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Egyptian Mystics is Moustafa Gadalla's tenth book in the thoroughly researched study of modern and ancient Egyptian society and culture. For those not aware, Moustafa is biased by neither Abrahamic religion nor Academic status, which in the study of ancient lands and its peoples puts him in the small minority, and as such his highlighting of the misdeeds these groups is laid clearly and factually with well documented research and common sense. There are those who consider his work controversial and Egyptian Mystics is not a book to placate history from an Abrahamized outlook, rather it is a document that shows a breathing culture who have maintained traditions, albeit surreptitiously, for thousands of years and more.

As with all of Moustafa's books published through the Tehuti Research Foundation, Egyptian Mystics shows a consistency in its presentation; well-bound for a softcover, B5 of size, a detailed table of contents (broken into four parts with appendices), and an introductory preface, terminology, chronology of the Egyptian Dynasties and a map of Egypt. The text is clear and easy to read with consistent use of fonts to separate sources both indigenous and foreign beyond the textual body that is displayed in bite-sized paragraphs.

Part 1, The Hidden Treasure; this short, two chapter section begins by introducing the main points of the entire book showing the two paths of world spirituality, those following the dogmatic religions of a personal god and that of the mystics. Sufism is explained, its origin in Egypt and how it exists in its most widely followed path to date with clear facts that tie with the earlier introduction of mysticism. The concept of man and 'god' is explored deeper with regard to union between the two as the essential and ongoing ingredient in the path of mysticism.

Part 2, Transformation from Dust to Gold; interpreted/inherited and used in hermetic and philosophical practices throughout the world. Alchemy is the first chapter and Moustafa explores the spiritual process of transformation of man in that journey of purification with fundamentals of Egyptian mysticism that have multi-layered meaning and representation, rather than just the sheer act alone; words as symbols are presented. Links along this journey are detailed with rich information on the aspirant's need for a guide. The purification process is examined deeply with page after page of the journey to cleanse body and mind in preparation for further 'enlightenment'; breathing, moral fundaments, movements, cleanliness, etc. Finally, mysticism is shown less a dogmatic cult following a communal god than a personal journey of understanding nature and of the role of the individual/microcosm to the macrocosm, the realized world and beyond, through knowledge acquired in spiritual revelation by way of being guided along this path of purification. The Egyptian principles of Ka and Ba and their interrelation are examined specifically with their union or marriage of dualities into the whole. Those that have undergone this process are revered in shrines by the Egyptians with a clear spiritual backbone that is not just superstition but a process of deep and tacit understanding.

Part 3, The Public Visitation Fairs; in this part a vibrant and florescent social culture is exampled following the fundaments of spirituality through tradition. The concept of nature as being cyclical, whether by seasons or the shift of planets is a given but this is nowhere more celebrated by the Egyptians who still continue rituals to remember the roles and that of humankind in the cycle. Mouleds, the annual festivals of renewal, are described in detail, not just the dates, locations, and practices but also of the ritualistic symbolism inherent. Lent, Easter, and other inherited traditions by the Abrahamic religions are shown in their full and continued force from their origin in Egypt, with strong meaning underpinning the date's central to their whole tradition of renewal. Beyond symbolism the structure of the Mouleds is explained in day by day process, from the visitation of families to shrines to offerings of food. These traditions are not just purported in the modern sense but are accompanied by depictions of scenes taken from ancient Egyptian buildings.

Part 4, Come One Come All; explores the mystical fellowships and their structure both in the material and spiritual senses. Moustafa breaks down organization, ethics, spiritual beliefs, roles in society for the reader leaving no room for a secretive or cabalistic personification of a group locked steadfast to their silence and elitism, pointing out the equality of man and women therein. The analogy of Auset (Isis) is explored from its representation in the story of her and Ausar (Osiris) as an ideal model of the philosophical tradition, using aphorisms and examples that show the path one must take if one seeks a path of enlightenment and as example of general conduct of any moral and honest being.

The Appendices, a fairly new addition to several of Moustafa's latest books consists of nearly another entire part of information covering; Miscellaneous Sufi Terms and their Ancient Egyptian Roots (fundamental symbolism of the Ancient Egyptians is explained with example of Sufism today), Sleeping with the Enemy (surviving Islam), Zikr: The Ecstatic Practise (a lengthy dissertation on the ritual of Zikr and its process in the path of seeking enlightenment), Reaching the Hearts and Minds (of how fiction is the best model for explaining models of behaviour), The Egyptians vs. The Latin Calender (an important examination of the Julian/Georgian systems developed from the Sothic year employed by the Ancient Egyptians).

Finally a Glossary of Egyptian terms with concise paragraphed explanations precedes the Selected Bibliography, Sources and Notes, and an exhaustive and excellent Index.

This book brings together much of Moustafa's earlier books into a culture still employing symbolism and spirituality long thought dead or not at all. The book does not seek to gloat or to show an exact way of seeking a mystical way, but challenges the reader to examine his or her own standing in the world spiritually and personally; a book to be read many times and its learning employed.

Egyptian Mystics: Seekers Of The Way is an impressive and groundbreaking contribution to an enlightened and enlightening study of the Egyptian contributions to Sufism and Alchemy in the ancient world. Iconoclastic Egyptologist Moustafa Gadalla provides an informed and informative examination and correlation between the Ancient Egyptian calendar of events and the cycles of the universe -- including the Egyptian contributions to the Christian calendar in terms of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and more. Egyptian Mystics is an original, thought-provoking, and thoroughly "reader friendly" study which is enthusiastically recommended for students of Sufism, Egyptology, and metaphysics.