Symphonies of Theophanies: Moroccan Meditations Paperback – April 30, 2021

Thank you for writing the book. I bought if for my wife who wants to learn about Sufism and its lived dimensions. She said: "I enjoyed reading it a lot. It was beautifully written. I felt like being carried to a journey to Morocco, through reading the author's stories. I also love the poems in this book! Even though the poems basically spoke about the same theme (tajalli) yet I did not feel any redundancy. In fact, each poem feels like meditating tajalli from each own perspective, which is beautiful and admiring. It felt like a meditation on my part. I wish all pictures were accompanied by information about their locations or else but I was also wondering whether it was on purpose, to keep the mystery alive. All in all, I truly recommend this book to everyone who wants to pursue an inner meditative reflection, Muslims and beyond."

You can sense Peter’s pivotal journeys through enchanted Morocco from his descriptive memoirs, photos, and poems. Infusing the flavor of its spiritual culture by the inclusion of words--translated in a glossary--he delivers a virtual, rich experience that evokes a special sense of wonder, discovery, love, curiosity, and tranquility. It holds a special place where time has not eroded the presence of the Creator from people’s lives, and it celebrates the places where reverence has been carefully cherished and nourished by travelers like Peter. This is a beautiful book to experience and savor.

Those who have visited Morocco for spiritual reasons will find memories coming alive while reading this collection of poems, prose writings and black and white photographs and will wish to return. Those who have not visited are likely to wonder why not and make a sincere intention to visit as soon as they can. The author creates a vivid picture of a living spiritual tradition and of a land, which the Moroccans call balad al-awliyāʾ or land of the saints, saturated with that tradition. His poems are frequently lofty, speculative, and complex but sometimes simple. They are often full of beauty and always point in the direction of the divine. The photographs are simple and evocative and the prose writings, which he refers to as meditations, are exquisitely written and serve to transport the reader to the events he writes about. Although the book focuses on Islam and Sufism there are memorable accounts of the author’s visits to Notre Dame de l’Atlas, a Trappist monastery in the High Atlas Mountains where he meets a 91 year old survivor, Jeanne-Pierre Schumacher, of the 1996 Tibhirine massacre and to the Jewish cemetery of Asjen to visit the tomb of Rabbi Amran ben Diwan an eighteenth century Rabbi and tziddiq (the Jewish equivalent of a Muslim saint). I received an advance copy of this book for review purposes but my review is an unbiased account of my true feelings about the book.

As someone who has lived in Morocco most of his life, I found this book quite special. Much of it took me back to my earliest days in this country and the sense of mystery and discovery I saw everywhere. The black and white photographs interwoven with the prose passages and strands of poetry are superb and I can only marvel at how open the author's heart must have been to be shown so much. I thank him for sharing his journey which I believe will resonate with many who are seeking, wherever they may be.

This was a truly magnificent collection of poetry, prose, and images. I have never been to Morocco, but now want to visit after reading this text. What a beautiful literary and spiritual journey through Morocco.

This is a truly beautiful piece of work. It is said that when words come from the heart, they enter the heart and that is most certainly the case with the collections of poems and prose in Symphonies of Theophanies. The author's poetry invites the reader to reflect and ponder on their meaning whilst also explore the traditions of spirituality in Morocco. Interwoven within the book is the authors own experience from his travels around Morocco and his meeting with great people of God. These stories tell the beauty that lies within the blessed land and the hidden gems that are to be found in Morocco.This book is perfect for those on their own journey, whether spiritually or physically and it is also wonderful for those wishing to ponder and reflect on the profound words of an enlightened soul.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this wonderful book. Really Beautiful.