Notes

Biography 

Andrew Rae, 85, is the author of a book of inspirational religious poetry, Transcendence.
He was born in wartime England, into the austerity of Birmingham and the joy of weekends
at his grandparent's Staffordshire farm.
Aged eight, the family moved to South Africa and after attending university in Johannesburg,
he spent 10 years at Cambridge, studying quantum physics and mathematics, and became
interested in Zen Buddhism.
After a career as an academic at various British universities, he took early retirement and
trained as an actor. After some success with a short film, he performed in numerous
productions on the fringe in London and on tour.
Having spent 20 years restoring an old farmhouse in Normandy, he now divides his life
between the Highlands of Scotland, Wiltshire and South Africa. He has recently set up a
charity supporting ecological education and research in South Africa.

The Book

This remarkable collection of poetry takes readers on an introspective journey into the
mystical, the sublime, and the spiritual. Through evocative verse and profound
contemplation, Rae captures the essence of transcendence in the natural world, ancient
traditions, and personal reflection, providing an enriching reading experience that resonates
on both emotional and intellectual levels. His words evoke both a sense of peace and a challenge to embrace life's mysteries with anopen heart.

More About The Book

What lies behind this sunlit world? …Something too deep for thought, …Open only to prayer. These poems reflect moments when one experiences something more than what one sees and hears, feelings of the sublime, the holy, the transcendent. …When meditating by a Wiltshire stream, or walking alone through an African forest, observed by a thousand unseen eyes and ears, from giant cats to tremulous snakes.
…Feelings of going beyond oneself, beyond anxiety and feelings of inadequacy, losing
oneself in the great chain of being. …The healing experience of being part of nature, losing
the fear of death. From intimations of transcendence in nature, this book moves on to the
magic of ancient churches where so many have offered up their sorrows and joys and then to
meditations and prayers, as well as the consolations offered by ancient rituals, by the rhythm
of the church's seasons, from the magic of Christmas through the penitence of Lent to the glories of Easter. The final section explores the tragic lockdowns caused by Covid-19.