We are taught in Islam ,that when we have an important decision,we should do Istishara(consultation with other humans) and Istikhara(consultation with the Divine).I have wqritte4nm a lot about Istikhara but not much about Istishara.

The problem with Istishara is that most people will give you advice based on their own experience or based on their own ideological principles.Often this is not appropriate for your particular situation.That’s why we are taught in psychotherapy not to give advice,somethimg Sheikh Nazim could not understand.”How can you treat someone’s problems” ,he wondered,”without giving advice?”.He had a point.

In order to give sound advice ,you have to be able to step out of your own experience and be able to sound the unique experience of the other.This requires both empathy and intuition.Note that many people over-use their reason in giving advice.This is also a trap and can lead to seriously wrong advice .You can discover this phenomenon in my first book”Snakes and Ladders” where I talk about the “Negative Counsellor” -someone who gets it consistently wrong by being too reasonable!

If you can find someone with the capacity to be empathic and intuitive and coming from the subtle heart,by all means use them.If not it is safer to rely on the consultation with your Lord. Salaams,ibrahim