Basheera Ritchie has, since 2021, been offering an opportunity to those interested to work with the Welcoming Practice introduced in 2019 by Pir Elias Amidon. Since this practice is so relevant today, given how difficult it may be to accept, never mind welcome, what is happening, Weavings has invited Basheera to share some of her insights and experiences with Welcoming for our readers.

 

Basheera was first attracted to Sufism in the mid-1970s and was initiated into the Sufi Ruhaniat International in 1977. She has also worked within the Mevlevi Order of America and was further initiated as a Sheikha in both orders. Basheera met Pir Elias  when he was introducing the Open Path teachings and, in her own words, "...was in need of a stabilizing influence, which was accessible to me within the Sufi Way/Open Path..."