This little booklet is intended to provide the reader with a glimpse into the day to day alchemical process of chille, or ordeal — awakening to the recognition of truth — that occurred as preparation for work within this particular community of aspirants. It is a collection of a few brief comments about some of the daily challenges probationers encountered during their early training. Actual photos give a funky kind of contemporary reality.

Bit like a 101 text, isn't it? In this book the use of the term 'dervish' does not imply a connection with Islamic tradition. The Way exists independent of tradition and the genuine dervish seeks true awakening and service, not the stability of form or doctrine. As you may know, not everybody finds this statement agreeable.

Cheer up. It might not be like this all the way through. In this context a dervish is at least someone who has renounced ordinary life and effectively surrendered to a disciplined process of awakening and evolution. Burp. At least during the early years of this lifetime effort, an aspirant apprentices within a transformational community which is guided by one who is acknowledged and accepted as being capable of providing the necessary guidance, work catalysts, initiations and awakening.

Used to write like that a lot. Whole little booklets, in fact. Fortunately they rarely got published. I seldom write like that nowadays (except for introductions.) Even though the ideas expressed may be technically correct, the point of it gets hidden in the meaning — see what I mean?

So, can someone really know what it's like? To try to BE, to be real, and learn service in a dervish's community if they're not doing it?

No.

Not even enough to talk about it over coffee. So what's the point of a booklet about it, even a teeny weeny one? Well, consider it a gesture drawing, a crumb hidden in the bushes of the [Internet,] a few impressions of the effort needed (around here at least) to access the option for a real attempt at awakening and transformation. Maybe it'll be amusing or interesting or even useful. And if you've done it, or if it seems somehow familiar to you, well, hey, howdeedoo! And if not, well, hey.... good luck.