Joel Goldsmith and I
The inside story of a relationship with a modern mystic by Walter Starcke

Joel traveled the world as a teacher and healer, but he was adamant that he wanted no organization or headquarters established. There was no advertisement or marketing of The Infinite Way. But students of the book kept increasing in numbers in countries throughout the world. Today, there is a wide body of students that exists and continues to practice and preserve his work. There are are more than 30 books of his collected teachings in print. He has been a major influence on most of our modern spiritual leaders.

I was curious about the man who has had so much spiritual influence (Unity has always included his books in their bookstores, and his teachings and Unity’s principles are fully aligned.). I first read a book by Lorraine Stickler, The Spiritual Journey of Joel Goldsmith. She had faithfully transcribed his lectures and transformed them into book form. She filled in for me many background details of Joel’s personal life.

Certainly there certainly was no indication in his early life that he would become a noted spiritual leader and healer. He was born in Manhattan to Jewish parents, who were not involved in religion at all. He barely finished the eighth grade, which was the extent of his formal education. He became a salesman, first in his father’s lace import business and then on his own. Through a series of so-called coincidences, he met a Christian Science practitioner who healed his father (who was ill in England) of a life-threatening illness. Shortly after that, a practitioner healed Joel of a terrible cold. To his bewilderment, people began seeking Joel out to be healed. He knew that he, himself, had no background in healing, and he only knew a children’s prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep…” which he didn’t think was much of a resource for people. But people were healed in his presence, and he was much sought after. He finally left the business world and joined the Christian Science church and, ultimately, became a practitioner. After several years, he felt limited by some of the dogma of the church; he submitted his resignation and began his personal practice and teaching.

Joel was led by an inner Voice that dictated his choices and which he followed without questioning. One of the persons who became acquainted with Joel and his teachings was Walter Starcke, who was then an actor in Broadway theater. Walter subsequently devoted 18 years of his life studying with and serving Joel. When Joel ultimately turned his back on Walter, he was hurt and bewildered. He later realized that Joel was responding to an inner direction to force Walter to stand on his own in moving forward. Subsequently, Walter has become an influential master teacher and has written many books, such as Homesick for Heaven and The Double Thread.

Walter didn’t speak of Joel’s personal life or his relationship with him for years until one day when Catherine Ponder, a noted Unity writer and minister, called him and told him she thought it was time for Walter to write a book about Walter’s personal experiences with Joel. This was followed by a call from a highly respected teacher of Joel’s work who said he felt Joel’s urging (in spirit) to have Walter write about his experiences with Joel and to clarify some of the statements in Joel’s lectures and writings.

The result is the book, Joel Goldsmith and I, a fascinating account of Joel Goldsmith’s life and his teaching and of Walter’s deep friendship with his mentor, one of the most important metaphysicians of our time. He gives fascinating insight into the complex mystic, and I found myself moved and inspired by Joel’s (and Walter’s) dedication to the path. The book almost reads like a novel, and Walter is able to give life and meaning to the inspired teaching of Joel Goldsmith.