Laurence Galian

Laurence Galian (Abdullah Muzaffer) is a dervish of the Halveti-Jerrahi Order from Istanbul, Turkey by the Grand Sheikh Muzafferuddin "Ashki" Ozak. He is also is an Initiated Wiccan Priest of the Welsh Tradition and holds the title of Seanachie from the Temple of Danaan. Laurence is the author of 2 books on spiritual subjects. He has been a frequent presenter at the Starwood Festival, and was one of the first published authors to present Sufi workshops to the Neo-Pagan community.

He has traveled the world on mystical pilgrimages to Mexico, Ireland, Bulgaria, Malta, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.

ufi background

Mr. Galian traveled several times to the Halveti-Jerrahi tekke in Istanbul, Turkey. He subsequently studied with Sheikh Mansur al-Jerrahi al-Halveti (from Greece and Australia) in the 1990s. Laurence renewed his "hand" (also known as "Bai'at") in the Halveti-Jerrahi Order with Grand Sheikh Sayyid Safer Dal Efendi in 1996. Mr. Galian was bestowed the additional name "Muzaffer" by Sheikh Hydar of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order, in honor of the memory of Sheikh Muzafferuddin "Ashki" Ozak. Laurence Galian (now known as "Abdullah") continued his studies with Sheikh Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi al-Halveti, Sheikh Nur al-Anwar al-Jerrahi (Lex Hixon), and Sheikh Salik Schwartz al-Jerrahi al-Halveti, at the Halveti-Jerrahi tekke (Spring Valley, New York) and the Masjid al-Farah (New York, New York).

On September 18, 2003 he reestablished his connection with Hazreti Pir Muhammad Nureddin Jerrahi (the founder of the Jerrahi Order - born in Istanbul in 1678 C.E.) by renewing his hand with Shaykha Fariha al-Jerrahi, the lineage bearer in the Americas (with the help of Shaykha Amina and the khalifas and circle leaders of the Order).

On October 9, 2005, the 6th Day of Ramadan 1426, he was invested with the title of Sheikh and given permission to teach and initiate disciples by a man of light, a Sheikh of the Khwajagan Tradition.

Presently, he is helping to guide the The Saint Louis Sufism Meetup Group.

Musical background

Mr. Galian has been Senior Dance Accompanist in the Hofstra University Department of Drama & Dance, and is a piano dance accompanist and composer at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA), Washington University, and the Caston Ballet, in Saint Louis, Missouri, and was listed in the 1999 "International Who's Who In Music". He is also a private piano instructor.

Bibliography

* "Beyond Duality: the Art of Transcendence" (1995 New Falcon Publications)
* "The Sun at Midnight: The Revealed Mysteries of the Ahlul-Bayt Sufis" (Quiddity, Inc.)

References

*Galian, Laurence. [http://home.earthlink.net/~drmljg/id12.html About Sheikh Laurence Galian (Abdullah Muzaffer)] . Retrieved Sept. 1, 2006.

External links

* [http://home.earthlink.net/~drmljg/ Laurence Galian's Homepage]