Listening to the Music of the Soul: The Archbishop of York's Advent Book 2025

by Guli Francis-Dehqani

'The quest for authenticity has been a hallmark of Guli's journey since she arrived in this country as a refugee forty years ago... She has an extraordinary ability to hear the music not only of the soul but of the future, and emboldens us to dance to it today.'
BISHOP ROBERT ATWELL

When it comes to inhabiting life fully, Mary is surely one of our greatest role models. 'My soul magnifies the Lord,' she sings in the Magnificat. Her spirited response to the Angel Gabriel's announcement that she is to bear the son of God is rich in nuance, contradiction and paradox.

These very characteristics inspire Bishop Guli to make connections between the themes of Advent and her own experiences - and to invite us to do the same.

Bishop Guli's forced exile from her homeland has echoes of the flight into Egypt; the murder of her brother Bahram during the Iranian Revolution of the slaughter of the innocents. She writes intriguingly of how angels continue speaking to us today; how fear can prevent us from living well in the present; how pain and loss can be transformed by the power of beauty.







Deepening its resonance, each chapter is linked to a piece of music, prompting us to what are the enduring melodies that sustain us as the vibrant stories of our lives unfold?

113 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2025

Reviews

[Cathy Hine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This extraordinary book invites you on a journey of listening; listening to God, to your soul, to yourself, to words and to music that will draw you into places of home, of relationship and pain and sorry, or Joy and hope. Bishop Guli has laid out an extraordinary advent path and invites the reader to share the journey with her. Through the story of Mary she opens doors for exploring some of the deep challenges of our world today. In a world of unrelenting noise she paints an inviting picture of what can happen when we embrace silence, darkness, space and practices of listening. In a beautiful and amazing way she provides music that is deeply moving as part of the journey. Thank you Bishop Guli.

[Katie Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, top marks for the cover of this book which is beautiful and really makes it a pleasure to pick up. And I loved the qr codes linking to a piece of music at the end of each chapter, giving a time to reflect and to sit quietly - something I really appreciated during the rush that has been this advent. It is a thought provoking little book which I will definitely go back to and think about more. So for me a good book for the season of advent of which invites us to go within and be challenged in our waiting.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never managed to finish an advent book yet…. Until this treasure!
I was seduced by the promise of the music within, but to be honest they become a nice addition.
I will treasure the words, thoughts and sentiments and have no doubt that they will be vital in my future walk with Jesus and others with whom I walk with.

I will finish this book again and again, a light in the dark.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advent book covering fairly familiar territory. I liked the inclusion of music suggestions for each chapter.