Spirit is always in motion. Doggedly, relentlessly, we humans endeavor to capture it — in buildings, traditions, books, dogma, hierarchy — but by its very nature, spirit is fluid. We can grab spirit for a dance, maybe entice spirit to stick around for a bit, but this partner can be elusive and assume many forms.

Spirit in Motion’s adventure on this blog is to explore spirit in its myriad manifestations, whether it’s in the eyes of a homeless person or a moment in a yoga class. A brilliant author or a child’s simple prayer. A sermon by a clergyman or the gently shifting light on a forest path.

At Book Expo America’s June literary feast in Los Angeles, spirit was a key player. More than just the publishers we might expect — like Inner Traditions, Llewellyn, Hampton Roads, Red Wheel and Berrett-Koehler — practically every booth had at least one or two contemplative titles.

Morning Light Press’ new translation of the poems of Rumi, entitled Say Nothing, stopped me in my tracks. Coleman Barks’ beautiful work has long dominated our understanding of the 13th-century Sufi mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi, but having just edited a German translation of a nonfiction book, I have an intimate appreciation of the ways in which a translation can subtly redirect intention. This is not to say that Barks is wrong, just that there may be other perspectives. Iraj Anvar and Anne Twitty have gone back to Rumi’s original text to unearth old perspectives and new layers of meaning. This excerpt intimates at what I envision for this blog:

“Look for something beyond your grasp,
the wisdom beyond definition,
hidden in the hearts of men of God.
That secret. It’s beyond even Gabriel.”