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Pagan Pioneers:  Founders, Elders, Leaders and Others

Idries Shah

Written and compiled by George Knowles

Idries Shah (also known as Sayed Idries el-Hashimi) was a prominent Sufi author and teacher dedicated to cross-cultural Islamic Sufism, some of his earlier works however are books based on his interests in magick, folklore, witchcraft and occultism.  He founded in 1960 the “Octagon Press”, an early cross-cultural publishing house based in London, UK.  Their first publication was the biography “Gerald Gardner: Witch”, the founder of the Gardnerian Tradition of Wicca/Witchcraft in England during the late 1950s.

Shah was born in Simla, northern India, on the 16^th of June 1924 to an Afghan-Indian father Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah and a Scottish mother Saira Elizabeth Luiza Shah.  He is the youngest of three siblings, a sister - Amina Shah (31 October 1918 – 19 January 2014), and a brother - Omar Ali-Shah (1922 – 7 September 2005) both of who became authors and writers supporting Sufism.  His paternal grandfather was Sayyid Amjad Ali Shah, a wealthy nobleman and the “nawab” (a Royal title indicating a sovereign ruler, often of a South Asian state, comparable to the western titles of a King) of Sardhana near Meerut, north of Delhi. 

Most of Shah’s early life was spent living in Afghanistan, India and England, and then travelling widely throughout Europe and the Middle East accompanying his father Ikbal Ali Shah in his Sufi work.  During his travels he was educated by private tutors, a characteristic of a wealthy Sufi education.  From an early age therefore, he was able to meet with and spend time with prominent Statesmen and other distinguished personalities in both the East and West.

In 1958 Shah married Cynthia (Kashfi) Kabraji who bore him a daughter Saira on the 05^th October 1964, followed by a son and daughter (twins) Tahir and Safia on the 16^th November 1966.  All now have careers as authors, journalists and documentary filmmakers.  Saira Shah, reported on women’s rights in Afghanistan in a documentary called “Beneath the Veil”. 

By this time living permanently in England, Shah had already started writing.  His earliest works focused on his interests in Magick and the Occult, and include:  “Oriental Magic” (1956) and “The Secret Lore of Magic: Book of the Sorcerers” (1957).  In 1960 he started “Octagon Press”, (later registered in the United Kingdom as a limited liability company at Companies House on 10 January 1972), the first title of which was “Gerald Gardner: Witch”, the biography of the UK’s leading figure in the British witchcraft revival of the 1950s.  The book has been attributed to Jack L. Bracelin, the High Priest of Gardner’s Bricket Wood Coven in St. Albans, but it has long been known as a pseudonymous work by Shah, who it is often alleged, was acting as Gardner’s secretary at the time of writing.  Philip Heselton does much to clear up this little controversy in his latest biography “Witchfather:  A Life of Gerald Gardner” (Vol 2). 

During the late 1950’s while holding court at the Cosmo Restaurant in Swiss Cottage, North London (a popular meeting place for London’s literary and occult inteligensia), Shah became aquainted with Jack Bracelin who later introduced him to Gerald Gardner, the result of which was the compilation of his biography “Gerald Gardner, Witch” (published in 1960).

Jack Bracelin  -  Gerald Gardner

Later, Shah developed the press as a means of publishing and distributing Sufi books that might otherwise have gone out of print.  His desire was to have these always available to each generation.  The books range from traditional Sufi manuals, to contemporary works.  Several books feature the fictional “Mulla Nasrudin” character in his humorous teaching stories, which are said to have the ability to act as a mirror to human foibles, aiding philosophical self-examination.   In addition to publishing translations of Sufi classics, they included titles by other notable authors, focusing on the fields of the humanities, cultural geography, literature, poetry, folklore, psychology, travel and philosophy.

Shah’s own writings greatly extended western knowledge of Sufi teachings.  He profoundly influenced several intellectuals, most notably the “Nobel prize” winning author Doris Lessing and Robert Ornstein.  His definition of Sufism was liberal in that he was of the opinion that it predated Islam and did not depend on the Qur’an, but was universal in source, scope and relevance.  He maintained that spiritual teachings should be presented in forms and terms that are familiar in the community where they are to take root.  He believed that students should be given work based on their individual capacities, and rejected systems that apply the same exercises to all.  In his own work he used teaching stories and humor to great effect.

Doris Lessing

In the mid 1960’s Shah started the “Society for Understanding the Foundations of Ideas” (SUFI) in London.  This was renamed the “Institute for Cultural Research” alongside a more esoteric “Society for Sufi Studies” also founded by Shah.  The “Institute” is still currently based in London and hosts lectures and seminars on topics related to aspects of human nature, while the “Society” has now ceased its activities.

Shah’s books have sold over 15 million copies in 12 languages worldwide.  They have been reviewed by “The New York Times”, “The New Yorker”, “The Times”, “The Tribune”, “The Daily Telegraph” and numerous other international journals and newspapers.  His best-selling novel “Kara Kush” was based on fact, incorporating Shah’s first-hand knowledge of the courage of the Afghan people, and the atrocities inflicted upon them.

About a year after his last visit to Afghanistan in late spring of 1987, Shah suffered two successive and massive heart attacks.  He died in London on the 23^rd November 1996 at the age of 72.  According to the obituary in “The Daily Telegraph”, Shah was a collaborator with Mujahideen in the Afghan-Soviet war, a Director of Studies for the Institute for Cultural Research, a Governor of the Royal Humane Society and the Royal Hospital and Home for Incurables.

Shah’s Grave Stone baring the inscription:

“Do not look at my outward shape but take what is in my hand”

Legacy

Idries Shah’s books on Sufism have achieved wide critical acclaim.  He was the subject of a BBC documentary (“One Pair of Eyes: Dreamwalkers”) in 1970,  and two of his works (“The Way of the Sufi” and “Reflections”) were chosen as the “Outstanding Book of the Year” by the BBC’s “The Critics” programme.  Among other honours, Shah won six first prizes at the “UNESCO World Book Year in 1973”.  At the time of his death, Shah’s books had sold over 15 million copies in a dozen languages worldwide. 

End

Bibilography: 

Magic

Oriental Magic ISBN 0-86304-017-9 (1956)

The Secret Lore of Magic ISBN 0-8065-0004-2 (1957) 

Sufism

The Sufis (1964)

Tales of the Dervishes (1967)

Caravan of Dreams (1968)

Reflections (1968)

The Way of the Sufi (1968)

The Book of the Book (1969)

Wisdom of the Idiots (1969)

The Dermis Probe (1970)

Thinkers of the East – Studies in Experientialism (1971)

The Magic Monastery (1972)

The Elephant in the Dark|The Elephant in the Dark – Christianity, Islam and The Sufis (1974)

A Veiled Gazelle – Seeing How to See (1977)

Neglected Aspects of Sufi Study (1977)

Special Illumination: The Sufi Use of Humour (1977)

A Perfumed Scorpion (1978)

Learning How to Learn: Psychology and Spirituality in the Sufi Way (1978)

The Hundred Tales of Wisdom (1978)

Seeker After Truth (1982)

Sufi Thought and Action (1990)

The Commanding Self (1994)

Knowing How to Know (1998)

Observations (1998) 

Collections of Mulla Nasrudin stories

The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin (1966)

The Pleasantries of the Incredible Mullah Nasrudin (1968)

The Subtleties of the Inimitable Mulla Nasrudin (1973)

The World of Nasrudin (2003) 

Studies of the English

Darkest England (1987)

The Natives are Restless (1988)

The Englishman's Handbook (2000) 

Plus many more, too many to list here

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idries_Shah

Philip Heselton’s latest biography “Witchfather:  A Life of Gerald Gardner” (Vol 2). 

http://www.biographicon.com/view/ons1j

http://www.octagonpress.com/ 

Plus many more, too many to list here 

Written and compiled by George Knowles  © 24^th November 2020 

Best wishes and Blessed Be

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Correspondence Tables:

Incense /  Candles /  Colours /  Magickal Days /  Stones and Gems /  Elements and Elementals

Traditions:

Traditions Part 1  -  Alexandrian Wicca /  Aquarian Tabernacle Church (ATC) /  Ár Ndraíocht Féin (ADF) /  Blue Star Wicca /  British Traditional (Druidic Witchcraft) /  Celtic Wicca /  Ceremonial Magic /  Chaos Magic /  Church and School of Wicca /  Circle Sanctuary /  Covenant of the Goddess (COG) /  Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) /  Cyber Wicca /  Dianic Wicca /  Eclectic Wicca /  Feri Wicca /

Traditions Part 2  -  Gardnerian Wicca /  Georgian Tradition /  Henge of Keltria /  Hereditary Witchcraft /  Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (H.O.G.D.) /  Kitchen Witch (Hedge Witch) /  Minoan Brotherhood and Minoan Sisterhood Tradition /  Nordic Paganism /  Pagan Federation /  Pectic-Wita /  Seax-Wica /  Shamanism /  Solitary /  Strega /  Sylvan Tradition /  Vodoun or Voodoo /  Witches League of Public Awareness (WLPA) /

Other things of interest:

Gods and Goddesses (Greek Mythology) /  Esbats & Full Moons /  Links to Personal Friends & Resources /  Wicca/Witchcraft Resources /  What's a spell? /  Circle Casting and Sacred Space /  Pentagram - Pentacle /  Marks of a Witch /  The Witches Power /  The Witches Hat /  An esoteric guide to visiting London /  Satanism /  Pow-wow /  The Unitarian Universalist Association /  Numerology:  Part 1  /  Part 2  /  Part 3 /  A history of the Malleus Maleficarum:  includes:  Pope Innocent VIII  /  The papal Bull  /   The Malleus Maleficarum  /  An extract from the Malleus Maleficarum  /  The letter of approbation  /  Johann Nider’s Formicarius  /  Jacob Sprenger  /  Heinrich Kramer  /  Stefano Infessura  /  Montague Summers  /  The Waldenses  /  The Albigenses  /  The Hussites /  The Native American Sun Dance /  Shielding (Occult and Psychic Protection) /  The History of Thanksgiving /  Auras  - Part 1 and Part 2 /  “Doreen Valiente Witch” (A Book Review) /  Max Ehrmann and the "Desiderata" /    

Sabbats and Festivals:

The Sabbats in History and Mythology /  Samhain (October 31st)  /  Yule (December 21st)  /  Imbolc (February 2nd)  /  Ostara (March 21st)  /  Beltane (April 30th)  /  Litha (June 21st)  /  Lammas/Lughnasadh (August 1st)  /  Mabon (September 21st)

Rituals contributed by Crone:

Samhain / Yule /  Imbolc /  Ostara /  Beltane /  Litha /  Lammas /  Mabon

Tools:

Tools of a Witch  /  The Besom (Broom) /  Poppets and Dolls /  Pendulums / Cauldron Magick /  Mirror Gazing

Animals:

Animals in Witchcraft (The Witches Familiar and Totem Animals) /  Antelope /  Bats /  Crow /  Fox /  Frog and Toads /  Goat / Honeybee /  Kangaroo /  Lion /  Owl /  Phoenix /  Rabbits and Hares /  Raven /  Robin Redbreast /  Sheep /  Spider /  Squirrel /  Swans /  Unicorn /  Wild Boar /  Wolf /  Serpent /  Pig /  Stag /  Horse /  Mouse /  Cat /  Rats /  Unicorn

Trees:

In Worship of Trees - Myths, Lore and the Celtic Tree Calendar.  For descriptions and correspondences of the thirteen sacred trees of Wicca/Witchcraft see the following:  Birch /  Rowan / Ash /  Alder /  Willow /  Hawthorn /  Oak /  Holly /  Hazel /  Vine /  Ivy /  Reed /  Elder

Sacred Sites:

Mystical Sacred Sites  -  Stonehenge /  Glastonbury Tor /  Malta - The Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni /  Avebury /  Cerne Abbas - The Chalk Giant /  Ireland - Newgrange /

Rocks and Stones:

Stones - History, Myths and Lore

Articles contributed by Patricia Jean Martin:

Apophyllite  / Amber /  Amethyst /  Aquamarine /  Aragonite /  Aventurine /  Black Tourmaline /  Bloodstone /  Calcite /  Carnelian /  Celestite /  Citrine /  Chrysanthemum Stone / Diamond  /  Emerald / Fluorite /  Garnet /  Hematite /  Herkimer Diamond /  Labradorite /  Lapis Lazuli /  Malachite /  Moonstone /  Obsidian /  Opal /  Pyrite /  Quartz (Rock Crystal) /  Rose Quartz /  Ruby /  Selenite /  Seraphinite  /  Silver and Gold /  Smoky Quartz /  Sodalite /  Sunstone /  Thunderegg /  Tree Agate /  Zebra Marble

Wisdom and Inspiration:

Knowledge vs Wisdom by Ardriana Cahill /  I Talk to the Trees /  Awakening /  The Witch in You /  A Tale of the Woods /  I have a Dream by Martin Luther King /

Articles and Stories about Witchcraft:

Murdered by Witchcraft /  The Fairy Witch of Clonmel /  A Battleship, U-boat, and a Witch /  The Troll-Tear (A story for Children) /  Goody Hawkins - The Wise Goodwife /  The Story of Jack-O-Lantern /  The Murder of the Hammersmith Ghost /  Josephine Gray (The Infamous Black Widow) /  The Two Brothers - Light and Dark

Old Masters of Academia:

(Our Ancestors)

Pliny the Elder /  Hesiod /  Pythagoras /  Paracelsus /  Abramelin the Mage /  Archimedes  /  Agrippa /  Socrates  /  Aristotle /  Albertus Magnus - “Albert the Great” /  

Biographies

A "Who's Who" of Witches, Pagans and other associated People

(Ancient, Past and Present)

Remembered at Samhain

(Departed Pagan Pioneers, Founders, Elders and Others)

Pagan Pioneers:  Founders, Elders, Leaders and Others

Aidan A Kelly /  Aleister Crowley - “The Great Beast” /  Alex Sanders - “King of the Witches” /  Alison Harlow /   Allan Bennett - the Ven. Ananda Metteyya /  Allan Kardec (Spiritism) /  Alphonsus de Spina /  Amber K /  Ann Moura /  Anna Franklin /  Anodea Judith /  Anton Szandor LaVey /  Arnold Crowther /  Arthur Edward Waite /  Austin Osman Spare /  Balthasar Bekker /  Biddy Early /  Barbara Vickers /  Bridget Cleary - The Fairy Witch of Clonmel /  Carl " Llewellyn" Weschcke /  Cecil Hugh Williamson /  Charles Godfrey Leland /   Charles Walton /  Christopher Penczak /  Christina Oakley Harrington /  Cornelius Loos /  Damh the Bard - "Dave Smith" /  Dion Fortune /  Dolores Aschroft-Nowicki /  Donald Michael Kraig /  Doreen Valiente /  Dorothy Morrison /  Dr. John Dee & Edward Kelly /  Dr. Leo Louis Martello /  Edain McCoy /  Edward Fitch /  Eleanor Ray Bone - “Matriarch of British Witchcraft” /  Eliphas Levi /  Ernest Thompson Seton /  Ernest Westlake /  Fiona Horne /   Frederick McLaren Adams - Feraferia /  Friedrich von Spee /  Francis Barrett /  Gavin and Yvonne Frost and the School and Church of Wicca /  Gerald B. Gardner - The father of contemporary Witchcraft /  Gwydion Pendderwen /  Hans Holzer /  Helen Duncan /  Hermann Löher /  Herman Slater - Horrible Herman /  Heinrich Kramer /  Idries Shah /  Isaac Bonewits /  Israel Regardie /  Ivo Domínguez Jr. /  Jack Whiteside Parsons - Rocket Science and Magick /  James "Cunning" Murrell - The Master of Witches /  Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone /  Jean Bodin /  Jessie Wicker Bell - “Lady Sheba” / Johann Weyer  / Johannes Junius - "The Burgomaster of Bamberg" /   Johann Georg Fuchs von Dornheim  -  the “Hexenbrenner” (witch burner) /  John Belham-Payne /  John George Hohman - "Pow-wow" /  John Gerard /  John Gordon Hargrave and the Kibbo Kith Kindred /  John Michael Greer /  John Score /  Joseph “Bearwalker” Wilson /  Joseph John Campbell /  Karl von Eckartshausen /  Lady Gwen Thompson - and "The Rede of the Wiccae" /  Lambert Daneau /  Laurie Cabot  - "the Official Witch of Salem" /  Lewis Spence /  Lodovico Maria Sinistrari /  Ludwig Lavater /  Madeline Montalban and the Order of the Morning Star /  Margaret Alice Murray /  Margot Adler /  Michael Howard and the UK "Cauldron Magazine" /  Margaret St. Clair - the “Sign of the Labrys” /  Marie Laveau - " the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans" /  Marion Weinstein /  Martin Antoine Del Rio /  Matthew Hopkins - “The Witch-Finder General” /  Michael A. Aquino - and The Temple of Set /  Monique Wilson /  Montague Summers /  Nicholas Culpeper /  Nicholas Remy /  M. R. Sellars /  Mrs. Maud Grieve - "A Modern Herbal" /  Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Morning Glory /  Old Dorothy Clutterbuck /  Old George Pickingill /  Olivia Durdin-Robertson - co-founder of the Fellowship of Isis /  Paddy Slade /  Pamela Colman-Smith /  Patricia Crowther /  Patricia Monaghan /  Patricia “Trish” Telesco /  Paul Foster Case and the “Builders of the Adytum” mystery school /  Peter Binsfeld /  Philip Heselton /  Raven Grimassi /  Raymond Buckland /  Reginald Scot /  Richard Baxter /  Robert Cochrane /  Robert ‘von Ranke’ Graves and the "The White Goddess" /  Rosaleen Norton - “The Witch of Kings Cross” /  Rossell Hope Robbins /   Ross Nichols and the " Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids" (OBOD) /  Rudolf Steiner /  Sabrina Underwood - "The Ink Witch" /  Scott Cunningham /  Selena Fox - founder of "Circle Sanctuary" /  Silver Ravenwolf /  Sir Francis Dashwood /  Sir James George Frazer and the " The Golden Bough" /  S.L. MacGregor Mathers and the “Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn” /  Starhawk /  Stewart Farrar /  Sybil Leek /  Ted Andrews /  The Mather Family - (includes:  Richard Mather, Increase Mather and Cotton Mather ) /   Thomas Ady /  T. Thorn Coyle /  Vera Chapman /  Victor & Cora Anderson and the " Feri Tradition" /  Vivianne Crowley /  Walter Brown Gibson /  Walter Ernest Butler /  William Butler Yeats /  Zsuzsanna Budapest /  

Many of the above biographies are briefs and far from complete.  If you know about any of these individuals and can help with additional information, please contact me privately at my email address below.  Many thanks for reading  :-)

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