Ep145: Living Open Space - Gregory Blann 2
In this interview I am once again joined by Gregory Blann: mystic, artist, author, and initiate of the Inayati and Halveti-Jerrahi orders of Sufism.
Available on Youtube, iTunes, SoundCloud & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
Gregory discusses his latest book on the remarkable life of Lex Hixon, aka Sheik Nur, the influential American mystic, author, and broadcaster who was initiated into several of the world’s mystery traditions and was a key figure in inter-faith dialogue.
Gregory recounts his own encounters with Lex Hixon, and reveals why he decided to write a biography of his old friend and colleague.
Gregory also discusses the heart of the Quran, the power of the feminine, and why Swami Vivekananda said ‘American women will be the salvation of the world’.
Gregory and his wife Silvia end the episode by singing two Turkish Ilahis of the Sufi Tradition.
Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
00:52 - Meeting Lex Hixon
06:10 - The heart of the Quran
08:11 - The source behind all religions
12:45 - The early life of Lex Hixon
15:50 - Why Gregory wrote Lex’s biography
26:55 - Lex’s four main religious lineages
31:18 - The power of the feminine
43:14 - ‘American women will be the salvation of the world’
49:33 - Clashes with religious institutions
01:07:31 - Interspirituality
01:09:03 - Reflections on Lex Hixon
01:14:24 - What are Turkish Sufi Ilahis?
01:18:44 - Gregory and his wife sing two Ilahis
Previous episode with Gregory Blann:
To find out more about Gregory, visit:
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James