
The Engaged Contemplative Spirituality of Thomas Merton
Jim Griffin surveys the life and work of the great 20th century visionary
Getting Back in Time
Richard Gault argues that technology has radically altered our relationship to time
Mysticism in Comparative Perspective
Professor George Pattison talks about the revival of a unitive approach
A Thing of Beauty…
The indescribability of beauty in Dante’s Paradiso
ISSUE 3, NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
A Caravan on a Spiritual Silk Road
Warren Kenton on the profound wisdom of the Kabbalah
Three Transitions
Richard Twinch contemplates the nature of cultural change
Understanding Strangers
Jane Clark reports on Inspire Dialogue 2016
A Thing of Beauty…
Frank Lloyd Wrights’s masterpiece, Fallingwater
ISSUE 2, SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016
A Thing of Beauty…
James Turrell’s installation at Dorotheenstädtischer Friedhof, Berlin
The Ecology of Money
Ciaran Mundy, Director of the Bristol Pound, explains the difference between money and real wealth
d-r-a-w-n-i-n-w-a-r-d
Nicola Simpson on Dom Sylvester Houédard
Tell Them What We Have Learned Here…
Chronicles from World War II of a remarkable group of 20th-century philosophers
ISSUE 1, JULY / AUGUST 2016
A Thing of Beauty…
The Chagall Peace Window and the Meditation Room in the United Nations building, New York
The Unity of Humanity
Professor Todd Lawson on the universal vision of the Qur’ān
The Field of Light
Bruce Munro’s new art installation at Uluru (Ayers Rock)
