Listen to a radio interview with John Windwalker and Jamila Hammad

Listen to a radio interview with John Windwalker and Jamila Hammad discussing Shake Like A Mad Drum.  In a lively discussion, they tell the story of how this book came about, what channeling is like, and why the story of Rumi and Shams is still very relevant today:

https://soundcloud.com/charli-34/john-windwalker-jamilia-hamad-shake-like-a-mad-drum

Are you lonely? Spoke the sun.

Are you lonely? Spoke the sun.

Your back is bent

And you walk on roses that are dried and wizened.

You lift not your head to seek the kindness of my smile.

What troubles you, old man?

I must be hearing things, said the despondent one.

Now even the sun talks to me, mocks me, even.

I mock you not, old man,

I say, look, here’s the pathway.

It is to kindness, it is to rich blue skies across oceans of forgiveness,

It is to the door, the very golden door of the Beloved most high!

I’ve had too much sun, thought the lost soul.

Only the opposite is true, spoke the heavenly body.

You’ve not had enough!

Rumi

Somewhere along the way the sandal was lost

Somewhere along the way the sandal was lost.  I wore but one. 

One foot burned, one did not. 

I came to the town walking with a noticeable limp and two children ran to me.

Are you hurt? the tiny girl said.  Sir, you walk funny.

I gently rubbed the back of their heads. 

I said reassuringly, the sand stole my sandal.

Can sand do that? asked the little boy.

Well, I laughed, apparently this sand did because I could not find that which gave my right foot comfort.

You could have mine, said the little girl.

And you could have mine, chimed the little boy.

I picked up one on each arm.  I kicked off the other sandal. 

I looked both in the eyes. I was drawn into four brown suns of innocence. 

I was peering at God.

And I said, Little Masters, as I began walking limpless. 

Thank you for reminding me that love heals all.

-Rumi

A conversation on Joy between Rumi and Shams

This is a recording of a conversation between the poet Jelalludin Rumi and his friend and teacher Shams of Tabriz, as channeled by spiritual teacher John Windwalker. More of these conversations appear in the book "Shake Like A Mad Drum: The Eternal Friendship of Rumi and Shams" available at Amazon and  at www.RumiShams.com.
To view the video directly on youtube: click here.

Who does God love the best?

https://youtu.be/jSCrriifYh4

When You’ve Had Enough

Shams often admonished Rumi that only when he had had enough of his fearful, manipulative negative ego would his life change for the better, more loving and spiritual. It was this human 'lower self' that obscured Rumi's radiant Soul from guiding Rumi towards a new life of creative expression.

In our book, Shake Like A Mad Drum, Shams demands of Rumi  that he awaken to his great power within. When Rumi resists, beloved Shams is at his spiritually powerful best. Shams holds a place for Rumi's self-realization by never acquiescing, giving in or settling for any result other than victory.  And beloved Shams succeeded because he never gave up.

This is something that we must do for our self, we must be our own Shams of Tabriz and free our soul from the prison of our fears.  Your soul will thank you, as Rumi's soul eternally thanks Shams.  

The following is an excerpt from Shake Like A Mad Drum.  Here Rumi expresses in poetry the moment when he’d had enough, and his soul’s response:

Many a tear fell.

If they were coins of gold could I afford a palace and a host of servants.

It is when I reached the farthest edge of despondency that my soul said,

Enough is enough.  Jump if you must, but you will not fall.

Look around you.  There is the invisible silence

And the blue nothing, and the apparent space,

And there is us, your truth and your lie.

I cannot allow you to dictate to me an illusion that bores me.

There are better things and I was meant for the greatness of love

Not the mediocrity nor sadness nor ache leaving one behind.

It is time to stand with me.

It is time to be great, to love our way into heaven on earth.  Or else.

-Rumi

John Windwalker