The Moth to the Flame [Paperback]

Connie Zweig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2005

In A Moth to the Flame, the first novel about the life of the Sufi Poet Rumi, based on original sources in both Farsi and English, we discover the key moments that shaped his genius. Although this story happened a long time ago, during another time of war between Islam and the West, this tale of an individual life fully lived is the tale of every life. In the tradition of Siddhartha or The Last Temptation of Christ, his story is the mythic story of the human soul. We watch his faith tested, and we witness his meeting with the beloved which overturned his world and led, eventually, to his union with God. For centuries Rumi has remained alive in the hearts of millions around the world. His story, as told in this novel, burns like a torch of inspiration for us all.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Connie Zweig, Ph.D., a student of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sufism for more than 30 years, is a Jungian therapist and spiritual counselor in Los Angeles. She is author of The Holy Longing and co-author of the best-selling Meeting the Shadow and Romancing the Shadow. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

Connie Zweig, Ph.D., a student of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sufism for more than 30 years, is a Jungian therapist and spiritual counselor in Los Angeles. She is author of The Holy Longing and co-author of the best-selling Meeting the Shadow and Romancing the Shadow. She lives in Los Angeles, California. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Beloved Books (January 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976188104
• ISBN-13: 978-0976188100
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,231,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Known as the Shadow Expert, I'm author of the bestsellers Meeting the Shadow and Romancing the Shadow. My next non-fiction book, The Holy Longing, explored religious/spiritual aspiration and its shadow side. I've just published my first novel -- THE MOTH TO THE FLAME -- about the life of Rumi. It's the inside story of how he became a poetic genius and fully illuminated Sufi master.
I'm also a former Esquire columnist, contributor to the LA Times, and executive editor at Jeremy P. Tarcher Publishing. I received a Ph.D. in depth psychology in 1995 and have worked in private practice since then.
You can find excerpts of all my books on www.conniezweig.com, as well as info on my counseling and shadow-work practice.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last, truly deep insight into the personal life of Rumi, February 3, 2005

By 

Aaron R. Kipnis (Santa Barbera, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Moth to the Flame (Paperback)

For years now, I have been a fan of Connie Zweig's books Meeting the Shadow and Romancing the Shadow (which I recommend to all my students). Following a recent read of her last book, The Holy Longing, I just finished this first novel of hers and feel she has outdone herself in telling the tale of Rumi, who lived 800 years ago, in another time and a faraway place. Perhaps because of her deep knowledge of psychology, the characters are compelling and elegantly drawn. Their struggles are like ours today -- Rumi's longing for a higher world, his wife's longing for his love, his sons' longing for his attention, his disciples' longing for his approval. And yet they are unique. I found myself deeply engaged in the personal story about one of the world's greatest poets. For me, Rumi came alive through his spiritual dreams and relationships. I didn't want it to end. But when it did, I felt deeply satisfied and felt I better knew the real human being behind all the bigger than life, brilliant writings.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Moth to the Flame, February 10, 2005

By 

Linda S. Crowe - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Moth to the Flame (Paperback)

I'm a life-long avid fiction reader and always wish I could find stories that illuminate the spiritual lives of characters and the development of their relationships to the divine. This book does just that. I knew about Rumi the poet but not about Rumi the enlightened master. In reading this book, I came to understand how Sufis view spirituality and to honor more deeply the universal bond that ties us all to God. I highly recommend it!

Linda Schreyer Crowe

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Inner Life of the Poet, January 10, 2005

By 

Neil Schuitevoerder (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Moth to the Flame (Paperback)

"At last, for people like me who love Rumi's poetry, an inside look into the man himself, his family, his times, his challenges, and his ultimate spiritual victory. In this novel, which is based on history, Rumi comes alive! I feel as if I get to know him as a human being but also as a teacher, which he has been for me through his poetry. I also gained a much deeper understanding of Sufism, or mystical Islam, and how different it is from the fundamentalist Islam we see today. I highly recommend this book to anyone loves poetry or spiritual fiction. You have a treat awaiting you!"