Category Archives: Blog

Today is the publication day of my new book, The Gift of Rumi: Experiencing the Wisdom of the Sufi Master (St. Martin’s Press). It’s available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, and Macmillan and bookstores across America (and Europe apparently!). I was so happy to see my social media followers receive their books in the mail and post photos of them.

Here are some of the comments today in my DMs and online from those who have started to read the book:

“Oh my gosh, your personal stories of exploration are just gorgeous. How wonderful!”

“I thought I had a clue what Rumi was about, and know so little about Sufism. Wow. Just wow! Grateful.”

“It’s wonderful! I feel like I’m on an adventure as I read. Really good. Bravo!!!!!! Congratulations!”

“Thanks for writing it! It’s really fun to read. I truly feel like I’m on an adventure. So cool.”

“It’s really fun reading. I’m enjoying it immensely.”

“I am enjoying this book so much I really feel like I can see everything and every person you describe.”

“Reading this is softening up my heart and I welcome that. Thank you.”

“I’ve read quite a few translations of Rumi’s writings and quoted them often. I had no idea how much I didn’t know about Rumi, the source of his work or Sufism until this book. The author takes us along on her journey of exploration deep into a world of mysticism and love that captivates, enlightens and inspires. I could not put it down. Bravo!”

“‘Read Review Recommend’: That’s exactly what one should do with this phenomenal book! Thank you Emily for writing it with such finesse & love! Truly appreciate your research & writing! Live long & live well…”

“What is the gift of Rumi? He was a mystic preacher of love who professed its healing and transformative powers. It is a reading you digest bits at a time for inspiration and rebuilding of life.”

“It is so thrilling to read, I am buzzing the entire time, and your passion and intense love of learning and discovery are palpable on every page. You have done a beautiful piece of work, congratulations, babe!!! I celebrate you and your gift of the Gift of Rumi.”

“This book is indeed a gift to all those who want to enter more deeply into the world of our beloved Rumi, beyond the well intentioned but often superficial way in which his work is being presented and misrepresented. This book offers a lot of beautiful context and depth to the reader. Authoritative information is combined with actual experience of the path, so the information given doesn’t feel stale but is instead grounded in the author’s own life. Rumi was a gift to the world and this book will help many people to unwrap said gift to discover beauty and truth beyond measure.”

So grateful that my first readers are enjoying it — makes all the hard work and time very much worth it!

I took Abutiu Khufu (aka Abu), my little chihuahua from China (who’s already traveled the globe — including hiking in the Himalayas of Tibet!), to San Diego to enjoy the seals and surf — and, of course, the sunset…

Emily Jane O’Dell meets Rumi on his own terms, placing his compelling verses of ecstasy and of longing for the heart’s greater intimacy with the divine within the contexts of historical Islamic mysticism, while at the same time testifying to their enduring value “as a map for living virtuously and loving fiercely.” Embedded in a narrative that follows the pattern of a medieval dervish manual, the unadorned translations, playful and passionate by turn, are marked by rhythmic certainty and metaphoric precision.  This book is far more than another collection of Rumi’s poems in translation; it explores the tenets underlying these poems while at the same time opening fascinating vistas onto two remarkable lives – those of Rumi and of the author.

— John Emigh, Professor Emeritus at Brown University

So wild to write a book and have writers and thinkers I greatly admire read and enjoy it! I’ve been touched by all the kind words that readers and media outlets have shared about my new book, The Gift of Rumi — including this lovely review from Publishers Weekly: “The author’s personal anecdotes usefully illustrate what Rumi’s spirituality looks like in contemporary practice, and the historical context opens up fresh ways of looking at the poet’s works. This makes for an excellent primer on Rumi.” I’m deeply grateful for all of the positive feedback, as I experimented in the book with form and was curious to see how the book’s mystic blend of translation, commentary, and personal narrative would be received.

In the crowded shelf of books about Rumi, there are a few books about Rumi’s life, and an increasing number that are or purport to be translations from the original Persian.  E.J. O’Dell’s The Gift of Rumi is both: It gives the right amount of context for people new to the study of Rumi, combined with original and fresh translations.  The Gift of Rumi is indeed a gift, and recommended to all lovers of Rumi!

— Omid Safi, Professor of Islamic Studies at Duke University & Founder of Illuminated Courses and Tours

To write The Gift of Rumi, I did word-for-word translations of Rumi’s poems from Persian into English, so readers can see what he really wrote (some previous translations edited out religious / spiritual references and added words and sentiments that Rumi never wrote). In order to contextualize the mysticism of Rumi’s poetry, I provided spiritual and historical commentary to unlock the deeper meanings of his poems.

This is an astonishing book. It tips rigorous scholarship, benevolent sympathy, and personal experience into the cauldron of Rumi’s poetry for the reader to then gradually withdraw a silken brew of spiritual compassion, guidance, and understanding. It gives us in the West intriguing new translations, but also a usable pathway toward adopting Rumi as a mentor for living in today’s world.

— Harold Augenbraum, Co-Founder, Yale Translation Initiative / Editor, The Collected Poems of Marcel Proust / Former Executive Director, National Book Foundation

I was very fortunate to do a 40-day mystic retreat in Istanbul with a Sufi master to learn how to whirl like a dervish and immerse myself in Rumi’s poetry and legacy. The Gift of Rumi is the culmination of the lessons I learned in spiritual community with open-hearted dervishes in Turkey and around the world on my two decade trek along the Silk Road from China to Mali and many stops in between. The book comes out on July 26th and you can pre-order it now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, and Macmillan.

Personal, inspiring, and transporting, THE GIFT OF RUMI is one part
memoir, one part introduction to a great poet sage, and itself a gift.

— Gish Jen, The Girl at the Baggage Claim: Explaining the East-West Culture Gap

You’re invited! Looking forward to speaking about my new book, The Gift of Rumi, in conversation with Dr. Nahid Siamdoust on July 27th at 7 pm ET at this Literati Bookstore Zoom event — come join us! The book comes out on July 26th and you can pre-order it now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, and Macmillan.

So grateful for this lovely review from Publishers Weekly of my new book, The Gift of Rumi, published by St. Martin’s Press: “The author’s personal anecdotes usefully illustrate what Rumi’s spirituality looks like in contemporary practice, and the historical context opens up fresh ways of looking at the poet’s works. This makes for an excellent primer on Rumi.” A total joy to share Rumi’s illuminating poetic verses with readers in context! The book is available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, and Macmillan.

I’ve been sad and concerned about the recent violence in the Republic of Karakalpakstan. I have such fond memories of spending time there exploring Islamic heritage while on a research fellowship.

Specifically, I was exploring Sufi shrines, madrasas, cemeteries, and underground graves throughout Karakalpakstan. Best of all, however, I got to visit my favorite museum in the world — the Savitsky Museum (Nukus Museum of Art) — home to an outstanding collection of Russian avant-garde artworks banned during the Soviet period. The documentary, The Desert of Forbidden Art, dives into this unique and fascinating collection and history.

It’s surreal to finally hold my book in my hands — so wild to see it manifest after so much hard work (spent so much time obsessively translating every word from the original Persian into English as perfectly as I could). I’m touched by this generous early review by Zen priest and Unitarian Universalist minister James Ford, who writes a blog on Patheos called Monkey Mind. He ends his review with these words: “What a lovely book. Do yourself a favor. Buy it. Do yourself another favor. Read it.” You can pre-order it now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, and Macmillan — it’s now arriving earlier than scheduled (7/26th I believe!).

I got a notification that I had a parcel waiting for me in our mailroom, but I couldn’t remember ordering anything online. So, on my way out the door to walk my dog, I stopped in the mailroom to see what was waiting for me — and it was my book! So thrilling to finally hold it in my hands!

I had the joy of exploring the “Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World” exhibit currently on display at the Getty Villa in Malibu — a museum whose gorgeous grounds I haven’t had a chance to explore until now.

According to the Getty Villa’s website, this exciting exhibition “explores the artistic and cultural connections between the rival powers of Iran, Greece, and Rome” through “royal sculpture, spectacular luxury objects, religious images, and historical documents assembled from major museums in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.”

The exhibition also has an immersive film presentation which explores Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of Achaemenid Persia. However, the first available showing was three hours after the time of our scheduled visit. Since I’ve been to the real Persepolis several times (I try to go every time I’m in the Islamic Republic of Iran), I didn’t mind passing it up.

The exhibit is well-curated, and since Los Angeles has such a significant Persian population it was nice to see the signage offered in English and Persian.

After viewing objects from Persepolis, Susa, and beyond, we headed to Tehrangeles for Persian food to continue the theme of the day.

Feasting on my favorite dishes — fesenjoon and ghormeh sabzi — was the perfect way to end our very fun and full day of adventure. Highly recommend!

Since my chihuahua baby Abu had already traveled all over Tibet and China — including a cross-country drive from Sichuan to Shanghai (all in just his first year of life!) — I thought it might be fun to take him to explore some of America’s National Parks.

After having a blast exploring Yosemite National Park and the land around it for a couple of weeks, Abu and I headed to Sequoia National Park — which I’d been wanting to see since I was a child.

Their size is obviously mind-boggling — like being on another planet. Abu and I had so much fun strolling through the Tough Twins and learning about the park’s history. Tree hugging is nature’s therapy!

It’s long been my wish to spend the rest of my life meditating in a tree, and I got one step closer to that reality in Sequoia National Park — I could at least imagine and feel what that would be like.

It was a childhood dream come true to see “General Sherman” aka the largest living tree & organism in the world — amazing to think this record breaking tree has been alive for 2,000 years! Though it’s called the General Sherman tree today (after William Tecumseh Sherman — the American Civil War general who massacred the Native Americans), the settlers of a socialist colony who lived in the forest and advocated for a peaceful overthrow of capitalist exploitation called it Karl Marx.

A few years ago, I moved to the People’s Republic of China to intensively study tai chi — which was a total dream come true. As part of my tai chi adventure, I had the joy of joining a women’s tai chi group whose members practice tai chi every night on the river — sword and fan included. You’ll read all about that in my upcoming China / Tibet memoir. I’m so grateful to have studied tai chi from Beirut to Sichuan.

Luckily, I’ve been able to continue my tai chi sword studies here in America. One of my favorite things to do is practice tai chi with sword on the beach at sunset as my little chihuahua looks on — absolute heaven! Such peace & beauty in flowing with the wind and waves…

My pain doctor, knowing I’ve been traveling the world the past two decades learning different pain techniques and healing practices across a wide-range of cultures, enrolled me in an incredible intensive pain program. Best of all, I could do it from my bed and balcony (with my chihuahua Abu) on Zoom! Even though I was initially skeptical of what it would be like, I really enjoyed the four week program (and found it effective), and all of the other participants seemed to enjoy it too. After the program ended, the doctor invited me to join a pain mindfulness group which I’m also loving — every week, we collectively try out a new approach to our meditation practice, and then discuss how our practice (and pain) was impacted by the approach. It’s a really great group of people, and I’m grateful for all we are learning from one another.

Abu made his Hollywood red carpet debut — the first red carpet of many to come!